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We no longer sell DVDs. This page is for information purposes only.
Enjoy yourself! We make it easy ....
Sorting out the different formats
The two most common pre-recorded DVD media formats are:
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DVD Video: the standard for quality video for
over a decade
- with Dolby Digital or dts audio and exceptional Cinema-like picture
quality
- over 13,000 movies and music videos available
- all DVD players play DVD Video discs and CDs
- see the VideoETA web site for a large DVD listing
- capable of 720 x 480p pixel resolution
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DVD Audio: the decade old quality Music Listening Experience
standard
- with highly detailed lossless compression to provide a multi-channel surround music experience,
- this format requires a player with DVD Audio capability (not found on most basic or early model DVD players).
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The two pre-recorded High Definition disc media formats are:
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HD DVD: one of two High Def formats for the
ultimate Home Theatre
- capable of 1920 x 1080p pixel resolution
(6 x DVD)
- improved audio with Dolby Digital Plus & DTS-HD
- backward compatible with DVD Video discs
- up-converts DVD video for higher quality image
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Blu-ray: one of two High Def formats for the
ultimate Home Theatre
- capable of 1920 x 1080p pixel resolution
(6 x DVD)
- improved audio with Dolby Digital Plus & DTS-HD
- backward compatible with DVD Video discs
- up-converts DVD video for higher quality image
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Taking the confusion out of DVD terminology and features
DVD is an amazing media. There are many features and a variety of audio and video capabilities for which there is confusing jargon and terminology.
DVD SOUND FORMATS
Yes, you can play your CDs on a DVD player! CDs are recorded in a format called PCM (Pulse Code Modulation). DVDs can also have audio tracks recorded in this PCM format; however, these discs are relatively rare and usually limited to music, often with concert video presentation and in stereo.
WARNING: not every Blu-ray Disc player will play CDs!
But, what's with all these other audio terms such as Dolby Digital, DTS, etc? As great as it is to listen to stereo music from a CD, the world of DVD offers so much more. It's like comparing
being blindfolded while listening a string quartet, to sitting in the midst of a full symphony orchestra eyes wide open. In the symphony, the richness and texture of the distinctly discernable sounds encompassing you, and the variety of sound, will immeasurably heighten the listening experience. That's the possibility with
DVD.
All DVD players have the ability to play Dolby Digital sound from a
DVD. If you have a sound system capable of receiving Dolby Digital input, you'll be able to listen to superb audio from as many as 6 speakers. Depending on the source material, the DVD disc may have any number of channels of Dolby Digital sound from 1 to as many as 6.
To fully enjoy the audio potential of a DVD, most listeners will have a surround sound system of some sort, preferably at least Dolby Digital. Other systems are available for the discriminating listener but they require additional equipment and, in some cases, more than a basic DVD player.
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Mono Sound
Monaural sound is one channel of sound. Even if you play this through more than one speaker, all speakers will have the same sound. Normally single channel mono audio is played through the centre speaker. If you only have a stereo system, you'll hear the sound identically from each of your 2 speakers. A Dolby Digital 2-Channel Mono will also have the same sound directed equally to the front left and front right.
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Multi-channel Sound
Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 Sound
Every DVD player has an internal two-channel Dolby Digital decoder. The built-in 2-channel decoder turns Dolby Digital into analog stereo audio, which can be fed to almost any type of audio equipment (receiver, TV, portable stereo box, etc.) using a pair of stereo audio cables. This sound will be much like what you've been hearing as stereo music from a CD player or standard stereo TV. Two channels - left and right. You'll be able to detect movement effects like a car moving across your screen from left to right in front of you, but doesn't provide a surround experience which immerses you with the sound all around you.
Dolby Surround (Pro Logic)
Dolby Surround goes beyond Stereo 2.0 sound with a decoder which extracts surround information from the audio track. Surround information is
matrixed (see glossary) along with the stereo sound and decoded by the DVD player to direct mostly vocal sounds to the front centre speaker and mono "surround" sound to the 2 speakers located beside and preferably, slightly behind the listener. Dolby Surround (Pro Logic) uses the centre speaker to enable clearer dialogue (separated from the left and right speakers) and, along with the surround speakers, enhance the spatial experience of sound movement back and forth as well as side to side.
Dolby Digital (5.1 surround)
Up to 6 distinct channels of information are recorded and can be played back through front speakers
(left-centre-right), 2 distinct left-right surround speakers, plus a subwoofer. The 5 in "5.1" signifies up to 5 full range speaker channels with the ".1" signifying a low frequency effects
(LFE) channel with only low (bass) frequencies being sent to a subwoofer. Note that Dolby Digital can be recorded with as few as a single mono channel and no LFE channel (Dolby Digital 1.0). As another example, a "4.0" designation represents left, right and centre front speaker channels as well as mono to the left and right surround speakers without the LFE subwoofer.
