Blu-ray vs. Laserdisc DTS (Yes... Laserdisc)

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Spielberg and Universal were among the original investors in the DTS company. It is not surprising that the vast majority of the DVD's with the higher bit rate DTS were made by Universal and/or DreamWorks.

Spielberg didn't invest. He was given an interest in exchange for allowing DTS to be the sole digital format in the USA for the theatrical release of Jurassic Park (bit of trivia: Skywalker mixed it intending for Dolby Digital, and that's how it was released overseas).

Universal saw it as an opportunity to have their own digital format, like Sony/Columbia and SDDS. They paid for the 600 installations of DTS in theaters for JP.

[benmbe]

Originally Posted by Lucy Diamond

It is sooooooooo funny you mention this NOW because I JUST got into laserdiscs and not only are they still around...they are around with a vengeance.

This question is hard to answer because of a couple of different factors.

First off, Yes (in comparison) uncompressed Blu audio is on par if not better when compared to "A" laserdisc. The only thing is, most of the DTS laserdisc movies have not been released in Blu yet so we can't compare them directly.

From my research (and remember, I am a LD newbie) Waterworld DTS is the holy grail of Laserdiscs (still around 40 bucks on ebay.) I would call this the measuring stick from what I have read and you won't know for sure until Waterworld goes Blu.

But yeah man...right on with the Laserdisc format. I can't get over how crazy expensive the players still are. I sovled my problem with this dude in Florida who does lossless transfers from Laserdisc to DvD and I got into it, because there are alot of documentaries and concerts I loved watching years ago that I had on VHS but were never released on dvd.

Please please please pm me with any links to cool places you know of to buys discs.

I have the ones anyone would find by Googling them, but if there are any standards I'd love to know.

Thanks man, catch you on the flipside,

DTS Laserdisc's that I find the best are as follows: Jurassic Park / The Shadow / True Lies / Titanic and, many others of which I have but, am unable to remember right now.

Compared to their DVD alternatives LD versions are by far the best for sound.

I am still inporting a number of titles from Japan as, they carried on production for another 18 1/2 months longer the the US / European production lines.

I have enough hardware to keep me going also, I have a local Pioneer Dealer who services the hardware.

Long Live Laserdisc....All formats live happily in my setup.

Sincerest Regards and a great thread guy's

[benmbe]

The HLD X9 is an amazing player, very quiet and smooth running.
Picture quality is the best although I love the CLD-99 / 97 and Combi 91.

I currently have an HLD X0 reserved with a seller in Japan along with 23 LD titles.

It's been a very tough year and, to be honest ''I so look forward'' to finally finishing the deal with these purchases.

Hopefully 2011 will be a good year.

Genuine Regards

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by benmbe

DTS Laserdisc's that I find the best are as follows: Jurassic Park / The Shadow / True Lies / Titanic and, many others of which I have but, am unable to remember right now.

Compared to their DVD alternatives LD versions are by far the best for sound.

I am still inporting a number of titles from Japan as, they carried on production for another 18 1/2 months longer the the US / European production lines.

I have enough hardware to keep me going also, I have a local Pioneer Dealer who services the hardware.

Long Live Laserdisc....All formats live happily in my setup.

Sincerest Regards and a great thread guy's

Dante's Peak (DTS) the soundlevels for the laserdisc were out of the roof, the sonic intensity was the highlight - from the opening flying volcanic rocks landing everywhere to the ultimate eruption - this disc was insanely loud.

Saving Private Ryan - the bass alone was gutteral and sounded all too real

The Long Kiss Goodnight - the multitude gunshots left the viewer/listener's ear literally ringing. The bridge explosion felt like the speakers would have gone sky high too.

Die Hard 3 (DTS) - the constant soundfield was tremendous and the finale of the helicopter explosion sounded like a giant blade cut through your head.

Lost in Space (DTS) the audio moment that was both exhilirating and sonically impressive was when the Robinsons go through the sun and blast into outer space - the re-emgerence of the space ship could have given me whiplash.

