Multi Channel Music is Amazing

So I had never really heard true multi channel music before I got a copy of the DTS Demo Disc #9, special thanks to one of our members, anyways....I never understood why ppl were willing to pay all this money for a universal player and etc....after hearing the Blue Man Group with Dave Mathews in 5.1 DTS and Crystal Method in 6.1 Discrete I'm sold...now I just need to find a cheap universal player. Is there alot of Rock type music in DVD-A or any multi-channel versions, from what I've seen its more "laid-back" type music like classical and jazz? Oh well, im done rambling now I just wanted to say I know what you guys are talking about with quality music now, an mp3 just doesnt do justice to a decent sound system or song.

Spiffyfast said:

special thanks to one of our members

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Humm, I wonder who that was. (obvious no fingers need to be pointed to the guilty culprit)
(I hope he gave it to you for free. )
Yea, I was going to give a review of this Demo disc.
I have heard about 10 demo discs, and this clearly takes the cake for sound with ease.
If your 1015tx is set right, it should say DTS 96/24 for the Blue Man Group....

Another good thing on that disc is the Swedish Radio Station (I think its called The Run) No video, but great surround effects...

yeah, thats what it said with blue man group, and the cypress hill video rocked too, im almost sold on getting a universal player now. I know what disc Im going to throw in when I demo my system for my buddies at school

If you can't afford the NeoNeo, pick up a Pioneer DV-578A or 588A. The the 588 (the newer version of the 578...duh) is like $130 online from a reputable dealer.

Aw heck, I'll even get you a link: http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/480386568?v_c=PriceGrabber

And Vanns is an authorized dealer, so you'll get your warranty (FWIW, that's only 13 bucks more than a non-authorized dealer...so...yeah)

What about the new Denon 1920, its a universal now, and has video upconversion through HDMI, it lists at like 350, but I have a 20% off oppurtunity with Ultimate Electronics so it would be like 280 and change.

What I can't understand is why you need a special DVD-A player to have multi channel audio. What I just played on the DTS Demo Disc sounded great, are there a lot of regular dvds that have multi channel audio tracks?

Spiffyfast said:

What about the new Denon 1920, its a universal now, and has video upconversion through HDMI, it lists at like 350, but I have a 20% off oppurtunity with Ultimate Electronics so it would be like 280 and change.

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That seems like a deal, if you could pick it up for 280 shipped....
But there are others that have many more I/O's. If connectivity is an issue.
(hint/hint)
However I thought you were stuck on the Oppo????
Doesn't that have 5.1 analog out?

Yeah, the oppo says it can play DVD-A so it could still be an option

Spiffyfast,

If you like rock music then check out Linkin Park Reanimation in DVD-A. You will be entertained I believe. If you like REM, I also recommend any or all of their discs on DVD-A.

Where can I get this fabled DTS demo disc #9?

ebay turns a few up... but is there a better route? (raises eyebrows)

Somebody? Anybody?



~Josh

alandamp said:

Spiffyfast,

If you like rock music then check out Linkin Park Reanimation in DVD-A. You will be entertained I believe. If you like REM, I also recommend any or all of their discs on DVD-A.

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linkin park is one of my favorie bands, so if i do end up getting a universal ill def. have to pick it up

The Reanimation DVD-A is pretty darn good. Great use of surrounds and very well mastered. The Live in Texas DVD is actually pretty good in 5.1 too, much better than the CD. Now if LP would just start putting the rest of their stuff out on DVD-A....

Spiffyfast said:

So I had never really heard true multi channel music before I got a copy of the DTS Demo Disc #9, special thanks to one of our members, anyways....I never understood why ppl were willing to pay all this money for a universal player and etc....after hearing the Blue Man Group with Dave Mathews in 5.1 DTS and Crystal Method in 6.1 Discrete I'm sold...now I just need to find a cheap universal player. Is there alot of Rock type music in DVD-A or any multi-channel versions, from what I've seen its more "laid-back" type music like classical and jazz? Oh well, im done rambling now I just wanted to say I know what you guys are talking about with quality music now, an mp3 just doesnt do justice to a decent sound system or song.

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I'm wondering if you are not confusing surround with multi channel...

DTS is digital surround (as is DD 5.1) and uses a digital connection between the DVD player and the a/v receiver.

Multi channel is analog and requires a DVD player configured for multi channel (SACD or DVD-A), plus 6 analog cables between DVD player and the individual cable inputs at the a/v for multi channel. In this case, the a/v has no processing function and you may need to calibrate the bass management accordingly.

