The BEST Audio Quality Blu-ray Megathread

[jeec2222]

In no particular order...
black hawk down
master and commander
live free die hard-tunnel scene
ratatouille-lightning strike at the beginning
and last but not least 3:10 to yuma 7.1 pcm track

Oh ya not a movie, but band of brothers is great as well
Can't wait for LotR(EE)!!!

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Todd Smith

Your right, and the sound design in G.I. Joe is weak compared to what you are seeing on screen..........it doesnt support the film as well as it should have. The openig scene alone as I mentioned sounded severely compressed and should have been very dynamic with huge bass..........didnt happen. Look at what is going on in G.I. Joe........if the sound had been done right, it should be up there with tracks such as Transformers, TIH, Matrix 2 and 3, Cloverfield, Terminator Salvation, etc.............these are all valid comparisons as far as audio and G.I. Joe falls short IMO. Not even close to the best. Even though these are all "different styles of sound design", they all belong in the same class as far as impressive audio......G.I. Joe cant hang with this crew.

Audio is very subjective though and if G.I. Joe does it for you even after listening to all the usual reference tracks, then more power to you I still say throw on something like the gas station scene in Terminator Salvation up through the bridge and then throw on the best scene in G.I. Joe which would be something in the last 1/4 of the film.........not even close IMO.

Another one that smokes G.I. Joe is "9"..........have you watched this one?

I don't see how it's weak if it's what was intended. It sounded fine and supported the film just fine as well. No, it's not as aggressive as Terminator or Hulk, but for the style of sound they went with, it sounds excellent. You mentioned Matrix 2 and 3 and I think they're very comparable to Joe. Those films aren't overbearing or overly aggressive like Terminator or Hulk. They're layered, tight, and crisp, if that makes sense. They don't beat you over the head with loud sound effects. Personally, I enjoy both types, but it's up to the creators of the film as to which style to employ.

[Todd Smith]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

I don't see how it's weak if it's what was intended. It sounded fine and supported the film just fine as well. No, it's not as aggressive as Terminator or Hulk, but for the style of sound they went with, it sounds excellent. You mentioned Matrix 2 and 3 and I think they're very comparable to Joe. Those films aren't overbearing or overly aggressive like Terminator or Hulk. They're layered, tight, and crisp, if that makes sense. They don't beat you over the head with loud sound effects. Personally, I enjoy both types, but it's up to the creators of the film as to which style to employ.

If it was intended to sound somewhat compressed (for a big summer blockbuster) and lacking in dynamics, then they nailed it. Subjectively though for this type of high octane action summer blockbuster, it is weak.

I dont agree at all about Matrix 2 and 3 being comparable to Joe. LFE use alone is noticably diferent between the 2. LFE use in the last 2 Matrix films is VERY aggressive while in Joe it is relatively tame considering the type of film it is. The sound in the Matrix films supports the films very well......Joe, not so much IMO.

Layered, tight and crisp is another way of saying "compressed" atleast in the case of Joe. Listen to the opening scene............poorly done sound design/mix IMO and noticeably compressed. Take the Eiffel tower coming down scene...........how does a HUGE tower coming to the ground sound so relatively wimpy when it hits? The sound design/mix is just not as good as it could/should have been IMO.

Just my opinion and we can agree to disagree.

[bluRAYwhale]

re: Thread, "What would be a good family demo choice for home surround system, out of list etc..." I'd say out of those:Cloverfield. Keep in mind much of the dialog was "captured" hand held/home video style. The sound guys(post prod.), added/increased the overall sound of action sequences to enhance "watchability". Obviously a small mic on a Sony video cam aint gonna give you the type of results you hear in the movie, good move on their part as it blends well, and draws you into the movie. My suggestion, and your half way their allready: Batman, The Dark Night. Now there's a movie! With it's combination of IMAX and Super 35mm mixed together this movie is a visual masterpiece. Add to it a truly reference audio track, and it's one I use as a demo. Heath Ledger's award winning role as the Joker will impress audiences for years, he completly captured the intricate workings of a madmans mind. I say it's a reference quality sound track(I'm refering to it's b'ray version), because the assignment of dialog, LFE, and ambient sounds(car horns,birds,etc.), will really let you know if all is well with your HT install. HAPPY VIEWING EXPERIENCE.

