New Line to release " Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" on July 29 - Page 4

Pops were loud and distracting. The very first pop on my disc was at Chapter 5, @ 22:31. I'm about to email them now along with a link to this topic.

As for the movie, I like the first one better.

Since a weeks worth of posts have been lost, I thought I should add this:

I have an Onkyo 875 with the latest DSP software update (and firmware, but that is beside the point here). I experienced some odd popping and audio dropouts on H&K2, but I would not characterise them as the "DTS bomb". The "bomb" was very distinct, as in LOUD and substantial. The pops and audio quirks on H&K2 seemed to be confined to my rear and surround back speakers.

Fearing some new DTS-HD Master Audio snafu, I switched my player (Samsung BD-P1400) to PCM and the problem went away. However, using this configuration I would only have been hearing the "DTS core".

I chalk this one up to poor disc authoring on the part of New Line. In addition to the above, the "entering Alabama" chapter choked and died on my player, which oddly enough threw playback of the movie back to the "watching the laptop on the airplane" scene from the begining of the movie.

I thought the second movie was weaker than the first, but still an enjoyable rental.

I also wanted to report that the pops seem to occur near or at branching points in the movie (for Dude, Change the Movie feature). This is with PS3 going to Denon 3808 via HDMI and 7.1 setup.

Experienced the pops watching the "unrated version" (didn't try the "dude change the movie" version) bitstreaming DTS-MA 7.1 from a Sammy 1400 to a Denon 3808. I'd say there were around 10-15 pops in all sprinkled throughout the movie.

The pops seem to be coming from the rear of the sound field (only).

BTW this is NOT a DNR-fest. There's lots of high frequency detail in the picture. Evident in things like Kumar's facial skin, cloth interior in cars, etc. No waxiness or smearing. The picture is a little soft at times but there's a nice amount of grain and I found the transfer film-like and better than the low ratings that seem to be getting assigned by reviewers.

Pop occurs during the movie at branching points for the "Dude, Change the Movie" version. Because the movie uses seamless branching for this function, I would guess that there is some authoring issue or incompatibility with dts HD MA 7.1 during these branches.

Pioneer BDP-51FD (1.0 firmware) bitstreaming to Integra DTC-9.8 (latest DSP)

Could not reproduce pops during normal playback at 22:31 or 1:05:00-1:05:59.

Do you have a 7.1 setup? The pops are reportedly not present when the player is set to 5.1.

Yes I have full 7.1 setup. The only time I get anything resembling a pop at the listed timecodes in this thread is when I pause the movie then resume playback, and it is more of a brief "woosh" from the surrounds. Since it is only when pausing/resuming the movie, it is not really a significant issue in my case.

During normal playback this title has no pops on my setup. Again this is Pioneer BDP-51FD bitstreaming to Integra DTC-9.8.

Just watched the movie tonight using a Sony BDP S350 and Sony STR DG820 bitstreaming from the 350 and got multiple pops. Is this a problem with the player, reciever, or disc? I haven't had a chance to try any other DTS MA discs yet.

Given that the issue is occurring for numerous users across multiple hardware profiles the likely culprit is the disc itself.

Shame on New Line for poor quality control.

With a problem this widespread I should expect the studio to have to enact a mail-in replacement programme, but thus far there has been no word if this is going to happen.

I just watched this last night with a PS3 to a Pioneer 94 TXH and experienced the pops as well. I had to switch to bitstream in the PS3 to listen to the DTS core track instead.

Why not just do what most have done and turn off the 7.1 options in the PS3?

That only works if the player is doing the decoding like the PS3.. I don't know if it works on the other decoding players.

I have been playing phone tag with my contact at DTS... But I expect some information promptly.

Same here, with my Denon 3808.

Watching the film now....3 pops from rear surrounds so far
PS3, Onkyo 605 w/ 5.1 speaker setup

PS3 to Denon 3806
10-15 Loud pops throughout the movie in the surround channels only.

