dts-ES discrete

Digital Theater Sound - Extended Surround. 

The only digital audio format in our industry that is capable of delivering 6.1 channels of discrete audio on standard definition content is DTS-ES (the ES stands for Extended Surround). In addition to the standard 5.1 channels, it adds the capability of a fully discrete center surround channel, positioned between your left rear and right rear speakers. 

AV receivers that are DTS-ES capable can decode material encoded in both DTS 6.1 Discrete and DTS 6.1 Matrix decoding, as well as DTS 5.1 content. Played back with a DTS-ES capable receiver and a 6.1-speaker layout, a movie encoded in DTS-ES will dramatically intensify the DTS surround effect. You’ll clearly hear sound effects — such as footsteps coming up behind you — along with other sounds that move front-to-back, and from side-to-side behind you. Even with an older DTS-capable receiver and a 5.1-channel speaker layout, you’ll still hear the center surround channel information; it will be “matrixed” or mixed in between the rear speakers. In either case, you’ll get the fuller, more realistic audio that comes with all DTS formats. 

DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 is a true 6.1-channel format, as the back surround audio channel is discretely encoded into the DTS bitstream.  This format offers better spatialization over the surround channels for complete 360-degree sound localization and surround pans (i.e., movement of sound in the surround channels from one side to another).  A data flag signals the decoder (usually part of the receiver or pre-amplifier) that the bitstream contains an extra discrete back surround channel.  For backwards compatibility, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 back surround channel is ignored by DTS 5.1 equipment.

DTS-ES Discrete provides 6.1 discrete channels, with a discretely recorded (nonmatrixed) center-surround channel; in home theater systems with a 7.1 configuration, the two rear-center speakers play in mono. To maintain compatibility with DTS decoders which do not support DTS-ES, the center-surround channel is also matrixed into the left and right surround channels, so that the rear center channel's sound is still present when played in 5.1 on a non-ES system; an ES decoder removes the matrixed audio from these two channels when playing back DTS-ES Discrete soundtracks. DTS-ES Discrete is sometimes notated as DTS-ES 6.1.