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

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Bullet in the Head (Die xue jie tou)
US - No release
HK - AVC 15850 kbps, Cantonese Dolby TrueHD 7.1 2371 kbps 16-bit, BD25 (upscaled PQ, a notch better than dvd)

Painted Skin II The Resurrection
US - No release (13/11)
HK - AVC 23922 kbps, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 4544 kbps 96 kHz 16-bit, BD50
UK - No release (5/11)

Done.

[Torrente]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Tiger on the Beat (Lo Foo Chut Gang)
US - No release
HK - AVC 25989 kbps 24fps, Cantonese Dolby TrueHD 7.1 2474 kbps 16-bit, BD25 (Region A)

It should be noted that this release is plagued with strong DNR (same as Legend of Wisely BD) and that it looks ugly.

Originally Posted by wesslan

Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The: The Beginning (2006)
US - No release
CA - AVC 1080i 1.78:1, DTS-HD MA 5.1, no eng subs, BD25 96 min unrated

There is also a Belgium disc that I own, released by E-One which is 1080p if I recall correctly but I should check it back to be sure. Very strong looking, probably from the same master than the canadian disc.

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by Torrente

It should be noted that this release is plagued with strong DNR (same as Legend of Wisely BD) and that it looks ugly.

There is also a Belgium disc that I own, released by E-One which is 1080p if I recall correctly but I should check it back to be sure. Very strong looking, probably from the same master than the canadian disc.

Cool get back to us about 1080p and if all other specifications are good

[Bad Sandwich]

Brick: Canadian is original 1.85:1. UK is opened up to 1.78:1.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I understand that. I am just trying to figure out what makes the US disc inferior in terms of AQ.

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

How can the AQ be inferior with the US release of Final Fantasy when its bitrate is higher?

Originally Posted by wesslan

Bitrates is of no consequence with lossless audio (LPCM, TrueHD, DTS-HD MA) Yes some disagree but I don't care BUT 16 vs 24-bit is another matter. I haven't listened to both so can't say for sure so ok by me to remove best AQ but there could probably be audible difference.

You see the same thing on many new US discs that always have 24-bit audio but very often the european discs only have 16-bit (and often lower bitrate hehe). Probably because they need to save space since they have more audiotracks. Maybe someone in here have compared flac 16 vs 24-bit and can enlighten us more?

LPCM is uncompressed while TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are compressed but still lossless.

16 bit is essentially CD quality. A super lazy analogy would be 16bit is to 24bit as 720p is to 1080p.

[Show spoiler]Since humans are a thousand times more visual, it is much easier for us to tell the difference in a picture than a sound (cuz we can point at a picture). There are also many extra factors into getting the most out of high quality sound (speakers, setup, room, ears etc.) vs tv and direct sunlight, there are some people who say there is no discernible difference between 16 and 24 bit.

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

LPCM is uncompressed while TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are compressed but still lossless.

16 bit is essentially CD quality. A super lazy analogy would be 16bit is to 24bit as 720p is to 1080p.

[Show spoiler]Since humans are a thousand times more visual, it is much easier for us to tell the difference in a picture than a sound (cuz we can point at a picture). There are also many extra factors into getting the most out of high quality sound (speakers, setup, room, ears etc.) vs tv and direct sunlight, there are some people who say there is no discernible difference between 16 and 24 bit.

Well I for one see a pretty big difference when comparing 720p vs 1080p, but haven't done audio test that's comparable. And yeah compressed vs uncompressed doesn't make any difference at all.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Bitrates is of no consequence with lossless audio (LPCM, TrueHD, DTS-HD MA) Yes some disagree but I don't care BUT 16 vs 24-bit is another matter. I haven't listened to both so can't say for sure so ok by me to remove best AQ but there could probably be audible difference.

You see the same thing on many new US discs that always have 24-bit audio but very often the european discs only have 16-bit (and often lower bitrate hehe). Probably because they need to save space since they have more audiotracks. Maybe someone in here have compared flac 16 vs 24-bit and can enlighten us more?

Modern Hollywood movies are all produced at a minimum lossless soundtrack of 24-bit/48kHz. Every single major studio does it that way and a number of independents. Anything coming out of Hollywood released on Blu-ray below that rate is dithered down, and not the original soundtrack as heard by the audio engineers or mixers working on the film.

To save space on European BD releases for the inclusion of multiple dub tracks, Hollywood studios will often use a downsampled version of the master soundtrack at 16-bit/48kHz.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

LPCM is uncompressed while TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are compressed but still lossless.

16 bit is essentially CD quality. A super lazy analogy would be 16bit is to 24bit as 720p is to 1080p.

[Show spoiler]Since humans are a thousand times more visual, it is much easier for us to tell the difference in a picture than a sound (cuz we can point at a picture). There are also many extra factors into getting the most out of high quality sound (speakers, setup, room, ears etc.) vs tv and direct sunlight, there are some people who say there is no discernible difference between 16 and 24 bit.

