Harry Potter 8 Film Collection Surround Sound

[therealdjnugz]

I've owned the Harry Potter 8 film collection on blu ray for awhile now, but just started marathoning it today. I've never actually seen the movies until today. I've only got through the first four movies but I have to say, I'm highly disappointed with the surround sound. Does it start to get better with the more recent films in the series? I know it's not my system because I've watched other flicks today and the surround sound was on point. Just yesterday I gave my setup a fresh calibration and finally got the surround speakers two feet higher than the fronts and center speakers. It sounds more badass than ever before. Also, are the blu rays in the collection inferior to other versions out there sound wise ? I was super excited to finally watch the series but the surround has been a huge let down. I'd like to know what others have experienced with the sound.

[PUsokrJosh305]

The first 5 films are encoded with LPCM 5.1 mixes, Half Blood Prince is a 5.1 Dolby TruHD mix and the last 2 films are encoded with DTS-HDMA 5.1 mixes, you should be getting great surround sound out of these movies, u may have to check ur blu-ray player or receiver to make sure it is interpreting the LPCM audio correctly, I've always been satisfied with the surround mixes for all the these movies

[Dubstar]

actually the first two films (for their Ultimate Editions) are the only ones with center channel surround sound 6.1 EX/ES

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

actually the first two films are the only ones with center channel surround sound 6.1 EX/ES

That's only available on the Ultimate Editions, all other releases have LPCM 5.1 mixes

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

That's only available on the Ultimate Editions, all other releases have LPCM 5.1 mixes

correct, I just edited my original post to reflect that difference/specific edition.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

correct, I just edited my original post to reflect that difference/specific edition.

Just noticed that, haha! Glad to have another person who knows the HP movies' audio like me, lol!

[PUsokrJosh305]

Back to the problem at hand, as Dubstar pointed out, the first two Ultimate Editions have DTS-HDMA 6.1 mixes, which I can admit, creates a more fuller sound field than the 5.1 mixes, the rest of the movies are all encoded with 5.1 mixes, but as I said, these mixes are pretty good and they shouldn't be lacking in surround activity, particularly the 4th movie, they do improve as the series goes on, but that's due to better technology and more action in the movies

[therealdjnugz]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

The first 5 films are encoded with LPCM 5.1 mixes, Half Blood Prince is a 5.1 Dolby TruHD mix and the last 2 films are encoded with DTS-HDMA 5.1 mixes, you should be getting great surround sound out of these movies, u may have to check ur blu-ray player or receiver to make sure it is interpreting the LPCM audio correctly, I've always been satisfied with the surround mixes for all the these movies

My blu ray player supports LPCM , there's sound coming from the surrounds, it's just not loud enough to really hear it. My speakers are calibrated via SPL meter. I put in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies which is also LPCM and it sounds great, than I put in Goblet of Fire and can barely hear anything from the surrounds. Weird.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by therealdjnugz

My blu ray player supports LPCM , there's sound coming from the surrounds, it's just not loud enough to really hear it. My speakers are calibrated via SPL meter. I put in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies which is also LPCM and it sounds great, than I put in Goblet of Fire and can barely hear anything from the surrounds. Weird.

The earlier movies were made more than a decade ago, and I think the filmmakers made a conscious decision not to scare young viewers with overly aggressive sound effects, especially since the movies run well over 2 hours. The later movies, filled with all-out fights, are much more aggressive.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by therealdjnugz

My blu ray player supports LPCM , there's sound coming from the surrounds, it's just not loud enough to really hear it. My speakers are calibrated via SPL meter. I put in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies which is also LPCM and it sounds great, than I put in Goblet of Fire and can barely hear anything from the surrounds. Weird.

Hmmm, you may have to increase the volume on your receiver, that's the only thing I can think of or it may be the blu-ray settings, what brand of player do you have?

[Blu-21]

I remember seeing the first 2 in theaters and the sound was immense. Strange that the Blu-Rays aren't replicating a similar experience in terms of surround activity and overall impact.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

The earlier movies were made more than a decade ago, and I think the filmmakers made a conscious decision not to scare young viewers with overly aggressive sound effects, especially since the movies run well over 2 hours. The later movies, filled with all-out fights, are much more aggressive.

Goblet of Fire had very active surrounds, especially during the dragon chase and the maze, even when Voldy battled Harry the surrounds go crazy, immersing you into the fight

[octagon]

Originally Posted by therealdjnugz

My blu ray player supports LPCM , there's sound coming from the surrounds, it's just not loud enough to really hear it. My speakers are calibrated via SPL meter. I put in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies which is also LPCM and it sounds great, than I put in Goblet of Fire and can barely hear anything from the surrounds. Weird.

This is probably pretty obvious but have you confirmed that you're listening to the lossless track?

Some discs (and I think Warner is prone to this) will default to a lossy track.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

Goblet of Fire had very active surrounds, especially during the dragon chase and the maze, even when Voldy battled Harry

I know.

Originally Posted by octagon

This is probably pretty obvious but have you confirmed that you're listening to the lossless track?

Some discs (and I think Warner is prone to this) will default to a lossy track.

Yes, the early Warner discs were encoded like this.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by octagon

This is probably pretty obvious but have you confirmed that you're listening to the lossless track?

Some discs (and I think Warner is prone to this) will default to a lossy track.

That has to be it, totally slipped my mind that older WB discs automatically played the movie and they automatically chose the Dolby Digital 5.1 track over the LPCM track, guess I've been used to watching my Ultimate Editions, which go to a menu rather than automatically play the movie, haha! To the OP, check to see if your playing the LPCM track, because as octagon pointed out, older WB discs would play the Dolby Digital track over the LPCM track, you have to change it manually

[Twisted-Alien]

*raises hand*

What does LPCM mean?

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by Twisted-Alien

*raises hand*

What does LPCM mean?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear...ode_modulation

[Twisted-Alien]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear...ode_modulation

Thank ya ma'am!

[bowlingbilly10]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

The earlier movies were made more than a decade ago, and I think the filmmakers made a conscious decision not to scare young viewers with overly aggressive sound effects, especially since the movies run well over 2 hours. The later movies, filled with all-out fights, are much more aggressive.

I still can't believe it's been about 12 years almost since the first one came out. time sure flies.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by Twisted-Alien

Thank ya ma'am!

It's all very technical and complicated (at least to me). All I really know is that it's a form of uncompressed audio, lol.

Originally Posted by bowlingbilly10

I still can't believe it's been about 12 years almost since the first one came out. time sure flies.

You need one of these.

http://www.noblecollection.com/index...duct&id=NN7017