Can anyone hear the difference between dolby digital and dts sound tracks on dvd's,if so what is it?

Hi, Graham: I found this article interesting on comparing the two on the movie, Dante's Peak. I've enquired about the same thing and was told that merely the lesser compression in DTS verus DD can cause all of the perceived difference in the sound mentioned in the article.

Personally, I find DTS to almost always provide a more satisfying experience on my system. Hope this helps.

[Link: dvdspot.net]

Greg :-)

I bought Private Ryan in DD. Thought it sounded great. A few month later I bought the DTS demo DVD. It had a sceen in it from Private Ryan. I compared the same sceen several times. When I was done I wanted to throw out my DD copy and buy the DTS version. Like it says in the article about Dantes Peak, there is a lot more bass from all speakers and a lot more use of the rears. At first I was a non believer, but now I try to get DTS as much as possible.

Rob

Hi, Greg & Rob I actually agree with both of you. I have got both setups and I think that with dts you get a lot deeper and wider bass extension on all DTS discs. I think that you can really notice this if you compare the two sound tracks on the new T2 dvd, which is my current favourite.

PS, thanks for your reply.
Graham Bailey.

I'm gonna disagree with you'all. The two best 5.1 recordings I've heard are SWPM LD and MATRIX DVD, both AC-3. I have SAVING PRIVATE RYAN in DTS, it's awful good too. I think DTS and AC-3 are about equal in the bass and front channels. I think on occassion DTS reveals more detail in the surround channels, because of the higher bit-rate. Listen to FLUBBER's labratory scenes in both DTS ( I used the LD ) and AC-3 with the DVD. The bubbling, gurggling noises are more detailed, not louder in DTS. My example is hardly conclusive really....But, SWPM and MATRIX have 'caused me to think how well you utillize DTS or AC-3 is more important than which you use. I did have a lingering suspicon that DTS must be better, my DTS LD's have a high level of excellence, same for most of the DVDs. Here's a thought! GALAXY QUEST didn't sound particularly well in either DD or DTS. I had both, I gave the DD to my nephew. The film sounded great in the theatre, but both versions were a bit dull and flat on DVD IMO. I rented RED VIOLIN the hybrid, I didn't think there was a dime's bit of difference between the two tracks. I am willing to bet that one higher-bit soundtrack, either format would sound better. I think they're more equal than most people think.....Best wishes, Rachael!

Now, I wonder what the discussion will be like when Sony decides it's time for Home SDDS? :-)

Rachael,
I agree with you on the fact that DTS may not beat out DD everytime. As mentioned so many other times in this continuing debate, quality and mix of bass etc., probably are a result of the sound engineer, not compression ratios etc. I have a setup disk that allows DD and DTS for several tracks and I can't tell the difference at all. However, on most of the DTS vs DD movie comparisions I've done, DTS sounds richer, has more bass and uses the rears a lot more. But, by turning the loudness (add a little bass) button on my Sony to on when watching a DD movie, it then sounds as good as DTS usually does. I will say that sometimes the DTS rear levels are to much and I end up turning them down because they distract me. So, the debate continues.

Cya
Rob

An interview in, I think, WideScreen Review earlier this year, with a Hollywoode sound engineer, pointed out that dual DTS and DD 5.1 mixes of a soundtrack for any given movie are based on an identical master.

However, there is a difference in some basic settings... for example, the LFE on a DTS track is set at a different base level. And, when tracks are mixed specifically for one format or another, they will be engineer-biased, as Mig suggests.

Listen to the DTS 6.1 version of Gladiator. It creams any DD movie I heard even Matrix. At least IMO. I do think alot of the differences are just caused by how they are mixed. Whoever did the mixing in this movie was good.

Don, I agree with you... At least in my family room, the preffered choice is to watch a DVD movie in DTS over DD. In the Normandiy Beach scene in Private Ryan, I swear one otwo of the bullets grazed my head in DTS! In Galdiator the Coliseum scenes were much more vivid... But, in most cases I would venture to guess that neither one is a real dog!

I purchased and watched "Santana Supernatural" this weekend, which has both DD5.1 and DTS tracks. On my Integra, the DTS was very, very weak... you wouldn't know it was a surround track at all.

The DD5.1, while not sparkling like the Eagles or James Taylor, was infinitely superior to the DTS. Anyone else experienced this? ... Mike

I purchased the DVD-video of "Supernatural" as well. I personaly found the DTS track superior than the DD5.1 on my Sony system. At same volume level the surround sound was much more effective as well; more punchy, specially from the rear speakers where most of the percussions came out...
In DD5.1 the sound was OK but seemed to be blended or
like some instruments were lowered. The difference of mixing has probably something to do too...Or is it because DD5.1 is a "lossy" format?

Hmmmmmmmmm...... sounds like something is not set right on your mosheen, Mikey! Or the DVD is screwy!

I think the sound differences have more to do with the mixing than the formats themselves but in my experience most of the DTS soundtracks sound better.

Also, in my opinion the speakers that you are running make a huge difference. I am running a full setup of the Paradigm Monitor series. Now someone with a Bose setup is not to get the same experience that I am. Just a thought.