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Topic: All things considered, which digital format would you get?

Joe Redifer
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 01:24 AM

Yes, DTS has the problem of obtaining the discs. However if you work at a
movie theatre you could always borrow the discs for one night and copy them via
a CD-R and they will work just fine. DTS sounds the best by a slight edge in my
opinion--it uses 4:1 compression---the LaserDisc version uses 3:1 compression at
worst and 1:1 at best, and it does sound a little better than the theatrical
counterpart. DTS is cheapest of the three formats.

Dolby Digital sounds pretty good, slightly better than MP3's on your computer.
(The highs can have the same washed out quality when there is a lot of sound
going through all of the channels at the same time). Dolby Digital sees more
release prints than any other format. Be sure to get a penthouse reader for
maximum reliability. Dolby Digital can see some reliability problems if the lab
messes up. A lab slice which usually changes the color dye of the film for a few
seconds will send the SRD begging for mercy, and during that time you will be
listening to SR. Dolby Digital uses 12:1 compression in the theatres, at 320kbps.
LaserDiscs sample their Dolby Digital at 384kbps and DVDs up to 480kbps, so
again, the home counterpart sounds better. What are they thinking? The theatrical
technology should always be better!

Sony SDDS should not even be an option anymore, in my opinion. Their
equipment has become unreliable and is also very expensive. I have heard many
stories of the sound dropping in and out. It is compressed at about 5:1.

My recomendation would be to go with DTS if you can get the discs somehow,
and Dolby Digital if you cannot.

Brad Miller
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 01:24 AM

Oh this is a no-brainer...DTS!

First let's put SDDS out of the running because of three major factors. #1 It is
"highly" unreliable. #2 It is the worst sounding of the digital formats. #3 It is the
most expensive (and more than double the cost of a DTS)

Sure DTS discs aren't always an easy thing to find, but they aren't that hard to
either. As to availability of titles, Dolby digital (SRD) is on basically everything.
DTS is the second most popular and is on everything except for the real small
releases. So unless you are a collector of art films, DTS will more than suffice for
you.

As to dropping out, it has been my experience with DTS (6 years) that the format
never drops out unless the reader is grossly misaligned when mounted on top of
the projector or a disc is badly scratched (of which remounting will fix and a
replacement disc will fix).

Then there's the two projector changeover issue. A second DTS reader is
nowhere NEAR the cost of a second SRD reader. The SRD readers are
$2500-3000! If you are going to go with SRD, you should just put that extra
money into a platter and forget the second projector. That way you don't have to
keep getting up during the movie and changing reels too!

Chris Trainor
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 01:25 AM

Is there a used market at all for DTS decoders and penthouses? I'd really like to
get digital for my screening room, and even though an on-film format would make
the most sense, by time I get prints they are beat pretty bad sometimes making
DTS the only digital option.

Also, what do you figure a used setup would cost if avaiable? (how much are new
nowadays anyway?)

Brad Miller
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 01:25 AM

Used systems come around from time to time. However, since "digital" is such a
big customer draw to theaters nowadays, most theaters when they close transfer
the digital players to another theater in the chain.

A good price for used systems would be:
DTS $5000
SRD $6000
SDDS $waste of money

Jeff Newton
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 01:26 AM

No kidding! SDDS isn't worth a dime! I feel like taking one out into a field and
beating the crap out of it like they did on Office Space with the fax machine.

John T. Mellor
Film Handler

Posts: 52
From: Htafield, Pennsylvania, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 07-30-2000 08:49 PM

I install maitain and repair projectors and sound syestems every day its my job. Each of the syestems are ok.For home use DTS or Dolby would be the way to go but remember you also need a good processor to go with the syestem. DTS ,Cheapest and easiest to install and maintain, the older unit need to be upgraded with the new cd drive that usually the only problem. Dolby is good you can have better luck with the 699 and 700 units [white light] the 701 led needs to be kept clen and in alignment. SDDS newer units the 3000 better than the 2000 but still expensive. Basement readers I would shy away from a lot harder to set up and keep in alignment. They get knocked out when threading etc. Also a good idea to install reverse scan led in sound hed for better analog sound . To properly set any of the syestems up you need the right equipment. A good dual trace scope, a real time analizer , and a computor with the programs to set up the systems , if you don't have all of them lots of luck in setting them up properly. If you need more information to set it up let me know

Regards,
John

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