Audio Tier Thread  

1st

Vanishing Point(DTS-MA) - Tier 4
No LFE. Some distortion on a few lines. Some sounds too harsh and shrill. If you closed your eyes you wouldn't know you were watching a movie that stared a 500hp muscle car.
Music is so-so(sound quality wise). The two surround pans I heard were kind of effective. It's also worth noting that I had to boost the volume on this track more than what I normally do for Fox MA tracks.

I think I should have watched this one with the mono soundtrack(is that the original one?). Personally it wouldn't have bothered me if Fox created a brand new mix for this one with newly recorded sounds, there's a lot of opportunities for just some killer aural moments. And who wouldn't want to go out and record the old Charger's engine?

That being said the sound is more or less clean, with no distractions or anomalies. It sounds like a movie shot on the cheap from the 70s though. Picture quality is fantastic it looks like film, there's no specs of any kind. If there's any DNR it was done very carefully, I was really surprised with how good it looked(Like something Criterion would do for a vintage film).

I would like to start this new thread by nominating the following for
Reference
King Kong
Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum

most of the posts about these can be found in the last 6 pages of the old thread if anyone is interested.
The Punisher (DTS ES) Tier 1
Fearless (DTS-MA) - Tier 1
Predator 2 (DTS-MA) - Tier 1
Afro Samurai: Resurrection (DD640) - Tier 1 *Funimation is beginning an exchange program for the TrueHD disc though.
The 40 Year Old Virgin (DTS-MA) - Tier 3 barely
We Were Soldiers (AUS, DTS-MA) - Tier 0
at least, the mix on this one is so good it's definite reference material.

And can we move Speed Racer from Tier 3?

Lastly thanks Fanaticalism, you rock. Now get to work.
BTW - I was thinking we should go in an list 7.1 next to titles that feature it, maybe in a different color. Because people always ask for that. And maybe tag Mono tracks too. Everything else can be assumed to be 5.1.

And maybe tagging tracks with 96 or 192 sampling rates, for those that are interested.

Reposts from old thread. My votes are in bold. I tried to see who else voted on the titles I reviewed and listed them to help out. I apologize if I missed anyone elses votes, tried to use the search to find them all the best I could.

A Time to Kill (TrueHD) - Tier 3

The Pelican Brief (TrueHD) - Tier 3

Rock n Rolla (TrueHD) - Tier 2


Pride and Glory (TrueHD) - Tier 1

Awake (TrueHD) - Tier 2

Saw V (DTS-MA 7.1) - Tier 0
Toe voted Tier 0

The Bone Collector - U.K. release (TrueHD) - Tier 2.

Max Payne (DTS-MA 5.1) - Reference
Hughmc voted Reference
DevilDog151 voted Reference
bori voted Reference
Another_Dude voted Reference
Toe voted Reference

Righteous Kill (TrueHD) -Tier 3
Thehun voted Tier 2

My Best Friend's Girl (DTS-MA 7.1) - Tier 3

Swing Vote (DTS-MA 5.1) - Tier 3

Pineapple Express (TrueHD)- Tier 3

Bangkok Dangerous DTS-MA 7.1 - Tier 0
Toe voted Reference
bori voted Tier 1
Hughmc voted Reference
Maestro J voted Tier 0
thehun voted Tier 0
mdk2007 voted Reference
357 voted Tier 0


Wedding Crashers (TrueHD) Tier 3

The Goonies (UK release) TrueHD- Tier 4

Hostage (UK release) DTS-HD HR 5.1 - Tier 2

Traitor (TrueHD) - Tier 2

Death Race (DTS-MA 5.1) - Tier 0
357 voted Tier 0

I searched the site for Wanted as I and a few others added Reference votes although it was in Tier 0 at the time. I don't think JkCheng122 was able to go back and check to see if it warranted a change in tier. If I missed anyone's vote I apologize but then feel free to post it. I'm not trying to sway the votes, just trying to tally them up again. The total tally I could find is 6 Reference, 3 Tier 0:

me Reference
MelloFellow13 Reference
Toe Tier 0
Mel2 Reference
JetJockey1 Tier 0
FilmMixer Reference
Shane Martin Reference
rydenfan Tier 0
thehun Reference

sticky

I totally agree with King Kong being reference audio quality. A fine music score too and apart from the overall mix of the soundtrack which i found to be excellent i must also say the bass is just about the best i have heard to date on Blu Ray.

