[itarrow]

Hi all,

after feeling so frustrated about the lack of DTS-ES (discrete) decoding by any sw DVD player out on the market now (owning an Audigy 2 + Soundworks 650D THX 6.1 speaker set), I just would like to understand if I`m alone in my frustration or if I`m in good company.


I know that a lot of people here is using external decoders, so probably I`m really alone, nonetheless I would like a concrete proof so:


Do you FEEL the URGE to have a DVD sw player (WinDVD, PowerDVD, eventually TheaterTek when and if it will have internal audio decoding) with DTS-ES (discrete) audio decoding capabilities ?

 

[Jones_Rush]

I think there is some old version of power dvd which does it.

 

[itarrow]

Hi,

could be, but it`s strange: both WinDVD/PowerDVD are capable of upmixing 5.1 to 6.1, but none of them is able to decode 6.1 discrete channel tracks (DTS-ES, since DD-EX, for what I know, is again an "upmix")...

 

[Karnis]

Until MS addresses the K Mixer situation, why bother? DD & DTS SP/DIF passthru is unaffected.

 

[RayL Jr.]

If you use WDM Kernel Streaming, ASIO or DirectSound hardware pin support on the sound card then KMixer would be avoided in current HTPCs. WinDVD and PowerDVD I know do "something" with DTS-ES, but not DTS-ES Discrete. I made a list to clear this up myself:


Dolby Pro Logic – 5-channel phantom rear channel

Dolby Pro Logic II – 5.1 multichannel from stereo source


Dolby Digital 1.0 - mono

Dolby Digital 2.0 – Dolby Surround Pro Logic (required on all US/Can DVD’s – Region 1)

Dolby Digital 5.0 – 5 channels


Dolby AC-3 – older name for Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital 5.1 – DVD-Video and HDTV audio standard

Dolby Digital EX – theater sound

THX Surround EX – home sound, same as Dolby Digital EX – 7.1 (5.1 w/Surround Back)


THX – old standard/certification

THX Ultra – 7.1 new standard/certification

THX Select – 7.1 lower power requirements/certification

THX Ultra2 – 7.1 surround sound/certification


DTS Digital Surround - DTS 5.1-channel

DTS 96/24 – High resolution 96/24 5.1-channel sound

DTS ES Discrete 6.1 – true 6.1

DTS ES Matrix 6.1 - phantom rear surround

DTS ES Neo:6 Music – 6 channel from 2 channel

DTS ES Neo:6 Cinema – adds rear from 5.1 channel


SRS Circle Surround - The 5.1 Matrix Surround Decoding System - ASIO

SRS Circle Surround II -The 6.1 Matrix Surround Decoding Systems - ASIO

SRS TruSurround - True Virtual Surround Sound From Just Two Speakers - ASIO

SRS TruSurround XT - Virtual Surround Sound With Dialog Clarity, Increased Bass and Expanded Soundstage - ASIO


Maybe down the road when DTS-ES Discrete becomes more widely available on discs? And Karnis is correct - the "external A/V receiver" looks to be the only answer.

 

[itarrow]

Quote:

Originally posted by Karnis Until MS addresses the K Mixer situation, why bother? DD & DTS SP/DIF passthru is unaffected.

(Ahemm),

well, yes, I agree... but


No, ok, I have to be honest. I didn`t understood. I`m a newbie.


Karnis: you mean that there`s a problem in MS (being MS = Microsoft) ?


Didn`t knew about it, but you are the expert, and if you say that external decoding is the way to go, probably it`s true...


As I said in my first post, I knew I would have this kind of answers, nonetheless I wanted to know if I`m alone in my urge to have "INTERNAL" 6.1 discrete decoding capabilites.


As of now, it seems so...

 

[trailergod]

the upcoming sound card from Creative, the Audigy 2 ZS will have DTS 7.1 hardware decoding, so in this case u just need to have spdif on the dvd software player and the sound card will decode it...


Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS (7.1 DTS-ES and Dolby Digital® EX decoding)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...ghlight=audigy

http://asia.creative.com/products/au..._platinum_pro/

 

[itarrow]

Aaarrggghh


I convinced my wife to change my old SBLive to the Audigy in june and now I NEED another card...


Will have to do it secretly...


35 years old and I still have to hide what I buy...


Not good, not good...

 

[RayL Jr.]

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro Sound Card - ASIO 2.0 (up to 16 bit/48kHz)


Not again?! I'd watch the "what's in your wallet today" scenarios with Creative, itarrow...

Quote:

Originally posted by itarrow As I said in my first post, I knew I would have this kind of answers, nonetheless I wanted to know if I`m alone in my urge to have "INTERNAL" 6.1 discrete decoding capabilites.

Well, I voted yes, and it's 50-50 right now. DTS ES Discrete is only avaiable right now in EXPENSIVE A/V receivers from what I found.


Darn link wasn't working for Creative above, copy/paste between quotes - " http://www.search4hardware.com/14/p_14_31_Creative_Sound_Blaster_Audigy_2_ZS_Platinum_Pro.html "

 

[Karnis]

I'm no expert when it comes to HTPC audio, just repeating what's been stated many times on the forum.

 

[itarrow]

Karnis, confronted on the expertise you show on the TT forums as well as here, I`m a complete ignorant !


RayL, just bought it, figure I`ll do some "beta test", since my future set will be:


TheaterTek w/ffdshow, audio SP/DIFfed to the Audigy 2 ZS which will do DTS-ES and DD decoding out to the 6.1 speakers (no external decoder) I have.


Now it`s a nightmare (well, I use Reclock because the Audigy 2 with Dsound or waveout doesn`t work, but also with Reclock every time I have to start TT, play the movie, stop, exit, re-start so to hear good audio without skipping, chopping and out of sinc).


I cannot imagine what it will be with the Audigy 2 ZS.


But hey, this is the fun: to fiddle with the hardware/software.


Who cares about watching DVDs ?!?


(I`m a liar, I live in a world of lies and I also lie to myself, and to my wife, since she`ll never know I bought this new Audigy... please disregard the last part about the fun...)

 

[trailergod]

official US info site on the new cards.


i still have hope that these cards will be good and that other cards will offer better and cheaper solutions... and one day there will be no need for any external decoders and that the HTPC will be the ultimate hometheater

Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro

 

[RayL Jr.]

Quote:

Originally posted by trailergod i still have hope that these cards will be good and that other cards will offer better and cheaper solutions... and one day there will be no need for any external decoders and that the HTPC will be the ultimate hometheater

The HTPC "full" DD and DTS encoding would be nice in the near future, but IMO I'm not going to spend a lot of money on a brand new integrated A/V receiver that handles the few compressed formats that the HTPC can't...


Besides that, it looks like FULL "loudspeaker management systems" with crossovers, phase/time delay and volume attenuation can be integrated right now in or right with the HTPC (at different price points). I’m working on a thread called “HTPC Loudspeaker Management Systems†– breakout boxes or “racks†connected from a sound card’s analog or digital outputs that go right to the amplifier(s). This can be done by analog means (a crossover like Marchand, dbx, Bryston, Rane…) and/or digitally with DSP’s and IIR filters or FIR filters (FIR unfortunately does add latency). The digital route can be inside or right outside the HTPC case.



Ah, from the horses mouth – “ASIO 2.0 drivers for low latency (as low as 2ms) multi-track playback and recording at 16bit/48kHz**(Latency performance may vary based on system configuration)" - http://www.americas.creative.com/pro...y=461&nav=spec