List of International BDs with Better PQ, AQ, and/or More Extras

[Nibbler]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

I have also thought this.

There is little to no information with regards to the source of audio tracks, that I wouldn't be surprised if low quality maybe even lossy sources are used and then just encoded using a lossless format.

Which is why releases with PCM tracks, you can pretty much guarantee its the original audio.

Lossy sources can even be easier decoded to PCM...

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by Nibbler

Lossy sources can even be easier decoded to PCM...

That is true, but PCM with regards to modern films, is the original source format, but yeah, there is no 100% certainty.

The problem is, is that I have lost faith with studio's, I just don't trust them.

Every film should come with information stating the source of the video and audio.

This was done early on when CD came about. Information regarding the source, equipment and even issues with the track(s) were stated (not every CD mind you).

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

That is true, but PCM with regards to modern films, is the original source format, but yeah, there is no 100% certainty.

The problem is, is that I have lost faith with studio's, I just don't trust them.

Every film should come with information stating the source of the video and audio.

This was done early on when CD came about. Information regarding the source, equipment and even issues with the track(s) were stated (not every CD mind you).

I miss those days with CDs.

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Johnny mnemonic, is the Jp disc the only version with the director's cut?
And not with English subtitles?

Yes but the dir cut is only SD.... Although the theatrical cut looks great.

[Hedrox]

Drive
US/CA - AVC 34.99 Mbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3297 kbps 24-bit, extras, English subs (Region A locked)
UK - AVC 27.10 Mbps, LPCM 2.0 / DTS-HD MA 5.1 24-bit, extras, English subs (Region B locked)
CZ - AVC 25.956 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3221 kbps 24-bit, extras from US and UK releases except for the Q&A from the UK release and it also has several exclusive mini-interviews, no English subs (Region free)
KO (Nova Media Exclusive release) - AVC 34997 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3191 kbps 24-bit, extras, English subs (Region free)
NL - AVC 32.24 Mbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3247 kbps 24-bit. Same extras as US, only missing: 'Drive Without a Driver'. But has an exclusive 65 min 'NWR' bonus feature, no English subs (Region B)
FR - AVC 26555 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 1742 kbps 16-bit, some extras, Forced French subs (Region B)
DE - AVC 18996 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3895 kbps 24-bit, extras, no English subs (Region B)
RU - AVC 2.35:1 14390 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 1996 kbps 16-bit, no extras, no English subs (Region free)

I updated it with the Russian release which has a different aspect ratio and color grading, I could post a few screencaps if you want, don't have the disc, but the caps are online.

Also:
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
US - No release
JP - AVC 31.97 Mbbs, LPCM 5.1 16-bit / Dolby TrueHD 5.1 1548 kbps 16-bit, extras, no English subs (Region A locked) Best PQ

This movie is available in other countries as well, but I don't have any stats on those editions, the JP release has the best PQ as far as I know, not sure about the AQ however.

[Torrente]

Oh yes! I would really like to see how the russian disc of Drive looks like

[HD Goofnut]

Updates made.

[HD Goofnut]

Added The Cave.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

Drive
US/CA - AVC 34.99 Mbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3297 kbps 24-bit, extras, English subs (Region A locked)
UK - AVC 27.10 Mbps, LPCM 2.0 / DTS-HD MA 5.1 24-bit, extras, English subs (Region B locked)
CZ - AVC 25.956 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3221 kbps 24-bit, extras from US and UK releases except for the Q&A from the UK release and it also has several exclusive mini-interviews, no English subs (Region free)
KO (Nova Media Exclusive release) - AVC 34997 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3191 kbps 24-bit, extras, English subs (Region free)
NL - AVC 32.24 Mbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3247 kbps 24-bit. Same extras as US, only missing: 'Drive Without a Driver'. But has an exclusive 65 min 'NWR' bonus feature, no English subs (Region B)
FR - AVC 26555 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 1742 kbps 16-bit, some extras, Forced French subs (Region B)
DE - AVC 18996 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3895 kbps 24-bit, extras, no English subs (Region B)
RU - AVC 2.35:1 14390 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 1996 kbps 16-bit, no extras, no English subs (Region free)

I updated it with the Russian release which has a different aspect ratio and color grading, I could post a few screencaps if you want, don't have the disc, but the caps are online.