Casper (DTS) the use of voices coming from all around you, is something that soundmixers rarely use nowadays, and this mix just felt like a giant playground for sound to be so utterly addictive and fun.

[DGTWoodward]

Hello from me here in the UK.

I have just done something quite unusual, as I think some might suspect...I have just stepped into the world of the Laserdisc.

My AV experience has progressed pretty much in a somewhat predictable linear development, starting years ago with a decent HiFi system, then running a mono TV through it, then a mono VHS, then HiFi VHS, then HiFi Stereo S-VHS via my amp, then stereo satellite TV, then Dolby Pro-Logic sound, then the big world shaker...DVD, then multi-region DVD, followed by DD/DTS sound, 1080i HDTV, HD DVD, BluRay, 1080p HDTV, the mullti-region BluRay....

then a Laserdisc player.

No, you did read that correctly...laserdisc player.

The one holy grail of home cinema that had eluded me due to the old age/cost ratio. At the time that they were around, I just could not afford the higher pricing of the players or the discs! Until now.

Via eBay UK I have been very lucky with my purchases. In fact, my experience with multi-region DVD and PAL/NTSC assisted no end with helping me chose the best player available to me at the time.

It was the Pioneer CLD-D925. It has both stereo L/R out and digital (optical) out, euro-scart connectors, S-Video out (which on this machine really does seem to improve the PQ), AC3-RF out for DD5.1, it is both NTSC and PAL compatible and plays both sides of a disc without having to manually flip it. I won this for £52...about $65?

My second player was the Pioneer CLD-D315, an altogether simpler machine. This one I have set up with our second system...the reason I bought was because it came with a Yamaha ADP-1 RF demodulator. I won this for £65, that would be, what...somehere in the area of $80 for the two?

My next lucky win was a complete collection of LD films, 54 in total, and a beautifully looked after set of good titles they were too, a fair number of which were NTSC and a lot of which had AC3 on them, about 15 from 54 is not a bad 5.1 place to start. All of which I won for a measly £55, which would be about $70ish

I have been picking up the odd title here and there as I go and my more recent find was the DEFINITIVE STAR WARS BOXED SET, complete with pristine hard back book. Can you believe I won this for £10...$15 approx?

And I also have a Meridian Demodulator on the way for the 315 which I won for £42 (approx $63)

My top picks from mt collection are...

Schindler's List, even at standard def, I love the B/W photography. A great but haunting film.
STAR WARS - The Special Editions AC3
The Godfather Trilogy each with AC3
Dead Presidents - possibly the best AC3 track I have heard so far.
Mission Impossible Just a good picture and a cracking 5.1 track.

Just to give you some picture comparisons, and don't flame me please, because I cannot do screen grabs yet...these were against my HD DVD versions....

HD DVD

Laserdisc


HD DVD

Laserdisc


HD DVD

Laserdisc


Now whilst that is probably not the best comparison around, I actually think that that holds up rather well against a current HD title. Yes I know that HD DVD is dead, but as there was no real difference between the Blu and the HD DVD, it was one I could do a comparison for with some validity because I actually own them both.

Yes I am pleased and impressed with my Laserdisc players and (instant) library. They are incorporated into my system very nicely.

[sleonardo]

I have mid-1990s Pioneer CLD-D604 Laser Disc player and about a hundred laser discs. Have been using it less and less after I got my HD TV. When I had my standard TV, DVD or Laser Disc makes little difference in terms of video quality.

[LordoftheRings]

About "Daylight" on Laserdisc? How's the dts audio soundtrack on that flick;
in particular the underground tunnel explosion!

