Trending Lyricist I

can we please get dts hd and dts x it is 2022 afterall

116 replies
15465 views

hi just touching on this which im sure has already been asked plenty of times, but can we just get dts hd and dts x already it seems crazy to me to think a system that can cost up to and over 1500 hasnt the ability to play these modern formats, when you could pick up a standard av receiver for about 300 pound which would support all the mentioned formats

I have found myself more times than enough now sitting down to watch a film and simply getting mute audio just because it is in dts hd or dts x and quite alot of the time this is when i have friends and family over so it isnt a good look for the sonos brand that it cant produce sound for these types of movies or tv shows

it is somnething that could quite easily be achieved since yous went and enabled dts standard after not supporting it, i feel if yous want to be seen as the go to soundbars yous then have to make sure its the go to for audio formats also which currently it isnt dont get me wrong the sonos eco system and products are fantastic and i love my setup but to do dts but not go as far as offering dts hd or dts x is just lazy

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

Show previous replies

G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

Would also love to know your experiences with the Sony system - looking for something that can handle DTS-HD/Master

There is a helpful comparison and review here of the Sonos Arc vs the Sony HT-A9:

https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/tools/compare/sonos-arc-vs-sony-ht-a9/13760/27047

I did think the HT-A9 was having audio dropout issues, so you may want to research that further too before making a purchase decision?

https://us.community.sony.com/s/question/0D54O00007AcFZJSA3/hta9-dropouts

Thanks for posting both of these, super helpful. The issue is that almost all of my Blu-Ray collection is DTS-HD or up, so even if Sonos rates slightly higher, I’m missing out on a whole realm by not putting everything up on Craigslist and moving on.

If you set your Blu-ray player to convert DTS to PCM, you can get Multichannel PCM audio from all of your DTS-HD Master Audio encoded discs which sounds just as good.

That only works if you’re using eARC right? I have an Arc but my current TV doesn’t have eARC

Yes, eARC is required for Multichannel PCM audio. But eARC is also required for DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS:X too. Without eARC, you are limited to lossy DTS Digital Surround (which Sonos supports) or Stereo PCM from DTS-encoded discs.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

L

LBJ2

Lyricist III

Would also love to know your experiences with the Sony system - looking for something that can handle DTS-HD/Master

There is a helpful comparison and review here of the Sonos Arc vs the Sony HT-A9:

https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/tools/compare/sonos-arc-vs-sony-ht-a9/13760/27047

I did think the HT-A9 was having audio dropout issues, so you may want to research that further too before making a purchase decision?

https://us.community.sony.com/s/question/0D54O00007AcFZJSA3/hta9-dropouts

I think I’m mentioned this to you a few times now. The very initial HT-A9 dropouts have long since been fixed by a Sony Firmware update.

L

LBJ2

Lyricist III

many blurays only have dts hd or dts x as an audio option and blu rays are of course the best way to watch movies for the quality so this is why it is important to atleast some of us out there who would like to have both best picture and audio possible to them

I think you are perhaps referring to the older Blu-ray movies, these days they appear mainly to have a Dolby Digital TrueHD (w or w/o Atmos) audio track, which the Arc/Beam g2 will happily play.

That said, I too would like the option to make a ‘one-off’ payment for the DTS HQ/X codecs to be added which then help to cover any development/licensing costs.

I started amassing my blu-ray collection at the start of the pandemic. I have (happily) invested a lot and probably will hit about 1,000 titles by the end of 2022. Some people blow money on cars and vacations, for me its been blu-rays.😂. Anyway, roughly 60% of my movies are either DTS-HD or DTS:X. For more than a year now, in particular, my purchases have been mostly of new releases, meaning titles that up until now were not offered in blu-ray format. While it’s true that newly produced movies distributed in the blu-ray format usually include dolby as the audio format, more often than not, existing titles that are newly released in the blu-ray format include DTS-HD as the audio format. They just do. And these existing titles are still a big part of the market for new blu-ray releases, which is apparent from sites like www.blu-ray.com. That won’t be case forever, but that is the reality today.

I wrote that I will be picking up the HT-A9 to compare with my Sonos next week but I just realized I am scheduled pick it up in a few days 🥳. I have plenty of DTS:X object based audio 4K UHD blu-ray's to test and compare between the two systems. And like you wrote there appear to be many others with lots of DTS:X/HD content as well. With LCPM pass through on my Sonos I don't think I am hearing DTS:X object based audio but surely DTS and DTS: HD via LCPM pass through, which sounds pretty good on the Sonos. This is something I will be paying close attention to during the comparison of both systems in my own environment. Of course hoping to hear what .4 vs .2 can do for Dolby Atmos as well.

