HBO Max HBO Max (Official Thread) (2 Viewers)

[Lord Dalek]

Is 5.1 on HBO Max working for anyone here over Chromecast? I've tried to stream multiple titles listed as surround. All play in 2.0 only.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

Is 5.1 on HBO Max working for anyone here over Chromecast? I've tried to stream multiple titles listed as surround. All play in 2.0 only.

Not working for me either. Batman Forever was playing in 2.0 via my Chromecast. 5.1 with my Apple TV.

 

[Chris Will]

I get 5.1 but I’m on Apple TV. Although I had a different issue last night.

It was family movie night and we decided to watch Fantastic Beast: The Crimes of Grindelwald on HBO Max. No one in the family had seen it yet. Movie night is when I really crank the volume up, love it when the house shakes. Unfortunatley, the audio soundEd odd, like HBO was applying dynamic compression or reducing loud noises. Every time you would think the movie should be getting louder, it was actually getting quieter.

To the annoyance of my family, I double checked our Apple TV settings and made sure I had not turned on “Reduce loud noises”. I also check my receiver and made sure none of the audio dynamic compress modes or night mode was on. Everything was set correctly. I never use any of those modes anyway because I do not like the way they sound. The only extra mode I engage is Audyssey Dynamic EQ, since I never listen at true reference and this mode makes it sound more like a theater to my ears.

We continued with the movie and it did the same thing through the whole film. Every action scene was noticeably lower in volume than non action scenes. Especially the final battle scene where they protect Paris. Very little low end
as well.

Immediately after the movie, I switched over to the iTunes Movie app and Vudu app to test play a few test scenes from SW Ep IX, Titanic and ST First Contact. The all sound perfect and loud!

I haven’t watched many movies through HBO Max at loud volumes so, I’m not sure if it happens with everything or just Grindelwald. I also don’t own Grindelwald in any other app or format to compare but, I doubt this is how the movie was mixed. Either way, not a pleasant audio experience. I need to test some other movies in the app but I really hope they aren’t forcing audio compression on everything.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I get 5.1 but I’m on Apple TV. Although I had a different issue last night.

It was family movie night and we decided to watch Fantastic Beast: The Crimes of Grindelwald on HBO Max. No one in the family had seen it yet. Movie night is when I really crank the volume up, love it when the house shakes. Unfortunatley, the audio soundEd odd, like HBO was applying dynamic compression or reducing loud noises. Every time you would think the movie should be getting louder, it was actually getting quieter.

To the annoyance of my family, I double checked our Apple TV settings and made sure I had not turned on “Reduce loud noises”. I also check my receiver and made sure none of the audio dynamic compress modes or night mode was on. Everything was set correctly. I never use any of those modes anyway because I do not like the way they sound. The only extra mode I engage is Audyssey Dynamic EQ, since I never listen at true reference and this mode makes it sound more like a theater to my ears.

We continued with the movie and it did the same thing through the whole film. Every action scene was noticeably lower in volume than non action scenes. Especially the final battle scene where they protect Paris. Very little low end
as well.

Immediately after the movie, I switched over to the iTunes Movie app and Vudu app to test play a few test scenes from SW Ep IX, Titanic and ST First Contact. The all sound perfect and loud!

I haven’t watched many movies through HBO Max at loud volumes so, I’m not sure if it happens with everything or just Grindelwald. I also don’t own Grindelwald in any other app or format to compare but, I doubt this is how the movie was mixed. Either way, not a pleasant audio experience. I need to test some other movies in the app but I really hope they aren’t forcing audio compression on everything.

HBO Max has a long ways to go video and audio presentation-wise. Yes, I'm talking about 4K/HDR and Atmos.

 

[Chris Will]

I agree but, I’m not holding out much hope for a good Atmos presentation when they can’t even get basic 5.1 right.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

Sometimes the services get bad masters. I remember comparing audio on "Man Of Steel" across platforms after finding the Vudu stream to have horrible audio compression, similar to your experience.

 

[Lord Dalek]

HBO Max has a long ways to go video and audio presentation-wise. Yes, I'm talking about 4K/HDR and Atmos.

