Dolby AC-4....a step backwards?

[13Gigatons]

I realize that this is aim at 4K TV broadcast (ATSC 3.0) and internet streaming but it's just another compressed audio format when Dolby already has so many. It would be great if they started pushing to get HD Audio over streaming services with the 4K picture.

https://www.dolby.com/us/en/technologies/AC-4.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnar...n-your-tablet-smartphone-and-tv/#1c78007e506c

 

[darkswordsman17]

Why h.265 when they already had h.264? That's a similar comparison based on some of the claims (that basically it can offer similar quality at roughly half the bitrate).

There are other features as well (object based audio positioning for instance), so it actually makes sense for a new format as there are feasibly significant changes to how it manages audio information, versus the Street Fighter esque Dolby Digital xx.x HD Atmos EX Plus+ silliness.

Yes it sucks to have yet another single company owned proprietary format.

I do wish we had more audio options for streaming (I'd love if more offered an audio only option where you could just stream the audio). Having an HD audio option would be nice, but I would still like them to offer up just a high quality compressed option, especially since I have a bad feeling that we're going to see a squeeze on data caps and similar.

 

[JAG87]

Perfect, that'll put my gigabit pipe to good use.

I understand maybe for broadcast, but for on-demand streaming... I mean really, do we need to compress audio more?

 

[Malogeek]

It's basically why I don't bother with streaming services. Crappy bitrates on video/audio with no HD audio formats. But it'st he way the general consumers are going, as most don't care or can't tell the difference anyway. How many watch 4:3 480i stretched content on their 65" 4k TV and don't give a shit?