Dolby has more bass than DTS

[sodamail]

My LD copy of Idependance Day has more bass in Dolby Digital 5.1 than in DTS!
I'm told DTS encodes the LFE channel 4 db lower than Dolby, is that true?

Sodamail

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[chlngr1970]

I wouldn't call it "more," but maybe more boomy. I have noticed that dts has tighter, cleaner bass than DD and will choose dts over DD every time. Hopefully, we won't have to make that choice anymore as the new WB releases have both the full bitrate dts and DD on the same disc.

j

[clortho]

Here's the difference as I understand it. I may be wrong, so if there's someone out there who can correct me or better explain what I'm about to type, please do.

Dolby Digital does not have more bass, it is merely the illusion of more bass because in the compression/encoding process, certain frequencies are thrown out (much akin to the way mp3s are encoded, it also follows the same argument often..That the human ear cannot distinguish when some frequencies are deleted and they will never be missed, though those of us with good ears will say otherwise ). Comparing a DTS vs Dolby Digital track will give example of this. Typically (unless the sound was complete crap to begin with), the DTS track will sound more full and the bass better defined all around. However, since the DD track has to throw out some of these frequencies to fit within its specs, the bass is less defined, and actually becomes a bit more muddy...giving the illusion that it has more bass when it actually does not, it is simply missing the more finely tuned bits of the original bass in the track.

Clortho

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I am the Keymaster
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[This message has been edited by clortho (edited 06-02-2000).]

[Chili Palmer]

chlngr1970 and clortho.......you guys are exactly right. I agree...dts is tighter and the DD is very muddy. sodmail and surround man....are you guys anti dts and trying to stop consumers from buying dts dvds? Or, are you guys not willing to get on the dts train??

[sodamail]

In my original posting, i was asking about the differences of encoding levels concerning
the LFE channel between DD and DTS.
I have made many tests with DD and DTS versions of the same movie mostly on Laserdisc.
I agree with you the bass with DTS codec is tighter and more precise, it is a real fact.
But, i'm asking again if anyone knows about the differences of encoding levels of the LFE between DD and DTS.

thanks everyone

[clortho]

There was something Peter made mention of in one of his editorials a short while back about the upcoming Lethal Weapon/Twister/Interview with the Vampire revisits about the Dolby Digital track being louder because everything was normalized during the master process I think. If I find the link (it shouldn't be too difficult), I'll add it in.

Clortho

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I am the Keymaster
clortho@hotmail.com

[clortho]

This comes right from the Twister review at http://www.dvdfile.com/software/revi...twister_se.htm :

As is the case with all the June 2000 Warner Dolby Digital/DTS reissues (see also INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE and LETHAL WEAPON) all five titles are mastered at 0dB, the same as the DTS tracks. But with Dolby Digital decoders that contain dialog normalization compensation, a 4dB boost is applied to the DD tracks. This indeed puts them 4dB higher than reference level and the DTS tracks. On decoders with defeatable or no dialog normalization, the tracks will play at reference. Toggling between them at the same volume, the Dolby Digital appears to have a stronger bass presence while its dialog and effects sound slightly thin and overpowering. This is attributable to the higher-than-reference mastering level.

Hope that helps!

Clortho

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I am the Keymaster
clortho@hotmail.com

Unfortunately, Peter is incorrect.

The Dolby Digital soundtracks on these titles were mastered with neutral (matched) dialogue and dialnorm levels. As a result, there is no attenuation of these titles' Dolby Digital soundtracks: a common consequence of the dialnorm system.

Both the DTS and Dolby Digital soundtracks on Warners' new DTS/Dolby Digital titles will therefore play back at exactly the same volume.

Peter states that the dialnorm system will 'boost' the output volume of these titles' Dolby Digital soundtracks on some systems. This is incorrect. Dialnorm will only ever attenuate playback levels: it will not boost them. On a dual-format audio system, the DTS and Dolby Digital soundtracks from Warners' titles will play at exactly the same volume.

On most systems, Dolby Digital soundtracks are attenuated by 4dB or more by the dialnorm system. As a result, most Dolby Digital soundtracks are quieter than their DTS equivalents. This volume difference makes direct comparisons of the two systems extremely difficult. Warner Bros have deliberately encoded their dual-format titles with neutral dialnorm values to eliminate this difficulty, ensuring that both soundtracks will be heard at the same output volume.

Contrary to Peter's statement, deactivating the dialnorm system would not alter the Dolby Digital soundtrack's playback level: the Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks would still be heard at exactly the same volume.

Adam

[This message has been edited by Adam Barratt (edited 06-04-2000).]

[AgentBond007]

Recently I purchased a new Sony DD/DTS 5.1 reciever. Upon reading the manual I found and a little asterisk at the bottom pertaining to the LFE(Sub-woofer)(BASS) channel info for DD and DTS. According to the manual DTS LFE is 10 db lower than DD. While I can set my DD LFE to max +0 db I can set the DTS LFE to max +10 db. So according to this manual when DTS LFE is set to +10 db it has the same level of bass as when DD setting is set to +0 db. Sony is a pretty respectable company so this is more likely than not the answer to your question. I hope this info helps>

dts titles are more detailed than dd soundtrack.i already have two titles in dts
which are twister and saving private ryan their soundtrack are great and fantastic and have more bass than dolby digital.
i hope someday dts will be the standard soundtrack on dvd.
believe me guys dts is far more great than
dolby digital.i try it.
jihad nader.


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jihad nader

[sodamail]

You're absolutely right, DTS at 1511 kb/s sounds almost always better than DD, but what i'm trying to know is why on my receiver some DD titles got more bass than the DTS titles.
I 've made many a/b comparisions between DD and DTS versions of the same movie on Laserdisc, and the result is that i got a volume of bass around 4 db highter on the DD versions, i'm talking about volume of bass not quality.
My receiver is the Pioneer VSA-E07 loaded with
DD/DTS/MPEG and All the THX features.
It's the asian and european version the top of the line Pioneer Elite receivers at 2300$.
I have learned for DTS that most of the receivers of the market decode DD soundtracks 5 db lower than the DTS soundtracks.
So why can i hear the bass from Dolby 4 or 5 db highter than the DTS on my receive?
That's what I'm trying to fing out.
Anyway, thanks everyone for your replies to my first post.

Au revoir

Sodamail