Page 1 of What is DTS?

I realise this is probably a stupid question, but here goes:

I have a Wharfedale-750 and have started buying a lot of Region 1 discs. However I notice a lot of the newer ones (Jurassic Park, Toy Story box set, T2, etc.) have two versions: one is `DTS` the other not.

Considering I just connect my DVD player to a fairly bog standard (particuarly in the sound department) TV is there any reason why I shouldn`t go ahead and by the DTS version anyway? What`s the difference and why do both versions cost the same?

Cheers.

Its basically a much higher spec multi-channel surround sound system, which sounds better than Dolby Digital. Thats the good bit.

The bad bit is DTS requires a compatible DTS amplifier for you to hear anything encoded with it. DTS discs do feature a non-DTS stereo track so you will hear things on your TV set, but you won`t hear DTS without a compatible amp.

Dolby Digital also requires a compatible amp to get the best out of it, however your player is equipped to downconvert multi-channel Dolby Digital into stereo or Pro Logic which your TV set will handle fine.

Hope this makes it clearer.

i dont think that your player can output dts anyway, so its worth checking first.

Thanks for the info, but I`m still a little confused.

If the DTS version contains a normal non-DTS soundtrack why would anyone want to buy the non-DTS version of the DVD?

Also why are there no DTS versions in the UK? I notice that the new Jaws disc, at least, has a DTS version in the US.

Thanks again for the help.

DTS is still very new as far as UK distributors are concerned, bearing in mind they will sell less discs than in the US, they aren`t sure whether there is a big enough market for DTS over here yet.

DTS is a multi-channel format (up to 5.1 channels) and so is Dolby Digital. However, DTS amps are more expensive than Dolby Digital and the majority of people don`t have them.

If someone with a Dolby Digital amp buys the DTS version of say Galaxyquest, the best their equipment can give them is a stereo version of the film. If they had bought the Dolby Digital version, they could enjoy full 5.1 surround.

Making sense now? :)

Yep, that did it.

Thanks very much for your help.

One last question. If I got a UK DTS amp for my Wharfedale whould I get the full DTS effect from a region 1 disc?

Cheers.

If you had a DTS amp from any country it would work with any DTS capable DVD player once again from any country. Audio decoders is one thing the studios haven`t got their grubby region encoding mits on. ;-)

DTS amps do (least as far as I know) of course do Dolby Digital too, so you should be able to hear digital audio from both these and the superior DTS titles too.

Excellent, thanks again for your help.

You would of course need a DTS compatible DVD player - I don`t think that the Wharfdale is DTS compatible however :(

The Wharfe does output DTS, but (for licensing issues we believe) doesn`t say so anywhere on the machine or in its manual.