Question about HD Audio: DVD vs. OTA

hoopnoop · Post by **hoopnoop** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:13 am

For some reason, it seems that the audio quality of my 5.1 DVDs is noticeably superior compared to OTA, Satellite or Cable. In particular, if I watch a movie on DVD versus something like HBO HD, the sound quality of the DVD is much superior, particularly the surround sound effects. Is this the case for everyone else? Or could it be my system and hook-up?

BTW, I have an ONKYO 650 audio system (5.1). My DVD connection is with a coaxial cable. My satellite box connection is with an optical connector.

akirby · Post by **akirby** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:47 am

1 - it's not necessarily the same 5.1 mix as the DVD. The DVD is 480i so obviously that's not the source of the HD broadcast - they have to create a HD master from the original film. I assume the DD 5.1 mix is also remixed from the original soundtrack so they could actually be 2 different versions - one for the HD and one for the DVD.

2 - even if it was the same mix, the broadcast version might be compressed more than the DVD version.

That's the only 2 things I can think of. I don't think there is much difference between optical and coax (but I could be wrong).

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 1:06 pm

Hoopnoop,

I had hoped others would reply but alas...

I have observed the exact same thing with a James Bond Movie on Showtime HD and Dragnet on HDnet Movies via Charter Cable. I have not been able to test an OTA HD broadcast and I do not use satellite.

Yup, they are choking the audio via bit starvation. Whether that is part and parcel of the ATSC DTV standards I have no idea. I do know the difference is night and day and suspect that most would have the same observation if they did the test.

donshan · Post by **donshan** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:44 pm

I have found the same lack of good DD 5.1 on DirecTV HD channels. See my review of the HBO HD version of the film "Master and Commander" in the Now Playing thread. The DTS sound on this widescreen DVD is simply awesome, but the film on HBO/DirecTV DD 5.1just had some surround that was weak in volume, and without the "ambience" that made me feel I was on the ship while watching the DVD.

I can't remember any DirecTV HD presentations that impressed me much for the surround sound. They tend to have fairly good front stereo and occasionally good explosions etc. Surround is supposed to be "all around" and it is not, suggesting to me it is the rear sound that is being shaved the most.

At first I figured the original films were older or just lacked a good sound mix. Master and Commander proved to me they are messing with the sound mix.

aaronwt · Post by **aaronwt** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:56 pm

BadBoys II sounded good on HBO-HD.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 8:18 pm

Welcome to HD Library aaronwt!

After you watched it on HBO did you pop in the DVD and compare?

raff · Post by **raff** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:38 pm

In general, and this goes for OTA and DirecTV, I have noticed that any DD broadcast is of lesser volume/strength than its DVD counterpart.

Also, don't compare DD5.1 on broadcast to DTS on a DVD. Not the same beast.

ar2261 · Post by **ar2261** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 11:53 am

My experience has been mixed. Last week HBO ran "Master and Commander" and I thought my house was going to cave in. I normally keep the volume on my receiver at around 22 which is about a quater under half, but I had to crank the volume back to 37 and it was still blasting. It was the same with "Dare Devil" The sound and separation was amazing. In some instances the dvd smokes the ota, but I think this is disc and channel dependent, perhaps even day of the week dependent! You might want to check with your provider to make sure they are not having problems with any of their feeds and then have them come and check the connections in your home.
In case you were wondering, my provider is Bright House networks in Orlando, Fl.

Good Luck

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:31 pm

James Bond was very surprising since the original purpose was not about audio but video. After watching the HD movie I immediately popped in the DVD since I just happen to have it for video comparisons. While there was much to be said about that the real shocker was the audio. Similar to going from CD to one of the HD audio formats. Up until that time I had not given it much consideration especially since I only own that which cannot be rented or was given to me as a gift so there was little to directly compare.

Dragnet was self evident as that is an old favorite of mine seen numerous times on laserdisc and DVD.

It is not so much that it sounds bad which is likely why this has been missed for the most part as we debate video issues. The issue is that it certainly seems the improvement in video is being offset by degrading the audio; only so many bits to work with. The best audio and video experience remains D-Theater and I am very hopeful that these new HD-DVD formats will be able to duplicate that level of performance.

Bottom line, watch it in HD and if possible drop the DVD in your player immediatly afterwards for comparison. I bet you will have the same results...

ar2261 · Post by **ar2261** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:35 pm

If I understand the last post correctly, you are saying that the audio on many DVDs sucks! I agree. I watched Pirates of the Caribbean last night in DTS and the audio was mediocre at best. The same applies to "Die Another Day" It seems that a lot of the worst audio is DTS. I do have some discs in DTS that sound incredible, but they are more often than not Superbit discs. Glad to know I'm not the only one who has observed this, or should I say heard this.

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Question about HD Audio: DVD vs. OTA

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