DVD-audio difference!? (1 Viewer)

[Ryan Leemhuis]

ok, I just hooked my computer up to be able to get positional audio from games and I sampled some DVD-audio music that came on a disc with my sound card. However my brother tells me that he owns a simple plan CD/DVD that had 5.1 audio on one side. He says he can play this on his CD/DVD player(mainly a shelf system with surround speakers, capable of playing DD 5.1 no DTS) and get 5.1. Is this the same thing as DVD-audio? if so why can he play it!? I thought you needed to use analog connections...any help would be appreciated

 

[JeremyErwin]

If you play a DVD-audio disc in a DVD-audio player, you'll be able to hear high resolution multichannel audio. If you play it in a DVD-Video player, you might be able to hear a 5.1 dolby digital or dts mix. Both are heavily compressed, and, theoretically, at least, are sonically inferior to the DVD-Audio tracks. Actual results depend on the accuracy of your ears and speakers.

 

[Michael Osadciw]

DVD-Audio uses lossless compression - so it doesn't discard data to fit high resolution audio. Dolby and DTS does discard data (lossy compression), with Dolby being more compressed than DTS. The goal for audio is to be lossless.

In the end, the sounds in the 5.1 array will be the same, it's the resolution of the audio that changes between the three. Of course, the playback system has to be capable of playing that high resolution back.

Mike

 

[ChrisWiggles]

Guys!

I don't think he even means DVD-A, since it came on a DVD with his soundcard. I don't know of a way to play DVD-A/SACD on a computer yet. It's probably just a normal DVD.

 

[Ryan Leemhuis]

no I mean DVD-A the sound blaster audigy 2 ZX can do it via analog outs which I send to my receiver. they are getting very annoying though as hookup is full of headaches

 

[ScottCHI]

dvda is very doable on a computer now