I would also say the German edition of Silent Hill has reference audio and i would also like to nominate Kung Fu Panda to the reference list too.

How is the German audio different from the US PCM track on Silent Hill. I think the sound is fantastic but I wouldn't call it reference.

Fanatacilism there are a number of votes for
Kung Fu Panda (TrueHD) - Reference
that audio is pretty close to perfect.

There were also more than a couple of votes for
Death Race (DTS-MA) - Tier 0

and could you remove the underlines from the titles you added?

I also placed a vote for King Kong Reference in the old thread. Here is a copy of that short review


The HD-DVD DD+ has always been one of my favorite tracks and this DTS-MA track is right there with it. So many great sound moments. LFE, dialogue, surrounds, ambiance, etc.....all first rate IMO. I actualy enjoyed the extended cut as well since it gave this awesome track just a bit more time to show off

One more which I would like to place a vote for

Youth Without Youth TrueHD Tier 0

I had a review for this, but not sure what happened to it.

A few more from the old thread of mine that I dont think got counted....


Mirrors DTS-MA tier 1

Great track and no big complaints. Dialogue always loud and clear, nice sense of atmosphere gets established to create a tense type mood, good dynamics, and nice LFE use.

Saw V DTS-MA 7.1 tier 0

This was a very entertaining soundtrack to my ears. Lots of quick little panning type things going on throughout the film, with some great surround use in general and a few moments of great rear speaker work as well to let you know you are hearing a 7.1 track. Dynamics were VERY healthy and low end support was insanely strong at times and put to fantastic use in general throughout the film. This LFE track brought the HT room to life. Dialogue was always loud and clear. Nice dynamic track in this one and just a lot of fun from a sound perspective.


Thanks Fanaticalism for all your work in getting this thread going again

Thanks for volunteering, I haven't been online which is why I didn't respond to your PM.

Also, I second the idea of adding 7.1 somewhere next to titles that are 7.1 mixes.

The last tier thread was last updated on 12/28 so anything that was ranked after that hasn't been updated. I will go through it and see if I can make a list for you.

Thanks Fanaticalism!!

It may be different but i couldn't say because sometimes you get the theatrical mix for Blu Ray and sometimes a film can be mixed for near field in the home although thats less common for Blu Ray but certainly happened a lot on DVD.

For example i know Black Hawk Down has a DTS-Master Audio 7.1 mix on the Scandinavian releases and i would imagine that was re-mixed for near field and of course Disney animation love to have their remixes for the home too.

I found Silent Hill to have fabulous channel separation with active rears and crystal clear voices through the center channel and the bass was exceptionally good at times too so if not reference i think it's close and i'm happy to see it in a category near to the reference titles.

That has been the opposite of my experience.

Please share since you are working in the actual field and i would love to hear more upon what actually does happen with regards the mixes on Blu Ray.

Nothing different than when we did it on DVD, but with 7.1 there are now some clients calling for that, which has raised the number of titles being worked on.

is the old thread still available?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=918734

Thanks Mark.

Ok, I went back to the old thread and made a list of all movie recommendations that were made since J/K last updated the thread (12-28-2008). I do not believe that I missed anything so we can now update this new list with these old recommendations.

