Video Asylum

Posted by rico (A) on September 20, 2007 at 14:12:59

In Reply to: RE: I know. :) I've been meaning to ask you for some time.... posted by grantv on September 20, 2007 at 09:43:37

Hi Grant,

No, since the rear center is a phantom by definition I cannot use an actual speaker there (not to mention I have no place there for a speaker).

Asuming you have the rears set at the same level as the fronts and that this is done by meter, there is very little actual sound mixed by movie makers into the rears. They provide ambiaence and a sense of envelopment and, like the refrigerator being on and your not noticing it until it shuts off, you really don't "hear" the rears unless you collapse the signal to stereo, then the difference is manifest.

"Apocalypse Now" (either version) and "Saving Private Ryan" have spectacular surround sound mixes, as does "Master and Commander", which to date is the best DVD sound mix. "Open Range" has some pretty effective thunderstorms and frightening gunshots. I like "The Bridges of Madison County" for the quietest, most involving sound mix but unfortunately the only DVD version is the so called "full screen" (a misnomer if there ever was one) so I watch my letterboxed stereo laserdisc version and use the pre/pro's Dolby Pro Logic II (not I!) Movie codec. (I use either of the two Dolby Pro Logic II modes for all stereo material).

Thanks for the comment about my movie collection, 1700 and counting...