lol. trying to copy Power DVD and failing.

DTS tracks are usually recorded at lower volume levels to reduce distortion, it's nothing to do with compression. Compression is there to reduce file size only (Unless you're on about Dynamic Range Compression, but you're not). As regards your Subwoofer, what you'd want to do regarding that is to Tick the "Send 0.1 (Subwoofer) to Speakers/Headphones" option. Your systems crossover will take care of sending it to the sub.

Nothing you can really do about that. DVDs always sound lowering in comparison to everything else, same situation here on my system with an Audigy 2.

I get skips in audio and video everytime a new chapter begins with WinDVD. Not with PowerDVD.