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I got The Phantom Menace laserdisc delivered today. Actually, I went out to meet the UPS truck and asked him if he had a delivery for me (I knew he had it http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif ). By now you've read descriptions of the gatefold jacket, but have you read that the laserdisc comes with a large one page insert? It's almost entirely in Japanese, except for the Roman letters "EX" in bold type at the top. It also has a little diagram of an EX setup. You also probably know by now that The Phantom Menace was the first film released with the EX enhancement, which contains information for a back surround speaker matrixed into the rear surrounds. A few pieces of equipment can do EX decoding, like the Lexicon MC-1 (with the upgrade) or the Smart CS-3X Jr. I own the Smart, and use it with a Denon 5700 receiver, Sherbourn 5/1500 power amp with audio interconnects from http://www.bettercables.com My laserdisc player is the Pioneer DVL-909. For speakers, I am using the Atlantic Technology 450e THX system. I am using a 454e SR speaker (same as my rear surrounds) for my rear center.
So what does it sound like? Incredible! I saw The Phantom Menace at the Ziegfeld theater in Manhattan. I thought I knew what to expect. I didn't. I was overwhelmed by the immersion and intensity of the 360 degree soundfield. The experience was certainly in the same league as the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan and in many, many instances it surpassed it. This is the ultimate 5.1 sound demo disc! Certainly the best EX presenation available.
Right from the beginning of the movie the rear center/back surround is active. Especially for flying aircraft that pass across the screen. There was a mini stampede that was made all the more intense with the crushing sounds and galloping coming from the rear center and really all around. This is the most immersive soundtrack I have ever heard. Right from the beginning you are placed inside the action, surrounded by a 360 degree soundfield. I know you hear that "so and so movie creates a 360 degree soundfield" but this time, it's absolutely the case! It's overwhelming! Also, as others have reported (Aerialman?), the LFE is quite active throughout the movie and when the Jedi's use their "force push" power, you feel it right through the subwoofer. I mean you really feel it. Whoa! Next came on side two, the pod race. I thought I was enjoying myself very much so far. I was totally blown away by the sound effects for this scene! It's like running through a juggernaut. There are so many cuts in the sound, with so much attention paid to emphasizing specific bits and pieces of the action, I was very impressed. But even more importantly, the quality of the surround effect is what is so amazing. I felt like I was totally enveloped, even more intensely than the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan. The rear center is constantly active, providing sound cues and directionality through out the race. Bassy wooshes, doppler effects, screaming crowds, sniper shots - it's all coming out of the rear center. And it doesn't mimic the rear surrounds. The rear center isn't really a discrete channel, but it sounds like it is. This is hands down the most impressive soundtrack I have ever listened to, and I've listened to lots of them. It's obvious that the sound crew at Lucas worked very hard on this scene. You will never forget it, trust me. The final duel between Qui Gon, Obi Wan and Darth Maul is another mind blower. It doesn't have the nonstop adrenaline rush of the pod race, but it has qualities all it's own, very separate from the pod race. When the light sabers slash through the air, you can hear the dangerous sizzle of the sabers move around the room seamlessly in an arc. This happens very fast and it's very impressive. The sizzle isn't like a scratchy noise. It often had a menacing (no pun intended) bassy growl. Awesome!
The rear center is very active throughout the movie. If you have an EX setup and a laserdisc player, this is an absolute must buy. If you don't have an EX setup, maybe this will push you closer toward one. All I can say is I enjoyed this film much more than I thought I would, even with the reviews of the awesome sound I had read. Let me add a few words about the Smart CS-3X Jr. decoder. I use it for every movie with 5.1 sound. A soundtrack doesn't need to be EX encoded to derive the EX decoding benefit. If the movie was mixed in such a way as to give the appearance of a phantom center between the rear surrounds, the Smart can decode it as if it was EX and the effect is often thrilling. I watched The Matrix with it and sure enough the Smart placed many effects in the rear center. Very effective and very immersive. Particularly the rooftop shootout between Neo, Trinity and the agents. I watched End Of Days last night and it also is not EX encoded (it was supposed to be EX encoded but wasn't released with the enhancement) but it may as well have been. The rear center came alive throughout the movie but particularly during intense action scenes like the rooftop helicopter chase. Having the rear center really does add a lot to the experience. I watched Bats EX, The Bone Collector EX and a few other DVD's with the enhancement. In Bats, the swarming sounds of the bats attacking and circling their prey is made all the more effective with the rear center providing directionality and what sounds like a discrete channel. The rear center is also good for subtle sound cues which The Bone Collector has plenty of.
