DTS-HD MA 7.1 and Cyberlink

[rarredoa]

I understand that Saw IV is encoded with DTS-HD MA 7.1, yet the status indicator, "display information", on PowerDVD ultra displays only DTS-HD 5.1. Is powerDVDultra limited to just 5.1 for DTS-HD? Or do i need to update the software to get 7.1? I Currently have version 7.3, and haven't updated in about 6 months.

Thanks in advance

[Obiit]

PowerDVD 7 Ultra dosn't decode DTS-Master Audio (i believe version 8 will) so it just outputs the DTS Core portion of the soundtrack (which is 5.1).

HTH

[rarredoa]

Originally Posted by Obiit

PowerDVD 7 Ultra dosn't decode DTS-Master Audio (i believe version 8 will) so it just outputs the DTS Core portion of the soundtrack (which is 5.1).

HTH

If you're correct, then i've been under the wrong impression the whole time... While playing Saw IV, the (display information) screen on PowerDVD ultra 7 says DTS-HD 5.1 (at up to 6 Mbps)... so you are saying this is really just the core?...

PS3, displays DTS 5.1... (meaning core, right? no bit rate, i don't recall)

Another thing that's got me confused... when cyberlink had Ultra version 7 on their site... DTS-HD was on there, just not listed as 7.1 the way it is for version ultra 8

[Obiit]

Yep just core regardless of what the disk said - it only did PCM and TrueHD of the HD sound codecs.

Thats why i waited for WinDVD 9 Plus to be released

PS3 only does Core DTS as well.

Yep that's cyberlink for you!! Just don't get people started on the audio down sampling it did

[candg]

Hi all,

new to this forum so go easy on me, and sorry but this is yet again about the downmixing of Cyberlink. I have been using Cyberlink versions 7.***** and now version 8 for some time, and I continue to remain frustrated about the lack of full decoding by Cyberlink 8 and just noticed a mention of the new WIN DVD software. Could someone explain whether this WIN DVD will actually "fully" decode the new high res sound formats and output them through the 5.1 or 7.1 analogue outputs of my soundcard and then on to my 7.1 analogue inputs of my Yamaha 2700 receiver for amplification ?
I still remain very confused as to whether this actually possible at all with a PC.


Anyone any help ?

Many thanks

Graham

[Obiit]

Originally Posted by candg

Could someone explain whether this WIN DVD will actually "fully" decode the new high res sound formats and output them through the 5.1 or 7.1 analogue outputs of my soundcard and then on to my 7.1 analogue inputs of my Yamaha 2700 receiver for amplification ?
I still remain very confused as to whether this actually possible at all with a PC.

I have WInDVD 9 Plus and according to the information given by the software it fully decodes the HD sound codecs. Upon investigation i found out my soundcard only does 48Khz/16 Bit processing so i don't get the full benefit but if your sound card will do 48Khz/24bit on the analogue outputs then that is what you will get.

I have only a one DTS-Master audio disk (Independence day ) and that shows as 48Khz/24bit sound. Sounds fantastic!

I think there is another thread elsewhere that states that even thought the codec can go higher very few studios actually utilise it so 48Khz/24bit is the max you going to get out of a blu-ray.

HTH

Oh and welcome candg

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Obiit

PowerDVD 7 Ultra dosn't decode DTS-Master Audio (i believe version 8 will) so it just outputs the DTS Core portion of the soundtrack (which is 5.1).

HTH

It decodes DTS-HD MA as DTS-HD.
DTS-HD MA is incredibly CPU intensive.

Originally Posted by Obiit

I have WInDVD 9 Plus and according to the information given by the software it fully decodes the HD sound codecs. Upon investigation i found out my soundcard only does 48Khz/16 Bit processing so i don't get the full benefit but if your sound card will do 48Khz/24bit on the analogue outputs then that is what you will get.

I have only a one DTS-Master audio disk (Independence day ) and that shows as 48Khz/24bit sound. Sounds fantastic!

I think there is another thread elsewhere that states that even thought the codec can go higher very few studios actually utilise it so 48Khz/24bit is the max you going to get out of a blu-ray.

HTH

Oh and welcome candg

I also believe WinDVD only does DTS-HD and not the lossless MA extension. ID4 has an incredible sound mix so it will sound great no matter the format. Even the old VHS Hi-Fi sounded awesome.

Originally Posted by Obiit

Yep just core regardless of what the disk said - it only did PCM and TrueHD of the HD sound codecs.

