Dolby Digital Plus vs. DTS

doggie750
doggie750 Posts: 1,160
edited May 2009 in Electronics
2 nights ago, I was scratching my head in front of the audio set up screen on w/c one is superior than the other. My guess would be the dd+, as far as i know dd+ has more bitswise capability than the normal dts but it's not all applicable when watching dvd unlike in hd dvd/ br movies. please advice.:cool:
Godspeed,
D0661E

AVR:Pioneer Elite SC-07
Surrounds: RTis
2channel:Rti100 (carver driven
Sub:SVS PB12-Plus/2
Dedicated AMPs:Adcom GFA535, 2xCarver 1.5t, Carver m1.0t
Wsrn:Hitachi ultra vision LCD60, 32XBR400
PowerConditioner: MonsterC HTS5100
PS3, Toshiba HD A2, etc: SonySACD/ Panasonic gears DIVX.


MR3LIGION: Polkaudio; GSXR; E46; Reeftank;
Odyclub; Xsimulator; Sony; Zune; Canon
Post edited by doggie750 on

Comments

  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2009
    I prefer DTS myself. It has less compression and a higher bitrate, and sounds a lot more natural IMO.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited May 2009
    I prefer DTS myself. It has less compression, and sounds a lot more natural IMO.


    Same here. Whatever the reason is has a bit more oomph (great technical word) than Dolby. The drawback is most DVDs do not offer it. I've always wondered why that is. Is there a technial reason? Is it a licensing issue? Does Dolby have a deal to keep other formats off the DVD? Is the DVD creator to cheap/lazy to include DTS?
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,081
    edited May 2009
    I always prefer DTS to DD. Not sure why but DTS seems more lively to me. I had heard a while back that DTS was dead but apparently that was incorrect.

    Try both on the same section of movie and see which sounds better.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, McIntosh C2300, Marantz AV7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Sim Audio Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2009
    I believe a DTS soundtrack typically takes more time/money to master/encode, which is probably one of the big reasons that DD is more common.

    DD soundtracks are simpler to create because they use a lot more compression, and take up less space on the disc.

    Whenever I have the choice though, I always go with DTS.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited May 2009
    Another +1 for DTS
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2009
    Am I missing something here. Dolby Digital Plus is superior to DD...and should be equal or better than DTS...No? Isn't that the reason Dolby developed that format?

    According to Dolby:

    # Supports data rates as high as 6 Mbps.
    # Bit rate performance of at least 3 Mbps on HD DVD and up to 1.7 Mbps on Blu-ray Disc.

    DTS comes in at about 1.4Mbps on a DVD.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited May 2009
    As far as I understand, there are many variables in the DD/DTS mixes that I'm not sure what I am hearing is due to the mix or the encoding. I prefer DTS over DD and DD Plus, but the mixes on the discs may be so different that it's hard to tell why.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited May 2009
    Another +1 for DTS

    I prefer DTS also!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
  • doggie750
    doggie750 Posts: 1,160
    edited May 2009
    cnh wrote: »
    Am I missing something here. Dolby Digital Plus is superior to DD...and should be equal or better than DTS...No? Isn't that the reason Dolby developed that format?

    According to Dolby:

    # Supports data rates as high as 6 Mbps.
    # Bit rate performance of at least 3 Mbps on HD DVD and up to 1.7 Mbps on Blu-ray Disc.

    DTS comes in at about 1.4Mbps on a DVD.

    cnh

    so DD+ wins right or ?:confused:
    Godspeed,
    D0661E

    AVR:Pioneer Elite SC-07
    Surrounds: RTis
    2channel:Rti100 (carver driven
    Sub:SVS PB12-Plus/2
    Dedicated AMPs:Adcom GFA535, 2xCarver 1.5t, Carver m1.0t
    Wsrn:Hitachi ultra vision LCD60, 32XBR400
    PowerConditioner: MonsterC HTS5100
    PS3, Toshiba HD A2, etc: SonySACD/ Panasonic gears DIVX.


    MR3LIGION: Polkaudio; GSXR; E46; Reeftank;
    Odyclub; Xsimulator; Sony; Zune; Canon
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited May 2009
    DTS here also, but has anyone seen any new titles with DTS? I looked some time ago, but don't see DTS any longer as an option.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited May 2009
    cnh wrote: »
    Am I missing something here. Dolby Digital Plus is superior to DD...and should be equal or better than DTS...No? Isn't that the reason Dolby developed that format?

    According to Dolby:

    # Supports data rates as high as 6 Mbps.
    # Bit rate performance of at least 3 Mbps on HD DVD and up to 1.7 Mbps on Blu-ray Disc.

    DTS comes in at about 1.4Mbps on a DVD.

