Haute Tension: Dolby Digital vs. DTS

[Franco]

There're some releases of this movie that feature a DTS track (korean and french if I'm not wrong). Anyone that owns any of these releases notice a remarkable difference between DTS and Dolby audio tracks ? Is the DTS track for this film far superior ?

[dwatts]

Well, I didn't notice any difference. But then, I think DTS is largely a waste of time. 9 times out of 10, I can't tell a difference.

[Cujo108]

I love it when people at another board I frequent avoid a DVD release because there's no DTS option. Pitiful.

[dwatts]

Yeah, I recall reading a thread somewhere else that asked the question: "What are the most important extras for a new release". DTS was neck and neck with commentaries for first place!

I'm going to invite an audio expert over one day, and have them examine my otherwise excellent system. Every now and again DTS is good, but as I said, the vast majority of the time it adds nothing, imo.

One of the my recent purchases is the Tigon set from R2. Each film has a DTS track.... talk about pitiful.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by dwatts

Yeah, I recall reading a thread somewhere else that asked the question: "What are the most important extras for a new release". DTS was neck and neck with commentaries for first place!

I'm going to invite an audio expert over one day, and have them examine my otherwise excellent system. Every now and again DTS is good, but as I said, the vast majority of the time it adds nothing, imo.

One of the my recent purchases is the Tigon set from R2. Each film has a DTS track.... talk about pitiful.

I have to agree about the DTS tracks. Some sound really good, but many just don't add much. My sound system is a really good Yamaha set too. Dolby Digital EX does seem to sound really good most of the time however.

Anchor Bay UK puts DTS tracks on the majority of their DVD releases these days (many are mono tracks) since they have some type of license with the company.

[Agent Z]

Originally Posted by dwatts

Well, I didn't notice any difference. But then, I think DTS is largely a waste of time. 9 times out of 10, I can't tell a difference.

Exactly. Worse even, is when they add new sounds into the original track to spruce it up for DTS.

Why people don't complain about this practice more (especially when the original soundtracks aren't available on the disc) is beyond me.

[wizzer]

i love DTS. sometimes i'll watch a movie that might suck but has a dts track just to check out how it sounds. alot of times im not very impressed but i think mostly i just always want to hear more shit coming out of the rear channels. predator DTS kicks ass, it's my favorite one. i wont not get a disc if it doesn't have dts but if it has a DTS avaliable, i usually try to seek out that disc. i too have a yamaha system and i think its great.

[Paff]

Originally Posted by Mission Code Z

Exactly. Worse even, is when they add new sounds into the original track to spruce it up for DTS.

Why people don't complain about this practice more (especially when the original soundtracks aren't available on the disc) is beyond me.

I complain!!

Check my review of Bram Stoker's Dracula for an example.

I'll never understand why so many people are into "gimmicky" soundtracks, that simply up the bass and over-use the surrounds. If you want a real eye-opener, get yourself a copy of Video Essentials and a sound meter, and see how you have your sound set up. I guarantee you have the sub and the surrounds turned up WAY higher than they are supposed to be. Both LFE and surround effects are meant to be subtle...if you can hear them, you probably have them way too loud.

DTS on DVD has completely unimpressed me. Yes, it sounds good, but often no better than the DD5.1 track.

Now, if you really want to hear where DTS makes a difference, check out a DTS Laserdisc. What I love most about DTS Lasers, is that you almost can't tell where your speakers are. It just provides an "enveloping" sound that makes it feel like the sound is in the room with you, rather than being provided by speakers. DTS DVDs do not approach the same effect.

[KR~!]

In order to hear DTS the way it's suppose to be heard you need special speakers and they need to be set up in a special way, then it's better than Dolby. But, if you are not set up for it then I can't see how you could hear any difference.