Poll: Should Sony use DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD?

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

That statement ^ , to me, actually sounds quite dismissive of the spirit of the purpose (and value) of this survey.
If SPE wasn’t interested in the thoughts of consumers on Blu-ray.com, I would not have taken the time to request the posting of this poll, in the first place.
If this thread somehow turns into a referendum on the significance of this poll to SPE, I can assure you right now, that no further such surveys with be forthcoming.

To give participants some perspective as to the value of this poll, a V.P. directly involved in the decision making process of these matters already reviewed the data within 48 hours from the time the poll initiated………and will continue to do so, until it peters out.

Yes, I must admit I am a bit skeptical that a survey such as this would have more than a minor impact on a rather important business decision. But, it's definitely good when studios consider the views of end users.

I am curious about why blu-ray.com was selected as opposed to a considerably more active site with many more members such as AVS.

Also, is SPE interested in knowing whether consumers have any understanding about the issues involved? Or, is this more an exercise to determine whether there's a business advantage to be mined by the lack of understanding by some consumers? Yes, those questions may sound pejorative. But, they get to an important point about the nature of this poll.

Regardless, I have no intention of trying to turn this thread into a referendum on the poll. To that end, I regret questioning it at all. Even if the poll merely plays a small part in the decision, it's a welcome addition to the process. But, I do hope it's OK to ask those who believe one codec is better than another to explain why that might be the case.

[blu2]

Based on the information here:

https://www.blu-ray.com/players/compare.php?p=1

DTS-HD MA is historically the least well supported lossless codec (especially for player decoding), including Sony hardware.

Perhaps Sony should factor in whether they will be cutting off a portion of their customer base from lossless if decided to switch.

[Scorxpion]

I am curious about why blu-ray.com was selected as opposed to a considerably more active site with many more members such as AVS.

If Blu-ray.com was selected as this great poll to elaborate and decide by giving this subjective opinions about one codec over another because Blu-Ray succeed on behalf of this site .I did join here and not AVS,because here there are many experience users and respectable ones who you can share ideas with them and return on you.I notice how did you defend Dolby True HD but i respect you and your objective about this lossless sound.Believe me if DTSHD master audio is not slightly better ,this poll and this thread will never get birth at the first time.You have answered me that DTSHD master audio is a better tool but not better than DolbyTrueHD so i'll accept it and give my VOTE TO DTSHD master audio not mentioning what others have said including me.

Sony and whoever is behind this POLL Blu-ray discs needs to be superior among others so do your job correctly and give the maximum you can.Others or the remaining will follow like Warner and New Line studio.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by blu2

Based on the information here:

https://www.blu-ray.com/players/compare.php?p=1

DTS-HD MA is historically the least well supported lossless codec (especially for player decoding), including Sony hardware.

Perhaps Sony should factor in whether they will be cutting off a portion of their customer base from lossless if decided to switch.

I'm sure Sony if they decided to switch there will be no cut of their customers but eventually and gradually will be increasing.

If a sony player will make a customer to insult them about taking this decision what about them(the customers now doing to experience DTSHD master audio from other studios)

[justinbaily]

Back on old dvd i only got sony in superbit and tracked down many dts versions
of dvd's like galaxy quest,private ryn,all 3 jp movies and while i'm not sure if or
by how much dts is better than trueHD i've prefered dts.

Sony should go with dtshdma. I even have a dts theatre sign.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Scorxpion

I notice how did you defend Dolby True HD but i respect you and your objective about this lossless sound.

It's not that I am defending TrueHD. Rather, I am questioning statements that dts-MA is better. I don't believe that to be the case and I am searching for someone who can actually explain how one lossless codec can be better than another.

Believe me if DTSHD master audio is not slightly better ,this poll and this thread will never get birth at the first time.

Hmm. If dts-MA were actually better, why would Sony need to ask our opinion? SPE should simply start using dts-MA to provide the best possible audio quality.