In closing, let me say The Phantom Menace in EX sound is what home theater is all about! You will never forget the experience!
Larry
[This message has been edited by Larry Davis (edited April 19, 2000).]
So what does it sound like? Incredible! I saw The Phantom Menace at the Ziegfeld theater in Manhattan. I thought I knew what to expect. I didn't. I was overwhelmed by the immersion and intensity of the 360 degree soundfield. The experience was certainly in the same league as the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan and in many, many instances it surpassed it. This is the ultimate 5.1 sound demo disc! Certainly the best EX presenation available.
Right from the beginning of the movie the rear center/back surround is active. Especially for flying aircraft that pass across the screen. There was a mini stampede that was made all the more intense with the crushing sounds and galloping coming from the rear center and really all around. This is the most immersive soundtrack I have ever heard. Right from the beginning you are placed inside the action, surrounded by a 360 degree soundfield. I know you hear that "so and so movie creates a 360 degree soundfield" but this time, it's absolutely the case! It's overwhelming! Also, as others have reported (Aerialman?), the LFE is quite active throughout the movie and when the Jedi's use their "force push" power, you feel it right through the subwoofer. I mean you really feel it. Whoa! Next came on side two, the pod race. I thought I was enjoying myself very much so far. I was totally blown away by the sound effects for this scene! It's like running through a juggernaut. There are so many cuts in the sound, with so much attention paid to emphasizing specific bits and pieces of the action, I was very impressed. But even more importantly, the quality of the surround effect is what is so amazing. I felt like I was totally enveloped, even more intensely than the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan. The rear center is constantly active, providing sound cues and directionality through out the race. Bassy wooshes, doppler effects, screaming crowds, sniper shots - it's all coming out of the rear center. And it doesn't mimic the rear surrounds. The rear center isn't really a discrete channel, but it sounds like it is. This is hands down the most impressive soundtrack I have ever listened to, and I've listened to lots of them. It's obvious that the sound crew at Lucas worked very hard on this scene. You will never forget it, trust me. The final duel between Qui Gon, Obi Wan and Darth Maul is another mind blower. It doesn't have the nonstop adrenaline rush of the pod race, but it has qualities all it's own, very separate from the pod race. When the light sabers slash through the air, you can hear the dangerous sizzle of the sabers move around the room seamlessly in an arc. This happens very fast and it's very impressive. The sizzle isn't like a scratchy noise. It often had a menacing (no pun intended) bassy growl. Awesome!
The rear center is very active throughout the movie. If you have an EX setup and a laserdisc player, this is an absolute must buy. If you don't have an EX setup, maybe this will push you closer toward one. All I can say is I enjoyed this film much more than I thought I would, even with the reviews of the awesome sound I had read. Let me add a few words about the Smart CS-3X Jr. decoder. I use it for every movie with 5.1 sound. A soundtrack doesn't need to be EX encoded to derive the EX decoding benefit. If the movie was mixed in such a way as to give the appearance of a phantom center between the rear surrounds, the Smart can decode it as if it was EX and the effect is often thrilling. I watched The Matrix with it and sure enough the Smart placed many effects in the rear center. Very effective and very immersive. Particularly the rooftop shootout between Neo, Trinity and the agents. I watched End Of Days last night and it also is not EX encoded (it was supposed to be EX encoded but wasn't released with the enhancement) but it may as well have been. The rear center came alive throughout the movie but particularly during intense action scenes like the rooftop helicopter chase. Having the rear center really does add a lot to the experience. I watched Bats EX, The Bone Collector EX and a few other DVD's with the enhancement. In Bats, the swarming sounds of the bats attacking and circling their prey is made all the more effective with the rear center providing directionality and what sounds like a discrete channel. The rear center is also good for subtle sound cues which The Bone Collector has plenty of.
In closing, let me say The Phantom Menace in EX sound is what home theater is all about! You will never forget the experience!
Larry
[This message has been edited by Larry Davis (edited April 19, 2000).]