While numerous movies and music are presented in this 5.1 surround format, many offer only Dolby Surround (Pro-Logic) which will be decoded or downmixed (see glossary) from the Dolby Digital 2.0 information on the
DVD.
dts Digital Surround
Essentially, dts is less compressed than Dolby Digital and for the discerning ear will offer a slightly better sound quality.
dts (Digital Theater Systems) Digital Surround is an optional multi-channel (5.1) digital audio format, using
lossy (see glossary) compression.
Although most current DVD players will decode dts and send it out, you will need a receiver or preamp/processor that will handle the
dts signals.
dts Digital Surround is a required audio format for both Blu-ray
and HD DVD hardware products.
Dolby Digital Surround EX
Feature films originally released in Dolby Digital Surround EX carry the encoded third surround channel in their subsequent DVD releases, as well as onto 5.1-channel digital satellite and terrestrial TV broadcasts.
Dolby Digital EX takes the Dolby Digital 5.1-channel setup one step
further with an additional center surround channel (reproduced
through one or two speakers) for extra dimensional detail and an
enveloping surround sound effect. If your Home Theater system has a receiver or preamp/processor with Dolby Digital EX decoding (the home version of Surround EX) you can hear Surround EX soundtracks with the extra spatial dimension shaped by the extra surround channel. This channel is heard through 1 or, preferably, 2 speakers placed behind the listener. With regular 5.1-channel Dolby Digital playback no sonic information is lost; although you'll miss out on the heightened spatial realism. This extra rear surround channel works with the usual left and right surround channels to produce an intensified sound dimension behind you to further immerse you in the experience. For example, fighter planes can seem to fly directly over you, and rain can pour down all around you more realistically than ever before.
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby® TrueHD is an audio format developed for
high-definition disc-based media. Dolby TrueHD delivers excellent
sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio mastert, providing
up to 7.1 channels of pristine, lossless audio 100 percent of the
time. Dolby TrueHD will be found on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc players
and software, as well as in future A/V receivers and downloadable
media. Supports up to eight full-range channels of 24-bit/96 kHz
audio. Supported by High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI™), the
single-cable digital connection for audio and video. Dialogue
normalization maintains the same volume level when you change to
other Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD programming. Dynamic range
control (Night mode) enables you to customize audio playback to
reduce peak volume levels (no loud surprises) while experiencing all
the details in the soundtrack, enabling late-night viewing of
high-energy surround sound without disturbing others. Selected as
the mandatory format for HD DVD and as an optional format for Blu-ray
Disc.
dts-ES (Extended Surround)
Like Dolby Digital Surround EX, dts Extended Surround adds a center-surround channel to the existing 5.1- channel array. In its basic form,
dts-ES decodes the rear centre soundtrack from information matrixed into the left surround (LS) and right surround (RS) tracks. One or two rear centre speakers can be added to provide greater effect.
dts-ES 6.1
This home format can deliver all 6.1-channels as discrete. This optional back channel can be recorded as discrete and played back by a
dts-ES 6.1 decoder. When playing a DVD with dts-ES 6.1 encoding, all sounds will be heard on a
dts system, whether played back as discrete, matrix or on a 5.1 system. There is no loss of information, just different methods of displaying to enhance your listening pleasure.
dts-HD
DTS-HD is an optional format for all Blu-ray and HD-DVD products.
DTS-HD core + extension design allows encoding and decoding three
DTS formats: DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, and
DTS Digital Surround.
dts-HD High Resolution Audio
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio can deliver up to
7.1 channels of sound that is virtually indistinguishable from the
original. DTS-HD High Resolution Audio delivers audio at high
constant bit rates superior to standard DVDs---6.0 Mbps on Blu-ray
discs and 3.0 Mbps on HD-DVD to produce outstanding sound quality.
It is capable of delivering up to 7.1 channels at 96k sampling
frequency/24 bit depth resolution. It allows content creators to
deliver rich, high definition audio on movies where disc space may
not allow for DTS-HD Master Audio.
dts-HD Master Audio
 DTS-HD
Master Audio is capable of delivering audio that is a bit-for-bit
identical to the studio master. DTS-HD Master Audio delivers audio
at super high variable bit rates, 24.5 mega-bits per second (Mbps)
on Blu-ray discs and 18.0 Mbps on HD-DVD, that are significantly
higher than standard DVDs . This bit stream is so "fast"
and the transfer rate is so "high" that it can deliver 7.1
audio channels at 96k sampling frequency/24 bit depths that are
identical to the original. With DTS-HD Master Audio, you will be
able to experience movies and music, exactly as the artist intended:
clear, pure, and un-compromised.
THX
THX (Tomlinson Holman Experiment) is not an audio format. THX Ltd.
is the founder of quality assurance programs for superior cinema
presentation. THX provides a certification and quality control program that
for sound systems and acoustics in theatres, home theatre equipment, and digital mastering processes. THX approved DVDs will have met a minimal quality standard.
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For further definitions see Glossary.
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