Best method to decode DTS WITHOUT QUALITY LOSS?

[m1ndripper]

What is the best method to decode DTS without quality loss?
I have a WDTV and it cannot decode DTS, so I am looking for any other codec that I can decode DTS into. It will be then muxed into a MKV file with AVC video and played back as a video file. I just don't want any quality loss (or minimal quality loss) because dialogue is very important in the film.

Thanks!

[Baldrick]

Popcorn MKV AudioConverter or MKV2AC3 and convert to AC3.

[guns1inger]

What are you going to be listening to the audio on ?

[m1ndripper]

What are you going to be listening to the audio on ?

The audio will be muxed into a video file and will be played back on a WDTV.

Oh and doesn't converting DTS -> AC3 result in quality loss? How about DTS -> WAV is that possible?

[yoda313]

How about DTS -> WAV is that possible

Yes but I don't know if the wdtv supports multichannel wav.

Why don't you try out 448kbps ac3 from your dts and see how it goes?

I don't think you have a pure lossless option with dts on the wdtv.

If you want to go that route you may have to consider investing in a bluray burner or m2ts files on a playstation 3.

[m1ndripper]

Matter of fact I do have a PS3
Will the overall file result in better quality than my mkv file I have? The file is 720p with DTS audio.
Is it really worth converting to .m2ts files?

[Delta2]

Matter of fact I do have a PS3
Will the overall file result in better quality than my mkv file I have? The file is 720p with DTS audio.
Is it really worth converting to .m2ts files?

As far as I know PS3 doesn't decode DTS

try to convert using Popcorn audioconverter or MKV2AC3

If you use MKV2AC3 just select a EMPTY DSTINATION FOLDER, select a AC3 Normalization, your desired bitrate....and go

it takes just a few minutes, you can then figure it out by yourself

[m1ndripper]

Ok, I guess AC3 is the best option here. Hopefully there will be a minimal difference, converting 1500kbps DTS to 448/640kbs AC3 makes me cringe though lol but I guess its the best option.

[Delta2]

Ok, I guess AC3 is the best option here. Hopefully there will be a minimal difference, converting 1500kbps DTS to 448/640kbs AC3 makes me cringe though lol but I guess its the best option.

In MKV2AC3 select 640kbps, and give a soft normalization, at least for my ears it sounds better

Then give your feedback how it sounds like

[guns1inger]

What are you going to be listening to the audio on ?

The audio will be muxed into a video file and will be played back on a WDTV.

Oh and doesn't converting DTS -> AC3 result in quality loss? How about DTS -> WAV is that possible?

The WDTV is only passing the audio through to something else - an amplifier or TV. If you have a cheap amp or TV speakers (traditionally awful) then you won't notice the difference between DTS @ 1536 kbps and AC3 @ 448 kbps. However you can go up to 640 kbps for AC3.

[m1ndripper]

Ok thanks for your help guys.
I do have TV speakers lol, so thanks for clearing that up guns1inger. I am using Popcorn MKV AudioConverter and I was wondering, should I check the Downmix to Stereo box or should I just leave it as 6 channels? I will run the audio through TV speakers

[guns1inger]

I prefer to keep as much of the original quality as possible as the intention is always to get better equipment at some point in the future. If you downmix to stereo then you wont be able to come back to 5.1 later on without starting again.

However if this is more of a 'now' proposition, you might find that going to stereo is the simplest solution.

[m1ndripper]

I'll just stick it out with 6 channel.
Thanks again