For those of you who have been shopping for new home audio equipment in the past year or two, the new standards of “Dolby Digital EX” and “DTS-ES,” and 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 channel receivers have undoubtedly lent an extra degree (or several degrees) of confusion to what is already a perpetually bewildering topic. In short, the new 6-channel (6.1) and 7-channel (7.1) add one or two rear speakers, respectively, to an audio source encoded in the perpetually competing Dolby Digital and DTS standards.

That said, the present home audio universe is characterized by a situation where the hardware has taken a time lead over the software, where the equipment that you are likely to find in the store is significantly more capable than the movie or music releases that you will be watching or listening to at home. For example, while 6- and 7-channel receivers are now standard fare for new purchases, there are very few DVD-Video or DVD-Audio titles that are encoded specifically for 6- or 7-channel output.

DTS Entertainment is a company that has gradually built its catalogue of DVD-Audio titles on re-releasing classic albums re-encoded in, as the company’s name implies, DTS audio. But even a company on the leading edge of DTS maintains only a handful of DTS-ES releases, that is, those albums re-encoded at a sample rate of 48K, a bit depth of 24, and 6.1 discrete channels of sound.

Some of the DTS-ES releases encompass familiar names in the music business – jazz masters Medeski Martin and Wood have released their album, “Uninvisible” in a DTS-ES version, as has Everclear and its classic release, “So Much for the Afterglow.” More unique (some might say more questionable) DTS-ES audio releases include the electronic music disc, “Studio Voodoo,” and Sheila Nicholl’s relatively unknown (yet under-rated) release, “Wake.”

The current hardware-software disconnect is likely to eventually iron out as studios like DTS Entertainment continue to roll out the releases that take full advantage of DTS-ES, Dolby Digital EX and true 6.1 and 7.1 channel output. As it stands, your new receiver is likely far more capable than the handful of titles that you may possess that truly take advantage of its power. Nonetheless, the trend is a welcome one – six and seven channel audio is a sound to behold, and it heralds the trend toward a new generation of exceptional home audio and video technology that will be shaking the foundations of homes across North America for many years to come.

Sheila Nicholls - Wake

Wake deeply expresses Sheila's notion of faith, as the album explores the self-made woman - from the waking moment of birth through the various trails along the way until the final celebration of life. Several tracks were co-produced and co-written by Glenn Ballard (Alanis Morisette)...and can now be experienced via this incredible 5.1 re-mix from Nathaniel Kunkel.

Street Date: November 5th, 2002

Audio Options: 5.1 MLP for DVD-Audio Players; 5.1 DTS for DTS-Capable systems; 2.0 PCM for all DVD-Video players