    Apples and oranges comparison; Blu-Ray specs to DVD specs. On a DVD, DTS, at least to me, sounds better. The original post is a bit confused since he too is comparing Blu-Ray to DVD, and admits DD+ isn't applicable to DVDs, while DTS is.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited May 2009
    doggie750 wrote: »
    so DD+ wins right or ?:confused:

    Compared to stock DTS on a Blu-Ray, yes.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,081
    edited May 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Compared to stock DTS on a Blu-Ray, yes.

    What really wins is what YOU like.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, McIntosh C2300, Marantz AV7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Sim Audio Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2009
    dpowell wrote: »
    What really wins is what YOU like.

    Exactly. We can throw out all the technical jargon in the world, and even if it says DD is better than DTS, it isn't changing my mind. All I know is that 9 times out of 10 I greatly prefer a movies DTS soundtrack to the DD soundtrack.

    The important factor is which one sounds better to you.

    I can't really speak for Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA though personally. I don't have a Blu-ray player yet, so I've never really gotten to sit down and compare the two directly on my own rig.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2009
    I agree....if we're talking about S-DVDs, yes...DTS over DD.

    But on HD-DVD, Blu-ray....DD+ clocks a little higher. Bluefox is right though. We should stay on format.

    So DD+ becomes somewhat irrelevant on Blu-ray because it is a lowly standard compared to Dobly Tru-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
  • LuSh
    LuSh Posts: 887
    edited May 2009
    Perhaps some clarification:

    1. Dolby Digital and DTS came out with two new formats during the advent of Blu-Ray/HD DVD. These included DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus.

    2. DTS-HD and Dolby Digital Plus were lossy formats used to allow consumers to hear benefits in sound even using existing wires (SPDIF). These new formats used higher bit-rates then legacy DTS and Dolby formats and were a marked improvement.

    3. DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby TrueHD are 'lossless' audio formats used to compress audio formats in a lossless way in order to preserve the original quality of multi-channel PCM. There has been considerable agreement that DTS-HD Master and Dolby TrueHD can be compared to directly to multi-PCM and hold there ground.

    3. DD+ and DTS-HD were short lived as many studios opt'd to simply include the complete lossless audio tracks, many suppliers quickly dumped the DD+/DTS-HD encoders and followed suit.

    4. PCM is the gold standard of audio. Many people preferred Dolby Prologic Laser-disc's with original two channel PCM soundtracks to later offerings in Dolby Digital multi channel. A direct reference would be Apocalypse Now. The laser disc is a revelation even though it's recorded in two channel and then encoded into Pro-logic 4 channel. The DVD cut was digital and multi channel but heavily compressed. Multi channel Lossless audio and PCM should over come these down falls provided studio's continue to support Blu Ray and streaming / downloading doesn't suck the life out of BD or any other physical media.
  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,081
    edited May 2009
    I can't really speak for Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA though personally. I don't have a Blu-ray player yet, so I've never really gotten to sit down and compare the two directly on my own rig.

    I'm really looking forward to getting a Blu Ray player and trying both of the new HD formats. I'm a DTS fan now but am certainly open to switching loyalties if I like what I hear better from DD than DTS.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, McIntosh C2300, Marantz AV7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Sim Audio Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited May 2009
    I really can't hear the difference. If a DVD has DTS I will play that but DD sounds pretty good to me also.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited May 2009
    I like DTS a little better, seems to me the surrounds come to life a lot more and the front opens up more as well.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2009
    LuSh wrote: »
    Perhaps some clarification:

    1. Dolby Digital and DTS came out with two new formats during the advent of Blu-Ray/HD DVD. These included DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus.

    2. DTS-HD and Dolby Digital Plus were lossy formats used to allow consumers to hear benefits in sound even using existing wires (SPDIF). These new formats used higher bit-rates then legacy DTS and Dolby formats and were a marked improvement.

    3. DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby TrueHD are 'lossless' audio formats used to compress audio formats in a lossless way in order to preserve the original quality of multi-channel PCM. There has been considerable agreement that DTS-HD Master and Dolby TrueHD can be compared to directly to multi-PCM and hold there ground.

    3. DD+ and DTS-HD were short lived as many studios opt'd to simply include the complete lossless audio tracks, many suppliers quickly dumped the DD+/DTS-HD encoders and followed suit.

    4. PCM is the gold standard of audio. Many people preferred Dolby Prologic Laser-disc's with original two channel PCM soundtracks to later offerings in Dolby Digital multi channel. A direct reference would be Apocalypse Now. The laser disc is a revelation even though it's recorded in two channel and then encoded into Pro-logic 4 channel. The DVD cut was digital and multi channel but heavily compressed. Multi channel Lossless audio and PCM should over come these down falls provided studio's continue to support Blu Ray and streaming / downloading doesn't suck the life out of BD or any other physical media.

    Nice discussion LuSh.

    This pretty much covers it.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]