I will leave it up to someone else to tally up the numbers for each movie


U-571 DTS-MA REFERENCE VOTE
Hellboy II is definitely Reference
Hostage (UK release) DTS-HD HR 5.1 - Tier 2
The X Files: I want to Believe (DTS HD MA) Tier 0
The Mummy (DTS-HD MA) Tier 0
The Mummy Returns(DTS-HD MA) Tier 0
The Goonies (UK release) TrueHD- Tier 4
Appaloosa (TrueHD)---Tier 2
Bangkok Dangerous (DTS-HD MA)---Tier 0
Wedding Crashers (TrueHD) Tier 3
Destiny's Child: Live in Atlanta (PCM 5.1) is Reference
Eagle Eye Tier 1
Eagle Eye TrueHD Tier 1
Burn After Reading Tier 0/Tier 1
Burn After Reading (DTS-MA) - Tier 2
Serenity (DTS-MA) - Tier 0
Band of Brothers (DTS-MA) - Tier 0
Step Brothers (TrueHD) - Tier 2
Serenity (DTS-MA) - Tier 0
Blue Man Group:How To be A Megastar Live (PCM 5.1) Tier 0
Blue Man Group:How To be A Megastar Live (PCM 5.1) Tier 0
BLUE MAN GROUP: HOW TO BE A MEGASTAR..........TIER 1
WITHIN TEMPTATION: BLACK SYMPHONY..............LOW TIER 0
Wanted (DTS HD MA) Reference
Wanted DTS-MA 5.1 -Reference
Eagle Eye TrueHD tier 1
Bangkok Dangerous DTS-MA 7.1 - Tier 0
Babylon A.D. DTS-MA 5.1 tier 0
Bangkok Dangerous DTS-MA 7.1 Reference
Event Horizon (Dolby THD) Tier 1
Eagle Eye Tier 2
Pineapple Express (TrueHD)- Tier 3
Tropic Thunder (Dolby TrueHD) Tier 1
Tropic Thunder (Dolby THD) Tier 1
Bangkok Dangerous (DTS HD MA 7.1) Tier 0
Hancock Dolby TrueHD Tier 2
Bangkok Dangerous Tier 0
Appaloosa TrueHD Tier 2
Bangkok Dangerous (DTS HD MA 7.1) Reference
Days of Thunder(TrueHD) - Tier 2
Bottle Rocket(DTS-MA) - Tier 3
Planet Terror(TrueHD) - Tier 1
Mamma Mia(DTS-MA) - Tier 1
Ultraviolet(PCM) - Tier 3
The Bourne Identity(DTS-MA) - Tier Reference
The Bourne Supremacy (DTS-MA) - Tier Reference
The Bournce Ultimatum (DTS-MA) - TIer Reference
King Kong (DTS-MA) - Tier Reference
Hellboy II The Golden Army (DTS HD MA 7.1) Reference
Babylon AD DTS-HD Master Tier 0
The Police: Certifiable (Dolby THD) Tier 1
Wall-E (DTS-MA 5.1) Tier 1
The Punisher (DTS ES Discrete) Tier 1
Arlington Road PCM 5.1 tier 2
Max Payne: DTS MA 5.1: tier Reference
Righteous Kill (Dolby THD) Tier 2
Righteous Kill (TrueHD) -Tier 3
My Best Friend's Girl (DTS-MA 7.1) - Tier 3
Swing Vote (DTS-MA 5.1) - Tier 3
Max Payne - Reference
King Kong DTS-MA Reference
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Dolby TrueHD 7.1) Tier 0
The Incredible Hulk Vote: Tier 0
Mirrors DTS-MA tier 1
Saw V DTS-MA 7.1 tier 0
Max Payne (DTS-MA 5.1) - Reference
The Bone Collector - U.K. release (TrueHD) - Tier 2
The Chronicles Of Narnia - Prince Caspian (DTS-MA 7.1)...... Reference
The Strangers (DTS HD MA) Tier 0
Saw V (DTS-MA 7.1) - Tier 0
Max Payne - Reference
Awake (TrueHD) - Tier 2
Max Payne DTS-MA 5.1 Reference
King Kong (2005): Reference
King Kong[Pete Jackson Extended Edition Remix Redux] (DTS-MA) - Reference
Youth without Youth Tier Reference
Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (DTS-MA 5.1) Tier 0
Horton Hears a Who (DTS-MA 5.1) Tier 0
W.---(DTS-MA)---Tier 1
Soul Men---(TrueHD)---Tier 1
Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (DTS-MA 5.1) Tier 0
The Bourne Ultimatum (DTS-MA 5.1) Reference
American Gangster (DTS-MA 5.1) Tier 0
Matrix (TrueHD) - Definitely Reference
Matrix Reloaded (TrueHD) - Reference
Matrix Revolutions (TrueHD) - Tier 0
The Incredible Hulk (DTS MA) - Reference
Iron Man (True HD) - Tier 0
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (TrueHD) - Tier 1.
The Dark Knight (True HD) - Reference
6th Day (Dolby THD) Tier 1
Madagascar Escape 2 Africa TrueHD Tier 1
Fearless (DTS-MA) - Tier 1
American Gangster Tier 1
Doom (DTS-MA 5.1) Tier 0
Fearless (DTS-MA) tier 1
Predator 2 (DTS-MA) - Tier 1
Rock n Rolla (TrueHD) - Tier 2
Pride and Glory (TrueHD) - Tier 1
King Kong (DTS-MA) - Reference
W. DTS-HD MA Tier 3
Miracle at St. Anna DTS-HD MA Tier 2
Frozen River TrueHD Tier 3
Afro Samurai: Resurrection (DD640) - Tier 1...DD640
NiN Live: Beside You in Time: Reference
Body of Lies TrueHD Tier 1
Changeling (DTS HD MA) Tier 1
Domino (Dolby TrueHD) Tier 0
Hulk Vs. (DTS-MA 7.1) Tier 1
Zodiac(TrueHD) - Tier 1
Dark City (DTS-MA 7.1) Tier 1
A Time to Kill (TrueHD) - Tier 3
The Pelican Brief (TrueHD) - Tier 3
Babylon A. D. (DTS HD MA) Tier 0
John Mayer "Where the Light is" Reference

