News

Last week we reported Dolby's announcement that varying versions of their audio technologies have been selected as "mandatory formats" for HD DVD and Blu-ray. Significant for audiophiles is that MLP and high-resolution PCM audio will be available both as two-channel and surround formats on HD DVD.

Not to be outdone by its rival, DTS has now announced that its DTS Coherent Acoustics coding system has been selected as "mandatory audio technology" for both the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD.

DTS notes that in addition to the company's core technology, DTS's "extension technologies" have also been selected as options. The company says that the extension technologies will be known collectively as DTS++, and will include higher data rates, lossless operation, and additional channels. This is worth noting, since Dolby will not be providing MLP for Blu-ray, leaving DTS++ as the only lossless audio technology selected for both disc formats.

DTS claims that, with the extra space and bandwidth afforded by HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc, their audio tracks can be encoded at data rates greater than 1.5 Mbit/s all the way to fully lossless operation. The company reports that the mandatory DTS core technology, as well as optional higher sampling rates such as DTS 96/24 and additional channels up to 7.1, will allow both Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD formats to be compatible "with all existing DTS decoders."

DTS' Jon Kirchner is quick to point out, "As a mandatory technology in the next generation standards, a DTS decoder will be built into every next-generation player that incorporates either HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc, therefore allowing content providers the freedom to choose the audio technology best suited for their needs."

The audiophile score to date: Blu-ray, backed by Sony and Philips, will run standard Dolby Digital and DTS++, while HD DVD, backed by the DVD Forum, will use MLP and Dolby Digital Plus to offer audio specifications similar to DVD-Audio, and will also run DTS++. So far, DSD is MIA.