Lionsgate can't seem to decide which hi-res sound format to use. They started out just porting over the DTS/DD tracks from their DVD releases (I think.) Then they were using DTS-HD High Resolution for a while, then they upgraded to Master Audio. Now they seem to be starting to use PCM. Wonder if they'll use exclusively PCM from now on or both PCM and Master Audio depending on the title. I'd rather see them use the latter, gives them more space for extras.

I pointed this out a while back. They vary from release to release. Sometimes they use DTS-HR, DTS-MA, PCM, there is absolutely no rhyme or reason to why they use what they use on each release. This has been something they've been doing for quite a while.

Yeah I just find it interesting as it seems all the other studios "Standardize" on one format.

Oh just curious if I'm mistaken - DTS-HR is basically just double the bitrate of standard DTS right (1.5 to 3.0 MBPS)?

It's really quite annoying to be honest. For example, Weeds: Season One has DTS-HD HR 5.1 while Season Two has PCM 7.1! I mean what the hell?

They started out just porting over the DTS/DD tracks from their DVD releases (I think.)

No thats not technically true. The standard DVD versions would have DD with a bitrate of 448kbps and DTS at 768kbps. The Blu-ray releases would still use the same DD and DTS tracks but had a maxed out bitrate (DD at 640kbps and DTS at 1.5 Mbps respectively).

Oh just curious if I'm mistaken - DTS-HR is basically just double the bitrate of standard DTS right (1.5 to 3.0 MBPS)?

DTS-HD High Resolution is an audio compression format with a maximum bitrate of 6 mbps on Blu-ray and 3 mbps on HD DVD. It supports a maximum of 7.1 discrete audio channels.

Standard DTS on the other hand has a maximum bitrate of 1.5mbps (also known as full-rate) on both Blu-ray disc and HD DVD. It supports a maximum of 5.1 discrete audio channels.

What is the advantage to PCM 7.1 vs the other hi res audio formats? aren't they all lossless?

What is the advantage to PCM 7.1

Gives me 7 channel lossless on my PS3:D
Other than that lossless is lossless from all reports.

It can be anything between 768Kbps and 5760Kbps on Blu-ray. But so far we've only seen 3Mbps used.

While we're on the topic of DTS HD HR, does anyone know how DTS HD 96/24 is handled when it's fully internally decoded by the player and output as LPCM? Queen Rock Montreal is one disc (the only one?) that's in this format.

I believe Dave Matthews at Radio City Music Hall Blu Ray is also 96/24.

I believe Dave Matthews at Radio City Music Hall Blu Ray is also 96/24.

Yes, but DTHD, not DTS. Still, how does the PCM look from that? Is it simply 5.1 PCM/96 kHz?

Yes, but DTHD, not DTS. Still, how does the PCM look from that? Is it simply 5.1 PCM/96 kHz?Isn't that obvious? If 5.1 @ 96/24 audio is encoded losslessly via TrueHD, the same 96/24 PCM comes out the other side when decoded.

What is the advantage to PCM 7.1 vs the other hi res audio formats? aren't they all lossless?

PCM is equal in quality to both DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD as long as the bit depth and sample rate is equal to each other. Also as long as DTS-HD MA and TrueHD do not have dialog normalization applied.

PCM also takes up much more space due to its uncompressed nature.

Of note, DTS-HD High Resolution audio is NOT a lossless sound codec. It is lossy just as standard Dolby Digital and DTS are lossy. Although it has its advantages in comparison to the two older codecs in that it supports much higher maximum bitrates and up to 7.1 channels of audio.

Isn't that obvious? If 5.1 @ 96/24 audio is encoded losslessly via TrueHD, the same 96/24 PCM comes out the other side when decoded.

Fair enough, but my original question was about DTS HD HR @ 96/24 and I asked primarily because the core from that is actually regular DTS @1.5mbps/48kHz with the 96/24 flag/info stripped. So the question is, when it's fully decoded internally, does it become PCM@96kHz or 48kHz.