How should I set up the audio for my 360 HDDVD add-on when watching DD+? Should I set it to output DTS or Dolby? Are there any positives to keeping it set to DTS?
Thanks

set it to dts

As long as your receiver can handle DTS, which it has to unless it's some ancient receiver, then definitely use DTS over Dolby.

I thought the 360 add-on downconverted all HD-DVD audio streams to DD 5.1? What would be the benefit of selecting DTS?

I thought the 360 add-on downconverted all HD-DVD audio streams to DD 5.1? What would be the benefit of selecting DTS?

Dolby Digital is limited to a bitrate of 640 kbps. DTS will allow you to hear it at it's maximum 1.5 Mbps.

Dolby Digital is limited to a bitrate of 640 kbps. DTS will allow you to hear it at it's maximum 1.5 Mbps.

But in the 360's Setting's blade on the dashboard you only have the option of selecting Dolby Digital. So will selecting DTS from the lower menu while the movie is playing allow 1.5 Mbps even though Dolby Digital is selected from dashboard?

But in the 360's Setting's blade on the dashboard you only have the option of selecting Dolby Digital. So will selecting DTS from the lower menu while the movie is playing allow 1.5 Mbps even though Dolby Digital is selected from dashboard?

That is correct. Once the HD DVD starts up, the sound kicks over to what you picked in the lower menu.

I have mine set to DTS so I can get the 1.5mbps sound. And it sounds great.

That is correct. Once the HD DVD starts up, the sound kicks over to what you picked in the lower menu.

I have mine set to DTS so I can get the 1.5mbps sound. And it sounds great.

Wow I had no idea. :eek: Thanks!! :D

Can somebody clarify what the "lower Menu" is and where its located. I understand the audio settings menu in the dashboard but where is this other menu?

Good Info to Know about the DTS Setting!!

When the HD DVD starts playing. Press the -Display- button on the media remote. This will be gring up on on-screen display that has several options. Select -Audio Output- (the option before -Network Settings-) and then a menu will pop up that lets you choose Digital Stereo, Dolby 5.1, DTS 5.1, or WMA 5.1 output.

If you have a receiver that can decode Windows Media Audio then choose that over DTS.

Thank You! I'll check it out as soon as I get Home.

I purchased a fairly inexpensive Pioneer receiver (my ages-old Kenwood was having issues) which has WMA. While I can't say I notice a big difference in the QUALITY of sound between DTS and WMA, the WMA selection certainly seems to have a more balanced volume level. When I used to have DTS selected, I'd have to turn up the volume several dbs to be able to hear it properly (I believe this was a know issue though, as DTS doesn't seem to have the same standards for its volume levels). Does anyone know if WMA is 1.5mbps? I'd assume it must be...

I went home a few minutes ago and tried this out. It worked but I'm not sure if I'm getting the 1.5 Mbps TrueHD feed from movies like The Matrix. The overall sound was definitely lower but more precise like DTS usually is. I had to turn my receiver up to -10db. The score during the lobby scene sounded better coming from my sub which I did notice.

So by selecting DTS from the "Display" menu during playback are we SURE that opens up and allows ANY 1.5 Mbps stream to play through the 360 even though Dolby Digital 5.1 is selected in the dashboard?

Also, is Dolby TrueHD supposed to sound like DTS in that it will be lower in default volume than Dolby Digital 5.1?

I went home a few minutes ago and tried this out. It worked but I'm not sure if I'm getting the 1.5 Mbps TrueHD feed from movies like The Matrix. The overall sound was definitely lower but more precise like DTS usually is. I had to turn my receiver up to -10db. The score during the lobby scene sounded better coming from my sub which I did notice.

So by selecting DTS from the "Display" menu during playback are we SURE that opens up and allows ANY 1.5 Mbps stream to play through the 360 even though Dolby Digital 5.1 is selected in the dashboard?

Yes, absolutely sure.

Yeah I have no clue how all this conversion works.

I figure its not the same as having it run natively as dolby digital plus.

I how hope MS releases an HD_DVD upadte now that they have HDMI on the 360.

I didnt think the 360/add-on setup could pass TrueHD? Even on the HDMI equipped models?

The Xbox 360's core audio subsystem was not designed for HDMI, multichannel PCM, etc. So, even on newer HDMI equipped Xbox 360s... the same audio limits will apply. Being a game system primarily, I don't expect Microsoft will update the hardware.

DTS @ 1.5Mbps is very acceptable, as is WMA Professional @ 1.5Mbps (for the few receivers that support it)... it's a decent solution and gives maximum compatibility.

Thats what I thought. Since I have gotten a new receiver that is HDMI equipped and HD audio ready, ive been trying to decide if upgrading to a standalone would be worth the $$$. Ive had NO problems playing any discs though, and the DD+ on Transformers sounds fantastic so I may just keep using the 'ole add-on.

