Your experience with high def audio codecs

[D.R. Payne]

I finally got around to ordering an HDMI1.3 pre/pro. I have some friends coming over to do single-blind listening tests of about 5 discs I happen to own on both DVD and Blu-Ray. It should be interesting and fun.

I'm curious, though, if anyone else here can share their experience with upgrading to PCM, DD+, DDTHD, DTSHDMA.

 

[Seth=L]

Not yet, but I am very curious to find out what your findings will be. Try to maintain level matching, which may be difficult if the output level from the disc is higher or lower on one or the other, is is quite likely they will be different. Just leaving the pre/pro at the same volume may not do the trick.

Edit: realized you don't use an AVR, but rather a preamp processor

 

[darien87]

In my experience, it's hit and miss, just like with picture quality. Some BD's have a truly awesome PCM track, like Blackhawk Down, while others are not as outstanding, Underworld, Casino Royale. Every PCM track I have listened to has been better than it DD counterpart. It's just that sometimes the difference is huge and sometimes it's not.

 

[D.R. Payne]

Yeah, I will have the new pre/pro for at least 24 hours before I do the testing. This is NOT as scientific as it could be, but I was planning on using my SPL meter to roughly balance the volume and write this down to use during the testing.

Yeah, it's hit or miss, I chose things that are considered to have very good sound tracks. Here's what I told them I'd be using:

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Perl (DVD Dolby Digital 640kb/s vs. Blu-Ray PCM 5.1 48hkz/24bit)
• Cars (DVD Dolby Digital Ex 640kb/s vs. Blu-Ray PCM 5.1 Surround (48kHz/24-bit/6.9mbps))
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Superbit DVD DTS-ES 1.5mb/s vs. Blu-Ray 5.1 PCM)
• Black Hawk Down (Superbit DVD DTS-ES 1.5mb/s vs. Blu-Ray 5.1 PCM)
• Spider Man 2 (Superbit DVD DTS-ES 1.5mb/s vs. Blu-Ray Dolby True HD)