DVD-AUDIO V.S DTS CD's

Hey everyone, I just had a few quick questions. I recently picked up my first 5.1 surround sound home theatre. I got hold of a DVD-AUDIO version of the Who's Tommy in 5.1 and man did it sound great!

When searching for DVD-AUDIO torrents around the web only a few come up, I do see a lot of DTS audio files though. I know my player is compatible with DTS but are these dts cd's surround? The DVD-AUDIO discs are large 3-4.7GB. While, the DTS cd's are only 400MB-700MB

My questions are...what is a DTS cd? is it surround? Is it as good as a dvd-audio even though it is a way smaller file? And finally...if dts cd's are surround is it 5.1 or something else? THANKS in advance for any help! I really appreciate it!

The DTS CDs are 16bit/44.1kHz 5.1 surround sound, and lossy (but a lot less lossy than Dolby Digital). DVD-Audio can be up to 24bit/96kHz 5.1 surround sound, and lossless. The increase in bit depth (24 vs. 16) makes the biggest difference in sound quality when comparing two similar studio recordings. You must have a DVD-Audio capable player to be able to play the lossless 24 bit stereo or lossless 24 bit surround sound track. You can still play the DTS or Dolby Digital track from a DVD-Audio disc even if you only have a DVD-video player. These lossy tracks can support up to 24 bit, but might only actually be about 18 bit, as with DVD-video discs.

EXCELLENT! Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!!!!!!!!

You're welcome! Do you have a DVD-Audio capable player or just a DVD-Video player?

http://www.surcode.com/

I did a little reading, and Surcode 5.1 DTS CDs can be 16/44.1, 24/44.1, or 32/44.1 with a fixed data rate of 1234 kbps. So if you're using 24/44.1 x 5.1 channels or 32/44.1 x 5.1 channels it's going to use more lossy compression than 16/44.1 x 5.1. And there are no 32 bit DA converters in use in consumer receivers or preamp/processors that I'm aware of.

I doubt that any of the commercial DTS CDs use 24/44.1 x 5.1. Couldn't find any info to confrim that though here:
http://www.dtsonline.com/shopping/catalogue/music.php
I have the DTS DVD-A release of Medeski Martin and Wood's Uninvisible and it lists the playback options on the back of the case: 16/48 PCM stereo, 24/48 DTS 6.1, and 24/48 MLP lossless 5.1. I have played back the DTS track through 2 channels and it sounds much better than the PCM stereo track, so it must be 24 bit. I've never bought a DTS 5.1 CD, so I can't say what the specs say on the back of the case. DTS for DVD can use a data rate of 768 kbps or 1536 kbps at up to 24/96. They say that since there isn't much info in the 24kHz to 48kHz frequency range, that 24/96 wouldn't use that much more lossy compression than 24/48. The DTS 96/24 codec is pretty rare, though, you have to have a special receiver or player and discs with this codec built in to play back the full 96/24. Regular DTS is a max of 24/48. If you only have regular DTS, a disc encoded with DTS 96/24 will be played back at 24/48.
http://www.dtsonline.com/consumer/te...t-a-glance.php

DTS HD Master lossless for Blu-Ray and HDDVD is great, 24/96 surround sound, and lossless.