Dolby Anounces TrueHD Format

[Audioholics]

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/cedia/cedia2004/DolbyTrueHD.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 105px; HEIGHT: 70px" alt=[DolbyTrueHD] hspace=0 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/DolbyTrueHD_th.gif" align=left border=0></A>Dolby Laboratories announced its latest advancement in lossless audio technology, Dolby TrueHD, which is designed to complement the recent developments in high-definition optical disc formats. With Dolby TrueHD, home theater viewers will experience audio performance equal to the highest-resolution studio masters currently available. These two Dolby technologies are essential elements of next-generation high-definition entertainment, having been adopted for use in both the HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats. Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus technologies are mandatory audio codecs in the HD DVD format as well as optional features in the Blu-ray Disc format. Dolby Digital is mandatory in both formats.

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[terror_beast]

I'd like to know what advantage DTS-HD offers in light of the new Dolby TrueHD codec. Before, when only DD Plus was announced, DTS-HD offered lossless audio as an advantage, but now it seems as though Dolby has pretty much all the bases covered.

And second, why the heck hasn't the BluRay group made DD Plus and Dolby TrueHD mandatory?! Especially DD Plus since it's backwards compatible with Dolby Digital anyway.

Oh, and does anyone know whether DTS, or DTS-HD is mandatory on either BluRay or HD-DVD?

t

 

[Cygnus]

Oh, and does anyone know whether DTS, or DTS-HD is mandatory on either BluRay or HD-DVD?

It probably won't be seeing as it appears that it wasnt, on DVD.

 

[racquetman]

I'd like to know what advantage DTS-HD offers in light of the new Dolby TrueHD codec. Before, when only DD Plus was announced, DTS-HD offered lossless audio as an advantage, but now it seems as though Dolby has pretty much all the bases covered.

And second, why the heck hasn't the BluRay group made DD Plus and Dolby TrueHD mandatory?! Especially DD Plus since it's backwards compatible with Dolby Digital anyway.

Oh, and does anyone know whether DTS, or DTS-HD is mandatory on either BluRay or HD-DVD?

t

DTS (in one form or another) is mandatory on both formats (http://www.audioholics.com/news/pressreleases/dtsbluray.php). But there is one thing you have to remember. HD-DVD and Blu-ray can make all the codecs mandatory they want, but all that means is that their hardware must decode those formats. Ultimately it will be up to the studios that release the software to decide what form of audio will go on the discs. They will decide whether the "added value" of better resolution audio will be used or whether they will stick with regular DTS and DD for the most part.

 

[macersl]

Arg! I just bought a new receiver.

I got it to upgrade to EX/ES and PLII/Neo6. I'm sure this will not be as earth shattering as the jump from PL to Digital. What do you think guys; is it worth me returning my receiver and waiting it out? I can still cansel my auction for my current receiver on Ebay.............

 

[L-Jay]

I got it to upgrade to EX/ES and PLII/Neo6. I'm sure this will not be as earth shattering as the jump from PL to Digital but god it's never ending. What do you think guys is it worth me returning my receiver and waiting it out? I can still cansel my auction for my current receiver on Ebay.............

I was gonna upgrade mself, but now I'm thinking about throwing my money into a amp. I wouldn't let this stop me from buying what I want though. If anything I'll upgrade now and wait until all this mess settles down.

How long is it gonna take for this tech. to not only hit the shelves but have enough software to go around and all at a reasonable price?

Does anyone have any guesses?

 

[terror_beast]

DTS (in one form or another) is mandatory on both formats (http://www.audioholics.com/news/pressreleases/dtsbluray.php). But there is one thing you have to remember. HD-DVD and Blu-ray can make all the codecs mandatory they want, but all that means is that their hardware must decode those formats. Ultimately it will be up to the studios that release the software to decide what form of audio will go on the discs. They will decide whether the "added value" of better resolution audio will be used or whether they will stick with regular DTS and DD for the most part.

That's a good point AlanDamp, but as folks like Macers will appreciate, having mandatory decoding built into every player means quite a bit. I personally won't be upgrading my receiver or pre/pro until there are receivers that accept DD Plus, DD TrueHD and DTS-HD over HDMI, but in the meantime, at least we can use the 7.1 analogue outputs on the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray players and the 7.1 analogue inputs on our receivers.

But I'm still wondering what DTS-HD now has to offer as an advantage over Dolby now.

t

 

[racquetman]

That's a good point AlanDamp, but as folks like Macers will appreciate, having mandatory decoding built into every player means quite a bit. I personally won't be upgrading my receiver or pre/pro until there are receivers that accept DD Plus, DD TrueHD and DTS-HD over HDMI, but in the meantime, at least we can use the 7.1 analogue outputs on the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray players and the 7.1 analogue inputs on our receivers.

But I'm still wondering what DTS-HD now has to offer as an advantage over Dolby now.

t

Why are you worried about DTS having an advantage over Dolby? Are you under the impression that DTS is better than Dolby right now? That is certainly up for debate (and has been debated in this forum multiple times). DTS currently offers discrete 6.1 where Dolby does not. I guess you could call that a slight advantage, although very little software actually contains DTS-ES discrete. I realize many prefer DTS soundtracks, including myself, but that is not necessarily because DTS is better than Dolby.

Both will coexist just fine together, whether you think one is better than the other or not. If you have a preference, listen to the soundtrack you prefer. With both codecs being mandatory for the blue laser formats, you will likely have that choice.

 

[terror_beast]

I have no vested interest in DTS. I'll typically select a DTS track if it's there on current DVDs, but I don't particularly care. I'm just wondering because it seems as though DTS is going to have a bit of a tough battle. I think it's fair to say that Dolby is currently the market leader. Clearly DD Plus and Dolby TrueHD are aimed at not only maintaining, but increasing that lead over DTS. I'm just interested as to what people think DTS can do to compete.

t

 

[bigbassdave]

so am I correct to assume that I will need a new receiver when these new techs hit the market? Or will there be upgrades availible for some current receivers?