Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Is DTS always better?

Most reviews I read say DTS soundtracks are generally better thank Dolby ones. Why is this the case? is it a better technology? From my experience - like LOTR or Blade II, they are louder and - maybe - clearer...or maybe I'm just hearing things...

DallasAxiom,

Because of competitive pressures, DTS soundtracks are tweaked or equalized to sound different from Dolby Digital, which may be interpreted as "better than" by some listeners. Typically DTS gooses up the LFE level, and EQ may be applied elsewhere, likely in the midrange where our hearing is particularly acute.

DTS is not a standard for DVD or for HD broadcasting. It is optional, at a DVD producer's discretion. For fidelity to the original movie soundtrack, reference everything to the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. In comparisons I've heard in Hollywood mixing theaters, Dolby Digital is an essentially transparent system.

Both Dolby Digital and DTS are "lossy" systems (in that some information is discarded) but are in practical terms essentially transparent. They do run at different data rates, but a faster data rate does not necessarily mean superior sound quality. It depends on how well the perceptual encoding is done in the original algorithm.

Thank heavens that Sony decided not to promote its system (SDDS) for consumer consumption as well. All three systems (DTS, Dolby Digital and SDDS) are used in theatrical exhibition. Each has some practical advantages for exhibitors.

Regards,

i personally prefer movies with the DTS format over basic DD 5.1.. thats not to say the DD isnt good, i just think the DTS is better.. and it also depends a lot on the movie, and how the mix is done.. there are lots of DD movies that sound every bit as good as DTS.

but, as a general rule, i always look to see if a movie is offered in DTS before i buy it. i always prefer to have that format if avail. you can search here to see if there is a DTS title avail for any particular movie

bigjohn

It is kinda like Chevy and Ford, Chevy is better Although I do like the looks of the new Stang! I may have to convert

DTS tracks seem to also be compressed (dynamic range compression, not bandwidth compression) which makes the quieter parts louder and raises the average levels of the entire presentation. That along with a really good bandwidth compression scheme (psychoacoustical model if you like $10 words) and some tweaking of the EQ give it an edge over Dolby Digital.

Dolby Digital is probably closer to the original track, but since when do viewers want to hear reality? Foley artists have to recreate what we recognize as footsteps and punches landing because we've been conditioned to listen for those outrageously inaccurate sounds. I haven't been in a fistfight for some time, but when I landed a punch back then, I don't remember it ever sounding like someone hitting a 12lb sirloin tip roast with a golf club.

Bren R.

In reply to:

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I don't remember it ever sounding like someone hitting a 12lb sirloin tip roast with a golf club

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you have obviously never been in a fight with me!!

bigjohn

Ooh, how about the dial tone after someone hangs up the phone? That doesn't happen with real phones.

well, you havent been hung-up on, 'in my house'..

bigjohn

Dallas, I also prefer DTS, if available, over DD. DD can sound really great too, but if a DVD sports a DTS track that's usually what gets played in my HT. Whether one is closer to the original mix or one gets tweaked or not doesn't make any differnce to me. It's how it sounds in my HT.

BTW, nice work on your HT man! Looks great!

Put me in the DTS camp also!

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/dts_vs_dolbydigital.php