Xerxes480

OK, here's a stupid question. Most DVD-Audio discs have different versions of the music to listen to. For example, "In Abstensia" by Porcupine Tree has three versions:

1) DVD-Audio 2 channel stereo
2) DVD-Audio 5.1 surround
3) DVD-Audio DTS 5.1 surround

I would think I should be able to switch which version I can listen to, however I can't figure it out. Is this possible??

When I pop the disc in it just shows up as "DVD-A" and plays in 5.1 surround. I can't tell for sure which surround it's playing...normal DVD-Audio or the DTS?

Is there a ways to switch between modes?

Is there some sort of indicator when you're playing DTS music?

I'm normally very technically inclined but I'm probably missing something obvious. Thanks in advance!!

-X-

TLover

A DTS disc will display DTS on the screen.

taltek

Mine displays DVDA or DTS depending on what's playing.

w1n78

be careful coz if u go with DTS discs, they can't be just played on any DVD player outside your TL. DVD players have to specifically say DTS on them. even your DVD rom on your PC won't play it w/o proper sound card

Lore

That's not true -- most DTS discs are actually CDs with WAV files encoded with DTS surround. You can play these back with PowerDVD or WinDVD, which is what I do at home.

As far as I know, no DVD-Audio disc can contain DTS files, but a DVD can contain a DVD-Video region with a DTS-encoded soundtrack, much like a movie's soundtrack. This DTS-encoded soundtrack would actually be your music that is encoded in DTS 5.1 surround.

w1n78

well i have the eagles: hell freezes over on DTS and i can't play it on my laptop. i dunno i'll try it with powerdvd, thx lore

Lore

I have that exact same CD and it plays just fine in my DVD-Rom, my Sony DVD player (in the living room), and on my laptop. You can't play it back using regular Media Player, it has to be a program that knows what a DTS stream is (ie, PowerDVD/WinDVD).

Hope that helps.

Xerxes480

Ahhh, I just read more details about this disc:
http://www.highfidelityreview.com/re...umber=18959790

"this review is based on the 24-bit 48kHz surround track, available as either DTS for DVD-Video users or MLP for DVD-Audio users"

So I'm guessing I'm NOT hearing the DTS version, which is intended for DVD-Video players. (thx Lore) However, the question remains: do we have the ability to switch modes with this sytem (i.e. between 2-channel stereo and 6 channel surround)? Damn I wish I had read the manual!

Thx for the info so far!

-X-

automata

I've seen complaints in the past about not being abel to choose the higher resolution 2 channel mix on dvd-a's. I don't think it is possible since we don't get a menu display with the disc options in the car.

vtechbrain

DTS requires a separate decoder. Older DVD players dont include it. Newer players do.

TLover

I believe the answer is no. But why would you want to listen in 2-channel mode if 6 channel is available?

billk86

Many discs do have seperate DTS and 5.1 DVD-A versions on the same disc and as far as I can tell there is no way to select a version on the TL audio system. The default seems to be to play the 5.1 mix eventough both are available.

It is not uncommon for DVDs to have several different audio options to choose from. I have watched and listened closely to movies on my home system that have both. I don't know the technical term, but DTS to me seems to be a bit more "tightly" processed. If that makes sense...

Xerxes480

I don't. Being the techie-nerd that I am, I wanted to know if it's even an option, since I know I can do this on my home system.

automata

The stereo mixes available on some DVD-A's are recorded or mastered at a higher bit rate wich gives better sound quality. A surround mix has about the same sound quality as a standard CD.

spidey07

many times the 2ch version is higher resolution.

divxz

What if the DVD-A only has a high-resolution stereo mix and no 5.1? Will the TL play that kind of disc?

alv1

DVD-A has higher quality for all modes. CD's use 16 bit 44kHz sampling, DVD A usually use 96 kHz 24 bit. Occasionally the two channel mix with use 192 kHz, 24 bit.

svtmike

Yes.

The Doobie Brothers Captain and Me DVD-A has a surround mix on one side and a high-res stereo mix on the other. Either one will play in the TL.

Mike

svtmike

Although the fidelity of the ELS system is good for a stock stereo, I seriously doubt you'd be able to tell the difference in the resolution. The high frequency response isn't good enough (to my ears) to hear the difference between a 256 or 320 kbit MP3 and the original CD source.

That said, the multichannel DVD-A mixes can be very nice, but it has much more to do with the 5.1 mix than the resolution.

Mike

smoore

I have Hootie and the Blowfish's Cracked Rear Window and the 5.1 mix is brutal but the DVD Audio stereo mix on the flip side of the disc is awsome. It really is too bad we cannot select the DVD Audio mixes. When they are on two sided discs the problem is solved but very few DVD Audio discs have this feature.

svtmike

I borrowed that one from a friend and got through about 20 seconds of the first song. You are right, it sounds awful.

Mike

Suleyman

It really all comes down to how the producer decides to mix or remix recordings when converting/recording to DTS or 5.1. Sometimes they sound better and other times you wonder what the guy was on when picking channels for instruments & vocals in surround.

Queen's A Night at the Opera comes to mind. The CD version is better then the dvd-a or dts versions in my opnion as the producer way over mixed a lot of tracks and didn't stick to the basics of "voice on center channel" as the default. In contrast, listen to REM's Just In Time greatest hits (2003) dvd-a version. Very good example of how surround should be. Sound Engineers are getting better at surround and of course the software is getting better.

DVD-A is a fairly new concept for the general production of commercial music but the technology has been around as you know for many years for movies and data storage. Battle with copy protection and SACD is under way and, in my opnion again , dvd has way more to offer in terms of regions, compatibility & security options.

Beta vs. VHS? DVD-A vs. SACD? Let's hope the better one wins this time.

Suleyman...

svtmike

I've got both of the DVD-A's you mention. I actually enjoy the Night at the Opera disc because of the aggressive surround mix. Maybe because it's a sonic experience I can only have in my car. The R.E.M. disc sounds good, but the surround mix isn't particularly notable. I'll have to do a side-by-side with the stereo deluxe edition of that one.

I don't particularly subscribe to "voice on center channel" as a rule. One of the better surround discs I've got is the Toy Matinee DVD-A. I decoded the DTS track on that one to discrete C, FL, FR, SL, SR, and LFE channels, and listened to each channel. On the first track (Last Plane Out), the vocals are strong in FL and FR, but almost non-existent in the center. And it sounds great.

I bought the Porcupine Tree In Absentia DVD-A on recommendation here; that one has a very good surround mix as well: it goes noticably beyond standard stereo imaging but is not overwhelming.

But to each his own; if you don't enjoy the Queen surround disc, don't let me stop you!

Mike