Dollby Digital Quality Difference

[KENDOMUSIC]

I seem to notice that Dolby Digital sound coming from my cable HD channels is much better than Dolby Digital sound from my DVD player. I was watching the TV show "Cold Case" and in the background played Elton John's "Rocket Man" and it sounded way better than the Elton John DVD that I had. Where do you attribute this difference? The sound from the HD Channel sounded a lot clearer and less harsh. I have a Denon 3805 and Klipsch speakers. The DVD player is a Samsung with SACD/DVD upconversion.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I seem to notice that Dolby Digital sound coming from my cable HD channels is much better than Dolby Digital sound from my DVD player. I was watching the TV show "Cold Case" and in the background played Elton John's "Rocket Man" and it sounded way better than the Elton John DVD that I had. Where do you attribute this difference? The sound from the HD Channel sounded a lot clearer and less harsh. I have a Denon 3805 and Klipsch speakers. The DVD player is a Samsung with SACD/DVD upconversion.

I would say it is the way the TV program was mixed with that song.

 

[Thunder18]

Assuming you are using optical digital or digital coax then the issue is not your dvd player as your dvd player would be passing the Dolby Digital signal untouched to your receiver. Your receiver takes the signal and converts it from digital to analog. Same as it would do with the Dolby Digital signal coming from your cable box.
Chances are high that what you're hearing are the differences in the way the material was mastered. Someone has to mix that Elton John soundtrack so it meshes well with the show.