Dolby ProLogic vs. DD 5.1 (or DTS)

[ArkiStan]

After months and months of research and saving up, I've finally managed to complete my HT setup, and thanks to the kindness of Black Francis, I am assured that the HT is properly setup and configured as well. I've been watching all my older movies and I must say that it's a whole new experience with my new setup. One thing I enjoy doing is to compare the ProLogic tracks to the 5.1 Ch tracks(DD or DTS), and I must say there's a world of difference between the two. Of course ProLogic provides somewhat of a surround experience, but the 5.1 Ch tracks are so much more enveloping and atmopsheric, not to mention having a much deeper, fuller and richer bass channel as well. Now I understand why so many people are addicted to this stuff.

Hallelujah!!

[Leon]

Wait until you hear DTS ES. Heh.

[ArkiStan]

Yeah I've heard of that. It's a 6.1 Ch system huh? Where will the one extra channel go? In the ceter rear? Sounds pretty intersting. Anyway, I ended up getting that Denon AVR-1801. I love it so far. I understand it has "6 Ch inputs." Does that mean I can easily take advantage of the new 6.1 Ch software when it's introduced into the market? If so, what extra hardware wood I need?

[hapoo]

Just to clarify "prologic" is analauge 4 channel surround. Your talking about dolby digital.

[LPMiller]

you'd need a 6.1 decoder, and/or inputs/outputs for 6.1.

Personally, I don't see it really taking off in the home crowd until DVD's get encoded with a 6.1 track on a regular basis.

[Apex]

Ever compare just Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS? The sound difference is huge. I was very impressed.

[mcdanelz]

I have wanted to but DTS encoded DVD seem to be pretty rare.

[Apex]

Bone Collector is a DTS one that's pretty impressive. They encoded the rerelease of Terminator 2 (the metal box) in DTS.

[ArkiStan]

Yeah I noticed DTS encoded discs aren't as widespread as I'd like, but the one's that are out there are pretty impressive. Big difference over DD 5.1. Actually If you want to really test out the performance power of you HT, the opening scene of Toy Story2 is one hell of a house shaker. It's not DTS, but it'll push the limits of your equipment pretty hard. Try it out.

[Nija]

DTS audio tracks cost a lot of money to make, and most studios don't make them, because of the demands... Just ta let ya know..

Nija

[Black Francis]

Glad to hear you are enjoying your setup ucbstan. The depth charge scene in U-571 is pretty amazing if your subwoofer can handle it. There is a DTS version of Saving Private Ryan that is good demo material as well. Other movies I use to show off my system:

The Matrix (helicopter scene)
Toy Story 2 (already mentioned)
Gladiator (several different scenes)
Eagles: Hell Freezes Over DTS


There are others, but I can't think of them all right now.....enjoy!

[ufcrusher]

Actually Toy Story and Toy Story 2 both have DTS tracks. A lot of the movies that are out there are actually filmed in both DD and DTS.

The real reason why many movies werent released in DTS on DVD is because first generation DVD machines and the receivers people bought to go with them, did have DTS capability. As such, if a customer bought a movie that was released solely in DTS and didnt have the capability they would have no sound. This explains why Blockbuster and Hollywood dont rent just DTS disc. Another reason is that DTS actually doesnt compress as well as DD. This means that it takes more disc space to get the DTS soundtrack then it does the same DD soundtrack, (Dances with wolves is 2 disc in DTS vs. 1 disc in DD, another example is that in early DTS movies there werent as many special features put on the disc because of space requiremetns) As a result, many disc werent put out in DTS. THe funny thing is DTS was actually created before DD, as a format for the next generation of CD's, the system was then seen as an alternative way for surround sound. At this point unless you are buying older technology your machine is capable of both DD and DTS and a good portion of the disc that are released now are offered in both sound formats.

In case you havent figured this out yet, most systems are set up to default in DD, since it is the minimum that most people have. You have to go through your audio setup in up to three places to get everything in sync. First, you always want your receiver set up in automatic detection mode. This means that it will switch to either DD or DTS, depending on which ever signal is being transfered. Second, you have to have your DVD player set up so that it knows it has a DTS capable receiver. Finally, you need to go through the audio selection and choose DTS on the disc itself.

