Taken at face value, I vote DTS; because i never listen to Dolby Surround except for older-older movies with 2 channel soundtracks only.

I'm sure you meant DTS vs Dolby Digital.

Dolby Surround is a 2-channel matrixed format (look here) - there is no equivalent from DTS (except perhaps DTS Surround Sensation).

you didn't mess up the format, but you messed up the formats

so, DTS vs DD

While it's true DTS has a higher bit rate (full rate is 1.5mbps) most movie soundtracks only carry half-rate DTS (700+kbps).

If you are switching between the two while watching movies it isn't really a fair comparison because DTS is known to be recorded slightly (4db) louder than DD; you can't really perceive the added loudness but it sounds "better" on casual listening. Match the levels, and in a blind test probably no one can tell the difference.

The only way to compare the two properly ... check out this thread

It all boils down to the mixing and mastering - similar to DVD-A/SACD vs CD; DVD-A/SACD has a much higher bitrate than CD but some well recorded CDs can sound as good as SACD and you can mess up mixing/mastering SACD and it'll sound worse.

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Jun 25 2009, 04:28 AM

that's ok... just some info and light reading for u

there's a lot of formats to keep up with and some people long for the day when you could just plug in left and right and get sound.

it doesn't matter how good your equipment is if you are comparing on the same equipment the variable is only the format

perhaps because they were battered into submission


I thought the soundtrack on the Star Wars Episode I & II were awesome (forget the movies - but the sound was fantastic) and they're "only" DD

if you are still wondering, perhaps you don't understand the previous posts

both formats record the LFE at +10db

this sounds good after you calibrate your system properly, and then you start using SACD and DVD-A and its all f*d up, because you've compensated your subwoofer for the +10db and SACD and DVD-A record the LFE same as the other channels.