[Nick Graham]

Now that we're officially in a single format world, what's with Warner's recent tendency to use only 640k Dolby tracks on recent Blu-Ray and HD DVD releases?

I just borrowed Michael Clayton from my brother, and was surprised to see that such a high profile title only had a lossy track. Ocean's 13 was also a victim of this policy, as well as recent catalog titles such as The Aviator, which is a film that would have benefited greatly from a lossy track (for the plane crash scene especially). These aren't titles with IME tracks taking up bandwidth, and they aren't significantly lengthy movies, so even authored within the parameters of HD DVD, a lossless track should not have been an issue.

With Warner likely about to begin authoring strictly for Blu-Ray any day now, we need to speak up to ensure they take advantage of the added bandwidth and capacity. With a year of HD DVD and Blu-Ray under my belt, I'm now accustomed to at least high bitrate lossy tracks, if not full lossless. We're paying a premium to own a high def version of current films, which is appropriate, but I think with that premium there needs to be a higher standard in audio than is available on standard def (and 640k is not enough of one).

[Gary Murrell]

640kbps DD is much better than SD DVD and even D-Theater which was amazing, it's not too bad and is 100% equal to 1506kbps DTS, I do agree however Warner with only one HD format left can and should focus their efforts on the best BD product and that should always at minimum include a lossless audio track of some sorts

-Gary

[Harminder]

Bill Hunt mentioned recently that Warner knows that people don't like lossy tracks on their BD releases and will be releasing lossless tracks more often with future releases.

[Dave Moritz]

Quote:

Now that we're officially in a single format world, what's with Warner's recent tendency to use only 640k Dolby tracks on recent Blu-Ray and HD DVD releases?

I am trying to understand the reasoning for using lossy on HD releases as well.

Quote:

640kbps DD is much better than SD DVD and even D-Theater which was amazing, it's not too bad and is 100% equal to 1506kbps DTS

I feel the complete oposite as IMHO 1506kbps DTS is superior to not only 640kbps DD but to Dolby Digital Plus as well. While is still watch many of my titles with DD on SD-DVD and some HD titles with 640kbps DD. I enjoy them and they sound good but they do not sound great IMHO. However Dolby has done a great job with Dolby True HD and I have no problem picking up those HD titles that offer it. As soon as I upgrade my receiver and Blu-ray player I will be doing some serious listening test with Dolby True HD and DTS-HD MA. I am not sure there is going to be any difference audiably this time?