[JediFonger]

dont forget TV series as well... Heroes/Stargates/24/etc.

[mugupo]

Rambo
Terminator 2 skynet
Red Cliff
Flags of our father (germany version PCM)

[Ray_Rogers]

Y'know, I REALLY hope Spielberg will advocate a Lossless audio track for the original theatrical audio, which won an Academy Award for Best Sound, 1.0/2.0 (unsure which one) mono for the obvious Blu-ray release of the 35th Anniversary Blu-ray for JAWS. I can't stand the 5.1 fake remixes with the added foley effects. Main reason why I didn't purchase the 25th Anniversary DVD and bought the 30th Anniversary release.
Same goes for wanting Lossless audio for the original theatrical mono track for the rumoured Special Edition for THE TERMINATOR.
I'll make a list later. I've just been listening to the downcoverted tracks from the Blu-rays since my receiver only has digital optical and coaxial audio ins, doesn't support the current Lossy and Lossless audio codecs.
I've been considering purchasing the Sony STR-DH800. Any links on this forum people can link me to? Thanks. I really should upgrade my receiver. Anyone care to know which one I own?

[Fighter]

Terminator Salvation

[joenostalgia23]

Inglourious Basterds was one of the best I'd heard recently.

[Kirk Out]

i still cant get over casino royale and now fight club...wow

[phish00]

Have to say the Hurt Locker man what DTS track.

[Iron-Blu-123]

U-571
Rambo
The Dark Knight
The Incredible Hulk
Master and Commander

[Fighter]

3:10 to Yuma

[Kirk Out]

wow ...............the hurt locker....my new fav

[Freekman]

The Hurt Locker was phenomenal. The ground shaking during the first scene shook the whole house.

[Lincoln6Echo]

Originally Posted by darkpoet25

I personally like Underworld, Twister(shame about the PQ), Halloween(very good AQ for a 30 year old movie), Black Hawk Down, Cars, all three Pirates, NIN-Live Beside You In Time, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds-Live At Radio City Music Hall, The Patriot, Close Enconters, and Lost Season 3.

Yeah the original Underworld was outstanding. All the gunfight scenes were mind blowing...especially the final battle between the Lycans and Vampires in the sewer underground area. That was intense.


Oh, and to the original poster...anything that has a soundtrack that is not just regular Dolby Digital or DTS is lossless. So DolbyTrue HD and DTS-MA, as well as LPCM is lossless audio.

And you don't even have to have a receiver than can decode them (provided of course your player can by itself). You can get lossless audio through a receiver via analog hook-ups. In fact, analog hook-ups improve compressed Dolby Digital and DTS tracks as well.

[joenostalgia23]

Over the past few months, I definitely remember The Hurt Locker, Knowing, Fight Club, Inglourious Basterds and Star Trek. The Orphanage also had fantastic surround.

[Freekman]

I can't get HD audio out of my receiver, but I can sure tell which Blus have reference AQ.

[Kirk Out]

hey how is the orphanage is it worth a blind buy i do like creepy/horror movies especially if the audio is outstanding

[Lincoln6Echo]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

I've just been listening to the downcoverted tracks from the Blu-rays since my receiver only has digital optical and coaxial audio ins, doesn't support the current Lossy and Lossless audio codecs.

I'm sorry...current Lossy [sic] audio codecs?

No such thing...at least different that what was available on regular DVD.

Dolby Digital and DTS are lossy, which can be carried by the digital coaxial or optical cabels you speak of.

DolbyTrueHD and DTS-Master Audio (MA) are lossless, but are digital codecs.

Uncompressed LPCM (or sometimes just referred to as PCM, ie. Pulse Code Modulation) is the digital codec used for WAV files (CD music is in WAV format)

And like I said in my above post, if you have at least one piece of equipment that can decode DolbyTrue HD and DTS-MA, your receiver can output that thru the analog inputs using your Multi-Channel Input mode on your receiver.