Just how obsolete are DD and DTS?


What is someone missing if that person decides to buy a heavily discounted DD/DTS pre/processor? Can THX movies be played successfully on a DD/DTS decoder?
psychicanimal

Showing 1 response by porschecab

The answer, quite simply, is yes. THX certification means nothing more than it having been MIXED properly to meet specs. Substantially less important on the video side of life than the audio. Even the audio side is given FAR too much credit for THX certification. There are many amplifiers, where not THX certified, are FAR better than the THX specs.

Now, what you will miss with a processor/decoder/receiver that is not THX certified, and you play a DD/DTS signal is the THX reequalization. What this does is 'even the playing field' and take the very highs out from the DD/DTS signals and increases the voice signals. THX was designed to help ProLogic recordings and not necessarily DD/DTS.
There are newer formats that will help, but it basically makes the sound less harsh.

At normal listening levels you will not hear any differences.

So, get a DD/DTS processor and don't worry about it. If you do not like the 'harshness' of some DD recording, buy a processor that has THX circuitry or a Yamaha (others I am sure) that does Cinema RE-EQ, same thing. For video, it means nothing. All DVD players and LD players will play a THX piece of software just the same.

Dan