http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=62639

The article states that DTS-HD master audio will be the only HD sound format on these HD DVDs. So when's the next firmware update to enable DTS-HD master audio on the Toshiba?

A1 spin guys, where art thou??

Huh? What does that have to with the Studio Canal releases?

Well, one of two thing is true:

1. DTS-HD is the only option and DTS-HD is part of the required minimum HD-DVD spec. The A1 should play DTS-HD, or it is out of spec.
2. DTS-HD is not part of the required minimum spec and is the only lossless option and Dolby Digital Plus is also included (but not True HD).
3. DTS-HD is not part of the required minimum spec and DTS-HD is the only audio option. These DVDs are out of spec and may not be produced under DVD Consortium rules.

I'm thinking #2 is probably most likely.

From Wikipedia:

Option 4. Discs are only encoded in DTS-HD. Players that cannot play DTS-HD play regular DTS Digital Surround. Let's hope everyone has a DTS receiver.

#2 still seems like what makes the most sense.

From Wiki:
There is no "spin" (), this is simply bad reporting. There needs to be a soundtrack besides DTS-HD. It may only be DD, but it has to be there.

I agree that the article was a little vague. These are some interesting scenarios. Thanks for doing all the thinking for me Bus! Lord knows my brain isn't fully functional today.

Who has a HDDVD player, and doesnt have an DTS receiver?

Not to mention that probably 90% of the people with one are letting the player do the decoding.

No one has claimed that the A1 can do DTS HD MA. However, it can extract the lossy DTS core for audio playback. And there's nothing saying that they can't add full decoding via firmware like they did for DolbyTruHD.

So even if DTS HD MA is the only soundtrack on the entire disc, the HD-A1 will extract the lossy DTS core for playback.

1) People who work for Dolby.
2) People who have older Dolby-only receivers and don't feel the need to upgrade.
3) People who still use their TV speakers. And there are quite a few, even on HDTVs.

I guess DTS-HD then is really a container with both the real DTS-HD (lossless) and regular DTS in it.

The question is... Why are there claims that DTS-HD is superior to Dolby TrueHD? I have no problem with DTS > DD, because I can hear the difference and I'm not much of an audio guy nor do I have lots of fancy gear.

But isn't lossless... lossless? What else is there to it? Maybe DTS-HD can compress to a smaller size, or Dolby TrueHD doesn't let someone extract the DD or DD+ core... I don't know.

So, the big thing is this: Studio Canal HD-DVDs will feature DTS-HD. If your player can't do DTS-HD, you get DTS. Still an improvement over 80% of DVD releases (and a handful of BR releases even!).

1) less than 0.000001 of the population of America
2) probably the same amount of people. Who decides that they need to upgrade to an HDDVD player ($360 cheapest price available) when they cant afford a receiver that could cost less than $100.
3) again, how many people do you know that watch HDDVD through TV speakers?

A few things I can think of that would make DTS-HD-MA an advantage over DolbyTrueHD.

1) DTS-HD-MA can extract the lossy 5.1 core for transmission over an optical or coaxial sound connection, so you still get 5.1 sound. DolbyTrueHD requires HDMI or analog outputs.

2) The DTS name.

3) Um...see number two.

Someone who bought a high-end Dolby receiver at the time, and has been very happy with its sound quality and features. I have a friend in this exact situation. He doesn't want to downgrade to a cheap DTS receiver, but nor can he afford to buy another high-end receiver that would meet his standards.

How many people do I personally know doing that? At least 15. And about 10 more listening through a simple stereo system.

For many people, having a big TV with a big picture is more important than having a fancy surround sound system.

I'm constantly pestered by relatives and co-workers for HDTV recommendations, and the first or second question I'm always asked is "does it have good speakers?"

Could they be mixed differently? DD (and TrueHD) has to be able to be downmixed into 2 channels (for those HDTV built-in speakers people), so there may be a difference in how it's mixed in some cases. DTS has no such accomodation, so it will likely be mixed purely for multichannel.

I watch HD programming and xbox 360 via red/white RCA jacks going into a 2.1 altec lansing PC speaker system. This is with a 92" screen and DLP projector. Sound has never, ever been high on a list of anyone i personally know, but i live in a quiet neighborhood and everyone generally keeps it quiet in this city. Im insanely happy with how the setup sounds, movies like Gladiator with its DTS track sound just simply awesome.

The entire process of getting a receiver, running wiring, tuning it, then doing wiring from the devices all over again with coax, etc etc. Just wouldnt do it.

While I have no doubt at all that you are correct, for me it was the opposite. I installed a surround sound system first, while using a 27 inch TV. Later I added the big HD screen. To me, having the surround sound makes for a more theater-like experience. With a tiny screen, all one has to do is sit closer.

A minority view, I suppose.

This is just frightening. "Insanely" is the only word I can grok in that entire post.

Ditto. My 27" is now in the living room. I had 5.1 for 3 years before HDTV.

That post was hilarious. Sound makes a movie.

What?? How are you hearing DTS?

Believe it or not, audio guys, a lot of people don't care about surround sound. I had an HDTV for over three years and all I used were TV speakers. I finally bought a Yamaha all-in-one-box separates set and I still use those speakers. I upgraded the receiver about a year ago and that's because I needed more inputs, not because of the sound.

I do know people that keep upgrading their 5.1 systems and still have an old TV. I know a lot of them actually. I'd be willing to bet there's a lot of kids in college with nice monitors and nice speakers but no TV.

My point is, here in the US, just because you have an HDTV doesn't mean you have a DTS receiver. It might only be 25% of people. Or it might only be 10% of people. But those people would be completely unable to see any of the European releases.

Well, in the end, I think a DD+ track (at least 2.0) is required on all HD DVDs, like how the old DTS-only DVDs would feature Dolby Digital 2.0 just in case.

I have recently purchased a Denon 4306 AV Receiver and I guess that once again I am behind the curve on formatting. What receivers will play these new HD surround sound formats???