![Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [Blu-ray]](http://cdn.hometheaterforum.com/b/bb/50x50px-ZC-bb3c5afe_B000VDDWDS-51xX2jk7HUL.jpg)
As I'm attempting to catch up with Blu releases going back to December and January, and concurrently work through the new candidates for discussion, I found myself unable to do justice to the latest group of Fox Blu-Rays which are inclusive of DTS HD Master audio. Lossless audio played back on a quality system is a bit of technical caviar that, based upon the disc in question, can enhance the viewing experience measurably. Those who can consider acquiring it should seriously consider its addition to the viewing environment.
The rude awakening arrived this morning as I attempted to survey the audio on Master and Commander as well as Butch Cassidy...
Several hours later, after confirming stock, I made a pilgrimage to Value Electronics in Scarsdale, NY, and with the aid of the ever helpful Robert Zohn, left his store with a new Denon 3800.
I went the Denon route with some trepidation, as reports of problems abound, especially over at AVS, a solid website with knowledgeable members. There have been two firmware upgrades in just the past couple of weeks, the upshot of which is that the hardware must be returned to Denon for upgrade.
Typical of Value, rather than turn a problematic piece of equipment over to a customer, they returned their entire stock to Denon for upgrade, and only offer properly updated hardware.
I made off with their last piece.
Setup was uneventful, and although I'm forced to run lossless audio via analogue -- the hardware ended up working flawlessly, with both amazing image as well as audio, as pumped through a Lexicon MC-12 and into B & W speakers for 7.1 audio.
My test disc, after running a couple of sequences from known entities, was Fox's new BD of Master and Commander, which had amazing image as well as huge, pin-pointed audio in theatrical.
The disc does not disappoint, as the initial sea battle came through crisp, clean, clear and like its theatrical counterpart, pin-pointed for spacial accuracy. You could literally hear a cannonball makes its way across the room.
Based upon the series of books by Patrick O'Brian, director Peter Weir's extremely cinematic retelling on film, is brilliant filmmaking that serves as the basis of a beautiful Blu-Ray disc from Fox Home Video.
My only caveat is that many of the extras originally on the two-disc special edition in standard def have not been ported over to the BD. As one of the major selling points for BD over HD was the amount of real estate available for content, I'm at a loss to understand why the material was pulled.
One would think that at this juncture, ie. the studio attempting to bring a new base of viewers into Blu, that they would hopefully not be playing the old "double or triple-dip" routine, with a special edition hitting the store in October or next March. I believe that would thoroughly antagonize the customer base. I sincerely hope that it isn't the case.
With tremendous audio intact, and a beautiful new BD image, Master and Commander receives a Highly Recommended.
RAH
The rude awakening arrived this morning as I attempted to survey the audio on Master and Commander as well as Butch Cassidy...
Several hours later, after confirming stock, I made a pilgrimage to Value Electronics in Scarsdale, NY, and with the aid of the ever helpful Robert Zohn, left his store with a new Denon 3800.
I went the Denon route with some trepidation, as reports of problems abound, especially over at AVS, a solid website with knowledgeable members. There have been two firmware upgrades in just the past couple of weeks, the upshot of which is that the hardware must be returned to Denon for upgrade.
Typical of Value, rather than turn a problematic piece of equipment over to a customer, they returned their entire stock to Denon for upgrade, and only offer properly updated hardware.
I made off with their last piece.
Setup was uneventful, and although I'm forced to run lossless audio via analogue -- the hardware ended up working flawlessly, with both amazing image as well as audio, as pumped through a Lexicon MC-12 and into B & W speakers for 7.1 audio.
My test disc, after running a couple of sequences from known entities, was Fox's new BD of Master and Commander, which had amazing image as well as huge, pin-pointed audio in theatrical.
The disc does not disappoint, as the initial sea battle came through crisp, clean, clear and like its theatrical counterpart, pin-pointed for spacial accuracy. You could literally hear a cannonball makes its way across the room.
Based upon the series of books by Patrick O'Brian, director Peter Weir's extremely cinematic retelling on film, is brilliant filmmaking that serves as the basis of a beautiful Blu-Ray disc from Fox Home Video.
My only caveat is that many of the extras originally on the two-disc special edition in standard def have not been ported over to the BD. As one of the major selling points for BD over HD was the amount of real estate available for content, I'm at a loss to understand why the material was pulled.
One would think that at this juncture, ie. the studio attempting to bring a new base of viewers into Blu, that they would hopefully not be playing the old "double or triple-dip" routine, with a special edition hitting the store in October or next March. I believe that would thoroughly antagonize the customer base. I sincerely hope that it isn't the case.
With tremendous audio intact, and a beautiful new BD image, Master and Commander receives a Highly Recommended.
RAH
).
Lossless audio, here I come! 
