The pain and pleasure of DTS

[Matblack]

I LOVE DTS soundtracks, they are possibly the best sound ever to grace the movie theatre, you can keep your DD and THX I'll take DTS every time.

But therein lies the issue, you can't have DTS every time, in fact unless you are a fan of asian cinema (luckily I am) DTS is as rare as the unicorn poop

I have never managed to work out why this is but its very very annoying.

Anyone else have a DTS fetish? What decent movies have you found in DTS and where do you get them (remember no competiors or hinting at them)

I need my DTS fix

MB

 

[Matblack]

I belive that DTS is less compressed than DD I remember hearing that somewhere.

I think the statement about not being able to afford a decent 5.1 system speaks volumes, I've heard 5.1 in cheap systems and its enough to put you off for life, however I have 5.1 using good size speaker and good amplification all round and DTS sound goes deaper and has better clarity than anything else I have heard.

I have a demo disc which has the same demos in both DTS and DD and the DTS version of the pod race scene is twice as good as the DD version, the LFE is better and the front soundstage is more consistant too :s

Shame you can't get the whole movies in DTS :/


MB

 

[Matblack]

I can tell the difference and go for DTS every time and it is very annoying that it's not the norm now, as most receivers/players can handle it.

Saving Private Ryan in DTS is brilliant and I don't think it would sound anywhere near as good in 5.1.

I also like DTS cd's, Dark Side Of The Moon DTS is awesome.

For music I quite like SACD, I have DSotM in SACD and War of the Worlds and the 5.1 mix kicks arse

MB

 

[Matblack]

I really don't know the technical details behind all of the solutions.
I've got an Acoustic Solutions 5.1 setup on our TV downstairs and love surround sound.
To the point where I find it difficult to watch any film and not have 5.1.

Although I don't really no the main differences from what I've experienced and it is just that - my experience.
When I hit the "Start Film" option on the menu and I then get a THX "test" screen it just seems to fill our room better than any of the DTS, Dolby, etc "test" screens.
Just my opinion of course.

THX isn't a decoder like DD or DTS its a set of benchmarks that a piece of equipment needs to fulfil to qualify as THX quality, like a gold standard for purity. Being THX is George Lucas' version of 'by appointment to the Queen' . What you are hearing is a well engineered piece of sound designed to get the most out of a THX system, it just happens to sound good on your set .

THX is also like ISO9002 unless every link in your system is THX certified then your system is not THX, my sub is THX but my system isn't.

MB

 

[Matblack]

i got accepted to go on the THX training course at the skywalker ranch but alas a girl spoilt it for me

Unless is was Princess Leia in a bikini then you have no excuse!

MB

 

[Matblack]

Thanks - that made good reading.
I think what I said shows how little I know about how everything works and what all of the standards are
If all of my equipment is THX certified I'm not sure - it certainly isn't the most expensive setup in the world but it does the job and you gotta love when the THX logo appears and the sound just resenates around the whole room and the poor cat sits there in the middle spinning her head almost 180 trying to work out what is going on.
There is also nothing like a lightsabre battle in full 5.1.....

If your equipment hasn't got the THX running through it like a stick of rock then tbh its doubtful.

Just like ISO9002 it costs money to get the equipment certified, most manufacturers don't bother putting all the equipment through this process.

THX demos are cool though, my favorite being the ones with the little flying robot

MB

 

[Matblack]

<stuff>

So the sound in the cinema doesn't make for a more atmospheric experience than sitting in your front room?

As I said before bad 5.1 won't really change your mind but good 5.1 is a different matter and with a bit of investment you can have that cinema feel in your home.

MB