Page 1 of DTS vs AC3 Opinions

I have just purchased a DVD player which is limited to Dolby Digital and does not have DTS decoding.
I have been browsing the web trying to get a feel for how strong the support is for both systems. As I understand it, Dolby Digital looks to be the most popular, where as DTS is of a higher quality, but uses more space on a disc.

Does anyone believe that in the future, titles may be sold without Dolby Digital in favour of DTS?

From personal experience I do believe that DTS does provide a better `sound`, for want of a better word. However, to answer your question, I do not believe that titles will be released only with DTS, and no Dolby Digital version. Dolby Digital is by far the most popular in terms of releases. Of course the film industry does some weird stuff when it comes to different standards...

I heard that there is only one film so far that has been recorded with a DTS sound track and that is Jurassic Park.........which isn`t available on DVD yet. Shame cos my machine has both decoders and would love to hear the difference.

There are quite a few available on Region 1, including Jaws, Saving Private Ryan and Galaxyquest, The Haunting, plus a whole load more coming.

Jurassic Park was the first film to get a theatrical release with DTS audio, since then a lot of films are now in DTS, Species is another example of a DTS film that has only been made avaialb;e in DD on DVD.
Most films now have mixes in DD, DTS and SDDS.

Many pre-DTS films are now getting DTS remixes made for them, ie. T2, these are created from the original audio masters then mixed to 5.1 channels (6.1ES in the case of T2)

SPR is still considered the best example of DTS audio, and it is a lot better than the DD version (the DD is still a good mix)

Now that studios have the half bit rate DTS available and dual layered discs are cheaper to produce it is likely we will see more DTS discs (mainly state side for now)

I know that when you`re buy a film on DVD the cover states the type of format the sound has been recorded. Do you know if the covers on these films will state a DTS soundtrack or DD???

In a word, no.

DD will be the standard to which you may want to add DTS, but it will not replace DTS. Just like films were released in Betamax but never exclusively, always in addition to a VHS release.

I think the DD / DTS debate can be summarised in the following :

Sound Quality :
DTS is slightly better than DD but it`s quite subjective and varies from one disc to the next. Most non-cinema or hi-fi buffs will not notice a marked difference. But some people say the difference is considerable.

Availability of discs :
DD wins hands down here - DD is the standard audio format used even though DTS is seen as slightly better. Much in the same way that VHS was by far the most popular video format even though Betamax was technically superior. There are quite a few DTS discs available nowadays in R2 but you really have to look to R1 for anything approaching a decent catalogue. More discs are expected but anyone who wants to be completely honest will admit that DD has DTS beat on this one, probably permanently.

Cost of Equipment :
The standard DVD player will output a digital signal for external decoding, or will output from it`s own built-in decoder. Some machines do not provide a digital output compatible with DTS, so even if you do have an external decoder, it won`t work. Some players also include DTS in parallel but there are very few, if any, that only provide DTS. This should be largely irrelevant really as the better option is by far to have the decoding built into your AV amplifier/receiver and not the DVD player. Home Cinema amps provide better coverage for DD but DTS is catching up a bit. You can expect to pay a bit more for a DD & DTS decoding capable AVR than you would for one that is just DD capable.

Disk usage :
DTS requires roughly 1.5 times the amount of space for storing the audio track on a DVD when compared with a DD equivalent. This means a more accurate representaton of the sound signal, but also cuts down on the amount of space available for extra features - something seen frequently. So DD disks tend to have more features where the disk usage approaches the capacity limit of a DVD9 disk.



In the end, you have to ask yourself, can you hear a significant improvement on DTS over DD? Only you can decide that. It`s like choosing hi-fi speakers.

If you can hear a significant improvement, next ask yourself if you are willing to pay slightly more for the equipment to add DTS capability in addition to DD - don`t EVER buy DTS-only capable equipment (I`m not sure if you can, actually).

Finally, ask yourself if the available DTS catalogue makes enough film material available to you to make the investment worth it, bearing in mind the additional equipment cost, and the likely reduction in extra features due to the extra storage required by DTS.

My personal opinion is that it isn`t worth it. But that is only me. There are lots of people out there who firnly believe that DTS is far superior to DD and should be the only option considered.

Go and hear for yourself at a good lcal hi-fi shop with a dedicated listening/viewing room. Then decide. But I would strongly advise you to view DTS as a possible upgrade to DD and not as an alternative by itself.

Hope that helps.

Regards,

T

This item was edited on Friday, 28th July 2000, 11:47

I`ve got the Jackal, which has both a DTS and DD audio streams, plus about four other DTS DVD`s.

I tend to find that the actual quality of the audio is very similar with very little clarity improvement on the DTS side.

What does seem apparent is that the effects and depth are `wound up` on DTS DVD`s to give a perception of more detail.

Saying that, I still buy a DVD in DTS over DD if it is available.

P.

I have Two DTS dvd`s Jaws and Apollo 13 (Both R1).
I believe that DTS does sound better ,the sound seems more crisp.
But to be fair Dolby Digital is not far behind and is very good in its own way.
Most DTS disk have been low on extras , not that I am worried as most dvd extras I only watch once. But some People may be put off by the lack of Extras. But Jaws DTS has quite a few extra`s for a DTS disk nearly as many as the DD version.
Let me Put it this way, if there is two versions of a dvd one DD and one DTS. If the film is most Important get the DTS version, if you like extras get the DD version.