[eco10530]

Picture quality is what finally did me in and forced me to sell off my collection of 60 DTS LD titles for about $1,200 on ebay.
I do not miss those titles as they were pretty much unwatchable on my 100" screen via 704 pioneer.
I still have about 100 other regular titles and every single release of Star Wars on LD including the Japanese Special Edition box set.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by eco10530

Picture quality is what finally did me in and forced me to sell off my collection of 60 DTS LD titles for about $1,200 on ebay.
I do not miss those titles as they were pretty much unwatchable on my 100" screen via 704 pioneer.
I still have about 100 other regular titles and every single release of Star Wars on LD including the Japanese Special Edition box set.

You got a good return for them. $1,200 can get you a bunch of nice Blu-rays at discount prices. Bravo!
...I can get over 100 great Blu-ray titles for that kind of money, no sweat!
And even more if previously viewed from video stores.
And when BlockBuster will be closing their stores all across, probably few hundred of them (300-400)...

[benmbe]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Dante's Peak (DTS) the soundlevels for the laserdisc were out of the roof, the sonic intensity was the highlight - from the opening flying volcanic rocks landing everywhere to the ultimate eruption - this disc was insanely loud.

Saving Private Ryan - the bass alone was gutteral and sounded all too real

The Long Kiss Goodnight - the multitude gunshots left the viewer/listener's ear literally ringing. The bridge explosion felt like the speakers would have gone sky high too.

Die Hard 3 (DTS) - the constant soundfield was tremendous and the finale of the helicopter explosion sounded like a giant blade cut through your head.

Lost in Space (DTS) the audio moment that was both exhilirating and sonically impressive was when the Robinsons go through the sun and blast into outer space - the re-emgerence of the space ship could have given me whiplash.

Casper (DTS) the use of voices coming from all around you, is something that soundmixers rarely use nowadays, and this mix just felt like a giant playground for sound to be so utterly addictive and fun.

DTS Lost in space and Casper fantastic, and used to find myself replaying the hyper jump from the sun, then the few seconds of silence and then BAAMMM!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!.....WHAT A RUSH!!!!! I STILL SMILE AT THE PROSPECT OF WHATCHING THIS AGAIN AT SOME POINT

CASPER a great wrap around sound experience that is very memorable, those sound engineers really did their job on this.....

Thank you for sharing these precious home theater moments as, I totally agree with your fondest thoughts of these films

[DavePS3]

I remember Widescreen Review saying that if they took the Laserdisc and put the DVD technology on that larger disc, the results would have been far greater than what DVD was because of the space available on LD. This was in both picture and sound. Everyone wanted more of a compact format however, so it went the way of CD size.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by DavePS3

I remember Widescreen Review saying that if they took the Laserdisc and put the DVD technology on that larger disc, the results would have been far greater than what DVD was because of the space available on LD. This was in both picture and sound. Everyone wanted more of a compact format however, so it went the way of CD size.

WSR has said a lot of stupid things over the years (not just endorsing HD DVD over Blu-ray and having Amir "contribute" to the magazine). One reason DVD is the 5" size was the bulk of LD and difficultly making them. Plus, can you imagine the picture/sound breakups caused by those rippling dropouts?

In the end Reber was lamenting the end of his "elite" format and was upset the unwashed masses had access to high fidelity images & sound. I remember this very well from his conversation with Joe Kane in a diner. I let my subscription lapse after that.

[LordoftheRings]

^ Yeah, I also agree with Peter's comment above.

WSR had/has some excellent articles over the years, but they are also (Reber & gang) very bias, and tried/try to impose their ideas based on those bias.
Remember too, they started as a Laserdisc magazine.

I'll give them credits for the good stuff they brought to the table; but I also disagree with several of their "philosophies" about Surround Sound.
I believe they were simply too stubborn on their own personal vision, and not open enough to other's perspective.
Rooms in people's houses differ vastly and that is important to respect this reality and your readers.
This mag is for a niche market in a certain way; they don't even make some great information free for us to benefit from... You need to buy a subscription for their online mag!
I believe they have a high degree of ego trip. And that was reflected by the deflection of some great people. I don't specifally blame one person or another, just the main aspect of their philosophy, MONEY & one-way street of thinking!