For a listing of DTS movies go to www.dts.com and they list most of the movies that are being released on DVD with DTS. WHen you are watching movie previews you can tell if it is going to be released in DTS by the final credits in the moniker or the ad. It will usually be at the very bottom.

Lastly, watch out for movies which are released multiple times. A good example of this is Twister. First generation didnt have DTS although it was actually in our first DTS demo disc. The second generation did have it, so when you find movies sometimes you will happen upon an older copy.

[ArkiStan]

Wow I didn't know Toy Story 2 had a DTS track. I'll check it out!! And I have U-571 and it definitely has a great house shaking DTS track.

And I'd like to take this chance to really thank Black Francis for his kindness. I've setup my HT and I absolutely love it!! I just wish there was a way to return the favor somehow. Just let me know if there's any help needed! I'm sure I'm not the only one this forum that's willing to pay you back. Thanks again!!

[ArkiStan]

hmmm my toy stories don't have DTS tracks. I got them as the Part 1 and 2 bundle....I guess I got the bad apple or something!!....well, I just discovered my Galaxy Quest and Chicken Run DVDs have DTS tracks as well....time to watch them again.

[ufcrusher]

Well I just double checked...I could have sworn it did but I was wrong. I know a bunch of them do, I will double check my collection and let you know which ones do. I know for a fact that Fantansia and Fantasia 2000 both have it, as well as Emperors New Groove.

[eSDee]

Someone care to explain the technology behind DTS?

[ArkiStan]

Well, I don't know how much information you're asking for here, but from my very limited knowledge(correct me if I'm wrong, people), I can tell you that it's basically another method of audio encoding that let's you experieince audio tracks in multi channel surround. On DVDs and some special CDs it let's you watch movies or listen to music in 5.1 channels, just like Dolby Digital 5.1 encoding. Although it requires much more space on the disc, it generally sounds much better than Dolby Digital 5.1. It provides a much more spacy and active surround sound field as well as better bass effects, too I believe. It's not as common as Dolby Digital yet. With some exceptions, you can usually find it only on high-budget blockbusters movies so far. However, as more and more people are buying DTS compatible receivers, more and more movies are being made with it. For more technical info, somebody else is gonna have to help you. hope that helped.

BTW, ufcrusher, that link you gave us for the DTS website seems to be wrong. check it out

[ufcrusher]

OK - Its www.dtsonline.com. It gives a list of DVD's with DTS (which I have copied here), plus has a faq, dts audio, etc. (which I didnt copy).

