DVD & blu-ray Audio |
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blu-ray audio can playback to 48 KHz 24 bit to 5 full-range speakers plus a 20 to 120Hz 24 bit, separate bass speaker. The original audio is compressed, selectively removing details and data is discarded. Most people cannot notice much of a change in audio quality. File sizes are much smaller and output to all 5 full range speakers for DVD and to 7 full range speakers for blu-ray is possible. Height channels for enhanced audio experience is available on selected blu-ray discs with DTS-X, Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D. Matching speakers and A/V receivers are required in order to hear the full audio from these disks. Usually, blu-ray disks that support 4K playback are the ones that have these higher end audio tracks. A/V Receivers--- bestreviews --- C|Net ---blu-ray 4K players--- bestreviews --- | |
High Definition Blu-ray surround sound | |
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Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are formats that allow blu-ray audio file can be read and expanded back to 5 channel playback plus bass 5.1 or even 7 channel playback plus bass, 7.1. All the speakers get audio signals that are recreated equal to the originals at a sample rate of 48KHz. No data is lost. Dolby Atmos, DTS-X and Auro-3D allow for height speakers from 5.1.2 to 13.2 and require a compatible A/V Receiver and the extra speakers in order to playback this blu-ray audio. Some channels are uncompressed and others are compressed depending on the audio brand. | |
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Linear PCM One file can playback 96 KHz or 192 KHz stereo uncompressed or 8 channels uncompressed. |
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Blu-ray audio type & Number of channels |
Encoded or Original Waveform PCM | Lossless? (quality considered same as original) |
Included in |
Recommendations for surround system |
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Dolby Digital (DD) - format used for DVDs, 5.1-channel surround sound. |
Encoded | No | Standard | Mid range - Analog in, okay. HDMI preferred |
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DTS Digital Surround - format used for DVDs, 5.1-channel surround sound. | Encoded | No | Standard | Mid range - Amplifier to handle DTS. |
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Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) - extension of Dolby Digital, 7.1-channel surround sound. | Encoded | No | Optional | Mid range - Analog in, okay. HDMI preferred. |
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Dolby TrueHD - lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio. |
Encoded | Yes | Optional - most with HDMI only out. Some have analog out. | High end with HDMI input |
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Dolby Atmos 5.1.2, 9.1 | Compared to DTS-X: Dolby Atmos produces smaller files with its more efficient compressible codec, meaning more data can fit on the disk. | Some original channels Yes. Other channels are compressed. | Requires a Dolby Atmos A/V Receiver | High end with HDMI input and additional speakers and amplifier channels are required to take advantage of the height channels |
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DTS-HD High Resolution Audio - extension of DTS, 7.1-channel surround sound. | Encoded | Yes | Optional - most with HDMI only out. Some have analog out. | High end with HDMI input |
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DTS-HD Master Audio - lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio. | PCM | Yes | Optional - most with HDMI only out. Some have analog out. | High end with HDMI input |
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DTS-X 9.2 | DTS:X can be encoded with a higher maximum bitrate than Dolby Atmos. | Some original channels Ye. Other channels are probably compressed | Requires an Auro-capable A/V Receiver | High end with HDMI input and additional speakers and amplifier channels are required to take advantage of the height channels |
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Auro-3D - height channels 9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 11.1, 11.2, 13.1 and selected advanced auto stereo | Mixing and decoding 2 or 3 channels in PCM | Some original channels Yes. Other channels are probably compressed | Requires an Auro-capable A/V Receiver | High end with HDMI input and additional speakers and amplifier channels are required to take advantage of the height channels |
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Linear PCM (LPCM) - up to 8 channels of uncompressed audio. | PCM | Yes | Standard | High end with HDMI input |
