I have tested dolby digital 5.1 vs DTS Master Audio 5.1 on my Denon gear, just to see what the difference was between standard and high definition video. Note that all audio was transmitted via HDMI cable, so this is not a test using the analog outputs on my Denon BluRay player, but I did notice some things: high-definition sound is more detailed, with more realistic "edge" to the high and low extremes. I also heard additional ambient detail with DTS master audio, and the soundtrack seemed more realistic...it had more depth to it.
The amount of difference you would hear depends in a huge way on the soundtrack itself, who mixed it, what kind of gear the foley and musical backgrounds were originally recorded on, etc. For example, "Tree of Life" on Blu Ray vs. DVD would present a COLOSSAL difference, but other soundtracks might not.
The amount of difference you would hear depends in a huge way on the soundtrack itself, who mixed it, what kind of gear the foley and musical backgrounds were originally recorded on, etc. For example, "Tree of Life" on Blu Ray vs. DVD would present a COLOSSAL difference, but other soundtracks might not.