Meeting with some bigwigs at DTS in a couple days, and want to sound a little more intelligent than I really am. I don't tend to cover home theater too much.
Please help!
Do integrators have a preference on DTS v. Dolby Digital? Do customers? What are the key issues that should be addressed?
Thanks for any input you can provide.
-julie

Julie, I think DTS has several white papers on the differences between DTS and Dolby (it's been a while since I looked at it) on their web site, but it can be a bit technical so your eyes may glaze over (great bed time reading).

To summerize the differences, in my words, competing technology companies with different implementations. For me, it really depends on the room acoustics and or source material to determine which is the best.

For example, I've just finished installing several home theatre systems, in the same house with identical equipment lists, where even after the audio calibrations, I suggested different encoding formats for the different rooms using the same source material because it sounded better.

DTS has several white papers on

that is an understatement, but check out these links it may give you the leg up you are looking for.

[Link: dtsonline.com]

[Link: dtsonline.com]

A much better sounding codec then the other company's. If only it were supported. ATSC supports Dolby Digital. You might ask why they have been so slow to bring DTS encoded DVDs to market. At least the story I have been told is that DTS is the reason so few DVDs are DTS encoded. Those few on the market, especially the James Taylor DVD are among the best these ears have heard.

If you want to see them turn green ( or red ) read the Dolby white papers on why DTS's codec does not do what DTS promises. That ought to be an interesting conversation -- and perhaps breif. But as it made headlines in the engineering journals you might wish to ask.

If I could choose a codec it would be DTS. But despite my big mouth no one is asking.

Alan

DTS has slightly better performance specs for their format than Dolby does. So it should sound better, right?
Well, the difference in the specs are very, very subtle for human hearing. But what isn't subtle (sometimes) is the mix. Since each version of a movie or recording is mixed different at each of the respected studios (Dolby / DTS) this is what is going to make the difference in sound.

I've heard the DolbyDigital soundtrack sound better than the DTS version on some movies and the DTS soundtrack sound better on others. So it really comes down to the individual movie or recording. I think when both are avaliable I usually like the DTS version the best, but it's close to half & half. When I don't like the DTS version it's usually because it sounds like they clip the peaks in some of the channels some times (pushing the dynamics to much) or put to much of an effect where it shouldn't be.
IMO

thanks guys--very helpful insights.