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DVD vs. LD sound quality

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Posted on March 8, 1999 at 15:29:30
Steve


 
Has anybody with a combi-DVD/LD player compared the sound of these two different media? I have separate DVD and LD players feeding the 2-channel PCM tracks into a Monarchy DIP superdrive, then to a Theta D/A converter. For both L.A. Confidential and The Fifth Element, I could swear that the audio is cleaner and the bass has more impact on the LDs vs. the DVDs. Since these are separate players, my experiment has too many variables, so I want to hear from single box players using the same digital circuitry.

 

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Re: DVD vs. LD sound quality, posted on March 8, 1999 at 23:09:28
mtrycrafts


 
The only way to compare is to match the levels of the two players to within .1db. You need meters for this, not your ears. And it is possible that the two mixes were not exactely the same, or recorded at the same levels; who knows. Then you'd have to do it in a blind comparison to be sure.
So I would not worry about it.

 

Re: DVD vs. LD sound quality, posted on March 9, 1999 at 09:23:36
Audiophilander


 
I've made similar comparisons, and while unscientific my impressions are quite like yours. Utilizing my MSB Link-DAC (the only variable) to convert digital signals from both my Panasonic Prism LX100U and Pioneer DV414 I compared soundtracks from a couple of programs I had in both mediums. The result: the LD player's 2-channel digitally reconverted sound seemed richer with fuller bass, warmer overall. On the other hand, the DVD player's digital sound was shlightly more sculptured or etched and while detail didn't seem lost it wasn't as enjoyable a listening experience.

just my 2 cents.

AuPh

 

Re: DVD vs. LD sound quality, posted on March 9, 1999 at 09:48:11
Steve


 
Thanks for sharing your observations. Although I'd take DVD over LD because of the superior video quality and generally cheaper software prices, I am a bit disturbed that I'm giving up something sonically. Oh well, it is probably a moot point given that LD software availability will dry up in a few years.

 

You may be correct, but Laser is dead., posted on March 9, 1999 at 12:39:50
Rich


 

In 2-3 years, there likely won't be any new laserdisc releases.

 

Just like those LP's (nt), posted on March 9, 1999 at 15:43:17
DaveG


 
nt

 

Dolby Digital, posted on March 10, 1999 at 11:40:39
David_M


 
you're hearing the affects of comparing Dolby digital 2.0 to strait PCM audio. It's alot like comparing mp3 to PCM audio, almost but not quite.

 

Re: Just like those LP's, posted on April 11, 1999 at 15:36:21
Jon


 
Sort of, except the majority of the market was using LP's, and there were enough facilities set up to do it the that it was economicly viable. The only hope for Laserdisc is that enough fanatics are willing to shell out large amouts of green for a limited selection of discs, and of course that some of those fanatics are willing to shell out production capital

 

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