gchaplin said:
I have noticed that the standard stereo (2 channel dolby digital?) sound quality on the music dvd is not as good as a standard stereo from a cd played on the same dvd player.
The cd version sounds great, whereas the stereo version from the dvd sounds somewhat lacking by comparison sounds rather flat.
The dvd singles that have a stereo and 5.1 mix are much the same the quality of the stereo mix ix just not that good the 5.1 mixes are fine not just cos they are 5.1 but the whole sound quality is so much better.
Ideas?
G
G
Standard Dolby Digital 2.0 is IMHO the worst stereo format for DVD-V, you are much better listening to a Dolby Digital 5.1 downmix if you have a DAC or AV amp or using the DVD-Vs players onboard DACs. Basically its down to the level of information supplied in each track. Linear PCM for stereo from DVD-V 16/24/48 Khz Is IME stunningly good. In some cases better than CD quality IME (Sting Peter Gabriel Dave Gilmour Lauryn Hill). So if in doubt I generally avoid Dolby Digital 2.0 (one rare DD 2.0 that sounds very good though is Peter Gabriels Growing Up IMHO, but the man is fastidious in his quest for top level quality.
DD 5.1 Sound varies just like CD, depends on the quality of the recording, but there are more than a few excellent sounding mixes about, I have loads of live concerts on DVD-V and listen to them in a stereo system, maybe it just the synergy of my system but I love 5.1 > 2.0 Stereo downmixes via my DAC and DVD-V player (set to PCM output all the time FWIW) it just seems like a great stereo event to me, this is comparing CD copies against DVD-V LPCM & 5.1 DD downmixes. Sometimes the downmixed DD sounds better than the CD mix, Stings All this Time & Lauryn Hill MTV unplugged are both scenarios like that to my ears. Jean Michell Jarres Aero also has a competing CD v DVD-V 5.1 quality thats worth experimenting with.
Disclaimer : Im mot saying the 5.1 > 2.0 downmixes above are superior to 5.1 playback on a 5.1 system, just that they sound to me with a stereo system as fantastic stereo source material. Never been enclined to squander my hifi resources on a 5.1 system TBH, Im more happy to shoehorn stereo downmixes from DVD-V from my stereo system.
Anyway I note it has been mentioned here a couple of times but I will endorse its also, Dave Gilmours DVD-V Linear PCM 24 Bit 48Khz stereo tracks on his live meltdown concert is one of the best ever digital recordings I have heard to this date, and thats against many HDCDs, Shefflield Lab Golds, Chesky DAD DVD-V 24/96Khz stereo etc. If anyone is reading this and is interested in hearing what the pinnacle of DVD-V stereo has to offer from normal DVD-V players it is well worth tracking down.
Kish Kash said:
I agree with you about 5.1 downmixed to 2-channel though. It can (and often does) sound poor IMO. Especially with DD/DTS - the centre channel is totally destroyed!!
KK just to confirm that the best way to downmix DD 5.1 is to a stereo device like your DAC 20 via a PCM data stream, as such DTS cannot be heard via this PCM device. Ie Im not sure how you are hearing DTS downmixed to stereo from your present kit must be via the AV amp. FWIW dude I dont find the dialogue that bad from my DAC 20 in downmix mode. Especially with the Subwoofer in duty, 2.1 DVD-V cineam sound is good enough for these old ears.
overkill said:
Not to mention the great Pioneer A400 scandal.......... where punters were convinced they REALLY were good enough to beat £1500 amps. Your ears can lie - if the right people tell you so.
I would point out though that audiophile opinion cuts both ways Overkill ie overhyped budget kit and overhyped estoric kit as Im sure your aware. Ie ears can lie in both directions would you not agree ?
overkill said:
I can feel a CJ interjection coming on............
No point really
, if your happy spending £500 on a CD transport power to you dude, Im more than happy with a £200 or £500 DVD-V player doing transport duties, does not make either one of us right does it ?. YMMV : each to their own etc etc.