Play DTS-encoded music via AirTunes and iTunes

Feb 09, '05 08:21:16AM

Contributed by: brw3sbc

I have long been a DTS (Digital Theatre System) fan and have a couple of DTS-encoded (i.e. 5.1 surround) CDs (The Police and Moody Blues). I also like to download DTS-encoded audio material from Swedish National Radio. Until now, I would have to record my downloaded DTS music to a CD, and play it from either my coax-attached CD player or my DVD player into my DTS-capable receiver. Now with my Airport Express, I can play my downloaded music directly from iTunes to my receiver through AirTunes.

In my case, the "CD" port on my receiver is coaxial (phono jack), so I have added an optical-to-coax converter between my Airport Express and the receiver. In iTunes, I select that which I wish to hear and play it as one normally would, with the Airport Express as the selected speaker. My receiver interprets the bit stream and automatically switches to the appropriate mode: DTS or stereo (for regulars MP3s, AACs, AIFFs, etc), thus I can have a playlist that is a mix of music formats. I have now retired my 200-disk CD jukebox.

When (if?) Apple adds the ability for DVD Player to output the DTS audio stream (or the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio stream) through AirTunes, an Airport Extreme- and DVD Player-equipped Mac could then become an integral component of a home theatre systm. With the Mac co-located with the projector (DVI interconnection) at the rear of the room, and the sound component (receiver) at the front (or elsewhere), Airport Express/AirTunes would tie the two together. Of course iTunes, in that same Mac, would house the audio collection.

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