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DTS-ES Extended Surround
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DTS-ES Extended Surround is a new multi-channel digital signal format developed by Digital Theater Systems Inc. While offering high compatibility
with the conventional DTS Digital Surround format, DTS-ES Extended Surround greatly improves the 360-degree surround impression and space
expression thanks to further expanded surround signals. This format has been used professionally in movie theaters since 1999.
In addition to the 5.1 surround channels (FL, FR, C, SL, SR and LFE), DTS-ES Extended Surround also offers the SB (Surround Back, sometimes
also referred to as “surround center”) channel for surround playback with a total of 6.1 channels. DTS-ES Extended Surround includes two signal
formats with different surround signal recording methods, as described below.
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Discrete 6.1
DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 is the newest recording format. With it, all 6.1 channels (including the SB channel) are recorded independently using a
digital discrete system. The main feature of this format is that because the SL, SR and SB channels are fully independent, the sound can be
designed with total freedom and it is possible to achieve a sense that the acoustic images are moving about freely among the background
sounds surrounding the listener from 360 degrees.
Though maximum performance is achieved when sound tracks recorded with this system are played using a DTS-ES decoder, when played
with a conventional DTS decoder the SB channel signals are automatically down-mixed to the SL and SR channels, so none of the signal
components are lost.
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Matrix 6.1
With this format, the additional SB channel signals undergo matrix encoding and are input to the SL and SR channels beforehand. Upon
playback they are decoded to the SL, SR and SB channels. The performance of the encoder used at the time of recording can be fully matched
using a high precision digital matrix decoder developed by DTS, thereby achieving surround sound more faithful to the producer’s sound design
aims than with conventional 5.1- or 6.1-channel systems.
In addition, the bit stream format is 100% compatible with conventional DTS signals, so the effect of the Matrix 6.1 format can be achieved
even with 5.1-channel signal sources. Of course it is also possible to play DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 encoded sources with a DTS 5.1-channel decoder.
When DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 or Matrix 6.1 encoded sources are decoded with a DTS-ES decoder, the format is automatically detected upon
decoding and the optimum playing mode is selected. However, some Matrix 6.1 sources may be detected as having a 5.1-channel format, so the
DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 mode must be set manually to play these sources.
(For instructions on selecting the surround mode, see page 51.)
The DTS-ES decoder includes another function, the DTS Neo:6 surround mode for 6.1-channel playback of digital PCM and analog signal sources.
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surround
This mode applies conventional 2-channel signals to the high precision digital matrix decoder used for DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 to achieve 6.1-
channel surround playback. High precision input signal detection and matrix processing enable full band reproduction (frequency response of
20 Hz to 20 kHz or greater) for all 6.1 channels, and separation between the different channels is improved to the same level as that of a digital
discrete system.
DTS Neo:6 surround includes two modes for selecting the optimum decoding for the signal source.
• DTS Neo:6 Cinema
This mode is optimum for playing movies. Decoding is performed with emphasis on separation performance to achieve the same
atmosphere with 2-channel sources as with 6.1-channel sources.
This mode is effective for playing sources recorded in conventional surround formats as well, because the in-phase component is assigned
mainly to the center channel (C) and the reversed phase component to the surround (SL, SR and SB channels).
• DTS Neo:6 Music
This mode is suited mainly for playing music. The front channel (FL and FR) signals bypass the decoder and are played directly so there is
no loss of sound quality, and the effect of the surround signals output from the center (C) and surround (SL, SR and SB) channels add a
natural sense of expansion to the sound field.
