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RuNE
bomberman



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Question for an audiophile
#8929403 - 09/14/08 04:41 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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I have a DVD with DTS, and Dolby Digital (AC-3) sound sources. Old school stereo is not present. My dvd player can decode both. I'd like to watch this movie with the best possible downmixing, but I have no idea which one down converts better. I know DTS is the higher quality format.
I tried googling this to no avail. Which source would include the highest ranges of sound on a 2 speaker system (aka...a regular TV)? Would it automaticaly down-mix anyway, or would i just be listening to 2 channels out of 5.1? I have no idea how to check really.
-------------------- ~Happy sailing~
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badchad
Mad Scientist

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Re: Question for an audiophile [Re: RuNE]
#8929589 - 09/14/08 05:14 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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On a regular TV you won't notice the difference. In fact, while "audiophiles" may claim they can differentiate the two, I bet 99.99% of people couldn't.
What kind of output are you using from the DVD player? If you're not using optical or HDMI, you aren't getting a 5.1 sound anyway.
On whatever settings you have (e.g. the DVD output settings) select some form of 2 speaker output.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



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Re: Question for an audiophile [Re: badchad]
#8929957 - 09/14/08 06:37 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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> If you're not using optical or HDMI, you aren't getting a 5.1 sound anyway.
Technically, not true, but in reality, pretty much the case. (There is no technical reason why a DVD player cannot decode multichannel and output more than 2 analog signals... but, you would have more than two outputs on the back of the player (six analog outputs for 5.1 decoding, for example; something that I have never seen.)
> My dvd player can decode both.
If your DVD player can really decode both, which is probably not true (marketing gimmick), then go with DTS, as the encoding is better than AC-3 (no cross channel encoding artifacts). However, I know what the licensing costs (royalties) are for Dolby Digital decoding and DTS decoding, and if you paid less than $200 for your player, then it isn't doing what you think it is.
Almost all DVD players can decode DTS and AC3 encoded audio packs (see section 5.2.4 Audio Pack from part 3 of the DVD specifications for Read-Only disc), but this does not mean that they can decode DTS or AC3 data. (They can read the pack from the DVD, and decode the pack into AC3 or DTS data, but not actually decode the AC3 or DTS data into audio. Tricky!) (A pack is a block of data on the DVD.)
Edit: I am assuming hardware decoder in the above. I have no idea what the costs/royalties are for software decoders such as you would find on a computer.
Edited by Seuss (09/14/08 06:50 PM)
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RuNE
bomberman



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Re: Question for an audiophile [Re: Seuss]
#8930980 - 09/14/08 10:22 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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lol....ok I got lots of cool info for my question, but not really what I wanted to know!
I know the difference between DTS and Dolby Digital is almost null to most people. I was asking about output on a 2-speaker stereo system (TV) without the option for 'stereo' on the DVD.
1) Will it play the full range of sound on 2-speakers, or will it only give me left/right channels, and leave the other 3.1 out....leaving me with no bass and lack of sounds that are supposed to be present. (in other words, if a bullet firing is coded to play on a back channel, will i hear it on stereo?)
2)If the above is true, which will give me a better downmix. DTS or Dolby?
Suess: I never knew that bit about decoding. Sneaky sneaky! My player is . It's one of the first VHS/DVD combos, and it came at a premium price way back then. It's a samsung DVD-V1000. It got a 'Dolby Digital' logo, and 'DTS digital out' logo. http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/dvdv1000/ http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/samsung-dvd-v1000/4505-6463_7-6145320.html
"you'll find a full complement of inputs and outputs, including a set of Dolby Digital- and DTS-compatible optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, as well component video outputs".
-------------------- ~Happy sailing~
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



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Re: Question for an audiophile [Re: RuNE]
#8931853 - 09/15/08 04:10 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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> including a set of Dolby Digital- and DTS-compatible optical and coaxial digital audio outputs
This means that is can read DD and DTS data from the disc and is able to spit the encoded DD or DTS to another device (via optical/digital coax using SPDIF) for another device to decode, but it does not mean that it can decode DD or DTS into audio. The marketing gimmick I was talking about.
> 1) Will it play the full range of sound on 2-speakers
Short answer, yes.
> 2)If the above is true, which will give me a better downmix. DTS or Dolby?
In your case, Dolby. Your player lacks a DTS decoder. It can transport these signals to an external decoder, but cannot decode them itself.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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RuNE
bomberman



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Re: Question for an audiophile [Re: Seuss]
#8933704 - 09/15/08 02:26 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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Ah I see. Thanks for clearing that up.
-------------------- ~Happy sailing~
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