Question:
You probably get this post a lot from non technical folk like myself. Whats the difference here and what are the advantages of these 2 sound systems. I've recently came in to little bit of money and want to get the best sound out of my TV for DVD's. I'm willing to spend about £500 on the sounds alone. Anyone give me a hand on anything. I've heard obviously with these systems its just like in the cinema but I've never even seen them let alone hear anything. Thanx for any replys.
Please check the T&C's regarding masked swearing, especially in the thread title
Just get a magazine like What Hi-Fi or some similar magazine you can pick up at your local newsagents.
Basically, although DVDs offer 9.4gig of storage, sound and video still need to be compressed to enable a full length movie to fit onto the disc. The video DVD standard is MPEG2.
There are two audio standards:
The specifications of DVDs state that every DVD must have a dolby digital track on them to ensure that everyone will be able to listen to one soundtrack (all DVD players can downmix to stereo) even if it's a DD mono or DD2.0 option.
Most new discs will have dolby 5.1 tracks encoded at 384kbps or 448kbps (like mp3, the higher the sample rate, the less compression, so in theory the better quality sound). Most commentary tracks/2.0 tracks are 192kbps.
DTS was set up as an alternative compression technique that encodes at 768 or 1536kbps. The higher samppling rate means that in theory, more frequency responce and better sound. However, the thing to remember is that DTS isn't the same as the dolby track but higher quality - they are done by different companies. Sometimes the dolby track will be better than the DTS track and sometimes there's no difference.
To complicate matters further, there are the new 6.1 standards.
Dolby 5.1EX and DTS 6.1 matrix has a "phantom" rear channel encoded into the discs. With a compatible amp, this channel will be created "virtually" with 5.1 speakers.
DTS-ES 6.1 discrete however, actually has separate rear channel so you will physically have 6.1 speakers.
Good amps to look out for in your price range are Yamaha and Marantz (£200-£300) leaving you about £200 to spend on speakers.
Good Luck
DTS is usually better than Dolby Digital, there are a few exceptions when the Dolby track has actually been superior to the DTS track.
I have just bought a Denon 1803 amp for £199.
Cracking amp at a top price. A lot of places are still charging £300 - 350 on the high street.
Try w*w.empire-direct.co.uk for the Denon.
Others here swear by the Marantz amps, but at the shop where I work we have had a few back that have developed faults, so I wouldn't touch the Marantz range personally.
Its strange how your perception of a brand changes once you start working in an AV shop. We opened up a brand new Sony 28" WEGA TV for display, within a week, the tube had gone, this is the 2nd Sony that has gone bust in as many months.
Please check the T&C's regarding masked swearing, especially in the thread title
Answers:
Just get a magazine like What Hi-Fi or some similar magazine you can pick up at your local newsagents.
Answers:
Basically, although DVDs offer 9.4gig of storage, sound and video still need to be compressed to enable a full length movie to fit onto the disc. The video DVD standard is MPEG2.
There are two audio standards:
The specifications of DVDs state that every DVD must have a dolby digital track on them to ensure that everyone will be able to listen to one soundtrack (all DVD players can downmix to stereo) even if it's a DD mono or DD2.0 option.
Most new discs will have dolby 5.1 tracks encoded at 384kbps or 448kbps (like mp3, the higher the sample rate, the less compression, so in theory the better quality sound). Most commentary tracks/2.0 tracks are 192kbps.
DTS was set up as an alternative compression technique that encodes at 768 or 1536kbps. The higher samppling rate means that in theory, more frequency responce and better sound. However, the thing to remember is that DTS isn't the same as the dolby track but higher quality - they are done by different companies. Sometimes the dolby track will be better than the DTS track and sometimes there's no difference.
To complicate matters further, there are the new 6.1 standards.
Dolby 5.1EX and DTS 6.1 matrix has a "phantom" rear channel encoded into the discs. With a compatible amp, this channel will be created "virtually" with 5.1 speakers.
DTS-ES 6.1 discrete however, actually has separate rear channel so you will physically have 6.1 speakers.
Good amps to look out for in your price range are Yamaha and Marantz (£200-£300) leaving you about £200 to spend on speakers.
Good Luck
Answers:
DTS is usually better than Dolby Digital, there are a few exceptions when the Dolby track has actually been superior to the DTS track.
I have just bought a Denon 1803 amp for £199.
Cracking amp at a top price. A lot of places are still charging £300 - 350 on the high street.
Try w*w.empire-direct.co.uk for the Denon.
Others here swear by the Marantz amps, but at the shop where I work we have had a few back that have developed faults, so I wouldn't touch the Marantz range personally.
Its strange how your perception of a brand changes once you start working in an AV shop. We opened up a brand new Sony 28" WEGA TV for display, within a week, the tube had gone, this is the 2nd Sony that has gone bust in as many months.
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