Does DD5.1/DTS make that much of an improvement to your viewing experience?

[Richie V]

Does Dolby Digital 5.1 / DTS Surround Sound make that much of an improvement to your home viewing experience? I didn't have space to fit it all in the title!

Well, the time has finally come and I'm about to pop my 5.1 cherry . With the arrival of my student loan I've taken the plunge and bought my first ever DVD Home Cinema system. Having never had surround sound and only experiencing it in the cinema, I'm anticipating its arrival like a kid at Christmas; it really is quite pathetic

I've bought this system, the specs may not be mind blowing but I'm sure it'll suffice my medium sized room. For £96 including delivery I think I've gotten quite a good deal, it was the cheapest I could find that model online and being a poor student was all I could afford!

I'm suspecting this topic has been discussed a million times before but what the hell, I'm excited I posted it here in Off Topic as it's more of a general discussion then a 'problem'.

So...

What 5.1 surround sound system do you own?

Can you remember when you first experienced 5.1 surround sound outside of a cinema setting? What was your first impression?

What films do you recommend I should unleash on my new system? I have the Lord Of The Rings box-set at the ready!

Cheers for reading / polling!

P.S I realise that Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS are two different audio formats, but I'm talking about surround sound in general

[Noahtuck]

Not even a question!!!

I remember when i bought my first Pro Logic, my second was a reciever i paid $1000.00 for, actually i still have it, must be over 10 years old, maybe 15!! I'd have to get behind it and check the manufacturing date, it weighs like 40 pounds nd it still kik's @$$, although it's in my son's room for him because anything we want to watch in the best quality we do it in the living room.

Nothing beats DTS 5.1 8)
DTS 5.1 is usually a higher bitrate than DD 5.1 so i alway's go for the DTS sound if availible on any given title.
Man... movies... there are a ton!! Gladiator was alway's one of my fav's in DTS, saving private ryan in DTS, Nothing like hearing 100's of arrow's wizzing all around, past & over your head, and machine gun fire, mortar's, mines going off all around you
man... i'd have to go look through the 100's of movies i have

And even a small system, set up good, in small room, when going from basic stereo to 5.1.... You should be happy 8)

[gadgetguy]

My first surround system was cheap, only allowed a single input and basically did a mediocre job at best, but when it broke and we had to use only the basic stereo system for a while we really missed it. I have a new system now and it has been added to my list of "if it breaks it is imperative that it be replaced immediately" items.

[Hardcoreruss]

Without a doubt

[rallynavvie]

I have to be one that says it only makes a difference when using it with a good source. A lot of movies implement some surround at the beginning and then never come back to it, then there are some that use surround throughout the film and it makes for a much more immersive experience.

My personal favorite, and one of the best uses of surround I've experienced so far, is Master & Commander. All through the movie you either hear the water running along the side of the ship, wind in the rigging, or general background noise from the rest of the ship. In fact it can be a little distracting sitting to close to one of the rear speakers because you actually pick up dialog coming from another part of the ship. It's pretty cool.

However some films are the opposite. A lot of action flicks use the surrounds as extra drivers for loud noises but otherwise leave them alone. And then there's using the surrounds with a non-surround feed, emulating the surround, which causes some wierd effects sometimes. Generally I use stereo mode on my receiver for those programs.

Also make sure to check out the Simpsons in surround if you have that available.

[yoda313]

Definetatley!


To me audio is as important if not more important than visual quality. Since I don't have a big screen tv nor hdtv sound is most important to me.

I have a dd/dts 5.1 sony digital amp from several years ago. Only 80watts per channel but definitely sounds good. Nothing beats a room shattering boom or flyby to make a movie come alive

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Some chick at work had a DVD on her desk the other day, some horrid chick-flick with Jack Black. I think it was called 'the holiday' or 'the vacation' or some other stupid crap.
I noticed it was in DD &/or dts and immediatly thought "what's the ******* point? It's a damned chick-flick. All of the audio is going to be coming out of the center channel -- yak yak yak yakety yak yak....."

[guns1inger]

But all those violins swell up out of the surrounds and drown out the sounds of sobbing and nose wiping that inevitably goes along with such drivel. Another reason surround is good.