Convert DTS to WV
Max file size 100mb.
DTS vs WV Format Comparison
| Aspect | DTS (Source Format) | WV (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
DTS
Digital Theater Systems
DTS is a series of multichannel audio codecs developed by DTS, Inc. (now part of Xperi) originally for cinema use in 1993. DTS Core provides lossy 5.1 surround sound at bitrates up to 1.5 Mbps, while DTS-HD Master Audio offers lossless surround up to 7.1 channels. Widely used on DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and home theater systems, DTS is a direct competitor to Dolby Digital. Lossy Standard |
WV
WavPack Lossless Audio
WavPack (WV) is a free, open-source lossless audio compression format created by David Bryant in 1998. WavPack uniquely supports both lossless and hybrid (lossy+correction) compression modes, allowing users to create a small lossy file with an optional correction file that together reconstruct the original perfectly. It supports high-resolution audio, multichannel sound, and DSD encoding. Lossless Modern |
| Technical Specifications |
Sample Rates: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz (Core); up to 192 kHz (HD)
Bit Rates: 768 kbps – 1.5 Mbps (Core); up to 24.5 Mbps (HD MA) Channels: 5.1 (Core), 7.1 (HD), 11.1 (DTS:X) Codec: DTS Core, DTS-HD HR, DTS-HD MA Container: DTS (.dts), MKV, Blu-ray |
Sample Rates: 6 kHz – 768 kHz
Bit Depth: 8, 16, 24, 32-bit (int/float) Channels: 1 to 4096 channels Codec: WavPack (lossless/hybrid) Container: WavPack (.wv), correction (.wvc) |
| Audio Encoding |
DTS Core uses Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM) with subband analysis for surround encoding: # Encode to DTS 5.1 surround ffmpeg -i input.wav -codec:a dca \ -b:a 1536k -strict -2 output.dts # Extract DTS track from Blu-ray MKV ffmpeg -i movie.mkv -map 0:a:0 \ -codec:a copy soundtrack.dts |
WavPack uses adaptive prediction and entropy coding with unique hybrid mode support: # Encode to WavPack lossless ffmpeg -i input.wav -codec:a wavpack output.wv # WavPack with high compression ffmpeg -i input.wav -codec:a wavpack \ -compression_level 3 output.wv |
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| Version History |
Introduced: 1993 (Digital Theater Systems)
Current Version: DTS Core, DTS-HD MA, DTS:X Status: Active, part of Xperi Corporation Evolution: DTS (1993) → DTS-ES (1999) → DTS-HD (2006) → DTS:X (2015) |
Introduced: 1998 (David Bryant)
Current Version: WavPack 5.x Status: Active development Evolution: WavPack 1.0 (1998) → 4.0 (2004) → 5.0 (2016, DSD) |
| Software Support |
Media Players: VLC, MPC-HC, PotPlayer, Kodi, JRiver
AV Receivers: All DTS-certified receivers and soundbars Mobile: VLC (iOS/Android), MX Player Web Browsers: Not supported Tools: FFmpeg, MakeMKV, eac3to, HandBrake |
Media Players: foobar2000, VLC, Winamp, AIMP, Roon
DAWs: Limited (convert to WAV for editing) Mobile: Android (Poweramp, USB Audio Player Pro) Web Browsers: Not natively supported Tools: FFmpeg, wavpack CLI, dBpoweramp, EAC |
Why Convert DTS to WV?
Converting DTS to WV decodes the Digital Theater Systems surround audio and stores it losslessly in WavPack format, creating an open-source archival copy of your decoded multichannel content. This is especially valuable for home theater enthusiasts who rip Blu-ray and DVD audio tracks for use with software-based media centers like Kodi, JRiver, or Plex.
DTS is a proprietary format tied to disc media and AV receiver hardware. While it sounds excellent through a home theater system, working with DTS files on a computer can be challenging — many audio editors, DAWs, and general-purpose players lack full DTS decoding support. WavPack, being an open format, is supported by a wider range of desktop software.
WavPack's massive channel capacity (up to 4096) and high sample rate support (up to 768 kHz) make it a natural fit for preserving DTS multichannel audio. Even DTS-HD Master Audio's 7.1 channels and 192 kHz resolution fit comfortably within WavPack's capabilities, ensuring no downsampling or channel reduction during conversion.
The conversion also provides a clean separation between the audio content and the proprietary DTS container. Once in WavPack format, the multichannel audio can be freely transcoded to any other format, mixed down to stereo for portable listening, or processed through audio editing tools — all without requiring DTS decoder licenses or specialized hardware.
