HDTV Forum

Richard,
Is it possible that a HD-DVD audio track advertised to be legacy DTS 5.1, at an assumed constant bit rate of 1.5 mb/s., actually be a variable bit rate at 4-6 mb/s? Is a lossy format ever in a variable bit rate?

Boy, is that a test?

The first part of your question is kinda confusing but is sounds like you are wondering why a 1.5mb/s DTS stream is showing up at 4-6mb/s that is varying? Great question and a good start would be what title on what player and where are you getting the info from? The player?

Second Part: I thought all formats had variable bit rates... Even DVD at full bandwidth varies... I don't recall ever seeing that information rock steady for audio or video... (reference point for my comments are SD DVD players)

Anybody else feel free to chime in!

The HD-DVD in question is the Eagles Farewell 1 Tour. The audio tracks advertised on it are 2 channel PCM and regular DTS 5.1. However, several people with Tosh XA2 and A35 players hooked via HDMI to a newer receiver capable of decoding the lossless formats are getting a DTS-HD Master Audio indication from the DTS 5.1 track. Strange. One guy used "PowerDVD Ultra" to check the audio stream, and he said it was a variable bit rate between 4-6 mb/s. I didn't think a regular lossy DTS stream could be over 1.5. Anyway, all who have gotten this DTS-HD MA signal on their receiver have said it sounds absolutely incredible. Noticeably better than a bitstream through an optical or coaxial cable. However, there is no mention of anything other than regular DTS on the DVD disc or case.

I myself have listened to the 5.1 track many times on my Tosh A1 in both PCM through 5.1 analog outputs and in bitstream through an optical cable.(No have HDMI) The PCM just sounds too good to be 1.5 mb/s. Sounds just as good as as my Roy Orbison in Dolby TrueHD. My A1 says it is just DTS, but it's not supposed to do MA anyway--I think.

Didn't mean to - . I was just wondering if this guy with the PowerDVD Ultra knew what he was talking about. A lossless audio track but not labled as such. I guess it doesn't matter much anyway. If it sounds good I should just smile and listen.