Eagle Eye (Dolby THD) Tier 1 Currently in Tier 1 ------[This wasn't posted in the old thread]

Quiet an exciting mix. Excellent dynamics, but bass seems to be inconsistent, and detail and surround envelopment is a bit wanting in some places. Dialog sounds muffled sometimes as well, but overall the mix serves the picture well and should give a good work out to one's system.

BTW for the Police: Certfiable, there were 2 Tier 1 votes,one was mine, and one was his: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=2410

This should be enough to take it off the reference list. Sorry Toe, I know how strongly you defended this title.


I would also mention again that we should separate the concerts from films, and create a different rankings for them. It could be done here, no need a new thread. What do you think Fanaticalism?

Well, we had 4 votes for reference as well for the Police Certifiable. 5 if you count 357 who claims the Police was reference for concert discs, but for movies not so much. Does this count as a vote?

JetJockey1
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...e#post15121426

MaestroJ
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...e#post15191861

Me
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...e#post15210894

Scubawoman
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...e#post15306959



I think this should stay in reference, but we know how much I like it. In light of 2 tier 1 votes, tier 0 would be appropriate and a good compromise I would think if you guys are set on moving it (which I hope you are not).

I would also add that we have 3 tier 0 votes for Wanted and IMO it should be moved out of Reference as well (since we are compromising). Infact, I would think any title that has 3 or more votes against reference should be out of the running for reference. Just my opinion.

Or, leave both these in reference since both received 5 or more votes for reference, but if you take out Certifiable, I think it would only be fair to take out Wanted as well.

Ip Man

Hong Kong Action movie starring Donnie Yen

LPCM, Tru HD 7.1, DTS-MA

Its all here...

The movie is not bad at all but the surround and bass are as impressive as Dragon Tiger Gate, but without being too OTT.

Quite nice.

TIER 1

This is the part as how we count votes gotten fuzzy in the previous thread. This is where we could set up guidelines and stick to it. To me a reference title should receive at least 80% of reference and nothing below Tier 0.
For Tier 0 and lower, it should be 70% for that tier and the rest could be anything else. Although I'm sure people who just wanna "troll" might try to mess things up, so we collectively should deal with that at the time.

Anyway this is just my recommendation, but we should adopt a transparent counting system, that we lacked before IMO.

I agree with that sentiment as i have seen this happen sometimes with threads where a conversation can be rolling along nicely and a person can be sharing their views on something and then you get some idiot who comes in and gets all hostile on you and makes ignorant remarks.

Yah i totally agree

I would like to nominate Hollow Man for Tier 0.

I agree that we need to setup some guidelines and stick to it. I like your reference guideline suggestion and IMO that would be great for the reference tier. I think for tier 0 and lower though, we should just go with the majority vote as far as tier placement, but again just my opinion and we should get some others to weigh in here to get some more thoughts. I am open myself as to how we do this exactly, but agree that we should have some sort of set system in deciding where a title should land.

As far as the unfortunate and inevitable trolling, we will probably just have to deal with that as it happens which does not seem to be too much in this particular thread thank god!

Agreed, I think we should hold the reference tier to the highest standard, hence the 80% vote, all others should be based on the majority vote.

I also agree that we should separate the concert BD's into their own tier system. Also, how do others feel about listing 7.1 next to the corresponding movies?

Fan, you are the moderator, what do you think?