dts question

Fifth Element is incredible in Superbit DTS

You don't see many movies in DTS anymore because there is no room on the disc for the mpeg2 format dts uses.
"DTS uses a higher bit rate (or less lossy compression) for potentially better sonic performance and increased channel separation."

Superbit still uses DTS by getting rid of extras on dvd
Columbia tristar, a Sony Company, came up with Superbit dvd format, DD 5.1 or DTS.
If you get a chance check out a superbit dvd, you won't be disappointed,
The Dvd is thicker build, better video and audio.
http://www.timefordvd.com/feature/Superbit.shtml

"On October 9, 2001, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment released a new series of DVDs that promises the best in picture and sound quality, dubbed as the Superbit™ DVD series. These are DVDs that devote the entire data capacity to accommodate higher video bit rates and two surround sound options, the highly regarded DTS 5.1 and de facto standard Dolby Digital 5.1. By omitting bonus materials, running audio commentaries, other audio (Dolby Digital 2.0) and language (e.g., French or Spanish) soundtracks, extra data capacity is freed up for the higher video bit rate, DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound tracks"

Dts old technology?
mpeg2 format is evolving to mpeg4,
toshibas got a new hd dvd recorder, available only in Japan right now, 300GB harddrive burns standard dvd to hd, mpeg4, upconverts to 1080p.

I am thinking of upgrading my system by incorporating a dts decoder. I already have a dolby digital decoder though. Does anyone know the difference and know if it is worth getting into. Is there a noticable differnece betweene dts and dolby digital. And if there is a difference, is it small or large.

Damn, boy, how old is your pre/pro? And if IT can't process DTS, can't your DVD player process it? And if it can, does your pre/pro have 5.1 analog inputs? No? Damn, that's old.

I'm not dissing your gear; hell, I'm running my surround rig on a shoestring too cuz I can't work due to health problems.

Since this is a high end audio forum, I'll just have to jump in here and say that on average, the difference between DD 5.1 and DTS is HUGE. How huge? When a DTS soundtrack came on a few years ago my disinterested wife noticed and commented on it immediately. And at the time, I was deaf in one ear with an infection and even I could tell. I have a 7-speaker surround system powered by 1100 watts plus 200 watt subwoofer. This type of dynamic range will dramatically expose the difference between run-of-the-mill DD and DTS. With a 100 wpc AV receiver, you might not notice so much.

As others in this thread have mentioned, DD has gotten better, but here's the thing: If a DVD has a DTS soundtrack, you can take it to the bank that it's excellent. If they bothered to do the soundtrack in DTS, it's pre-HD DVD state-of-the-art. In the past few years, there have been better DD soundtracks, and some of them are THX DD, such as the Indiana Jones movies.

But what I've found is that while DD THX soundtracks are about as good as it gets in DD, the DTS ones are just that much better -- sharper with faster leading transients, bigger dynamic swings, better seamless soundfield, better everything.

If you are a fan of DVD concert videos, you've GOT to get DTS capability; most of the best concert vids I have include DTS surround, and this includes Alison Kraus and Union Station and Brian Wilson's Smile.

If you want to stay behind the technology curve, fine; you can save A LOT of money and get very satisfying sound performance. If you don't have DTS now, you can upgrade with either a pre/pro that decodes DTS or at least has 5.1 analog inputs, and a DVD player with internal DTS processor. I have both in an Oppo DV-980H (internal DTS decoding and 7.1 analog output0 and my pre/pro (Boston Acoustics AVP7), which can either pass on the Oppo's decoding with 7.1 analog input or via coax or toslink digital.

It's probably cheapest to get the Oppo plus a pre/pro that has 5.1 analog inputs, though at this point, a pre/pro with DTS should be easy and cheap to find.

And while we're nominating DTS soundtracks, let me weigh in in favor of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which has full digital discrete 6.1 DTS-ES at the source on the disk. The gold standard in std-def DVD soundtracks.

We listened to the "Days of Future Passed" Moody Blues DTS last night. The surround sound was surprisingly effective. The quality of the recordings varied considerably from track to track, but boy do I love those long vamps in Tuesday Afternoon. My Sony 9100ES automatically picked up the DTS audio; all I needed to do was switch the pre/pro from stereo to surround. I'll certainly look for more DTS audio. Neat stuff.

db

Oh my, check out the bass in War of the Worlds DTS track!

Tiggerpooh...even a basic $40 dvd player should decode DTS. Are you sure you don't already have the ability to do this?