May 31, 2002
Do you think we will ever see movies with a DVD-Audio
soundtrack? I've seen mention of this but have only up to now seen Dolby Digital and DTS.
Paul Jackson
Hi Paul:
DVD-Audio is a music-only format. The specification
calls for six channels of 24-bit/96kHz audio, and the remaining space on the disc would
not allow for significant video footage. Dolby Digital and DTS use a form of audio
compression whereby they can fit their soundtrack on the DVD-V format without adversely
affecting video performance. DVD-Audio, on the other hand, uses far less compression so
that the audio contained within is of higher quality. So, no, you will not see DVD-A on
movie soundtracks.
May 21. 2002
Hi Wes,
I'd like to know if component video connected via a
component-video-switching mechanism (in the Anthem AVM 20, to be specific) will be
noticeably worse than a direct connection from the DVD player to the TV? My first choice
for a television is the Philips 32PT8419, which has only one component-video input. If a
direct connection is preferred because it provides a noticeable difference (i.e.,
more than just "splitting hairs"), then I would consider a television with two
component-video inputs (one for DVD and one for satellite). Thanks for your feedback.
Michael
Hi Michael:
Interesting question -- and one without a hard-and-fast
answer. I have an AVM 20 in house, but no component-video sources at present, so I can't
do an A/B myself. I recently ran into a component that degrades S-video performance, so it
certainly isn't outside the realm of possibility (although, to be fair, it wasn't in the
same performance or price category as the AVM 20).
Here's an answer that might (maybe) help with your dilemma
When you say satellite, do you mean DTS? If so, try this little experiment -- connect your
DTS STB (set-top box) to your monitor using both S-video and component connections, then
do an A/B. I suspect you don't gain much benefit from the component hook-up on a DTS
receiver. If I'm wrong, we're back at square one, but if I'm right, you don't need to
worry, you can always do a direct connection with those two inputs if you're not content
with the video switching on the preamp/processor....Wes Phillips
May 16, 2002
Do most home-theater processors include DTS decoding? I
remember a few years back when you essentially had to buy a very expensive machine to get
DTS. Now I seem to see more and more of them. Is DTS that relevant?
Arthur Bandlaw
Hi Arthur:
DTS has made huge gains in popularity over the past
year. There are currently around 400 DVDs with a DTS soundtrack, and DTS decoding is
standard on the vast majority of home-theater receivers. In fact, I'd be surprised if you
could find a current-generation receiver without it. Although Dolby Digital is still, and
will likely be, the dominant format for years to come, DTS gives enthusiasts the ability
to choose between two mixes on the same disc and decide for themselves which they want to
listen to.
May 5, 2002
Hi Wes,
I was wondering what exactly is done to a film to achieve
the THX rating. Is it nothing more than a big royalty paid to George Lucas? Or is there
more to it than that? Are they remastered in any way? Are they actually altered or made better
in any way than the non-THX versions of the same film?
Nice website by the way. It is much appreciated and
enjoyed.
Eric
Hi Eric:
That's an interesting question, and it's a difficult one to
answer definitively.
You are correct that any film that shows the THX logo has
paid a fee to Lucas. As with the THX theater-certification program, DVDs sporting the THX
logo have supposedly been subjected to a rigorous multipart video and sound examination.
When the program was introduced, back in the laserdisc era,
I wrote an article for Video magazine in which I compared many of the newly
introduced THX laserdiscs with the then-existing non-THX versions. The THX versions were
much better from a telecine-transfer aspect than the non-THX versions -- video had greater
clarity and richer color saturation across the board.
Sonically, the picture (so to speak) was a little
different, although dialogue was undoubtedly more clearly audible with the THX laserdiscs,
but I felt the dialogue channel itself tended to sound unrelentingly bright.
Of course, these days, there are very few films that exist
in both THX and non-THX formats, so it's less of a consideration as to which is better. If
the question you're asking is, "Does the THX logo guarantee higher quality than a
film that doesn't have it could conceivable have?" the answer is no. It guarantees a
certain minimum quality standard, but there are technically impeccable DVDs that do not
sport the logo.
There's an old joke that asks why women would rather have
men think they were good looking than smart. The answer is because they know most men see
better than they think. I suspect THX feels that way, too....Wes Phillips
|