Thats why i waited for WinDVD 9 Plus to be released

PS3 only does Core DTS as well.

Yep that's cyberlink for you!! Just don't get people started on the audio down sampling it did

PS3 does full DTS-HD MA decoding now. Of course having a 3.2 CELL processor helps.

Cyberlink is much less buggy than WinDVD. They also had BD decoding with DTS-HD first.

[Obiit]

Ok now i'm

Just put ID4 through both PowerDVD 8 and WinDVD 9 Plus. Power DVD detailed information says it's plain DTS but the Show Information says DTS-Master Audio (it has always said what the disk should be regardless what it actually outputs). WinDVD says what the disk should be but only outputs DTS-HD (according to the players information).

I stand corrected on what WinDVD 9 Plus does - thanks for pointing out my mistake. Kudos to PeterTHX

CPU usage is not that aggressive considering it is a DTS-Master Audio sound track with PowerDVD (about 40% average usage on my AMD2 x64 4200+).

WinDVD 9 Plus came out first with DTS-HD (now i know the difference ) but PowerDVD 8 was about 2 weeks later with DTS-Master Audio. Either way they are a step up from previous versions. Not too sure about which is buggier to be honest as they both have their foibles but as long as you can play your film completely in the best quality who cares

Yep PS3 does do DTS-Master now (didn't when i posted) but they are too noisy for me (borrowed my mates 60gig version and it drowned out my HTPC completely) plus i cannot afford to upgrade my amp to one that utilises HDMI so i cannot compare the two as platforms for watching blu-ray.

Perhaps i need to do some more testing with other DTS-Master Audio blu-ray.......

[candg]

Hello to anyone reading this, it is probably a really stupid question but here goes.

I have just bought the Golden Compass on Blue ray and playing it through Cyberlink 8. The setup menu of the disc includes a fixed audio option of 7.1 DTS HD. At present I am using the Coaxial output of my PC to feed the Yamaha 2700. The receiver atomatically identifies the soundtrack as 7.1 DTS and plays it fine (very good actually). My question is am I going to notice a HUGE improvement in sound quality when I connect the 7.1 analogue outputs of my soundcard and feed the analogue inputs of the receiver ? this I assume will allow me to play DTS HD 7.1 being fully decoded by Cyberlink.

Many thanks

Graham

[rarredoa]

So is there downsampling in PowerDVD Ultra 8? This question might have been answered, so apologies if I'm asking again...

[candg]

well all I can say is that the media centre pc is outputting via coaxial into coaxial input of the 2700 and it is sensing the dts 7.1 signal and playing it fine. Does this mean there is downmixing ? I do,nt know as so far I have not connected the analogues so do'nt know if I will then get DTS HD. Any more feedback anyone ?

Graham

[rarredoa]

Originally Posted by candg

well all I can say is that the media centre pc is outputting via coaxial into coaxial input of the 2700 and it is sensing the dts 7.1 signal and playing it fine. Does this mean there is downmixing ? I do,nt know as so far I have not connected the analogues so do'nt know if I will then get DTS HD. Any more feedback anyone ?

Graham

IF your PC is outputting via coaxial or optical, then you are not getting a DTS HD MA signal, nor any other lossless format for that matter. The bandwith via SPDIF outputs (optical or coaxial) can only support PCM 2.0 or bitstreamed lossy dolby digital or dts 5.1, maybe 6.1. Unless you use your PC's analog outputs, there is no way for lossless audio to reach your receiver. What your coaxial cable is doing, is bitstreaming the DTS 5.1 core signal to the receiver to be decoded, not 7.1 lossless

[Obiit]

Originally Posted by candg

My question is am I going to notice a HUGE improvement in sound quality when I connect the 7.1 analogue outputs of my soundcard and feed the analogue inputs of the receiver ? this I assume will allow me to play DTS HD 7.1 being fully decoded by Cyberlink.

Yes you are - .

[rarredoa]

Originally Posted by Obiit

Yes you are - .

I second Obiit... it's gonna be a night and day difference, especially with action sequences and louder dialogue... put it this way, if someone slamming a door in your house startles you, then so will someone slamming a door during a movie, it's LIFELIKE! Gotta love lossless sound!

[candg]

Right you have me convinced. Shamefully I have had the 8 analogue leads here ready for weeks but just not got around to the hassle of wrestling with the cabling in my install. Will get around to it soon and report back my perceived differences.

Thanks again

Graham