PCM vs DTS-MA vs TrueHD First Time Ever

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Okay, I did my first comparison of these 3 codecs on the same disc (Red Cliff BD) using my Galaxy Digital SPL. I looked at the Beginning of 3 chapters that had Action Scenes and looked at my SPL for 30 seconds each time and did each one 3 times just to be sure. First was PCM, second was DTS-MA, then last was TrueHD. Here are the results. I set the SPL to Slow and C-weighted.

Sample 1: PCM 92.5dB, DTS-MA 93.5dB, TrueHD 95.5dB.

Sample 2: PCM 95.5dB, DTS-MA 97.5dB, TrueHD 100.5dB.

Sample 3: PCM 91.0dB, DTS-MA 95.0dB, TrueHD 97.0dB.

So in Sample #3, the TrueHD was 6 dB Louder than PCM!

 

[j_garcia]

All that would seem to tell us though is that the mastering is different does it not? It isn't like they are all mastered at the same level and should ideally yeild the same results, so what does comparing one to another on levels alone tell us?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

All that would seem to tell us though is that the mastering is different does it not? It isn't like they are all mastered at the same level and should ideally yeild the same results, so what does comparing one to another on levels alone tell us?

It just emphasizes the importance of level matching.

So if someone said that TrueHD sounded the "best", we can see why. It's LOUDER than both DTS-MA and PCM in this particular disc.