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Additional Information Additional Information
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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 ( page 23).)
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.
2 DTS Neo:6™ 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. Changes in the
sound quality are reduced by decoding with emphasis on the
front channel signals (FL and FR), and a natural sense of
expansion is given to the sound field by the effect of the
surround signals output from the center (C) and surround (SL,
SR and SB) channels.
[4] DTS 96/24
The sampling frequency, number of bits and number of channels
used for recording of music, etc., in studios have been increasing
in recent years, and there are a growing number of high quality
signal sources, including 96 kHz/24-bit 5.1-channel sources.
For example, there are high picture/sound quality DVD video
sources with 96 kHz/24-bit stereo PCM audio tracks.
However, because the data rate for these audio tracks is
extremely high, there are limits to recording them on two
channels only, and since the quality of the pictures must be
restricted it is common to only include still pictures.
In addition, 96 kHz/24-bit 5.1-channel surround is possible with
DVD audio sources, but DVD audio players are required to play
them with this high quality.
DTS 96/24 is a multi-channel digital signal format developed by
Digital Theater Systems Inc. in order to deal with this situation.
Conventional surround formats used sampling frequencies of 48
or 44.1 kHz, so 20 kHz was about the maximum playback signal
frequency. With DTS 96/24, the sampling frequency is increased
to 96 or 88.2 kHz to achieve a wide frequency range of over 40
kHz.
In addition, DTS 96/24 has a resolution of 24-bits, resulting in the
same frequency band and dynamic range as 96 kHz/24-bit PCM.
As with conventional DTS Surround, DTS 96/24 is compatible
with a maximum of 5.1 channels, so sources recorded using DTS
96/24 can be played in high sampling frequency, multiple channel
audio with such normal media as DVD videos and CDs.
Thus, with DTS 96/24, the same 96 kHz/24-bit multi-channel
surround sound as with DVD-Audio can be achieved while
viewing DVD-Video images on a conventional DVD-Video player
(1). Furthermore, with DTS 96/24 compatible CDs, 88.2
kHz/24-bit multi-channel surround can be achieved using normal
CD/LD players ( 1).
Even with the high quality multi-channel signals, the recording
time is the same as with conventional DTS surround sources.
What’s more, DTS 96/24 is fully compatible with the conventional
DTS surround format, so DTS 96/24 signal sources can be played
with a sampling frequency of 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz on conventional
DTS or DTS-ES surround decoders ( 2).
1A DVD player with DTS digital output capabilities (for CD/LD
players, a player with digital outputs for conventional DTS
CDs/LDs) and a disc recorded in DTS 96/24 are required.
2 The resolution is 24 or 20 bits, depending on the decoder.
[3] DTS-ES Extended Surround™
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.
2 DTS-ES™ Discrete 6.1
DTS-ES 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.
2 DTS-ES™ Matrix 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.
