HD-DVD audio same as just a DVD then?

[Stuman]

Just had the loan of Transformers on DVD. Yes, we won't go into why it's not on Blu-ray YET!! - but I see that the HD-DVD version's audio is just the standard Dolby Digi 5.1 - same as on the DVD.

Please tell me if I have this wrong but does that not mean that the sound is identical from both sources?

[Zyclone]

had a look at the specs for both and i believe your correct looks like the same sound for both discs.

[Stuman]

Originally Posted by Zyclone

had a look at the specs for both and i believe your correct looks like the same sound for both discs.

That's crazy stuff eh?

I see on other posts the reason for no HD sound on the HD-DVD was a lack of space. So a better picture but same sound as on a DVD. Says it all really!

I will wait < 18 months for it to come out on Blu-ray .. with an amazing picture AND awesome sound to match.

[kabraal]

Well you shouldn't wait. Go do your duty and buy those blu discs

It baffles me how so many people disregard sound and only show interest in the 1080p video.

Imo, it's 50/50. For the full HD experience you need full HD sound. To hell with that Pioneer Kuro. I'd go back to a CRT in exchange for a top class receiver, some B&W 800's and a PCM/DTS-HD/DTHD BD It makes a huge difference in overall cinematic experience.

And, with BDs you're pretty much gaurenteed to get a full HD track on every release. Seems like with every new HDDVD release, everyone holds their breath w.r.t audio. Pfft

[w_tanoto]

what can you expect from HD DVD?? PCM? no way. it won't fit, except they put the video on one disc, and audio on the other

[Sinner]

but in all fairness (I haven't seen the Transformers DVD or HD-DVD), didn't a majority of the reviewers say that despite not having PCM or lossless or whatever, the SQ was still very good?

[WriteSimply]

The sound mixing and design on TF was very good which translates well to theatrical presentation or home theater presentation.

But without PCM/lossless track to compare, how can reviewers come to the conclusion that a lossy track is very good or near perfect? In the world of DVD, this was acceptable but not with HDM.

Hopefully when Paramount gets back to BD, they'll do both TrueHD and DTS HDMA on this title.


fuad

[mswoods1]

Yep, it's DD at 640 Kbps. There goes one more "souped-up DVD" HD-DUD!

[bootman]

Doesn't it have a TrueHD soundtrack?
This is not the same as DD+ although it would have that also.

[Cream]

Transformers on HD DVD is DD+

http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/tech...DDPlus_FAQ.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Digital_Plus

A higher bitrate than normal DD. In this case it's at 1.5Mbps

It's still lossy. Think of it like MP3. You can have an MP3 track at 128kbs and one at 320kbs. The second will sound better.

The US version of Planet Earth on blu-ray also uses it.

[ryoohki]

TF audio is 1.5mbits DD+ at 24bit.. so it's just like DTS 1.5mbits 24 bits (like all Fox title with DTS MA, there a 1.5mbits 24 track inside it)IMHO I mean they are so close together in spec...

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by benes

Transformers HD DVD is 1536Kbps DD+. The DVD is almost certainly 448Kbps DD. So its significantly better than the DVD. Many people claim 1500Kbps is perceptually lossless which is probably true a lot of the time. Of course REAL lossless would still be better.

Well most people will tell you that 720p and 1080p are the same... Too

[SamInNorthCakalakey]

The Bracke review on HighDefDigest says otherwise -

"Planet Earth's audio is a disappointment. Just as with the BBC next-gen versions, the Discovery Channel only offers a single surround audio track on its Blu-ray and HD DVD versions of 'Planet Earth.' A standard Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix offered here is encoded at a paltry 448kbps, while the optional Dolby 2.0 stereo mix is even a more lowly 192kbps"

Don't have it so I can't comment on his review.

Originally Posted by Cream

Transformers on HD DVD is DD+

http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/tech...DDPlus_FAQ.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Digital_Plus

A higher bitrate than normal DD. In this case it's at 1.5Mbps

It's still lossy. Think of it like MP3. You can have an MP3 track at 128kbs and one at 320kbs. The second will sound better.

The US version of Planet Earth on blu-ray also uses it.

[Frode]

Uncompressed 16 bits stereo is 1440kbps, so that gives you an idea just how much that soundtrack has been squeezed down. The source may be 24bit, but with the lossy compression going on I doubt the actual results are 16bit, never mind 24.

[DrinkMore]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

Well most people will tell you that 720p and 1080p are the same... Too

Well, aren't they?

Yes, it does suck when a title comes out on HDM and the other half of it is either missing or some crap job (audio track).

[Dieselboyx]

I wonder what this blu vs hd dvd is all about.
This Hd, I mean, it's nothing compared to blu.
And now Transformers in dvd sound because of lack of space. Great!
What else do we need to hear. There is no competition AT ALL between these formats, let that be clear.
Poor HD, with Paramount/ Universal and WB when blu has the major companies(Fox, Sony and above all Disney) What will HD do when Disney releases the classics. Let's face it, it must be a humiliating for Paramount to release blu again because Hd will die soon.
I'm glad to live in europe where finding a hd dvd in a store in like a miracle.
Toshiba, you lose this game.
Let's forget about this war, there is no war, there is blu and...a HD loser.


Poor

[Stuman]

The TRANSFORMERS audio conspiracy is the cautionary tale I will now tell people who ask: 'so...why would you want to choose Blu-ray over HD-DVD ?'