Concerts in 2.0 LPCM or 5.1 HD

[Travis]

Anyone out there prefer listening to Blu-ray concerts using 2-Ch LPCM over DTS HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD?

I am watching Diana Krall live in Rio and the DTS HD MA track souinds great, better than the Dolby, and it fills the room and surround me but I find the vocals sound better with LPCM. I'm not sure if this is usual or a fault of my system.

Maybe my center isn't doing what it should for 5.1 sound. Two 5" drivers and tweeter firing at my collar bone.

Maybe I have the PS3 connected to my AVR with an optical cable and am not getting the HD sound anyway. Even down-converted I'd still expect the DTS HD track to sound better than 2 ch.

Just wondering, for people who have their players connected via HDMI (or 6 analogs) to a receiver that is sending HD sound to their speakers, if they find that 2 channel LPCM sounds better.

Sorry if this was posted; cannot search LPCM, 5.1, 2.0, DTS HD MA, etc. too small or too common.

[GeneD5]

I tend to lean towards the full 5.1...two channel when watching a concert makes me feel "contrained"

[Johnny Vinyl]

I listen to my BD Concerts in 2-channel most of the time and as well in "Pure Direct" mode, eliminating the video entirely. This may sound strange, but I buy Concert BD's for the AQ, not the PQ. When I do want to watch the actual concert I'll employ my 5.0 settings (don't have a sub), but I can't say that I've noticed a deteriorization in the front speaker outputs. I'll try to listen more intently when utilizing the surround option for that probablity. I doubt it is there though, as I think I would have already noticed. Remember though that I'm using HDMI and and do get DD HD or DTS HD-MA and that could be the difference. I think that 2-channel LPCM in your situation would sound better, because via Optical you're not getting true HD output.

As an aside, and because I am much more into audio, I decided to pick-up the Oppo DV-980H DVD/CD/SACD player. At first I considered it so as to take the strain off of my PS3, which I had been using for all formats. Upon further investigation I discovered that the Oppo handles DSD>Analog (as does my Yamaha HTR-6190B A/V receiver), which the PS3 doesn't.

Although I haven't yet compared the DVD upscaling quality on the Oppo vs. the PS3, I can tell you that for CD/SACD, the Oppo blows the PS3 out of the water. It is like night and day!

John

[s_corroon]

you are not gettin hd if you are connected to your receiver using optical

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by s_corroon

you are not gettin hd if you are connected to your receiver using optical

Optical can handle 2-channel PCM, just not 5.1 PCM or lossless streams.

[Rob J in WNY]

I have only two concert BDs at this moment - Chris Botti: Live with Orchestra & Special Guests and David Gilmour: Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

I prefer to listen to both in 5.1. The sounds of the audience applause and ambient sounds/music in the surrounds makes for a really spatial soundfield.

In the case of the David Gilmour disc, it is Dolby TrueHD. I really wish that the high-hats, ride and crash cymbols, and other high-frequency sounds had a little more brightness. There is a bit of midrange push as well, adding to an overall flatness of sound. The 2.0 track doesn't really help much - it's all in the original mix and not in the post-production (although it could have been tweaked in post-production, I'm sure). Bass audio is absolutely solid, though, and has a presence which adds a lot of compelling nature to the overall aural experience.

The Chris Botti disc is another thing all together. If you enjoy jazz and trumpet, and are looking for reference-quality audio, this title's got it! 5.1 uncompressed at 96KHz/24-bit. Every instrument was superbly captured and accurately mixed, and the delicate reproduction of all the percussion is to die for! 2.0 is a nice audiophile option, but the 5.1 mix is superb. My only point of concern is a bit of flatness on the vocal microphone, but you can easily tell that's a concert setup/equipment circumstance and not a reflection of post-production.

Like John72953 mentioned, I have played my concert BDs without video. Even as background music in my home. Especially the latter disc.

I am looking to get The Police: Certifiable and The Cure: Trilogy in the future.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by John72953

As an aside, and because I am much more into audio, I decided to pick-up the Oppo DV-980H DVD/CD/SACD player. At first I considered it so as to take the strain off of my PS3, which I had been using for all formats. Upon further investigation I discovered that the Oppo handles DSD>Analog (as does my Yamaha HTR-6190B A/V receiver), which the PS3 doesn't.

Although I haven't yet compared the DVD upscaling quality on the Oppo vs. the PS3, I can tell you that for CD/SACD, the Oppo blows the PS3 out of the water. It is like night and day!

John

OPPO 980 sounds great, I hate that my PS3 isn't region-free for DVDs, and doesn't play SACDs.

I have been using Pioneer DV-655A for almost 10 years, which has been running constantly because I only watch movies, don't like, or understand the TV, in Taiwan. Had it repaired once for ejecting DVDs 5 minutes before movie ended.

Looked at the Oppo before, costs 70 US$ to ship to Taiwan, but I'm always worried about how many pieces it will show up in, and what if it needs service. Unless I find it hear I probably won't get it, but I would like to have it for upconverting all my region 1 DVDS and playing CDs. I agree PS3 isn't the best CD player.

[Beta Man]

I always select the 2 channel PCM

On a side note.... I auditioned these a few days ago (for the 100th time)



My local shop is going through a huge clearance, and I may be working out a way to add these to the fold........ time will tell.

[Travis]

Beta Man those are great. How much cash will you have to sepnd?

Beta Man and John, why do you listen to Blu concerts in 2 ch?

[jdc115]

Most of the time I listen to the 2 channel PCM but I try both. But if you have it connected over optical then I probably would always choose the 2 channel then.

For the person that listed the David Gilmour Blu-ray, check out his "In Concert" DVD which I enjoy much more then his Blu-Ray of Remember That Night. Listening to him play Shine on You Crazy Diamond (the first half) completely acoustic by himself except for the sax at the very end on the 2 channel PCM is amazing.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Travis

Beta Man and John, why do you listen to Blu concerts in 2 ch?

I'm old school (like really old school..) and grew up with 2.0, but there's more to it. I love just sitting on the couch or laying on the floor, closing my eyes and listening to the music.....I guess you could say it's somewhat of a comfort thing for me.

Don't get me wrong, 5.0 (in my case) or 5.1 is terrific, but sometimes I just wanna groove!

John

[Travis]

How many of you guys, also listen to SACD in 2 channel not 5.1?

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by Travis

How many of you guys, also listen to SACD in 2 channel not 5.1?

Most of the time I listen to in 2 channel mode. I use a Denon DVD/SACD player and send it analog out to a tube preamp. Occasionally I try to multichannel mode from the PS3 over HDMI to my processor but I find I prefer it in 2 channel mode

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by Strannix136

For music, I usually shut off my center speaker. I like 'quad.'

What do you mean by "shut off"? Do you configure it in the player or processor that for a 4.0 system?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Having just got into SACD the jury is still out. But I truly honestly believe that most of my SACD listening will take place in a 2-channel environment. I got into SACD, not so much because of it's multi-channel capabilities, but because of the superior technology over Redbook CD.

Barring perhaps a great live recording (so you get that feel of being in the audience), my studio produced SACD's will see mostly 2-channel action.

John

[Strannix136]

Originally Posted by jdc115

What do you mean by "shut off"? Do you configure it in the player or processor that for a 4.0 system?

I go into the menu and choose 'center speaker: NO'. The center output is automatically mixed into the fronts.