I'm currently torn over SoundStorm. I just bought a set of Logitech Z-680's for my planned HTPC and SoundStorm is the perfect technology to match. HOWEVER, the HTPC will be transfering HUGE files over the network. DVD images, time-shifted content, PVR recordings, automated weekly networked HDD image backups, etc. Gigabit is a must. But the new nForce3 250gb and Gigabit version of the nForce2 nix SoundStorm. Unless someone makes an AGP Gigabit adapter like ATI made AGP Firewire, there is no way to do this correctly (PCI limits Gigabit's speed).
AFAIK, DVD software decodes DTS for your soundcard's discrete outputs. Because SoundStorm is the only consumer PC sound card which can output DTS, there is no reason for a software maker to figure out how to send DTS right out to your DTS decoder. SoundStorm's DTS encoding will output all normally discrete channels as a single DTS signal when you tell it to by reencoding on the fly. It will make DTS signal out of all the discrete channels.
I'm just figuring it all out, but this is how I understand it.
Normal DVD player:
DVD DTS Audio track>DVD player outputs an unmodified DTS signal>Audio receiver decodes DTS and outputs to discrete speakers. This is how it is meant to work. This way, each device does not need their own speakers, a direct connection to every speaker or a switch to share them.
PC DVD software with Audigy or other 5.1-7.1 sound card:
DVD DTS Audio track>DVD software decodes DTS into the discrete channels and sends to the soundcard hardware>Soundcard outputs to speakers with direct and discrete connections for each speaker. Output has not been sent to a sound system. Your PC *IS* the sound system. This is not adequate for HTPCs because it can not be connected to your elaborate digital surround sound system that compliments and connects to everything else.
PC DVD software with SoundStorm:
DVD DTS Audio track>DVD software decodes DTS into the discrete channels and sends to the soundcard hardware>SoundStorm's on-the-fly DTS encoding recreates a DTS signal from the discrete tracks and sends to the receiver>Receiver decodes DTS and sends to deiscrete speakers.
Because the Logitech Z-680's decode DTS and I can not afford a traditional receiver, I MUST HAVE SoundStorm! I guess that seals it. I MUST make my Media Center Edition PC out of a damn old traditional AthlonXP
Why doesn't nVidia see the need to release a truely all-in-one motherboard chipset? Hell, I want DVI output on the damn motherboard for my TV. HTPCs are supposed to be low profile and people don't want to "Pick only two" when it comes to HDTV tuner, Gigabit NIC, video card and sound card.
I still don't know how I'm going to do this at all without a standard-fare MicroATX PC. HDTV Wonder + SN45G SFF nForce 2 w/SoundStorm + Gigabit NIC + Modern video card with DVI output? You can't put all that in a Shuttle SFF.