This is the first time I have ever had this problem.

FilmMixer, I think you already saw this info. I posted in another thread on 8-3-08, but will post it here again. I found this thread when trying to see if you had heard anything back from DTS about the pops. And I did enjoy the movie. Good job.

I watched Harold and Kumar E.F.G.B. have Onkyo 905 with the latest firmware and DSP update and Panasonic BD30 bitstreaming with 2.2 firmware. Using HDMI DTS MA 7.1. Had 9 pops in the movie. The pops only occur in the surrounds. They are reproducible. When the pop occurs the second it occurs there is a slight freeze in the time counter on the info display. These pops in addition occur when RR or FF or pausing the disc and then playing. Also occur in the dude change the movie, when going into most changes and then coming out. To see if they are the same time on the discs, mine occured at 11:48, 12:47, 19:50, 22:29, 45:02, 49:09, 1:05:19, 1:20:47, 1:40:21.

Watched this tonight on the PS3 and like basically everyone else, I heard all the pops. I then checked out the "dude, change the movie" feature and it became clear early on the pops I heard were where the "choice" scenes are aka the branching.

Lame that it has these issues but at least we have an idea they are there because of the branching. When I was watching the movie and heard these things I was wondering why some were close and then a good amount of time between others. Now I know.

Oh and the PQ looked pretty good to me and didn't seem to be DNRed or anything. There seemed to be a pretty good amount of detail in a lot of scenes and the softer scenes didn't look bad or anything so all in all it was a good looking movie to me. I just checked out Peter Bracke's review and I just do not get that guy. He will rave on some transfers that to me aren't anything impressive (ie they can be heavily DNRed) and then he basically slams this one even though the soft scenes were no doubt shot that way since the majority of the movie has a sharp look to it so hwy would a few scenes look different unless that is how they are supposed to look. Mind boggling how his opinion can be so different from mine.

Watching on a JVC RS2 here projected at 106" diagonal.

Oh and the audio (aside from those branching pops) was pretty damn good with nice deep bass and a good enveloping feel to it.

The "dude, change the movie" feature was pretty cool too. All in all a pretty good disc and not that it matters here but I also enjoyed the movie. I prefer Go to Whitecastle but this one was pretty good.

I have the problem also with my Yamaha RXV1800. There is definitely something wrong with the 7.1 track on this disc.

Thanks.

On the branching issue..... I am still in contact with DTS about this.... I am on another film, and am still trying to get an answer about how it will be addressed... not enough hours in the day.

Soon, all, I promise.

Those pops and other noises were annoying. First time I ever heard anything like it on a BD or for that matter on dvd. Sometimes it seemed as though the noise was a sound that was part of scene just misplaced. For example in the bathroom on the plane scene there was a pop or knock, but it sounds like a knock on the wall or dropping something on the floor. Very strange.

The pops and noises were more entertaining than the movie was.

Not if....

FilmMixer,

You're welcome and I hope to hear more mixes done by you in the future.


On a different note, I watched Harold and Kumar 1 Monday night and the video did seem like it has some DNR applied and had a video like look to it. I don't know if this was the case or it is simply how the film is meant to look. I didn't find it too offensive or anything but if DNR was applied then I wish it wasn't.

Much better picture quality in this release than the first film.

I have an answer about the "chirping" issue.. it is an authoring related issue, and cannot be fixed in the hardware...

I am contacting WB to help solve the issue.. I will report back when I have information.

Thanks for letting us know. Hopefully Warner Brothers will remedy the situation faster than Fox has done.

Rented this last week and can hear the pops as well. PS3 to Yamaha 6160

Does anyone know of a New Line Cutomer Service number? I wanted to see if they have any exchange program for this disc.

Yes, I have the BD30 and was irritated immensely when I rented this movie and heard loud pops going through a Pioneer Elite 94 receiver...Mostly, the right side channel...(I have 7.1 setup).