I have no idea why some major brands abandoned DTS. Sony OTOH seems to be promoting DTS right along side Dolby. Not sure if its a license expense thing for the other brands or maybe DTS doesn't want to proliferate so much in the consumer market? I've read Dolby Atmos is easier to compress for streaming purposes which I have found to sound very good with Sonos. I know streaming is getting better and better, but also all the major studios continue to produce plenty of physical discs globally with both DTS and Dolby.

Very interested in your views comparing between the ARC and the HT-A9, have you gone for the SA-SW5 as well?.

For me a very difficult decision deciding between these two systems based upon what I heard in my listening environment with my own content. Both systems sound great with very effective Dolby Atoms height speaker effects. Overall, the HT-A9 + Sony SW3 Sub sounds more airy and bright to my ears in my room than the ARC but not something I would call “sounds better” than the ARC--just different.

The HT-A9 phantom speaker is a marvel with very effective and clear dialog and you can move those two front speakers all over the place with some limitations and still retain very effective dialog. Uncanny really.

**The Sony HT-A9 initially did have wireless disconnect problems for many when it was first released. This was fixed with an early Sony firmware update and I can confirm this was fixed when I used the system.** I did have one disconnect when I was running the HT-A9 right next to the active Sonos ARC--but The HT-A9 presented a wireless conflict message suggesting I run an automatic RF optimization process and with one click that was resolved and I was able to run the HT-A9 alongside the Sonos ARC without any further issues.

**I’ve never experienced wireless speaker disconnects with my Sonos system Ince I got it up and running, even when many others were complaining about Sonos speaker disconnects recently with one of the previous Sonos firmware updates, now apparently fixed.**

I have to admit is was a thrill to finally hear DTS:X from my UHD/4K blu-rays with the HT-A9. However, In the end I had a hard time distinguishing DTS:X from LPCM 5.1/7.1 from the same blu-ray through the Sonos Arc 5.1.2. But I do have to go through an extra work-around to hear LPCM 5.1/7.1 on the ARC particularly since my LG TV blocks all forms of DTS codecs and I can't bypass the LG TV with the Sonos Arc’s single HDMI eARC port which is for me and my equipment frustrating.

Finally, and again to my surprise the HT-A9’s four height speakers effect really didn’t win me over the Sonos’ two height speakers. At least not in my listening environment and acoustics. I was surprised at just how well the Sonos two-only height speaker effect compared to the HT-A9’s four and this was something I really concentrated on testing for many hours. The HT-A9 has the edge in this regard, but not enough to choose it IMO over the Sonos ARC 5.1.2 at least not in my listening enviroment.

In the end, I decided to stick with the Sonos Arc 5.1.2 even though there are a few things about the HT-A9 I prefer: two HDMI ports, the ability to process ALL forms of DTS from my 4K UHD Blu-rays and the many ways you can place the HT-A9 speakers all over the room without degrading sound and I do hope Sonos comes with an additional rear height speaker options some time soon.

The reasons I didn’t keep the HT-A9 include the most important ( in my house) 1. my wife preferred the Sonos Arc footprint and “the look”, black color with her decor over the four much larger HT-A9 light gray speakers. #2 I also experienced a heat problem with the HT-A9 controller box that Sony assured me was normal--that controller box became very hot to the touch quickly and that worried me--even though Sony assured me that was normal.

Honestly both systems sound great in my environment. Different sound e.g., the HT-A9 sounds airy, bright compared to the Sonos 5.1.2, to my ears that doesn't mean better.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to compare both side by side in my own environment and I think I could be very happy with both--but could only keep one.

M

MrZeDark

Trending Lyricist I

So many people arguing some dumb stuff.

To say Movie’s aren’t even coming out in DTS-HD / X anymore is ignorant.

You can pre-order movies now that only have a DTS track, because they are a re-release into 4k an they chose not to bring the audio to TrueHD.

So movies are coming out quite regularly in DTS HD and DTS X format. Doesn’t matter if ‘new’ movies are TrueHD, how are people going to enjoy their Alien 4k movie that’s in DTS:X? Just going to skip the spatial audio and listen to LPCM?

In the case of DTS-HD converting to LPCM is fine because it’s 100% the same data (but decoded by the player), however DTS:X is still a spatial audio used (that won’t translate in LPCM) - and any 4k already re-released in DTS is unlikely to get another release in TrueHD…

melvimbe

So many people arguing some dumb stuff.

To say Movie’s aren’t even coming out in DTS-HD / X anymore is ignorant.

You can pre-order movies now that only have a DTS track, because they are a re-release into 4k an they chose not to bring the audio to TrueHD.

So movies are coming out quite regularly in DTS HD and DTS X format. Doesn’t matter if ‘new’ movies are TrueHD, how are people going to enjoy their Alien 4k movie that’s in DTS:X? Just going to skip the spatial audio and listen to LPCM?