That would require HBO to start pushing 4k content both in linear broadcasting and on their own streaming platform. Max is just a relay, not an independent pillar.

 

[Robert Crawford]

That would require HBO to start pushing 4k content both in linear broadcasting and on their own streaming platform. Max is just a relay, not an independent pillar.

Whatever it takes, for me personally, it will be an inferior service to Netflix and even Disney+ until then.

 

[jayembee]

HBO Max has a long ways to go video and audio presentation-wise. Yes, I'm talking about 4K/HDR and Atmos.

I was just thinking that a couple of evenings ago. We finally got ourselves straightened up with HBOMax, and I started compiling a "my stuff" list. After I was done, I moved over to Disney+ to see if there was anything new to add to my list, and the difference was clear regarding how many things were in 4K there, and nothing was on HBOMax.

Still, last night I watched The Abyss on HBOMax (it was top of the list, since it'll be gone at the end of the month). I was surprised it was noted as "HD". Some scenes looked like they might've been up-rezzed, but others looked like honest-to-god HD. The biggest disappointment was that it was the original theatrical cut rather than the (definitely superior) extended cut, unlike Aliens, for which they have both cuts. It makes me wonder if Fox had only gotten around to doing an HD master for the theatrical cut. I suppose we'll have to see what, if anything, shows up on Disney+.

 

[TonyD]

I think I read some where that the Abyss had been remastered.

 

[Jeff Adkins]

Does anyone know where to find the movies that are leaving? The "Last Chance" section isn't complete. Open Range isn't listed there, but yet if you pull it up, it does state it's leaving at the end of the month. It seems like websites are keeping track of things leaving Hulu and Netflix but not HBO Max (yet anyway).

 

[Robert Crawford]

I get 5.1 but I’m on Apple TV. Although I had a different issue last night.

It was family movie night and we decided to watch Fantastic Beast: The Crimes of Grindelwald on HBO Max. No one in the family had seen it yet. Movie night is when I really crank the volume up, love it when the house shakes. Unfortunatley, the audio soundEd odd, like HBO was applying dynamic compression or reducing loud noises. Every time you would think the movie should be getting louder, it was actually getting quieter.

To the annoyance of my family, I double checked our Apple TV settings and made sure I had not turned on “Reduce loud noises”. I also check my receiver and made sure none of the audio dynamic compress modes or night mode was on. Everything was set correctly. I never use any of those modes anyway because I do not like the way they sound. The only extra mode I engage is Audyssey Dynamic EQ, since I never listen at true reference and this mode makes it sound more like a theater to my ears.

We continued with the movie and it did the same thing through the whole film. Every action scene was noticeably lower in volume than non action scenes. Especially the final battle scene where they protect Paris. Very little low end
as well.

Immediately after the movie, I switched over to the iTunes Movie app and Vudu app to test play a few test scenes from SW Ep IX, Titanic and ST First Contact. The all sound perfect and loud!

I haven’t watched many movies through HBO Max at loud volumes so, I’m not sure if it happens with everything or just Grindelwald. I also don’t own Grindelwald in any other app or format to compare but, I doubt this is how the movie was mixed. Either way, not a pleasant audio experience. I need to test some other movies in the app but I really hope they aren’t forcing audio compression on everything.

I want to comment on HBO Max's audio again. Today, I watched the second episode of Perry Mason on HBO Max and I had to turn the audio up quite a bit just to make out the dialogue of that 2020 series. Has anybody else besides Chris noticed a problem with the low audio on HBO Max?

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Whatever it takes, for me personally, it will be an inferior service to Netflix and even Disney+ until then.

My big problem with HBO Max is the lack of device support. I have three streaming devices in my main setup, and none of them have the HBO Max app. The only option available to me is to watch it via my HTPC in a browser window. HBO Now works on all of the other devices, so I don't get what the hold up is. If they can't agree on a revenue-sharing agreement in Roku Channels or Amazon's equivilent, just make the app available as a stand alone and let the payment processes work directly from the app instead.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

I want to comment on HBO Max's audio again. Today, I watched the second episode of Perry Mason on HBO Max and I had to turn the audio up quite a bit just to make out the dialogue of that 2020 series. Has anybody else besides Chris noticed a problem with the low audio on HBO Max?

