Dolby and DTS' new audio schemes worth it?
DBJ listens at Dolby Labs.
(Credit: Home Entertainment)You bought an audio-video receiver a couple of years ago, and now you're wondering whether it's time to trade up and get a model that features Dolby and DTS' new lossless codecs, TrueHD and Master Audio, respectively.
Judging by the numbers they should sound markedly better than standard Dolby and DTS, but according to a recent article in Home Entertainment magazine, the sonic differences were small to negligible. You can read the full article here.
David Birch-Jones and HE's editor-in-chief, Geoff Morrison, visited Dolby Laboratories and DTS' headquarters to listen to the new formats under ideal conditions, comparing them to standard Dolby and DTS. Birch-Jones and Morrison were hard-pressed to hear significant differences.
I have limited experience listening to the two contenders, and I never managed to do speedy A-B comparisons. That said, from what I've heard, I thought that TrueHD and DTS Master Audio were better than the older formats, especially in the areas of imaging, spaciousness, top-end detail, and "air."
Ah, yes, but Morrison pointed out that even if you can reliably switch between, say, standard Dolby and Dolby TrueHD, and hear a significant difference between the two, the improvement may be traced to differences in the mixes of the two codecs on a given Blu-ray Disc. They may have been sourced from different masters, and that would account for the improved sonics.
Even so, film mixers and mastering engineers are just beginning to take advantage of the potential of the lossless formats, so I expect the sound encoded on discs to improve over the coming years.
How about you? What have you heard? Are you thrilled, or are the new codecs a big yawn?
Steve Guttenberg is a frequent contributor to magazines and Web sites including Home Entertainment, Playback, and Ultimate AV. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. 
People rather listen to a large number of MP3 music than a small amount of CD quality music.
Do you think people would still care about quality of music?
Now we have portable device that can hold up to 8G/16G/32G/more of music, however people who use those device, they don't carry CD quality music with them, instead they carry thousands of MP3 music. What do you think?
so yes, you do have to upgrade your receiver. although the onkyo tx-sr606 can do it for only 400 bucks, cnet has a review, the 605 got a better review because it has more competition now (that's the one I'm gonna get tho because I need to get audio for my tv because the speakers on it suck)
When it comes to the lossless formats, it's a whole different ball game. DTS HD-MA, and Dolby TrueHD are huge steps up in the audio game from their legacy counterparts. TrueHD does not have any of the problems that DD or DD+ have, and HD-MA is just straight up fantastic. I totally agree that certain discs sound better than others (not all the sound engineers out there are perfect at these formats yet), but HD-Audio is truly amazing.
I've done a lot of A/B testing in my own system (Denon AVR, Denon DVD, Toshiba HD-DVD, Definitive Speaker system), with the HD-Audio done through PCM, and I've had hours of A/B testing performed on a reference grade system (Denon AVP/POA separates, Denon Blu-Ray transport, Sony ES Disc changer, BG Radia plannar ribbon speaker system). I will definately say I have great equipment to be working with, but such equipment shows off the sonic differences between all of these formats.
Now when panasonic releases its 7.1 HTIB with Blu-Ray, I doubt it will fill your ears with joy, but it will be different than anything else you've yeard, but it will not be reference grade. If you have an oportunity to visit a reference grade system, or just a high quality one with all the necessary stuff for HD-Audio decoding within the receiver, I recommend you take advantage of the situation and do a good listening test for yourself. My AH HAH moment was doing an A/B with the Matrix DVD and the Matrix HD-DVD (DD vs. Dolby True HD). Similar tests can be done with Spiderman (TrueHD), and Fantastic 4 (DTS-HD MA) on Blu-Ray. Happy listening!!!!
To my ears, the lossless audio didn't offer much improvements in the busier more explosive moments in my Blu Ray collection. But I couldn't help but notice the clarity the lossless formats provide in the quieter moments. The lossless audio helps clarify the ambient details that are going on throughout all the channels of the system. It is almost like the busy world around the characters is given more life. Some may consider that a small item. But considering the intention of surround sound is ultimatey to immerse you into the film you are watching, I think that is anything But small.
Also, you need pretty decent equipment to even take full advantage of the new codecs (speakers being the most important part of the audio chain).
Lastly, even if you have the best source & equipment, this isn't a guarantee that everyone will hear a difference. People still have trouble seeing the difference between SD-DVD and Blu-ray, let alone audio codecs.
If you've got the money and want the sound quality to blow you away, awesome....knock yourself out! =0)
-Ben
<off-topic> I'm always wondering how people fit 7.1 onto their living rooms?
maybe you all have much bigger living-rooms (or no wifes) ;). 5.1 is the most I could manage.
Jim
P.S. Ben, I also have TX-SR500-e and to solve the "problem" I'm going to buy a blu-ray player with an analogue-out (like the panasonic DMP-BD55) then the decoding will happen the the player and my receiver will just amplify the incomming 5.1 signal.
- by tushar mandrekar July 20, 2009 9:37 PM PDT
- I agree with most of the posters above. I have a reasonably good receiver with great D/A conversion and reasonably good speakers and the difference between the old and new is quite noticeable in terms of fine detail and quietness. I would think that unless you have a pretty good sound system you may not benefit. Regarding decoding on the BR or the receiver, I think most of the recent players will decode and send through HDMI. I would be hesitant to rely on analogue outs as analogue circutis on BR players differ brand by brand and if you have spent good money for a good D/A converter on your receiver you are less likely to get a superior conversion on a Blu ray player, though Panasonic, Oppo, and I believe Pioneer do a reasonably good job.
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