Some additional thoughts on the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks on DVD-Audio/Video discs:

http://www.spannerworks.net/reference/10_1a.asp

"Both Dolby Digital and DTS are capable of 24-bit resolution, but currently nominally operate at 18-bit resolution, allowing a dynamic range of approximately 108dB. Theoretically, 24-bit resolution allows dynamic range of 144dB which, though higher, would be indistinguishable from the lower 108dB figure given the current limitations of playback hardware. For all practical purposes, both Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround operate at near, or above, 18-bit resolution and dynamic range (108dB)."

So in addition to being lossy, DTS and Dolby Digital (DTS less lossy than Dolby Digital) are only about 18bit/48kHz. Most DVD-Audio discs are 24bit/48kHz or 24bit/96kHz, and lossless. Dynamic range aside, you'll hear a world of difference between 18bit and 24bit, because the waveforms are more accurately described at higher bit depths.

http://www.dtsonline.com/consumer/te...t-a-glance.php

The DTS 96/24 codec (lossy) is extremely rare and only found on a few receivers and players. It differs from the much more common regular DTS codec described above. You need a special receiver or player that decodes DTS 96/24. It is backwards compatible with regular DTS, but it will be downsampled to 24bit/48kHz. I haven't seen any discs (audio or video) that utilize this codec. Doesn't mean they don't exist, though.

The new codec, DTS HD Master Lossless (24/96 x 5.1 or 7.1? channels) is used on some HD-DVDs and Blu-Rays.