12 Monkeys (Universal)
102 Dalmations (Buena Vista)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (DVD, Ltd)*
Above all Else: The Everest Dream (Unapix)
Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, The (Universal)
Aguilera, Christina - Reflection (Image)
Alice in Wonderland (DVD, Ltd.)*
Almost Famous (DreamWorks)
American Beauty (DreamWorks)
American Pie-Ultimate Edition (Universal)
America's Greatest Roller Coasters (Goldhil)
Amistad (DreamWorks)
An American Vampire Story (York Ent)
Antz (DreamWorks)
Apollo 13 (Universal)
Around the World in 80 Days (DVD, Ltd.)*
Auditions from Beyond (Koch Full Moon)
Baaba Maal - Live Ryl Fest. Hall (Rykodisc)
Babe (Universal)
Bach: Naxos Musical Journey (DVD Int'l)
Bandstand Boys (5.1 Ent)
Barefoot in the Park (Paramount)
Beastmaster, The (Anchor Bay)**
Bee Gees - One Night Only (Image)
Beethoven: Piano Vol. 1 - Italy (DVD Int'l)
George Benson - Absolutely Live (Pioneer Video)
Best Man (Universal)
Best of Tina Turner: Celebrate! (Image)
Big Band Christmas (5.1 Ent)
Big Picture Box: Discoverers/Dolphins… (Image)
Big Trouble in Little China (CBS/Fox)
Black Arrow (DVD, Ltd.)*
Black Beauty (DVD, Ltd.)*
Blast from the Past (Newline)
Blues Brothers 2000 (Universal)
Bone Collector, The (Universal)
Born on the 4th of July (Universal)
Bowfinger (Universal)
Boxer, The (Universal)
Bring It On (Universal)
James Brown Live - House of Blues (Image)
Bruckner: Naxos Musical Journey (DVD Int'l)
Bruckner: Symphony 4 (DVD Int'l)
Brutally Live: Alice Coooper (Eagle Rock)
Bull Busters (Goldhil)
Burn the Floor (Universal)
Captive (York Ent)
Caribbean Dreaming:US Virgin Isls (DVD Int'l)
Cast Away (CBS/Fox) ***
Caveman's Valentine, The (Universal)
Chain Reaction (CBS/Fox)
Chicken Run (DreamWorks)**
Christmas Angel (Amer. Gramaphone)
Christmas Goes Baroque - Switzerland (DVD Int'l)
City Hall (Castle Rock)
Classic Christmas (5.1 Ent)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Columbia/Tristar)
Contender, The (DreamWorks)
Courage Under Fire (Fox)
Coyote Ugly (Buena Vista)
Sheryl Crow - Rockin' the Globe (Image)
Crow, The (Buena Vista)
Crow, The: City of Angels (Buena Vista)
Steely Dan: Two Against Nature (Image)
Dancer in the Dark (New Line)
Dances With Wolves (Image)
Dante’s Peak (Universal)
Dark Half, The (MGM/UA)
Daylight (Universal)
Dead Fire (York Ent)
Devil's Rain, The (VCI)
Die Hard I (Fox)
Die Hard II (Fox)
Die Hard III (Fox)
Dinosaur - Movie Only (Buena Vista)
Dinosaur - Special Edition (Buena Vista)
Discoverers - IMAX (Image)
Dolphins - IMAX (Image)
Don Quixote (DVD, Ltd.)*
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (DVD, Ltd.)*
Dragonheart (Universal)
Dreamscape - Special Edition (Image)
Dudley Do Right (Universal)
Eagles – Hell Freezes Over (Image)
Ed TV (Universal)
Emperor's New Groove, The (Buena Vista)
Extreme Champ. Wrestling - Barely Legal (Pioneer)
Extreme Champ. Wrestling - Deep Impact (Pioneer)
Family Man, The (Universal)
Fantasia (Buena Vista)
Fantasia 2000 (Buena Vista)
Fantasia Anthology: Special Edition (Disney)
Final Playback (York Ent)
Flintstones, The (Universal)
Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas (Universal)
For Richer or Poorer (Universal)
Peter Frampton: Live in Detroit (Image)
Freefall Extreme: Ultimate Skydiving Adv (Goldhil)
Galaxy Quest (DreamWorks)
Get Carter 2000 (Warner)
Gladiator (DreamWorks)**
Gone in 60 Sec. - 25th Anniv. (Ventura)
Grieg: Folk & Dance Melodies - Norway (DVD Int'l)
