Dolby Digital Surround EX
Dear Gary: Greetings from Ajax, Ontario, Canada (just east of Toronto). I’m a long-time reader and recent subscriber. Your Issue 64, October, with the review of Monsters, Inc. was AWESOME! My wife and I loved the DVD. The bass rumbles, the overall sound is fantastic, and the new THX intro really challenged my PSB towers (MMMMOOOOO). I have the PSB 800 towers (about ten years old), and the bass goes lower than many subs start at. Do I really need a subwoofer? The rafters are shaking already. You gave praise to the soundtrack which was recorded in Digital Dolby Surround EX. The “EX” comes from a matrix process that gives the impression of a rear center loudpeaker channel. Why not just record the soundtrack in 6.1? Your review also stated that Monsters, Inc. was recorded in DTS. Is there another DVD coming out soon? Maybe DTS-ES? Love being a subscriber to WSR.
James Hobart
mailto:james.hobart@tdsb.on.ca
Managing Editor and Sound Review Editor Perry Sun Comments:
I’m going to assume that you have a subwoofer already to handle the LFE or “.1” channel. If not, you'’ll definitely want one, to isolate the LFE information from your main loudspeakers, which will help improve the tonal clarity and dynamic range of the low-end from the main channels. The addition of a subwoofer will also help take some of load off of your PSB towers. As for Monsters, Inc., I was quite surprised (and somewhat disappointed) when I encountered no DTS Digital Surround soundtrack. Disney as of late has not been using DTS with their top DVD title releases. They have never issued a DVD with full DTS-ES, which would include a fully discrete 6.1-channel presentation. Given that the current DVD release already seems comprehensive enough in terms of its special features, I wouldn’t expect another version coming out anytime soon, much less with DTS-ES. The DTS reference in our review pertained to the theatrical release format.
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