Wrong wrong wrong wrong. That is not how 16-24 bit works in comparison (720p is roughly nearly 1k and 1080p is nearly 2k).

There isn't that much more resolution in the signal. What 24-bit does is lower the noise floor and increase potential dynamic range. However most recordings are range limited (threshold of pain and all that). You would also need a recording chain from capture to mixing to master to output with 24-bit or better to hear the benefits over a 16-bit downmix. There are still a lot of 16-bit elements floating around out there and most mixing studios didn't get higher-rez audio masters for film until after 2000.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Modern Hollywood movies are all produced at a minimum lossless soundtrack of 24-bit/48kHz. Every single major studio does it that way and a number of independents. Anything coming out of Hollywood released on Blu-ray below that rate is dithered down, and not the original soundtrack as heard by the audio engineers or mixers working on the film.

This is a relatively recent development. The majority of digital sound movies from the 90s and early 00s are not 24-bit.

[kith]

1. King of New York from arrow -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/King-...Blu-ray/37473/, more extra feature includes Abel Ferrera: Not Guilty" documentary (80:35) -- see it at back cover that not find at US release here -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/King-...ay/541/#Review

2. Mean Streets from France -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mean-...Blu-ray/20091/, more extra feature than us release here -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mean-.../40809/#Review

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Wrong wrong wrong wrong. That is not how 16-24 bit works in comparison (720p is roughly nearly 1k and 1080p is nearly 2k).

There isn't that much more resolution in the signal. What 24-bit does is lower the noise floor and increase potential dynamic range. However most recordings are range limited (threshold of pain and all that). You would also need a recording chain from capture to mixing to master to output with 24-bit or better to hear the benefits over a 16-bit downmix. There are still a lot of 16-bit elements floating around out there and most mixing studios didn't get higher-rez audio masters for film until after 2000.

Dude dude dude dude. What part of "super lazy" don't you understand?

You aren't going to communicate much to someone if you start out ranting about noise floors and signal chains, not when they are asking questions about compressed vs uncompressed. Relax and help, don't just be an ass.

Cheers.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Dude dude dude dude. What part of "super lazy" don't you understand?

Super lazy doesn't have to mean misinformation.

It also doesn't call for personal attacks.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Super lazy doesn't have to mean misinformation.

It also doesn't call for personal attacks.

Honestly, I think you'll survive it. Comparing bit depth and resolution in terms of abstracts isn't that crazy. But you are the guy who "corrected" Clark about using the term "modern Hollywood movies" instead of made in the last 10 years.

Good luck to you.

[quartex]

Originally Posted by wesslan

This is slight off topic but have anyone compared this?
Gladiator - Extended (Remastered)
US - AVC 23110 kbps; DTS-HD MA 5.1 4404 kbps 24-bit, BD50 (Region A) (Paramount)
UK/SE - AVC 17690 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4408 kbps 24-bit, BD50 (Region free) (Universal)
Have the UK myself but would like the best possible PQ. It's a pretty high bitrate bump and Paramount is known for good quality.

Despite lower bitrate the Universal version looks better (take a look at this topic: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1263450/re...n-dutch-bd/900)

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Honestly, I think you'll survive it. Comparing bit depth and resolution in terms of abstracts isn't that crazy. But you are the guy who "corrected" Clark about using the term "modern Hollywood movies" instead of made in the last 10 years.

Good luck to you.

You were implying there's a large audible difference between the two, when there is not. This thread deals with what can be minute technical differences between titles (how you can miss that I don't know) so blatant disinformation is beyond "being lazy". Abstract isn't an excuse.

"Modern" can be applied to anything in the past 20 years.

As to the other...whatever.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by kith

1. King of New York from arrow -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/King-...Blu-ray/37473/, more extra feature includes Abel Ferrera: Not Guilty" documentary (80:35) -- see it at back cover that not find at US release here -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/King-...ay/541/#Review

2. Mean Streets from France -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mean-...Blu-ray/20091/, more extra feature than us release here -> https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mean-.../40809/#Review

Mean Streets (Fr Carlotta) has the ItalianAmerican documentary and its worth buying this one just to get that documentary which is missing from the US release. US one has commentary but nothing else. French one doesnt have commentary but does have a load of different extras (which are very good indeed).

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by quartex

Despite lower bitrate the Universal version looks better (take a look at this topic: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1263450/re...n-dutch-bd/900)

Where? not on page 31 that you linked to and there is a hell lot of pages

[filmmusic]

Which german version includes both cuts of Dances with wolves?
are they the same quality exactly with the other countries' blurays?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Which german version includes both cuts of Dances with wolves?
are they the same quality exactly with the other countries' blurays?

Not sure on quality but it is the German steelbook that contains both cuts.

[blu-bry]

I was interested in the price of the Korean version of "Hero", but when I went to Yesasia.com it is listed as out of print. Maybe this is old news, but is there still a reasonable price on this Korean blu-ray out there somewhere?