Gripen: The Saab-BAE Systems (Pioneer)
Gumboots (Image)
Guitar Odyssey, A: Wired for Sound (Goldhil)
Handel: Naxos Musical Journey (DVD Int'l)
Handel: The Messiah - Bavaria (DVD Int'l)
Haunting, The (DreamWorks)**
Haydn: Naxos Musical Journey (DVD Int'l)
Haydn: Symp. 103 & 104 (DVD Int'l)
Head Over Heels (Universal)
Heaven's Fire (York Ent)
Don Henley: Live Inside Job (Image)
Hercules (DVD, Ltd.)*
House of Yes, The (Miramax)
Hunchback of Notre Dame, The (DVD, Ltd.)*
Immergent Series Sampler (5.1 Ent)
In Search of Dracula (Image)
Interview with a Vampire (Warner)
Italian Fest: Naxos Music Journey (DVD Int'l)
Italians, The (Unapix)
Ivanhoe (DVD, Ltd.)*
Jackal, The (Universal)
James and the Giant Peach (Buena Vista)
Jaws - 5.1 re-mix (Universal)
Joseph & Amaz Tech Dreamct (Universal)
Jurassic Park (Universal)
Karaoke #1-5 (DVD, Ltd.)*
Karaoke: Christmas (DVD, Ltd.)*
Karaoke: Spanish Love Songs (DVD, Ltd.)*
Chaka Khan - BET on Jazz (Image)
Kidnapped (DVD, Ltd.)*
B.B. King - BET on Jazz (Image)
Ben E. King - B.E.T. on Jazz (Image)
King Crimson – Live (Rykodisc)
King Solomon's Mines (DVD, Ltd.)*
Earl Klug - BET on Jazz (Image)
Lady and the Tramp II, The (Buena Vista)
Last of the Mohicans, The (DVD, Ltd.)
Last of the Mohicans, The (Fox)
Legend (Universal)
Legend of Bagger Vance (DreamWorks)
Legend of Hiawatha (DVD, Ltd.)*
Lethal Weapon (Warner)
Lethal Weapon II (Warner)
Lethal Weapon III (Warner)
Liar Liar (Universal)
Little Rascals, The (Universal)
Living Sea: IMAX (Image)
Lost Souls (New Line)
Lost World: Jurassic Park (Universal)
Love Goddesses, The (Image)
Magic of Flight - IMAX (Image)
Man in the Iron Mask, The (DVD, Ltd)*
Man on the Moon (Universal)
Maniac (Anchor Bay)**
Barry Manilow "Live" (Image)
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers (Image)
Keiko Matsui - BET on Jazz (Image)
Paul McCartney: Live (Image)
Me, Myself & Irene - Special Ed. (Fox)
Meet the Parents (Universal)
Men In Black (Columbia/Tri Star)
Meet Joe Black:The Ultimate Ed. (Universal)
Mercury Rising (Universal)
Mickey Hart - Planet Drum (Rykodisc)
Luis Miguel: Vivo (Warner)
Mission Kashmir (Digital Ent. Inc.)
Joni Mitchell - Painting w/Words (Image)
Moody Blues: Live from Royal Albert Hall (Image)
Monkeybone (CBS/Fox)
MouseHunt (DreamWorks)
Mozart: Naxos Musical Journey (DVD Int'l)
Mozart: Piano Concerto 13 & 20 (DVD Int'l)
Mummy, The: Ultimate Edition (Universal)
Music for Montserrat: Live (Image)
Mussorgsky: Scenes from Russia (DVD Int'l)
Mysteries of Asia (Unapix)
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam (Image)
Nightmare Before Christmas (Buena Vista)
Notting Hill: Ulitimate Edition (Universal)
Nutcracker, The (5.1 Ent)
Nutty Professor, The (Universal)
Nutty Professor II-The Klumps, The (Universal)
Nutty Professor II-Uncensored, The (Universal)
O Brother Where Are Thou? (Buena Vista)
Odyssey, The (DVD, Ltd.)*
Odyssey, The: Wired for Music (Goldhil)
Opera (Anchor Bay)**
Roy Orbison - B&W Nights (Image)
Jeffrey Osborne - BET on Jazz (Image)
Out of Sight (Universal)
Paris Concert for Amnesty (Image)
Patch Adams (Universal)
Paulie (DreamWorks)
Peacemaker, The (DreamWorks)
Peek of Pandora (DVD, Ltd.)*
Peter Pan (DVD, Ltd.)*
Phish - Bittersweet Motel (Image)
Pitch Black - Spec.Ed. Rtd/UnRtd (Universal)
Point Break (CBS/Fox)
Predator (Fox)
Primary Colors (Universal)
Prince: Rave Un2 the Year 2000 (Image)
Prince of Egypt, The (DreamWorks)
Prisoner of Zenda (DVD, Ltd.)*
