Audio Video News

There is a new wrinkle in DTS-HD Master Audio, the lossless audio codec. In a new version called DTS-HD Master Audio Essential, it will keep the new and ultra-hip lossless surround codec MA, but will downconvert several lesser-known ones to basic DTS 5.1.

As the brief press release explains: "The main difference between DTS-HD Master Audio Essential and DTS-HD Master Audio is that Essential does not support DTS Neo:6."

It adds: "For standard-def DVD only, DTS-HD Master Audio Essential products do not currently support DTS 96/24, ES, ES Matrix, and Neo: 6. However, DTS' backwards compatibility for content playback makes it possible for you to automatically enjoy your standard-def DVD entertainment experience with DTS Digital Surround."

These omissions are not necessarily fatal. In Blu-ray, the most frequent use of DTS is lossless Master Audio, and you'll get that under either the original MA logo or the Essential logo. Neo:6 is a matrixed process designed to convert two-channel signals to surround, so it's never used in movies and therefore not a factor in either Blu-ray or DVD. 96/24 is mainly for high-res DVD music releases, but not too many of them. The only concern for movie buffs might be the downconversion of ES and ES Matrix soundtracks, the 6.1- and 7.1-channel versions of old-school lossy DTS, in DVD.

Even this may be avoidable, says DTS: "If you desire to playback the full DTS technology feature set with a DTS Master Audio Essential player for either high-def or standard-def content, you can simply change the audio setup mode in your player to stream out over HDMI and let your DTS-HD Master Audio receiver decode the DTS 96/24, ES, ES Matrix, and Neo: 6. Please reference your player user manual for details on audio setup." I think what DTS is saying is that you can avoid the downconversion by setting your Essential player to output the bitstream, so your receiver will do the decoding.

DTS-HD Master Audio Essential is featured in two new Panasonic Blu-ray players, DMP-BD60 and DMP-BD80.

Why this, why now? Licensing surround codecs costs money, and DTS (and Dolby) have come up with so many of them that manufacturers may be balking at the cost. Essential will let you have your oh-so-cool Master Audio, without sonic compromise, at a lower price. Good thing, eh?