I had to turn it up, too, but it was not dynamically compressed. The battle scenes were plenty loud.

 

[Garysb]

Coming and going in July HBOMAX
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
Absolute Power
The Adventures of Pinocchio
The Amazing Panda Adventure
American Graffiti
American History X
Angels in the Outfield
Angus
August Rush
The Bachelor
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero
Batman and Harley Quinn
Batman vs. Two-Face
The Batman vs. Dracula
Batman: Assault on Arkham
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman: Year One
Beautiful Creatures
Beerfest
The Big Year (Extended Version)
The Bishop’s Wife
Blade
Blade 2
Blade: Trinity
Blazing Saddles
Blood Work
Born to Be Wild
The Boy Who Could Fly
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason
Catch Me If You Can
Clara’s Heart
The Conjuring
Cop Out
Creepshow
Death Becomes Her
The Departed
The Dirty Dozen
Dirty Harry
Doc Hollywood
Dolphin Tale
Dumb & Dumber
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
Enemy of the State
The English Patient
The Enforcer
The Exorcist
Fantastic Four
Flags of Our Fathers
Flushed Away
Four Christmases
Fred Claus
Free Willy
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Free Willy 3
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove
Freedom Fighters: The Ray
The Gauntlet
Get Smart
Good Girls Get High
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
Green Lantern: First Flight
The Green Pastures
Grumpier Old Men
Grumpy Old Men
A Guy Named Joe
Halwa
Heartbreak Ridge
The Horn Blows at Midnight
Horrible Bosses (Extended Version)
In Secret
In Time
Inkheart
Innerspace
Insomnia
J. Edgar
Jack Frost
Jane Eyre
Jeepers Creepers
Jeepers Creepers 2
JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time
John Q
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Justice League vs. Teen Titans
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
Justice League: Doom
Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Justice League: The New Frontier
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
Justice League: War
Kill Bill: Volume 1
Kill Bill: Volume 2
Kiss of the Dragon
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
The Last Emperor
Last Knights
The Last Samurai
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash
Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High
Lego Justice League: Cosmic Clash
Lego Justice League: Gotham City Breakout
The Letter
Life Is Beautiful
Little Big League
Little Manhattan
Little Nicky
The Longest Yard
Loser Leaves Town
Love Don’t Cost a Thing
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Magnolia
Malibu’s Most Wanted
Mars Attacks
Megamind
Message In A Bottle
Michael
Mickey Blue Eyes
Money Talks
Monkey Trouble
Moonwalk With Me
Mr. Nanny
Munich
Music and Lyrics
Nancy Drew
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
National Lampoon’s European Vacation
National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Necessary Evil: The Super-Villains of DC Comics documentary premiere
New Looney Tunes
Now and Then
Orphan
Osmosis Jones
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure
The Polar Express
Pop Star
Power
The Resurrection Of Gavin Stone
Rich and Famous
The Right Stuff
Rumor Has It
Saving Private Ryan
Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird
Showgirls
Something to Talk About
Space Jam
Spies Like Us
Star Trek
Stay
Sudden Impact
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Superman II
Superman III
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Superman Returns
Superman: Brainiac Attacks
Superman: The Movie
Superman: Unbound
Sweet November
Take the Lead
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny
Tequila Sunrise
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Thirteen Ghosts
Tightrope
Tom & Jerry: The Movie
The Towering Inferno
Troy
True Crime
Twelve Monkeys
Unforgiven
Vegas Vacation
Watchmen
What’s Your Number? (Extended Version)
The Women
Wyatt Earp
Yogi Bear
Yours, Mine and Ours
Zoetic

FRIDAY, JULY 3
Los Futbolismos (aka The Footballest)

SATURDAY, JULY 4
Midway

TUESDAY, JULY 7
Blue Exorcist Seasons 1-2
Your Lie in April Season 1
91 Days Season 1

'Close Enough' on HBO Max
Close Enough

THURSDAY, JULY 9
Close Enough series premiere (Max Original)
Expecting Amy docuseries premiere (Max Original)

