The Sound

VideoLogic’s history of consistent sound quality is clearly evident in the design of the DigiTheatre DTS.  The system deserves examination from two standpoints - the first is the acoustics of the individual components and as they work in unison; the second is the decoding options and how they combine to accentuate the system.

The satellites speakers in the system bear a strong resemblance to those of VideoLogic’s older system, the Sirocco Crossfire 4.1 system.  They consist of two drivers, a step rarely taken in computer speaker systems.  Diversification allows for specialization - it’s a classic concept that can also be applied to speakers.  By allowing the midrange driver to concentrate on quality reproduction of lower frequencies, VideoLogic has averted the midrange dip that plagues computer speakers around their crossover frequency between satellites and subwoofer.  The 10mm tweeters also help reign in highs to maintain clarity; they don’t get quavery or distorted by a driver having to stretch to reproduce low frequencies at the same time.

The center channel of the system is designed mostly to handle voice replication.  It uses a coaxial driver, which stacks the high frequency transducer in the center of the bass/mid driver.  This helps align the sound for the directional nature of the center channel; it is there to localize vocals to the visual source.  The unit definitely is designed for the vocal frequencies. As such, it isn’t as musical as the other channels, but more than sufficient for the DTS reproduction.


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The Setup (continued) The Sound (continued)
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  • kikamki - Thursday, June 17, 2004 - link

    I liked the almost-in-depth review. However, I have a feeling that the author was somewhat biased (over-awed?).

    'Backward' compatible to Dolby Digital?? What's that? Are you trying to say that DTS is the next generation (and that much better)? Apart from the theoritical resolution of DTS, I don't think it is perceivably better than comparable Dolby Digital encoded material (perceivably being the keyword here).

    I understand that when it comes to judging the quality of audio, in the end, it is highly subjective. But how did you differentiate the quality of DTS encoded material versus Dolby Digital material. DID YOU REALLY FEEL THE DIFFERENCE? Or were you just recycling some marketing material?

    I don't prefer DTS or Dolby Digital in particular (I like both), but I think the author is overly excited, and did I mention biased?

    Anyway, my own biased viewpoint aside, there is only one thing I wanted to say, really. Please be objective -- like most of the AnandTech reviews; that is why come back to AnandTech again and again.
    Thanks.
    ki kamki
  • KristopherKubicki - Friday, March 12, 2004 - link

    test

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