Some movies have better Dolby and DTS tracks than others...

[pyrate83]

Anyone else ever noticed this? I have found DTS to be a better sound quality altogether but when watching Dolby Dig. movies, I have noticed that the sound quality is better in some movies than others. Goldeneye, both my backup copy and original, aren't the best Dolby Digital recordings I have come across in movies and I just thought that all movies done in Dolby Digital are going to sound the same(quality wise). I guess I am wrong in this. I guess some of the older movies done in Dolby Digital don't seem to sound quite as good as the more recent ones. I suppose that's not unheard of either since technology is always improving.

[vivisimonvi]

No matter what audio signal it's encoded in, it ultimately depends on the source. True "digital" sources are an exception as the source is created specifically for the format it's for (like in newer movies). Most old movies that are converted for DVD, reuse the analog source and 'upgrade' it to DD, this is an example.

Concerning DTS vs. DD, it's subjective to say one is better than the other. It would be easier to believe DTS sounds better because most DTS tracks are made more for special effects movies, the types of sounds that grab your attention (Digital THEATER sound). Some concert DVD's use DTS as well.

One factual difference between the two is that DTS takes up a lot more space when it's encoded as an audio track, compared to DD that takes less space.

[pyrate83]

Thanks vivisimonvi. Sounds like I was on the right track with my thinking. That explains why a movie like Scarface or even Indiana Jones sound a bit different from many of the current release movies(i.e. not quite as crisp or clear). I still enjoy any movie though regardless of the sound differences. I did know that the DTS track takes more space than a DD track but I still backup both tracks anyway.

[scubasteve2365]

DD also sets no standard in a quality compression scheme. They are more open to putting their label on something than DTS, therefor the quality can be confusing. DD bitrates vary from disc to disc, and from source to source. (thats why you can get DD from satelitte providers, because they dont care what the Bitrate is generally, Sat providers offer a lessened bitrate from the DVD counterpart), DTS is encoded at a much higher bitrate, and is a more thourough sound format. DTS generally will always sound better, but even their standards are dropping down. It used to be you had to order the movie in DTS , and it cost more. Now lots of movies are bringing out DTS standard. DTS still gets my pick for preference.