SATURDAY, JULY 11
Sesame Street Season 50 finale
Last Christmas

MONDAY, JULY 13
Foodie Love series premiere

TUESDAY, JULY 14
Inuyasha Season 1
Showbiz Kids documentary premiere

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Smurfs Season 1

'House of Ho' on HBO Max
House of Ho

THURSDAY, JULY 16
David Makes Man Season 1
House of Ho series premiere (Max Original)

FRIDAY, JULY 17
Abuelos (aka Grandpas)

SATURDAY, JULY 18
Harriet

TUESDAY, JULY 21
Bungo Stray Dogs Seasons 1-3
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Season 1

THURSDAY, JULY 23
Tig N Seek series premiere (Max Original)

FRIDAY, JULY 24
Room 104 final season premiere
La Gallina Turuleca (aka Turu, The Wacky Hen)

SATURDAY, JULY 25
Motherless Brooklyn

TUESDAY, JULY 28
Aldnoah.Zero Season 1
Mob Psycho Season 1
Stockton On My Mind documentary premiere

THURSDAY, JULY 30
The Dog House: UK Edition series premiere (Max Original)
Frayed series premiere (Max Original)

FRIDAY, JULY 31
Los Lobos

WHAT’S LEAVING HBO MAX THIS MONTH:
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Crazy Rich Asians
The Nun

TUESDAY, JULY 7
The Defiant Ones

THURSDAY, JULY 30
Blindspotting

FRIDAY, JULY 31
A Christmas Story
Analyze This
Aquamarine
Blood Diamond
Bowling For Columbine
Boys Don’t Cry
Casino Royale (1967)
Casino Royale (2006)
Crimson Peak
Final Destination
For Love of the Game
Friday the 13th
Hairspray (1988)
Hairspray (2007)
Happy Feet
Intolerable Cruelty
King Arthur (Director’s Cut)
Long Shot
Look Away
Mamartuile
Man of The House
Mildred Pierce (1945)
Now, Voyager
Once Upon A Crime
Pet Semetary
Presumed Innocent
Pride and Prejudice
The Polar Express
Quantum Of Solace
Recreo
Rio
Rock the Kasbah
Season of the Witch
She’s Funny That Way
The Goonies
The Honeymooners
The Island
The Merchant of Venice
The Neverending Story
The Predator
The Sun Is Also a Star
The Take
TMNT
When Harry Met Sally
X-Men

 

[jayembee]

^ Two not on the list that are going on July 1st are The Abyss and Akeelah and the Bee (I watched both in the last few days because they were so flagged).

Or rather, I suppose, the are going by midnight tonight.

 

[TonyD]

The Big Year.
Really nice little movie about Birders.
I recommend this one to everyone.

 

[Garysb]

Superman II is the Richard Lester directed version .

Superman, The Movie may be the original theatrical version. All I know for sure is that it uses the Saul Bass W as the Warner Bros logo at the start.

 

[Chris Will]

That would require HBO to start pushing 4k content both in linear broadcasting and on their own streaming platform. Max is just a relay, not an independent pillar.

Honestly, this is why I think I'm disappointed with the service and will probably cancel before my next billing date. I knew the branding was using the HBO name but, I thought this was going to be Warner Bros.' version of Disney+, not HBO with some additional WB offerings. We just haven't used it much at all, we have very little interest in most HBO content and the higher cost just makes this service a tougher one to keep. Avenue 5 was very funny though and will come back for season 2.

 

[questrider]

Superman II is the Richard Lester directed version .

Superman, The Movie may be the original theatrical version. All I know for sure is that it uses the Saul Bass W as the Warner Bros logo at the start.

Not to get too off-topic, but am I correct that you can only get the Lester-directed theatrical version of Superman II on blu-ray in the The Superman Motion Picture Anthology box set? It appears that the only version of Superman II available as a standalone blu-ray is the Donner-directed reconstruction. I like the Donner version but I haven't seen the original theatrical version in a long time.

Thus, I am looking forward to checking these out on HBO Max. If only Warner and Roku would get their ducks in a row I could. Otherwise, I'm not interested in watching these on my computer.