Dolby Digital/DTS R1 Vs R2

[amritsinghesq]

I have started reading a lot of home cinema magazines of late as I'm upgrading my system and I was reading that Dolby and DTS soundtracks on R1 discs have higher bit-rates than R2 discs.

Firstly, do you guys know if this is true, and secondly, have you ever noticed the difference in sound between a R1 and R2 disc? :confused:

[Bapapapa]

Erm..

You've got to actually find an R2 disc with DTS before you can start making comparisons - they are few and far between. :p

I don't think there is any difference in bitrates, though.

[Roberto]

Just to expand on what Bap's said. DTS is much more of a standard in R1 so it's been around longer, and more disc have it while the Uk versions of the same disc would not. Before DTS appered more regualry in the UK, the only way you would find DTS disc was indeed go to R1. And at that time a bit rate of 1400 kbps was the standard.

After a while the company behind DTS did some experiments and realised that people could not tell the difference if the bit rate was as low as (appox) 780kbps. From that point on all DTS relases on both sides of the pond where 780kbps. So some older relases had 1400kbps (eg R1 of Galaxy Quest, prince of eygpt and Antz) and all new relases are 780kbps.

Why they changed? Because so that DTS had more market penertration (leave it baps!!!) and the discs could contain a full DD5.1 track. (prevouisly, only a DD2.0 could be included because of the space.)

I thank you sir, and good night :p

[Jenz @ Bullets n Babes]

Dolby Digital 5.1 can be either 384kbps or 448kbps. Normally a R1 title will be 448kbps and a R2/R4 will be 384kbps. It is often hard to tell the difference though.

DTS is only ever full rate or half rate. Both rates are the same on R1 and R2.

Regards Jenz.

[Roberto]

What you say is correct about DD

But as far as DTS goes, only the 786kbps bit rate ever gets made now. the higher bit rate is only avaible on titles that have been out before the change in policy at DTS

[amritsinghesq]

Cheers boys, that cleared that up then(!);)

Friend of mine reckons that DTS soundtracks only meant to sound better because they are recorded with artificial boom, i.e. just turn up the bass and treble setting when listening in DDigital and you've got DTS.

A few R1 DTS discs like the Lethal Weapon Directors Cut series apparently have 'true' DTS soudtracks so are the only true comparisons to DD. You guys know anything about this or is my mate talking turd again!

:)

[Andy_C]

Of course, R2 DTS is a silly idea anyway; who wants the best quality sound you can get if you have to listen to it at the wrong speed?

;)

[Roberto]

How do you know there not pitch corrected??