In the case of DTS-HD converting to LPCM is fine because it’s 100% the same data (but decoded by the player), however DTS:X is still a spatial audio used (that won’t translate in LPCM) - and any 4k already re-released in DTS is unlikely to get another release in TrueHD…

Are you referring to the original “Alien”, one of the sequels, or just any movie with aliens in them? Perhaps you have different sources, but I can’t find Alien recorded in DTS X anywhere. DTS and DTS HD, yes, but not DTS X.

Danny

M

MrZeDark

Trending Lyricist I

So many people arguing some dumb stuff.

To say Movie’s aren’t even coming out in DTS-HD / X anymore is ignorant.

You can pre-order movies now that only have a DTS track, because they are a re-release into 4k an they chose not to bring the audio to TrueHD.

So movies are coming out quite regularly in DTS HD and DTS X format. Doesn’t matter if ‘new’ movies are TrueHD, how are people going to enjoy their Alien 4k movie that’s in DTS:X? Just going to skip the spatial audio and listen to LPCM?

In the case of DTS-HD converting to LPCM is fine because it’s 100% the same data (but decoded by the player), however DTS:X is still a spatial audio used (that won’t translate in LPCM) - and any 4k already re-released in DTS is unlikely to get another release in TrueHD…

Are you referring to the original “Alien”, one of the sequels, or just any movie with aliens in them? Perhaps you have different sources, but I can’t find Alien recorded in DTS X anywhere. DTS and DTS HD, yes, but not DTS X.

Meant generally, I wish the Alien series would get a 4k conversion with TrueHD and an Atmos upgrade… I’d be in heaven, would hate to see if they got a DTS:X Upgrade, given Sonos as it is.

melvimbe

So many people arguing some dumb stuff.

To say Movie’s aren’t even coming out in DTS-HD / X anymore is ignorant.

You can pre-order movies now that only have a DTS track, because they are a re-release into 4k an they chose not to bring the audio to TrueHD.

So movies are coming out quite regularly in DTS HD and DTS X format. Doesn’t matter if ‘new’ movies are TrueHD, how are people going to enjoy their Alien 4k movie that’s in DTS:X? Just going to skip the spatial audio and listen to LPCM?

In the case of DTS-HD converting to LPCM is fine because it’s 100% the same data (but decoded by the player), however DTS:X is still a spatial audio used (that won’t translate in LPCM) - and any 4k already re-released in DTS is unlikely to get another release in TrueHD…

Are you referring to the original “Alien”, one of the sequels, or just any movie with aliens in them? Perhaps you have different sources, but I can’t find Alien recorded in DTS X anywhere. DTS and DTS HD, yes, but not DTS X.

Meant generally, I wish the Alien series would get a 4k conversion with TrueHD and an Atmos upgrade… I’d be in heaven, would hate to see if they got a DTS:X Upgrade, given Sonos as it is.

So is there any example of an old movie that was originally created before spatial audio existed that has been re-recorded in DTS:X? I found this list and there does appear to be some older movies available. Although I’m not sure everything on the list is accurate.

Danny

M

MrZeDark

Trending Lyricist I

So many people arguing some dumb stuff.

To say Movie’s aren’t even coming out in DTS-HD / X anymore is ignorant.

You can pre-order movies now that only have a DTS track, because they are a re-release into 4k an they chose not to bring the audio to TrueHD.

So movies are coming out quite regularly in DTS HD and DTS X format. Doesn’t matter if ‘new’ movies are TrueHD, how are people going to enjoy their Alien 4k movie that’s in DTS:X? Just going to skip the spatial audio and listen to LPCM?

In the case of DTS-HD converting to LPCM is fine because it’s 100% the same data (but decoded by the player), however DTS:X is still a spatial audio used (that won’t translate in LPCM) - and any 4k already re-released in DTS is unlikely to get another release in TrueHD…

Are you referring to the original “Alien”, one of the sequels, or just any movie with aliens in them? Perhaps you have different sources, but I can’t find Alien recorded in DTS X anywhere. DTS and DTS HD, yes, but not DTS X.

Meant generally, I wish the Alien series would get a 4k conversion with TrueHD and an Atmos upgrade… I’d be in heaven, would hate to see if they got a DTS:X Upgrade, given Sonos as it is.

So is there any example of an old movie that was originally created before spatial audio existed that has been re-recorded in DTS:X? I found this list and there does appear to be some older movies available. Although I’m not sure everything on the list is accurate.

During the DTS era, yes there were some movies converted from DTS-HD-MA to a DTS:X in like a re-release. DTS is still present, and some movies are still dropping with it - so it’s not infeasible they could still make new DTS:X - but I would think they’ll just shift to TrueHD at that point.

Really the issue here is, not every movie we or anyone wants to see came out 2021 and newer only, some movies may not get a 4k re-release, or even a new blu-ray with TrueHD. - and Sonos continues to offer no DTS-HD or DTS:X licensing to watch some of our old favorites -- then we may never get to appreciate it… Harry Potter? Who knows if they’ll drop an Atmos version - but it’s in DTS:X and the last collection released was in 2021….