Yeah, DTS or WMA are the best choices if the HD DVD you're playing has a DD+ or TrueHD soundtrack. You're still not going to get TrueHD quality, but it allows for a lot more bandwidth than the regular DD, which used to be the only option.

I might be wrong, since I'm not near my 360 to check, but I'm fairly certain that DTS is only an option for HD DVD movies (and maybe regular DVDs?). On the dashboard, I think you're only able to select DD or WMA for game audio playback.

Most (if not all) games are only DD.

Remember to always select the audio you want to here from each movie. Some times there is more than one choice. I watched Top Gun. Turned the audio to DTS-HD which I think is the core to the DTS-HD MASTER audio and it sounded awsome. I think I have my XBOX set to Dolby DIgital not DTS. So do some compairing when watching a movie with multiple audio tracks.
TOP GUN is the best I 've heard so far when compairing audio even when compairing them to some of the BLUE RAY FOX TITLES I have.

Does someone know of a few HD-DVD titles that use DTS offhand so I can check it out on my 360?

Why do you need a DTS title to check it out on the 360? Any HD-DVD that has DD+ or TrueHD is going to play in DTS as it is going to be downsampled by the 360, and it'll sound great either way.

Does someone know of a few HD-DVD titles that use DTS offhand so I can check it out on my 360?

Ive noticed though that dd 5.1 sounds louder than dts on the addon. Ive tested this with transformers and batman begins. With the dts, I could barely hear the dialogue while the rest of the mix was pretty good. When I switched to dd5.1, the dialogue was louder and the whole track was way more dynamic. Am I backwards?

No you're not backwards, but your system is having trouble properly handling DTS. This is not uncommon.

How can I fix it then? Im using an Onkyo receiver and have it connected via an optical cable.

Does someone know of a few HD-DVD titles that use DTS offhand so I can check it out on my 360?
chronicles of riddick and disturbia both have DTS soundtracks.

Ive noticed though that dd 5.1 sounds louder than dts on the addon. Ive tested this with transformers and batman begins. With the dts, I could barely hear the dialogue while the rest of the mix was pretty good. When I switched to dd5.1, the dialogue was louder and the whole track was way more dynamic. Am I backwards?

some receivers don't compensate -4 for DTS so it sounds lower.

Ive noticed though that dd 5.1 sounds louder than dts on the addon. Ive tested this with transformers and batman begins. With the dts, I could barely hear the dialogue while the rest of the mix was pretty good. When I switched to dd5.1, the dialogue was louder and the whole track was way more dynamic. Am I backwards?
I had the same issue with mine.....
How can I fix it then? Im using an Onkyo receiver and have it connected via an optical cable.

I also have an Onkyo, and was using the PLIIx with DTS and DD, but after testing I have found DTS while using NEO 6 on the Onkyo to provide noticeably better results than DD and PLIIx.......

DTS plays a little lower on mine as well. At first I just stuck with DD but I tested them both and I found DTS to be crisper probably because its not compressed as much so I switched to that and just bumped up the volume a few db's and it sounds great.

I had the same issue with mine.....


I also have an Onkyo, and was using the PLIIx with DTS and DD, but after testing I have found DTS while using NEO 6 on the Onkyo to provide noticeably better results than DD and PLIIx.......

I'll give it a shot tonight and see how it sounds.

Sorry if this has been brought up before but I am a bit confused and need some help.

1. I want to confirm but DTS and WMA are going to sound softer than DD 5.1 right? I have a Pioneer 94TXH and when I change the setting in the HD-DVD addon to anything other than DD 5.1 there is a noticeable drop off in volume.

2. What exactly is the advantage of WMA vs DTS? I know both are 1.5Mbs so there is less compression over DD 5.1 but what is better. Most AVRs apparently do not handle WMA but the Pioneers happen to do this so I don't know whether I should use WMA vs DTS?

And how does all of these menus interact?

For instance, we have DD 5.1, DD stereo, and WMA on the top Xbox dashboard. Then we have DD 5.1, DTS, and WMA on the step-down HD-DVD drive menu. Finally, we have the audio options on the audio menu on the HD-DVD disc itself. Do I need to match up all of them or will one take precedence or what? Suppose I choose DTS on the disc menu but choose WMA on the HD-DVD player and DD 5.1 on the dashboard. What happens?

It's all a bit confusing so I'd appreciate any clarifications on this.

Thanks for your time

Dennis

If I remember correctly, selecting audio options in the 360 dash only affects DVD's and games. The drop down menu used during HD DVD playback overrides your dashboard setting only for HD DVD's. Seeing that the 360 doesn't pass any of the newer HD codecs, all audio from the HD DVD will be output at whatever format you select in the drop down menu, regardless of what you select in the movies audio menu. So lets say you select TrueDH in the movies audio menu, but DTS in the drop down menu, you will get DTS at ~1.5 mbps output through your optical or HDMI cable. Clear as mud now?