[Monkey]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Louder doesn't mean better... Or does it? I can't decide.

Where in his post did he say louder?

[blu2]

Originally Posted by Scorxpion

Believe me if DTSHD master audio is not slightly better ,this poll and this thread will never get birth at the first time.

I find it hard to believe that Sony would have selected a lossless codec that is in fact not lossless, and that Dolby would have gotten away with false advertising about TrueHD being lossless.

[CH108]

As long as it's lossless and 24-bit whenever possible i'll be happy.

I think Sony and Warner should make all their lossless tracks 24-bit.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by BIslander

It's not that I am defending TrueHD. Rather, I am questioning statements that dts-MA is better. I don't believe that to be the case and I am searching for someone who can actually explain how one lossless codec can be better than another.

NO comment,wishing you to have the correct answer

Hmm. If dts-MA were actually better, why would Sony need to ask our opinion? SPE should simply start using dts-MA to provide the best possible audio quality.

Maybe they are interested in our thoughts as Penton Man said,or if SPE decided to took this shift will the customers be happy and have the moral to accept it without any sadness

[lgans316]

1) Sony should shift from 16-bit to 24-bit lossless audio on all titles, period. They are doing 24-bit only on titles for which they have exclusive U.S home video distribution rights.

2) Sony should stop using 448Kbps core. Casino Royale: Collector's Edition had the same.

3) Consumers with legacy AVRs will PSYCHOLOGICALLY benefit from 1.5 Mbps DTS bit-streamed instead of 448/640Kbps from Dolby True HD. As a staunch supporter of Superbit DVD they can feature DTS-HD on the format which they arguably own.

[Damage Inc.]

Well, if that sort of difference in loudness and all that is still true in HD-world, I'd say "depends on the title".
Just give the more action-packed films the pounding DTS-track.
All lighter films like comedies, dramas, most Disney-films, etc. stick with Dolby.

That's how I feel about DVDs anway.
Thus, like I said, if the difference in sound is still there.

If there is no difference... I don't know, I do prefer DTS, I love the sound of it.
As long as it's good quality and even with Dolby's HD-equivalent it's freaking high.
It just comes down to the sound if you ask me.
There probably is a difference in the end-mix and the way it comes across.
So each film must have a technology that matches its type best.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by blu2

Based on the information here:

https://www.blu-ray.com/players/compare.php?p=1

DTS-HD MA is historically the least well supported lossless codec (especially for player decoding), including Sony hardware.

Perhaps Sony should factor in whether they will be cutting off a portion of their customer base from lossless if decided to switch.

I think a large companie like sony knows what they're doing. i dont think they'll be cutting off anybody. and im pretty sure more future BD players are going to support DTS-MA.

Anyway, penton do you have a timeframe as to when sony will be making they're decision?

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by saprano

I think a large companie like sony knows what they're doing. i dont think they'll be cutting off anybody. and im pretty sure more future BD players are going to support DTS-MA.

Wasn't it the same case with DVD that DTS only came and became supported later?
Even today it's quite hard to find many DVD-titles with DTS.
I bet the first couple of years there weren't many DVD-players that supported DTS.
Especially Sony, which I believe we had one at first, this awesome all-black thing.
I doubt I ever saw the DTS-logo on it as an early teenager.
The next one, about 4-5 years later it was supported on our JVC-players though.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by BIslander

I am curious about why blu-ray.com was selected as opposed to a considerably more active site with many more members such as AVS.

AVS has gone from being 30 times larger than blu-ray.com, to currently 33% larger than blu-ray.com and AVS is, and has been, on a negative trend for a very long time. avforums.com is now also larger than AVS.
Source: Alexa.com.

AVS is a general forum about AV and hardware, while Blu-ray.com is 100% about Blu-ray. I'm sure there are many Blu-ray users at AVS, but I'm also willing to bet that Blu-ray.com has a higher percentage of Blu-ray users. AVS also has a history of, mildly put, being "unfriendly" towards Blu-ray. If you have missed this, you must have been asleep the last few years. Believe me when I say that AVS has played out its role and will never have the same influence.

