ENGLISH
DTS Digital Surround
Digital Theater Surround (also called simply DTS) is a multi-channel digital signal format developed by Digital Theater Systems.
DTS offers the same “5.1” playback channels as Dolby Digital (front left, front right and center, surround left and surround right) as well as the stereo 2-channel mode. The signals for the different channels are fully independent, eliminating the risk of deterioration of sound quality due to interference between signals, crosstalk, etc.
DTS features a relatively higher bit rate as compared to Dolby Digital (1234 kbps for CDs and LDs, 1536 kbps for DVDs) so it operates with a relatively low compression rate. Because of this the amount of data is great, and when DTS playback is used in movie theaters, a separate CD-ROM synchronized with the film is played.
With LDs and DVDs, there is of course no need for an extra disc; the pictures and sound can be recorded simultaneously on the same disc, so the discs can be handled in the same way as discs with other formats. There are also music CDs recorded in DTS. These CDs include 5.1-channel surround signals (compared to two channels on current CDs). They do not include picture data, but they offer surround playback on CD players that are equipped with digital outputs (PCM type digital output required).
DTS surround track playback offers the same intricate, grand sound as in a movie theater, right in your own listening room.
2DTS compatible media and playback methods
Marks indicating DTS compatibility: and .
The following are general examples. Also refer to the player’s operating instructions.
| Media | Dolby Digital output jacks | Playback method (reference page) |
| | | |
| CD | Optical or coaxial digital output | Set the input mode to “AUTO” or “DTS” (page 23). Never set |
| (same as for PCM) | 2 | the mode to “ANALOG” or “PCM”. | 1 |
| |
| | | |
| LD (VDP) | Optical or coaxial digital output | Set the input mode to “AUTO” or “DTS” (page 23). Never set |
| (same as for PCM) | 2 | the mode to “ANALOG” or “PCM”. | 1 |
| |
| | | | |
| DVD | Optical or coaxial digital output | Set the input mode to “AUTO” or “DTS” (page 23). |
| (same as for PCM) | 3 |
| | | |
| | | | | |
1 DTS signals are recorded in the same way on CDs and LDs as PCM signals. Because of this, the un- decoded DTS signals are output as random “hissy” noise from the CD or LD player’s analog outputs. If this noise is played with the amplifier set at a very high volume, it may possibly cause damage to the speakers. To avoid this, be sure to switch the input mode to “AUTO” or “DTS” before playing CDs or LDs recorded in DTS. Also, never switch the input mode to “ANALOG” or “PCM” during playback. The same holds true when playing CDs or LDs on a DVD player or LD/DVD compatible player. For DVDs, the DTS signals are recorded in a special way so this problem does not occur.
2 The signals provided at the digital outputs of a CD or LD player may undergo some sort of internal signal processing (output level adjustment, sampling frequency conversion, etc.). In this case the DTS-encoded signals may be processed erroneously, in which case they cannot be decoded by the AVR-3802, or may only produce noise. Before playing DTS signals for the first time, turn down the master volume to a low level, start playing the DTS disc, then check whether the DTS indicator on the AVR-3802 (see page 29) lights before turning up the master volume.
3 A DVD player with DTS-compatible digital output is required to play DTS DVDs. A DTS Digital Output logo is featured on the front panel of compatible DVD players. Recent DENON DVD player models feature DTS- compatible digital output – consult the player’s owner’s manual for information on configuring the digital output for DTS playback of DTS-encoded DVDs.
Manufactured under license from Digital Theater Systems, Inc. US Pat. No. 5,451,942, 5,956,674, 5,974,380, 5,978,762 and other world-wide patents issued and pending.
“DTS”,”DTS-ES Extended Surround” and “Neo:6” are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc. ©1996, 2000 Digital Theater Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
DTS-ES Extended Surround TM
DTS-ES Extended Surround is a new multi-channel digital signal format developed by Digital Theater Systems Inc. While offering high compatibility with the conventional DTS Digital Surround format, DTS-ES Extended Surround greatly improves the 360-degree surround impression and space expression thanks to further expanded surround signals. This format has been used professionally in movie theaters since 1999.
In addition to the 5.1 surround channels (FL, FR, C, SL, SR and LFE), DTS-ES Extended Surround also offers the SB (Surround Back, sometimes also referred to as “surround center”) channel for surround playback with a total of 6.1 channels. DTS-ES Extended Surround includes two signal formats with different surround signal recording methods, as described below.
2DTS-ESTMDiscrete 6.1
DTS-ESTM Discrete 6.1 is the newest recording format. With it, all 6.1 channels (including the SB channel) are recorded independently using a digital discrete system. The main feature of this format is that because the SL, SR and SB channels are fully independent, the sound can be designed with total freedom and it is possible to achieve a sense that the acoustic images are moving about freely among the background sounds surrounding the listener from 360 degrees.
Though maximum performance is achieved when sound tracks recorded with this system are played using a DTS-ES decoder, when played with a conventional DTS decoder the SB channel signals are automatically down-mixed to the SL and SR channels, so none of the signal components are lost.
2DTS-ESTMMatrix 6.1
With this format, the additional SB channel signals undergo matrix encoding and are input to the SL and SR channels beforehand. Upon playback they are decoded to the SL, SR and SB channels. The performance of the encoder used at the time of recording can be fully matched using a high precision digital matrix decoder developed by DTS, thereby achieving surround sound more faithful to the producer’s sound design aims than with conventional 5.1- or 6.1-channel systems.
In addition, the bit stream format is 100% compatible with conventional DTS signals, so the effect of the Matrix 6.1 format can be achieved even with 5.1-channel signal sources. Of course it is also possible to play DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 encoded sources with a DTS 5.1-channel decoder.
When DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 or Matrix 6.1 encoded sources are decoded with a DTS-ES decoder, the format is automatically detected upon decoding and the optimum playing mode is selected. However, some Matrix 6.1 sources may be detected as having a 5.1-channel format, so the DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 mode must be set manually to play these sources.
(For instructions on selecting the surround mode, see page 30.)
The DTS-ES decoder includes another function, the DTS Neo:6 surround mode for 6.1-channel playback of digital PCM and analog signal sources.
2DTS Neo:6 TM surround
This mode applies conventional 2-channel signals to the high precision digital matrix decoder used for DTS- ES Matrix 6.1 to achieve 6.1-channel surround playback. High precision input signal detection and matrix processing enable full band reproduction (frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz or greater) for all 6.1 channels, and separation between the different channels is improved to the same level as that of a digital discrete system.
DTS Neo:6 surround includes two modes for selecting the optimum decoding for the signal source.
•DTS Neo:6 Cinema
This mode is optimum for playing movies. Decoding is performed with emphasis on separation performance to achieve the same atmosphere with 2-channel sources as with 6.1-channel sources. This mode is effective for playing sources recorded in conventional surround formats as well, because the in-phase component is assigned mainly to the center channel (C) and the reversed phase component to the surround (SL, SR and SB channels).
•DTS Neo:6 Music
This mode is suited mainly for playing music. The front channel (FL and FR) signals bypass the decoder and are played directly so there is no loss of sound quality, and the effect of the surround signals output from the center (C) and surround (SL, SR and SB) channels add a natural sense of expansion to the sound field.