If there is a gun pointed at my head and asked to choose which one is Blu-ray or HD DVD, there is a 50% chance that I will survive 
Its that close in terms of PQ and AQ. But using screenshots we will be able to see the difference. Including cropping and resizing at 200%. I won't be including the DVD version this time.
What you get here is less artifacts (visible only and discernable by looking at the screenshots) on Blu-ray but more pronounced EE
. EE is visible on both formats. Blu-ray has a new encode with higher bitrate 23.30 mbps compared to HD DVD at 17.00 mbps. DNR is added and more pronounced in some scenes.
No major difference in PQ.
For the first time I made some serious attempt at comparing sound quality and it convinces me that I would rather leave that to people with audiophile ears with equipment to match it. I only have a Paradigm monitor 7 with CC-390 center speaker and pair of ADP-390 for rear and side speaker surrounds. Even with that speaker setup I can't really distinguish which one is better. Although the DTS-MA track from Blu-ray is tad bit louder (?) Is that better? Bear in mind my opinion on the AQ only applies to this title.
If we are going to see any worthwhile improvements it wil be a remastering. There is still dust and specks here and there. And the complete removal of EE.
In the end the higher bitrate and lossless sound will give the Blu-ray version the edge. Regardless if its discernible or not. If both versions were released at the same time, I will choose Blu-ray.
HD DVD File size: 20 GB
Bitrate: 17.00 mbps
Blu-ray File size: 26.40 GB
Bitrate: 23.30 mbps
Its that close in terms of PQ and AQ. But using screenshots we will be able to see the difference. Including cropping and resizing at 200%. I won't be including the DVD version this time.
What you get here is less artifacts (visible only and discernable by looking at the screenshots) on Blu-ray but more pronounced EE
. EE is visible on both formats. Blu-ray has a new encode with higher bitrate 23.30 mbps compared to HD DVD at 17.00 mbps. DNR is added and more pronounced in some scenes.No major difference in PQ.
For the first time I made some serious attempt at comparing sound quality and it convinces me that I would rather leave that to people with audiophile ears with equipment to match it. I only have a Paradigm monitor 7 with CC-390 center speaker and pair of ADP-390 for rear and side speaker surrounds. Even with that speaker setup I can't really distinguish which one is better. Although the DTS-MA track from Blu-ray is tad bit louder (?) Is that better? Bear in mind my opinion on the AQ only applies to this title.
If we are going to see any worthwhile improvements it wil be a remastering. There is still dust and specks here and there. And the complete removal of EE.
In the end the higher bitrate and lossless sound will give the Blu-ray version the edge. Regardless if its discernible or not. If both versions were released at the same time, I will choose Blu-ray.
HD DVD File size: 20 GB
Bitrate: 17.00 mbps
Blu-ray File size: 26.40 GB
Bitrate: 23.30 mbps
Code:
Total Video
Title Codec Length Movie Size Disc Size Bitrate Bitrate Main Audio Track Secondary Audio Track
----- ------ ------- -------------- -------------- ------- ------- ------------------ ---------------------
The Mummy VC-1 2:04:53 31,593,603,072 35,810,635,675 33.73 23.30 DTS-HD Master 5.1 4649Kbps (48kHz/24-bit) DTS-HD Hi-Res 2.0 192Kbps
PLAYLIST REPORT:
Name: 00007.mpls
Size: 31,593,603,072 bytes
Length: 2:04:53 (h:m:s)
Total Bitrate: 33.73 Mbps
Description:
FILES:
Name Size Length Time In Time Out
---- ---- ------ ------- --------
00000.M2TS 31,593,603,072 2:04:53.235 0:00:00.000 2:04:53.235
VIDEO:
Codec Bitrate Description
----- ------- -----------
VC-1 Video 23301 kbps 1080p / 23.976fps
VC-1 Video 1421 kbps 480p / 23.976fps
AUDIO:
Codec Language Bitrate Description
----- -------- ------- -----------
DTS-HD Master Audio English 4649 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 4649kbps (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 1536kbps)
DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 768kbps
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 768kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
DTS-HD Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
SUBTITLES:
Codec Language Bitrate Description
----- -------- ------- -----------
Presentation Graphics English 27 kbps
Presentation Graphics French 20 kbps
Presentation Graphics French 1 kbps
Presentation Graphics Spanish 19 kbps
Presentation Graphics Spanish 1 kbps
CHAPTERS:
Number Time Name
------ ---- ----
1 0:00:00.000 Chapter 1
2 0:07:10.596 Chapter 2
3 0:12:19.196 Chapter 3
4 0:23:19.689 Chapter 4
5 0:29:03.283 Chapter 5
6 0:36:46.204 Chapter 6
7 0:43:38.866 Chapter 7
8 0:49:06.568 Chapter 8
9 0:53:34.127 Chapter 9
10 0:57:29.612 Chapter 10
11 1:11:13.310 Chapter 11
12 1:18:48.265 Chapter 12
13 1:27:29.577 Chapter 13
14 1:30:03.940 Chapter 14
15 1:36:32.828 Chapter 15
16 1:43:58.899 Chapter 16
17 1:49:44.828 Chapter 17
18 1:56:52.088 Chapter 18
19 2:04:52.985 Chapter 19
STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:
File PID Type Seconds Bytes Packets Bitrate
---- --- ---- ------- ----- ------- -------
00000.M2TS 4113 (0x1011) 0xEA 7493.24 21,824,944,735 118,722,507 23300.96
00000.M2TS 4352 (0x1100) 0x86 7493.24 4,354,896,096 24,835,802 4649.42
00000.M2TS 4353 (0x1101) 0x82 7493.24 719,350,784 4,214,946 768.00
00000.M2TS 4354 (0x1102) 0x82 7493.24 719,350,784 4,214,946 768.00
00000.M2TS 4355 (0x1103) 0x81 7493.24 179,837,952 1,170,820 192.00
00000.M2TS 4356 (0x1104) 0x81 7493.24 179,837,952 1,170,820 192.00
00000.M2TS 4608 (0x1200) 0x90 7493.24 25,390,479 146,689 27.11
00000.M2TS 4609 (0x1201) 0x90 7493.24 17,358,355 100,600 18.53
00000.M2TS 4610 (0x1202) 0x90 7493.24 18,923,234 109,459 20.20
00000.M2TS 4611 (0x1203) 0x90 7493.24 472,150 2,769 0.50
00000.M2TS 4612 (0x1204) 0x90 7493.24 569,007 3,354 0.61
00000.M2TS 4357 (0x1105) 0x81 7493.24 179,837,952 1,170,820 192.00
00000.M2TS 6912 (0x1B00) 0xEA 7493.24 1,330,565,316 7,381,705 1420.55
00000.M2TS 6656 (0x1A00) 0xA2 7493.24 179,836,928 1,053,732 192.00
And I know what screenshot you guys want to see 
If the comparison pix shows no major differences I won't be purchasing these movies.
