5thDanMaster
07-16-07, 11:06 AM
Shooter gets a better audio review than the BD version, as well as better audio. Is there a flaw in BDs that is keeping 'neutral' studios from matching audios on both formats?
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/shooter.html
"The Audio: Rating the Sound
Forgive the rant, but at this point Paramount should really be offering high-resolution audio (PCM, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-MA -- take your pick) across the board on its high-def new releases. Instead, the studio continues to offer unequal standard audio specs across its dual-format releases, giving this HD DVD edition of 'Shooter' a 1.5mbps Dolby Digital-Plus mix, while the Blu-ray gets a Dolby Digital surround track at a measly 640kbps.
Although the extra bits for this HD DVD do result in a slightly improved sense of envelopment and power, neither next-gen version blew me away.
A strange amalgam of genres, surround presence in 'Shooter' tends to vary scene-to-scene. Action sequences (such as the opener and the pivotal assassination scene) are generally first-rate. Gunshots, crowd noise, score bleed, etc., fill the rears nicely, while imaging is tight and defined, and placement of discrete effects is achieved with pin point accuracy.
The rest of 'Shooter' is a bit more dull. Ambiance is often lacking in quieter dialogue scenes, with only outdoor and nature scenes featuring a bit of atmosphere -- neither the HD DVD nor the Blu-ray provide much excitement here. Dynamics are bolstered slightly on the Dolby Digital-Plus track, with a bit heavier bass and a little better clarity. Dialogue is excellent on both tracks, with volume balance pitch perfect."
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/shooter.html
"The Audio: Rating the Sound
Forgive the rant, but at this point Paramount should really be offering high-resolution audio (PCM, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-MA -- take your pick) across the board on its high-def new releases. Instead, the studio continues to offer unequal standard audio specs across its dual-format releases, giving this HD DVD edition of 'Shooter' a 1.5mbps Dolby Digital-Plus mix, while the Blu-ray gets a Dolby Digital surround track at a measly 640kbps.
Although the extra bits for this HD DVD do result in a slightly improved sense of envelopment and power, neither next-gen version blew me away.
A strange amalgam of genres, surround presence in 'Shooter' tends to vary scene-to-scene. Action sequences (such as the opener and the pivotal assassination scene) are generally first-rate. Gunshots, crowd noise, score bleed, etc., fill the rears nicely, while imaging is tight and defined, and placement of discrete effects is achieved with pin point accuracy.
The rest of 'Shooter' is a bit more dull. Ambiance is often lacking in quieter dialogue scenes, with only outdoor and nature scenes featuring a bit of atmosphere -- neither the HD DVD nor the Blu-ray provide much excitement here. Dynamics are bolstered slightly on the Dolby Digital-Plus track, with a bit heavier bass and a little better clarity. Dialogue is excellent on both tracks, with volume balance pitch perfect."