I thought, and I'm probably wrong here, that 2.40:1 and 2.35:1 were incredibly close, and as a result the two were often used interchangeably. Are you sure the aspect ratio is different?

[wesslan]

Update with NO disc that takes the bitrate crown ones again!

American Hustle
US - AVC 24938 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2749 kbps 24-bit, English subs (Region A locked)
UK - AVC 30002 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 ???? kbps 24-bit, English subs (Region B locked)
NO - AVC 36287 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 1786 kbps 16-bit, no English subs

Too bad on the missing 24-bit audio though but it's just talk anyway

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Update with NO disc that takes the bitrate crown ones again!

American Hustle
US - AVC 24938 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2749 kbps 24-bit, English subs (Region A locked)
UK - AVC 30002 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 ???? kbps 24-bit, English subs (Region B locked)
NO - AVC 36287 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 1786 kbps 16-bit, no English subs

Too bad on the missing 24-bit audio though but it's just talk anyway

Done.

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

I thought, and I'm probably wrong here, that 2.40:1 and 2.35:1 were incredibly close, and as a result the two were often used interchangeably. Are you sure the aspect ratio is different?

Yeah, 2.35:1 and 2.40:1, 2.39:1, are all interchangable.

[Funcha]

Since DTS-HD MA is lossless, aren't bitrate estimates or comparison rather pointless besides the whole 16 bit/24 but debate?

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by Funcha

Since DTS-HD MA is lossless, aren't bitrate estimates or comparison rather pointless besides the whole 16 bit/24 but debate?

Pretty much, as long as the same source is used.

Bitrate is comprised of number of channels, sampling frequency and bit-depth. That's referring to PCM, the same goes for lossless, apart from another factor, which is compression and how much compression is used. This should not alter the resulting audio, but its like compressing a file more efficiently, obviously doing so results in more processing power to decompress, but I am no expert on the matter.

A slight difference in average bitrate between the same film, is probably down to any before or after film studio logo's/animation, that's if the same source is used regarding the film. If the bit-depth differs, then yes, bitrate will differ.

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by Torrente

Oh yes! I would really like to see how the russian disc of Drive looks like

Hedrox did provide a few links to the comparisons previously, but the Russian release has a blue/cooler tint to it, which makes it look like you are watching the film in 'cool' mode on one's TV.

Basically it doesn't look natural.

He might be able to post the links again?

[Hedrox]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

Hedrox did provide a few links to the comparisons previously, but the Russian release has a blue/cooler tint to it, which makes it look like you are watching the film in 'cool' mode on one's TV.

Basically it doesn't look natural.

He might be able to post the links again?

Yes, I've posted them before in the previous tread, but they got buried.
Here's a screencap that sort of matches one from the US review, and 3 more from the RU release for good measure: 1, 2, 3. As for how much difference does the 2.35 ratio make compared to 2.40, it's 816 vs 804 horizontal lines(for this particular movie, excluding the black bars), on a big tv it is noticeable.

[number42]

Boyhood
US - AVC 1.78:1, English DTS-HD MA 5.1, English subs
CA - AVC 20019 kbps 1.85:1, English DTS-HD MA 5.1 2553 kbps 24-bit, English subs, Additional extra (Region A locked)

I don't have a scan of the US disc for the bitrates. The Canadian release is 1.85:1 instead of 1.78:1 and there is an additional extra "Ethan Hawke discusses Boyhood". On the disc it's listed as being a Canadian exclusive interview.

[Early Memphis]

Any word on the German Starman release? It's not on the list, but it's out of print in the US. I'm aware of a German and Australian release. The site says that the German release is AVC - no word on the audio, etc. Any info would be appreciated.

P.S. The site says Region B, but Amazon says "Alle Regionen".

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Any word on the German Starman release? It's not on the list, but it's out of print in the US. I'm aware of a German and Australian release. The site says that the German release is AVC - no word on the audio, etc. Any info would be appreciated.

P.S. The site says Region B, but Amazon says "Alle Regionen".

It's the same transfer. It even has the same bitrate: http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...less=1#auswahl

[HD Goofnut]

Added Boyhood. Updated Flight of the Navigator.