[pho]

I have used an A3 for a while but after knowing it can't be made region free and itchy to try 24p and bitstream, I bought an EP35. To my surprise hdmi bitstream to my Sony 3400ES actually sounds flat compare to A3's LPCM. It is pretty obvious with the short intro at the beginning of all Warner HDDVD. The Charger zoom, boxing punch and Batmobile rocket boom all sounds and feel awesome with LPCM but liveless as PC using spdif when bitstreaming. It shows DD+ on receiver so it should be working right. I later tried LPCM through EP35 and it rocks again. I have tried every possible changes on player and receiver but none seems to make any impact.

I have searched and found some talks of poor LFE level about this and XE1 but mostly use analog. Also most said bitstream and LPCM should have no difference so I am confused. Anything I have simply missed?

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by pho

I have used an A3 for a while but after knowing it can't be made region free and itchy to try 24p and bitstream, I bought an EP35. To my surprise hdmi bitstream to my Sony 3400ES actually sounds flat compare to A3's LPCM. It is pretty obvious with the short intro at the beginning of all Warner HDDVD. The Charger zoom, boxing punch and Batmobile rocket boom all sounds and feel awesome with LPCM but liveless as PC using spdif when bitstreaming. It shows DD+ on receiver so it should be working right. I later tried LPCM through EP35 and it rocks again. I have tried every possible changes on player and receiver but none seems to make any impact.

I have searched and found some talks of poor LFE level about this and XE1 but mostly use analog. Also most said bitstream and LPCM should have no difference so I am confused. Anything I have simply missed?

That is a stange one yes usually complaints are with analogues but with bitstream it shouldn't cause any problems to be honest.
Is this with DVD as well?

[pho]

Looks like I have found the answer after reading the receiver manual. There is a +10db setting in hdmi input but it only affect PCM. That explains why LPCM packs more punch than bitstream. Turn that +10db off and it is as plain as bitstream. There is no loudness button like my old receiver so I am running out of options to boost bass. I have to set volume to around -10db for HDDVD to get a decent level. DVD is strong enough at -25db. Seems like a common problem with HDDVD.

[Bald Monkey]

I Watched ' V for Vendetta' last night on HD-DVD....(after the dispointment that is Underworld 3 on BR ) I assure you HD-DVD has no problems with Bass or 'loudness'

Can you not vary the volume level for each input to get all your sources matched?

[pho]

I think my receiver won't remember volume level/bass/treble according to input. You are right, HDDVD did rock. May be I have test some with lower volume than normal disc.

I happen to have all 3 formats of Superman Return. A little test shows that all of them have similar sound level. HDDVD TrueHD sounds best with deepest bass. Follow by BD DD, then HDDVD DD+ and DVD DD, all using bitstream. They are closer than I first thought.

Still I miss the boom of the Warner intro DD+ with LPCM +10db boost which is just not there with bitstream.