But like anything else in life, you take the good and leave the bad.
And good things they surely have/had...

That is only my personal opinion, don't try to adjust your TV controls.

[benmbe]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

WSR has said a lot of stupid things over the years (not just endorsing HD DVD over Blu-ray and having Amir "contribute" to the magazine). One reason DVD is the 5" size was the bulk of LD and difficultly making them. Plus, can you imagine the picture/sound breakups caused by those rippling dropouts?

In the end Reber was lamenting the end of his "elite" format and was upset the unwashed masses had access to high fidelity images & sound. I remember this very well from his conversation with Joe Kane in a diner. I let my subscription lapse after that.

Nothing wrong with the ''WIDESCREEN REVIEW'' and, most people that read all of the subject matter could descern for themselves, from the comments & views written.

Great magazine unfortunately the only down side was the price for this in the UK, of which was around the £7 price point.

At least Pioneer Japan released the Muse content of which there were around 160 approx titles released, granted' some of these titles were not perfect but, with time and refinement and, of course company support also interest from the masses in general, this would have been a sound product.

Pioneer were going to produce a single sided polycarbonate HD disc, now that would have been great....don't comment on this or misunderstand my comments as, I love the Laserdisc format and always will.

Sincerest Regards

[Daredevil666]

The problem with the difference in soundtracks between LD and BD is also that many of those tracks were remixed since the 90's, so usually we get on BD the remix, not the original.

I think there shall be an internet movement asking for original LDs tracks to be added on all older films, just like the recent David Bowie Station to Station boxed set adds the RCA CD master from the 80's in addition to the new remaster. That way, we can choose.

Many direct transferts in stereo of original LDs soundtracks like Suspiria, sound better than any other version out there when synced to the DVD or BD picture.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by benmbe

Nothing wrong with the ''WIDESCREEN REVIEW'' and, most people that read all of the subject matter could descern for themselves, from the comments & views written.

I disagree...there's been plenty wrong with WSR over the years. People can get a much better view of the industry these days on this very forum.

I loved LD and it has a place in my heart forever as well. But that time has gone.

BTW: Still looking for an AC-3 demodulator for the LDs I still have & play...eBay's been nothing but hurt.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I disagree...there's been plenty wrong with WSR over the years. People can get a much better view of the industry these days on this very forum.

I loved LD and it has a place in my heart forever as well. But that time has gone.

BTW: Still looking for an AC-3 demodulator for the LDs I still have & play...eBay's been nothing but hurt.

Did you also check at Audiogon and other similar places Peter?
Also, check AudioKarma Forums.

[IvenFaint]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

BTW: Still looking for an AC-3 demodulator for the LDs I still have & play...eBay's been nothing but hurt.

I use a Sony SDP-E800 as an AC-3 demodulator. It has a lot of other features I don't need/use, and it's bulkier than other demodulators, but they're common, cheap, and they work really well. There's one on eBay right now for $25.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Did you also check at Audiogon and other similar places Peter?
Also, check AudioKarma Forums.

Hmmm. Not sure what those are.

Originally Posted by IvenFaint

I use a Sony SDP-E800 as an AC-3 demodulator. It has a lot of other features I don't need/use, and it's bulkier than other demodulators, but they're common, cheap, and they work really well. There's one on eBay right now for $25.

Thanks! Put a bid in...let's see what happens.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Hmmm. Not sure what those are.

My goodness!

Audiogon is a great Audio & Video (Videogon) Forum with great audio gear for sale at some excellent deals very often. High End oriented but also Hi-Fi.
One of the favorite places to all Audiophiles. Very reliable too.
-> @ http://www.audiogon.com/

AudioKarma is another great Forum that encompasses everything from older Vintage audio gear to the most present Audio/Video gear. Emphasis on Audio (with a positive attitude).
-> @ http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php

When you're into Audio and serious about it, you know those two places, and you frequent them too as a member.