Originally Posted by BIslander

No offense, but I suspect Sony's marketing department has much better tools than this poll for determining whether using dts-MA makes good business sense.

If you were to quickly and easily find out whether consumers prefer Sony to use DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD for their Blu-ray releases, would you go around asking people in Sony/BD stores, ask Sony consumers by including this question with Sony BD movies and ask them to send in the information, start calling/e-mail customers etc etc, or does it actually make sense to create an Internet poll on the world's largest Blu-ray dedicated site?

In any case, please just answer the poll and feel free to make a comment about your decision. Like AlaskaDon said, I'm sure the Sony engineers have a more than adequate knowledge of DTS and Dolby and don't need to be "educated" about this, they are simply asking the consumers: "Should Sony use DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD?".

If you still want to discuss DTS vs Dolby, then please do so in any other forum thread for this purpose, there are plenty of those discussions including technical and political viewpoints

Thank you!

[saprano]

The god has spoken

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by iceman

I'm sure there are many Blu-ray users at AVS, but I'm also willing to bet that Blu-ray.com has a higher percentage of Blu-ray users.

The main Oppo 83 thread at AVS already has 12,000 posts. The Oppo thread at blu-ray.com has 495. The Pioneer 05FD/51FD thread at AVS: 20,000 posts. At blu-ray.com: 108. Maybe the small number of BDP owners at AVS just post a lot.

But, this has grown tiresome. There doesn't seem to be much interest here in discussion that goes beyond personal experience and preference.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by BIslander

The main Oppo 83 thread at AVS already has 12,000 posts. The Oppo thread at blu-ray.com has 495. The Pioneer 05FD/51FD thread at AVS: 20,000 posts. At blu-ray.com: 108. Maybe the small number of BDP owners at AVS just post a lot.

Of course, and if you read my previous post once again I say exactly this:

1) "AVS is a general forum about AV and hardware"
2) "AVS has gone from being 30 times larger than blu-ray.com"

Number 2) means that AVS has accumulated posts and members before Blu-ray.com existed or was a tiny blip on the radar. However, despite this our BD movie forum has already surpassed their's by a great margin.

[trans22]

i've been watching this thread with interest the past few days because i really want sony + all the other studios to start using DTS audio, i keep reading that truehd and DTS are just the same but i have to disagree, i admit i'm no expert but i do have good hearing and DTS blu-rays nearly always sound better than truehd blu-rays, how can truehd be lossless if everybody is losing 3-4db of volume compared to the studio master? DTS tends to have crisper dialogue and usually double the bit rate, i recently purchased the UK EDITION of TERMINATOR 3 and i can honestly say that the true hd track sounds no better than the dolby digital off the dvd. if you guys need any proof about the average quality of true hd then have a listen to some of the early PCM blu-ray discs from sony that sounded fantastic such as GHOSTRIDER, RESIDENT EVIL APOCALYPSE and UNDERWORLD EVOLUTION that truehd has never been able to replicate, so SONY please give me DTS HDMA.

[Damage Inc.]

So trans, that difference in volume is still there?

What I found with the DVD-equivalents of Dolby and DTS, because I don't have an HD-receiver yet,
is that DTS just sounds much fuller and Dolby just much duller.
Also Dolby used to crack because of the really lossy format, DTS never or rarely did.
Then you'd also hear a lot more detail in DTS compared to Dolby.
Of course also the sheer volume, punch and loudness of DTS compared to Dolby.

Which might already be issues fixed with the HD-equivalent of Dolby.
But it's just to indicate some differences in their engineering, which might still be there.
DTS is just great to have for the more busy and exciting soundtracks.
It should especially become more of a standard finally.
But it's not like I would want to shove Dolby completely out the door.