Seeing this type of encoding software at affordable prices is something I've been waiting to see for many years.
So far found the DTS NEO-6(music mode) the most natural sounding and best (6) channel imaging for this type of audio. But there's more 2-channel-to-surround decoder schemes to try, so no conclusions on what works best, but found most flavors of Dolby
not great sounding from my mid priced Sherwood receiver.
What I have yet to find is the best sounding DTS NEO-6(music)
encoding software making 5-6 channel surround .wav files
from my 2-channel stereo-surround files. And these used in something like the Surcode Pro DTS encoding program for making surround-sound videos like this recent test vid with lots of surround audio action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYt5OMgCInII have found a 'almost free' series of VST plug-ins 'manually' decoding two channels of surround (at a time i.e. fL- fR, C - Sub, sR - sL) from a stereo .wav file for making 5.1 set of files. Lots of possible channel adjustments I have yet to master. Need to spend lately hard to find time for making an evaluation of how well this program decodes the HRTF surround information.
If working well enough, then the Surcode DTS program seems like a complete solution for making 5.1 surround videos. But then if the VST program produces good 5.1 files, maybe simply using a video editor with ability to produce Dolby 5.1 from discreet files would work OK for some projects?
For now, really do enjoy listening to my recordings with DTS surround decoding engaged. And recently discovered my receiver’s ‘speaker off’ Dolby HeadPhone #1 mode sounds astonishingly REAL wearing in-ear-bud phones.
Imaging of all surround sounds is most natural sounding, and
exact in all directions that I’ve heard to date. As yet, only this good noticed when ear-bud listening in this particular Dolby HP1 mode, and having edited the video checked as having Dolby 2-channel audio.
Now wonder if a ‘large open’ type headphone might sound as good?