Looks like DD640kbps is superb for Blue Tights return!

[BTBuck1]

AUDIO:

We've been hearing for months how amazing this film should look in high definition. So, I was a bit taken back when it was the audio that proved the most overwhelming by a wide margin.

This is probably the most detailed surround track I've heard from 640 kbps DD or DD+. Quieter moments in the film, either by design or the lossy nature of the encoding still lack some of the subtle ambiance that we've been so impressed by from uncompressed PCM. But in action sequences there is no shortage of detail anywhere in the soundstage. Surrounds have a tremendous enveloping impact on the experience with lots of discrete, directional effects that completely immerse you in a torrent of sound.

I was less than impressed by the film theatrically. It seemed trite and played. But this was like hearing it for the first time and proved a whole new experience as a result of the power and creativity of the sound design. Sonic booms let out some serious bass. The mix seems to take advantage of exploiting the low-end every chance it gets and there are lots of opportunities for creative and moving low frequency effects that you aren't likely to experience in the theater. You may feel this one even after the movie's over. I found the low-end neither overcooked nor even monotonous. Bass is more than just deep, it's harmonic in the league of a light saber dual. Very cool!

This is about as profound an audio experience as 640kbps DD or DD+ gets. Though, the audio selection proves a bit disappointing considering that the HD DVD release enjoys a TrueHD track as well, despite 20 GB less space. Supposedly the TrueHD audio stream that Warner is using for HD isn't the same as that supported by BD. HD supports two TrueHD audio streams, where BD only supports the better of the two. Maybe that's why some have said that 1.5mbs DD+ sounded better than TrueHD. I've yet to hear a big difference between Warner's DD+ and TrueHD encodings myself. Though, I've only heard a couple. With all the added space on this 50 GB disc, it would have been nothing to add an uncompressed PCM track. I guess that would have been more work and expense. But it's no less disappointing that Warner doesn't appear to be tailoring their BD disc authoring to optimally or fully take advantage of what the format can do rather than handicapping it to what can be done on HD DVD's more restrictive storage capacity in this case. Hopefully that'll change sooner rather than later.

I was skeptical about them removing the TruHD track for the BD version, but it looks to not matter much. After MI:3 I'm not so amped up on "advanced codecs" as the lossy codecs seem to sound awesome on my setup too!!!

http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsth...?sequence=1720

[WriteSimply]

Ah, sock it to WB for shafting BD. They could've put LPCM 7.1 24/48 and still have enough space to put 14GB extras on a BD50.


fuad

[BTBuck1]

while I hear ya, I think we'll be pleasantly suprised. It got a 5 star audio rating after all.

[JTK]

I'm not really surprised by this. I think TrueHD is just another means to the same end. You have to come up with some way to get around having less space.

TrueHD is nice, but I think it's overrated/overhyped...not coincentally by mostly HD-DVD fanboys and zealots.

[Chad Varnadore]

Of the few TrueHD tracks I've compared to DD+ from Warner on HD DVD, I've yet to hear even a concrete difference, much less a significant one - nothing like the difference that can be heard going from DD to PCM on Sony and Disney titles. But whether that's because Warners TrueHD tracks have been handicapped in some way by the 16bit encoding or by the firmware updated Toshiba player, or if it's just the mixes in question aren't as resolute, I don't know. In fact that some have said Universal's lossy 1.5 mb DD+ encodings are more transparent to the master than Warners TrueHD tracks, indicates that something may be amis. Fox's DTS HD tracks have sounded absolutely amazing though, more comparable to uncompressed PCM even though we're only accessing the lossy core for the time being. Superman Returns sounded a little more like that in DD - lots of activity all around.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by Chad Varnadore

Of the few TrueHD tracks I've compared to DD+ from Warner on HD DVD, I've yet to hear even a concrete difference, much less a significant one - nothing like the difference that can be heard going from DD to PCM on Sony and Disney titles. But whether that's because Warners TrueHD tracks have been handicapped in some way by the 16bit encoding or by the firmware updated Toshiba player, or if it's just the mixes in question aren't as resolute, I don't know. In fact that some have said Universal's lossy 1.5 mb DD+ encodings are more transparent to the master than Warners TrueHD tracks, indicates that something may be amis. Fox's DTS HD tracks have sounded absolutely amazing though, more comparable to uncompressed PCM even though we're only accessing the lossy core for the time being. Superman Returns sounded a little more like that in DD - lots of activity all around.

couldn't agree more!