Dolby True HD vs. DD 5.1

Greg Matty · 01-12-07, 06:17 PM

I can see a clear advantage in picture quality between HD-DVD and SD-DVD but I am having a hard time hearing the difference between True HD and the typical 5.1 SD's come with.

Batman Begins is my only really good first run HD-DVD right now and though I love the sound of Dolby True HD, I can't hear where it is really better. Maybe my ears aren't the best or maybe I just don't know what to listen for.

Can anyone put into words what I can look, er listen for? I would like to show off my HD-DVD player to some buddies and they'll likely see the PQ improvement, thought it isn't huge, but I think audio will be lost on them as it is on me.

I am running HDMI through my Onkyo 804 and have of course selected TrueHD as the audio format so I am sure I have everything setup okay. Can anyone clue me in?

Greg

Turtleboy · 01-12-07, 07:42 PM

I dunno. This is a music area.

What's your favorite Super Audio CD?

blaser · 01-12-07, 07:47 PM

Greg,

You're right. DD is already perfect..... I see it like a person having 9999999999999999999$ in the bank, while another one's having 1265916271487169818796$. Who's richer???

Theoretically the second, practictically anyone of them will be more than enough!!

Milt99 · 01-12-07, 09:13 PM

Greg,
At the risk of telling you info that you already know, here is what I know about and have experienced with DD, DD+ and TrueHD.
DD is usually 384kb/s but is capable of 640kb/s.
DD+ is capable of 3mb/s but is usually either 640kb/s or 1.5mb/s
It is usually encoded at 16/48 or 24/48.
TrueHD is basically MLP 24/96 capable i.e., DVD-Audio.
Stories vary but people I trust say that TrueHD is more often encoded at 16/48 than 24/48. AFAIK, no studio currently has the capability to record at 24/96.

I don't know that I could discern the difference 1.5 DD+ and TrueHD blind.
I think it depends more on the quality of the soundtrack and believe me, there is a huge difference between soundtracks.

What I hear between DD and DD+\TrueHD is a lot fuller more rounded, natural sound. DD sounds thin by comparison to me in most soundtracks.
The ability to listen to soundtracks at reference levels without fatigue or harshness.
To me the improvement in sound is as great as the PQ improvement.
My pre/pro allows me to apply DPLIIx to anything so I apply it to all soundtracks. It is also very nice.
If you'd like a suggested list of HD DVD soundtracks, I be happy to give you some of my favs. BTW, Batman Begins is one them. GREAT soundtrack.
HTH.

Greg Matty · 01-12-07, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtleboy

I dunno. This is a music area.

What's your favorite Super Audio CD?

Sorry buddy. I saw the words "Surround" and "Format" and comletely spaced on the word "Music." I try to post in the right forum so as to avoid cluttering up the wrong board and sure enough I blew that here.

Greg

Greg Matty · 01-12-07, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milt99

Greg,
At the risk of telling you info that you already know, here is what I know about and have experienced with DD, DD+ and TrueHD.
DD is usually 384kb/s but is capable of 640kb/s.
DD+ is capable of 3mb/s but is usually either 640kb/s or 1.5mb/s
It is usually encoded at 16/48 or 24/48.
TrueHD is basically MLP 24/96 capable i.e., DVD-Audio.
Stories vary but people I trust say that TrueHD is more often encoded at 16/48 than 24/48. AFAIK, no studio currently has the capability to record at 24/96.

I don't know that I could discern the difference 1.5 DD+ and TrueHD blind.
I think it depends more on the quality of the soundtrack and believe me, there is a huge difference between soundtracks.

What I hear between DD and DD+\TrueHD is a lot fuller more rounded, natural sound. DD sounds thin by comparison to me in most soundtracks.
The ability to listen to soundtracks at reference levels without fatigue or harshness.
To me the improvement in sound is as great as the PQ improvement.
My pre/pro allows me to apply DPLIIx to anything so I apply it to all soundtracks. It is also very nice.
If you'd like a suggested list of HD DVD soundtracks, I be happy to give you some of my favs. BTW, Batman Begins is one them. GREAT soundtrack.
HTH.

Thanks for the information. I have found in the past that often an upgrade goes unnoticed or partially unnoticed until I step back down to where I used to be. That is when I realize the real gain I had made. Also, I have almost never listened at reference levels before because I didn't like the volume that loud for extended periods. Maybe that is the fatigue you are referring to?

Do you apply DPLIIx to DD-EX and DTS tracks? How about TrueHD? I always try to listen to my sound with the minimal amount of processing to try to get as close to the sound as it was originally recorded. Of course adjusting the sound to personal preference makes more sense if a person prefers that to the original studio sound.

I'll take any recommendations you have. I have to say I am a big fan of the music scores for First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II by Jerry Goldsmith. I don't know if I want to buy the French versions of those movies however.

Greg

01-12-07, 06:17 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
Greg Matty Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 473	Dolby True HD vs. DD 5.1 I can see a clear advantage in picture quality between HD-DVD and SD-DVD but I am having a hard time hearing the difference between True HD and the typical 5.1 SD's come with. Batman Begins is my only really good first run HD-DVD right now and though I love the sound of Dolby True HD, I can't hear where it is really better. Maybe my ears aren't the best or maybe I just don't know what to listen for. Can anyone put into words what I can look, er listen for? I would like to show off my HD-DVD player to some buddies and they'll likely see the PQ improvement, thought it isn't huge, but I think audio will be lost on them as it is on me. I am running HDMI through my Onkyo 804 and have of course selected TrueHD as the audio format so I am sure I have everything setup okay. Can anyone clue me in? Greg

01-12-07, 07:42 PM	#2 \| Link
Turtleboy Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 85	I dunno. This is a music area. What's your favorite Super Audio CD? __________________ \

01-12-07, 07:47 PM	#3 \| Link
blaser Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 140	Greg, You're right. DD is already perfect..... I see it like a person having 9999999999999999999$ in the bank, while another one's having 1265916271487169818796$. Who's richer??? Theoretically the second, practictically anyone of them will be more than enough!!

01-12-07, 09:13 PM	#4 \| Link
Milt99 goober Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Of California Posts: 2,735	Greg, At the risk of telling you info that you already know, here is what I know about and have experienced with DD, DD+ and TrueHD. DD is usually 384kb/s but is capable of 640kb/s. DD+ is capable of 3mb/s but is usually either 640kb/s or 1.5mb/s It is usually encoded at 16/48 or 24/48. TrueHD is basically MLP 24/96 capable i.e., DVD-Audio. Stories vary but people I trust say that TrueHD is more often encoded at 16/48 than 24/48. AFAIK, no studio currently has the capability to record at 24/96. I don't know that I could discern the difference 1.5 DD+ and TrueHD blind. I think it depends more on the quality of the soundtrack and believe me, there is a huge difference between soundtracks. What I hear between DD and DD+\TrueHD is a lot fuller more rounded, natural sound. DD sounds thin by comparison to me in most soundtracks. The ability to listen to soundtracks at reference levels without fatigue or harshness. To me the improvement in sound is as great as the PQ improvement. My pre/pro allows me to apply DPLIIx to anything so I apply it to all soundtracks. It is also very nice. If you'd like a suggested list of HD DVD soundtracks, I be happy to give you some of my favs. BTW, Batman Begins is one them. GREAT soundtrack. HTH.