what confuses me most is this...
Ive read over on DTSs web site that all 6.1 Discrete soundtracks contain the rear surround channel as a Discrete sixth channel, but all 6.1 soundtracks also contain this rear surround channel matrixed into the left and right surrounds for those who dont have discrete decoders.
when its played on a discrete decoder, the decoder will cancel out the matrixed rear from the left and right surrounds.
when its played on a matrix 6.1 decoder that cant decode discrete 6.1, then the decoder takes the matrixed sound from the left and right surround to create the rear surround.
now this is where it gets interesting.
it appears that the discrete surround channel is usually created from the cinemas matrixed rear channel, as is the rear matrixed channel for D EX and ES matrix (!).
the rears spring into life again on my denon amp when i select DTS +PLIIx, which, as far as i can tell, is taking the rear matrixed channel from the left and right surrounds and outputting it to the rears. plenty of music score, plenty of sound effects action etc etc.
so why the sparse sound on DTS ES 6.1 Discrete?
my comment on the whole thing...
Depends on the mix
The best sounding DVD i own is Star Wars EP:2 The Phantom Rasberry Blower.
edit:
just been playing with the DTS+PLIIxC and its not only fuller at the back, but there are pretty discrete sounding left and right rear surrounds, as well as unique left and right surrounds, as well as the unique centre left and right fronts and the sub!
cool stuff, it may be matrixed, and it may be jiggery pokery (is it obvious i studied a computer science yet?
- its not 7.1 channels of unique, discrete, multiplexed digital audio), but it sounds like 7.1 of unique sounds played to all of my speakers.
and it sounds cool!
edit 2:
thought id also drop this in here from dtsonline.com
Summarizing DTS-ES 6.1-channel capabilities for consumer playback:
-The center surround channel is always matrixed into the LS and RS channels.
-A discrete center surround channel can optionally be encoded as well.
-A DTS-ES 6.1-discrete decoder will play the discrete center surround channel.
-It will also subtract the discrete center surround channel out of the matrixed LS and RS channels, restoring the LS and RS channels as independent.
-Any DTS-ES track, discrete or not, is fully compatible with 6.1-matrix decoders because the matrixed tracks are always present.
-Any DTS-ES track is fully compatible with 5.1 decoders because the center surround channel information is matrixed into the LS and RS channels and will thus be heard in and between the LS and RS speakers.
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