Key Benefits of Converting DTS to WV:
- Open Format: Escape DTS proprietary licensing with open-source WavPack
- Full Multichannel: All surround channels preserved losslessly
- Software Flexibility: Process, edit, and transcode with standard audio tools
- Hybrid Archives: Create portable stereo + full surround from one encode
- Error Detection: Verify archive integrity over time
- Metadata Support: APEv2 tags for organizing film audio collections
- Future-Proof: BSD-licensed format with guaranteed perpetual access
Practical Examples
Example 1: Archiving Blu-ray Audio for Media Server
Scenario: A home theater enthusiast is building a Kodi/Plex media server and wants to archive DTS surround tracks from their Blu-ray collection in an open lossless format for software playback.
Source: scifi_film_dts_5.1.dts (145 min, 1.5 Mbps, 1.6 GB) Conversion: DTS → WV (lossless, 6-channel) Result: scifi_film_dts_5.1.wv (3.8 GB) Workflow: 1. Extract DTS track from Blu-ray with MakeMKV 2. Convert to WavPack lossless with all channels 3. Store on media server NAS alongside video 4. Kodi/JRiver decodes WV for surround output 5. APEv2 tags for film title and audio info
Example 2: Creating Stereo Downmix from DTS Surround
Scenario: A user has DTS 5.1 concert recordings and wants to convert them to WavPack for both surround archiving and headphone listening with a stereo downmix using WavPack's hybrid mode.
Source: live_concert_dts.dts (78 min, 1.5 Mbps, 855 MB) Conversion: DTS → WV (lossless multichannel) Result: live_concert_dts.wv (2.2 GB) Benefits: ✓ Full 5.1 surround preserved for home theater playback ✓ Can create stereo downmix for headphone listening ✓ Hybrid mode option for portable + archival versions ✓ Open format playable without DTS license ✓ Error detection for long-term data integrity
Example 3: Converting DTS Music Blu-ray Tracks
Scenario: An audiophile has music Blu-ray discs with DTS-HD Master Audio tracks and wants to archive the high-resolution multichannel audio in a format supported by their Roon-based streaming setup.
Source: symphony_dts_hd.dts (55 min, 24-bit/96 kHz, 7.1ch, 3.2 GB) Conversion: DTS → WV (lossless) Result: symphony_dts_hd.wv (2.8 GB) Audiophile advantages: ✓ High-resolution 24-bit/96 kHz preserved ✓ All 7.1 channels maintained without downmix ✓ Roon plays WavPack natively for room correction ✓ APEv2 tags for composer, orchestra, and conductor ✓ Smaller than WAV with identical audio quality
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Will DTS to WV conversion preserve surround sound?
A: Yes — all surround channels (5.1 or 7.1) are fully preserved in the WavPack output. WavPack supports up to 4096 channels, so there is no limitation on channel count. The spatial audio layout is maintained for proper surround playback through compatible software and hardware.
Q: Is DTS Core audio lossy or lossless?
A: DTS Core is lossy, operating at up to 1.5 Mbps. DTS-HD Master Audio is lossless. When converting DTS Core to WV, the lossy-decoded audio is preserved losslessly in WavPack — no further quality is lost, but the original DTS compression artifacts remain. DTS-HD MA converted to WV produces a true lossless-to-lossless result.
Q: Can my AV receiver play WavPack files?
A: Most AV receivers cannot decode WavPack directly. Use a media player (Kodi, JRiver, foobar2000) on a connected PC or streamer to decode WV to multichannel PCM, then send the decoded surround signal to your receiver via HDMI. The receiver processes the PCM surround for speaker output.
Q: How does WavPack compare to FLAC for surround audio?
A: Both are lossless and preserve surround audio perfectly. FLAC supports up to 8 channels, while WavPack supports 4096. For standard 5.1 and 7.1 content, both work equally well. WavPack's hybrid mode offers additional flexibility for creating portable stereo versions alongside surround archives. FLAC has broader device support.
Q: What is the file size difference between DTS and WV?
A: WavPack lossless files from decoded DTS will be larger than the DTS source — typically 2-4 times the size of a DTS Core file. For example, a 1 GB DTS Core file may produce a 2.5-3.5 GB WV file. DTS-HD MA to WV may result in similar or slightly smaller files since both are lossless formats.
Q: Can I convert DTS:X object-based audio to WV?
A: DTS:X object-based audio metadata cannot be preserved in WavPack, as WV stores channel-based PCM audio. The conversion will decode the DTS:X mix to standard channel-based surround (7.1 or 5.1) and store that in WavPack. The object-based rendering information will be lost during conversion.
Q: Is there a quality difference between DTS and AC3?
A: DTS Core typically operates at higher bitrates (768-1509 kbps) compared to AC3 (384-640 kbps), which can result in better surround quality for DTS. DTS-HD Master Audio is fully lossless, while standard AC3 is always lossy. Both convert to WavPack equally well, with the WV output quality limited only by the source format's quality.
Q: Should I keep the original DTS files after converting to WV?
A: If you may need to play audio through hardware DTS decoders (like older AV receivers that only accept DTS bitstream), keep the originals. If you primarily use software-based playback through Kodi, JRiver, or foobar2000, the WV files are a complete replacement that offers better metadata support and open-format advantages.