Prophet's Game, The (York Ent.)
Radiohead (Capt'l/EMI)
Lou Rawls - BET on Jazz (Image)
Reaches (DVD, Ltd.)*
Red Violin, The (Universal)
Remember the Titans (Disney)
Rimsky Korsakov: S. from R. (DVD Int'l)
River Wild, The (Universal)
Road to El Dorado, The (DreamWorks)
Road Trip (DreamWorks)
Rob Roy (DVD, Ltd.)*
Robin Hood (DVD, Ltd.)*
Rock, The (Buena Vista)
Rock & Roll High School (Image)
Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter (Criterion)
Romantic Moments with Beethoven (5.1 Ent)
Romantic Moments with Handel (5.1 Ent)
Romantic Moments with Mozart (5.1 Ent)
Romantic Moments with Schubert (5.1 Ent)
Romper Stomper (Fox)
Salute to Vienna (DVD Int'l)
Santana - Supernatural Live (Arista)
Saving Private Ryan (DreamWorks)
Tom Sawyer (DVD, Ltd.)*
Science of Magic, The (Unapix)
Seven (New line)**
Siege, The (Fox)
Shadoan – (DVD Ltd.)*
Shadoan: Kingdom 2 (Digital Leisure, Inc.)
Shadow, The (Universal)
Shadow of the Vampire: Spec. Ed. (Universal)
Silverline Series Sampler (5.1 Ent)
Paul Simon - Live in Paris (Warner)
Small Soldiers (DreamWorks)
Southerner, The (VCI)
Spanish Fest: Naxos M. J. (DVD Int'l)
Spartacus (Criterion)
Billy Squier: Live in the Dark (Pioneer)
Stargaze (5.1 Ent)
Stormchasers - IMAX (Image)
Story of Us (Universal)
Street Corner Justice (York Ent)
Stunt Man, The (Anchor Bay)**
Super Racers (Unapix)
Suspiria (Anchor Bay)**
Swingin' for the Fences - B. P. B. (5.1 Ent)
Tchaikovsky: Ballet Music-Russia (DVD Int'l)
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (DVD Int'l)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony 6 (DVD Int'l)
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto (DVD Int'l)
Teaching Mrs. Tingle (Buena Vista)
Terminator 2 - Ultimate Edition (Artisan) ***
Terror of Frankenstein (Image)
Thin Red Line, The (Fox)
Thirteen Days-Infinifilm Ed. (New Line)
Three Musketeers, The (Buena Vista)
Three Musketeers, The (DVD, Ltd.)*
Thrill Seekers (York Ent)
Titan AE (Fox)
Randy Travis: Live (Image)
Treasure Island (DVD, Ltd.)*
Tina Turner: Celebrate! (Image)
Tina Turner – Live in Amsterdam (Image)
Twister - Collector's & Spec. Edit. (Warner)
U-571 - Special Edition (Universal)
Unbreakable (Buena Vista)
Unlawful Entry (CBS/Fox)
Venice Underground (Techno)
Verdi:Overtures & Ballet Mus.-Italy (DVD Int'l)
VH-1 Divas Live '99 (Image)
VH-1 Storytellers-The Doors (Image)
Vigilante (Anchor Bay)**
Virus (Universal)
Viva Espana!: Naxos M. J. (Universal)
Vivaldi: Naxos M. J. (DVD Int'l)
Watcher, The (Universal)
Waterworld (Universal)
Westward Ho (DVD, Ltd.)*
What a Blast (Unapix)
What Lies Beneath (Universal)
Wind in the Willows (DVD, Ltd.)*
Mark Whitfield & JK - BET on Jazz (Image)
Bobby Womack - BET on Jazz (Image)
Women on Top (5.1 Ent)
X-Files, The : Fight the Future (Fox)
X-Men-Animated Series (Universal)
Yakuza Way, The (York Ent)
Neil Young - Red Rocks Live (Warner)
Neil Young - Yr. Horse (USA Home Ent)
Zigzag (DVD, Inc.)

[ribitch]

I have a Sony 550 Watt rec. along with a Sony DVP-CX850d. Its a 200 Disc DVD changer. I got it for 230 from bestbuy. It was a last item and they didnt think they would carry it anymore. It is the best 230 bucks ive ever spent.

Anyways, it has DTS. The best movie in DTS this far is T2 Ultimate Edition. The gattling gun scene is awesome.

The crow is great too. The gun scene is f@#$ing great. You gotta crank it up.

T2 is a must own for anyone who uses dts. Its a movie that deserves to be used to brag about your system.