You use a basic DVD player to play DTS Music disc's and the DD or DTS surround tracks in DVD-A's which carry these digital tracks.

You use a Universal DVD player for Multi Channel analog playback of DVD-A and SACD. Or you can configure it to play with the digital connection to the a/v.

mfabien said:

.Multi channel is analog and requires a DVD player configured for multi channel (SACD or DVD-A), plus 6 analog cables between DVD player and the individual cable inputs at the a/v for multi channel. In this case, the a/v has no processing function and you may need to calibrate the bass management accordingly.

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DVD-A and SACD are certainly not analog. They don't necessarily require 6 analog cables to play them. This is only the result of copy protection concerns. Some manufacturers have proprietary means of transmitting the data digitally from the source to the receiver. In this case, the receiver will be doing the processing. If these formats stick around, hopefully HDMI/HDCP will get rid of those annoying six analog cables and clear up some consumer confusion in the process.

alandamp said:

DVD-A and SACD are certainly not analog. They don't necessarily require 6 analog cables to play them..

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High Resolution multichannel is analog. Some DVD-A's contain other tracks such as DTS and Dolby Digital which can be played with digital connection.

alandamp said:

This is only the result of copy protection concerns. Some manufacturers have proprietary means of transmitting the data digitally from the source to the receiver. In this case, the receiver will be doing the processing. If these formats stick around, hopefully HDMI/HDCP will get rid of those annoying six analog cables and clear up some consumer confusion in the process.

Click to expand...

Not relevant at all.

mfabien said:

High Resolution multichannel is analog. Some DVD-A's contain other tracks such as DTS and Dolby Digital which can be played with digital connection.



Not relevant at all.

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Im trying to figure out how a SACD or a DVD-A is an analog source. It's in a digital format so at its base elements its just 1's and 0's...to me it does sound like a copy right thing, just like how they have I-Link or Fire wire and some other proprietary ways to send it digitally to the receiver if you are using compatible equipment.

mfabien said:

I'm wondering if you are not confusing surround with multi channel...

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surround is multi channel, I wasn't confusing anything. I know how it supposed to hook up with the 6 analog cables, was more just curious why we have to hook it up that way if multi channel sound is easily passed through digital connections.

mfabien,

You are either confused or aren't saying what you mean.

DVD-A and SACD are digital formats. Period. There is no argument.

If you don't believe me, look up the info on Audioholics main page. Or a million other sources on the net.

Don't argue. You will just confuse more people who don't understand these formats. Simply do a little research or just think about it for a second. What is analog? How can you think an optical disc is an analog format? Do you also think that CD is analog?

Alan is correct. If it's on a disc, it's digital. Period. The hires tracks are typically PASSED via analog because of copy protection concerns, and also because of the fact that the MUCH higher data rates are apparently too much for optical/coaxial digital connections. Most receiver manufacturers did not build in the decoding chips for high res tracks either (probably because they wanted to see which one would survive), and without those, you must rely on the player to do the decoding.

Spiffy, DVD-A and SACD are considerably higher resolution than DD/DTS digital tracks, they are basically like MP3 - compressed formats that keep the data rates down.

If you like NIN, go pick up the DTS version of And All that Could Have Been DVD. It's full bitrate (1509k) DTS and the sound is pretty amazing. Most movies are half bitrate (754k).

Exactly. If it's on a disc, it's digital. In the case of SACD's and DVD-A's the D-A conversion is done by the player. For DTS and DD it can be done at the player or the receiver.

Spiffyfast, if you're going to be using your surround setup for music then you really need to get a player capable of decoding the DVD-A and or SACD signals. If not, you won't hear everything your disc has to offer. You can pick up an inexpensive combo player for under $150. While the DTS layer is good, it's surpassed by the higher resolution of DVD-A and SACD...in most cases. I say most cases because I think it comes down to the competency of the recording and/or mixing engineer. A couple excellent sounding DTS discs come to mind: The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" dvd in DTS, sounds great as does Alan Parsons' "On Air" DTS audio only disc. Both of these sound better than some DVD-A and SACD discs I've heard. On more than one occasion I've had listeners in my home impressed with DVD-A and SACD recordings but blown away by "On Air" in DTS. In general terms, however, a well-engineered DVD-A or SACD disc will sound quite a bit better than a well-engineered DTS disc.
I don't think you can find DTS music only discs still being munufactured.