[tomdkat]

After quickly perusing the various posts in the above listed threads, I thought of some comments of my own.....

Regardless of which audio track *can* be proven to be the "best", how will the consumer know that? Won't they have to use THEIR ears to judge which they like the best?

When my brother was visiting me from Florida, I did some DD vs dts and THX DD vs THX dts audio comparisons for him using U-571 as the test material. I would think MOT of you would agree that U-571 has great audio, both DD and dts.

I played the SAME scene (opening depth charge scene) for the same duration, first with the DD audio then the dts audio, BOTH with THX processing OFF... then a second round with THX processing ON.

Yes, my brother could HEAR the difference between the DD and dts audio and REGARDLESS of the THX processing, he opted for the DD audito each time. He just preferred the "sound stage" presented by the DD audio. The sound that came from the front speakers didn't sound like it was coming from any particular speaker, but from the front and he liked that. With the dts audio, the dialogue (basically reporting how busted the sub was) came distinctly from the center speaker. With the DD audio, this sound seemed to come from the front, but didn't sound as distinctly from the center channel.

Does this mean HE thinks DD is "better" than dts? Probably... does this mean DD *is* "better" than dts? Probably not. Just because I like dts audio over DD, why must everyone around me also have the same preference?

Like IndyPhantom indicated, dts can sometime be "overbearing" in the home environment, something the THX processing specifically tries to address.

I had some friends over once and gave them a dts demo using Gladiator and they LOVED it! They thought dts ROCKED! Then I played the opening battle scene again, which is what I played the first time around, but with THX processing enabled and they were less enamored with the audio and preferred the THX-less version. Why? Because it sounded more "dynamic" to them. How did it sound more "dynamic"? Well, for one the highs (like when the archers where shooting the bows) were much higher, and sharper WITHOUT THX processing than WITH THX processing.

I don't think this, alone, defines how the dynamics of the audio changed w/ THX processing but it gave THEM the perception of different dynamics.

As for TPM DD EX audio, the BEST comparison should be between the TPM LD and any dts DVD. Even though the TPM LD and DVD use basically the same mix, the 10db difference in volume between the LD and DVD (not to mention the xdb difference in volume between the TPM DVD and other DVDs) can make the LD sound "better" than the DVD counterpart.

(By the way, the TPM DVD was about 10db LOWER in volume than the LD)

Peace.....