DVD-audio and dolby ex

Posted by Nigel Pond [SysOp] [IP: 63.10.145.30] on July 25, 1999 at 11:11:55
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In Reply to: DVD-audio and dolby ex posted by brett graham on July 24, 1999 at 19:13:56:

Brett

:Debating on whether to purchase home theater system or wait for these two to materialize. Concerning DVD- audio will this represent a significant improvement and if so will it be transferred DVD movies or music only? Also would a receiver purchased now be able to connect to these machines as they come out?

The DVD-Audio format is an audio only format intended to replace CD as the next audio playback medium. It is not intended that it will later be applied to DVD-Video. The digital formats of the 2 are different with PCM or Dolby Digital being the compulsory formats for DVD-V and MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) for DVD-Audio. And don't forget that Sony/Philips are touting their rival, and incompatible, SACD format.

At the moment the format for digital transmission of DVD-A from player to receiver/processor has not been agreed, so the first DVD-A players are likely only to have 6-channel analogue outputs. So if your receiver is "DD ready" ie has 6-channel inputs intended for an external DD decoder, they should work fine for the analogue outputs of such players. Those of us without such inputs will have to wait a while.

As to whether DVD-A is better than the 16/44.1 format of current CD, is a matter of opinion. Certainly the music/audio professionals are divided as to whether the 24/96 (or 24/192) format of DVD-A is better than 16/44.1. Most recording studios and mastering suites will need to be upgraded to 24/96 capability and I personally doubt whether material originally mastered in 16/44.1 and digitally fiddled with to make it into 24/96 will sound any better than the original 16/44.1 material.

As to whether to wait for resolution of the outstanding issues of DVD-A, it depends whether you have the patience to wait for universal DVD players or have the budget to buy a DVD-V player now and enjoy the huge number of DVDs now available and just replace it or add to it when DVD-A compatible players see the light of day.

:As for ex will there be a decoder box one could purchase and add to a receiver and if so how? Additionally is this an improvement over 5.1? Comments opinions are appreciated. Thanks

The rear center channel of DD EX is matrixed into the discrete rear channels (just like the front center channel of Dolby Prologic is matrixed into the front left and right channels) so in theory a DPL decoder should be able to be used to extract the matrixed rear center from the left and right rears. This could be done either with an add-on box or a matrix decoder inside the receiver.

Again as to whether it will be any better than "regular" 5.1 is debatable. In theory there should be some benefit in locking in a rear center image, but in most home theater environments I personally do not see it adding much especially as it needs an extra channel of amplification and an extra speaker. Of course those of us lucky to own Lexicon's DC-1/2 or MC-1 have been able to enjoy 7.1 channels for some time now and I cannot imagine EX being much of an improvement over that.

And don't forget that EX is pretty much a moot point at the moment. Only 2 movies use the format, Phantom Menace and the Austin Powers sequel. The former is unlikely to make its way onto DVD for a considerable time and the latter, who knows.

Follow Ups:

• DVD-audio and dolby ex - Mark 13:15:53 07/25/99 (0)

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