A 384/448 kbps data rate can be used for stereo. All Dolby Digital decoders support up to at least 448 kbps (DVD and DVB max spec) data rate irrespective of the number of channels encoded within the Dolby Digital data stream. The final data rate used is a production choice depending on many factors, including number of audio tracks, video data rates, and available space for the audio on a DVD or within the transmission stream, among others. While 192 kbps is a common rate for the production of 2/0 (stereo) Dolby Digital data streams, there is nothing preventing the use of higher data rates, if desired.
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