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The 59th Street HD Advisor Song (Feelin' Groovy)Editor's Note: Each Friday, High-Def Digest's own HD Advisor will answer a new round of questions from our readers. If you have home theater questions you need answered, send an email to [email protected]. If you've already sent a question and don't see it answered yet, please be patient as we work our way through them. To browse through previously answered questions, visit the main HD Advisor page. Answers by Joshua Zyber Large vs. Small Speakers Q: It's not unusual to see the automatic calibration feature of receivers end up considering a large speaker as "small," and then apply the crossover frequency to the signals of the corresponding channel. Actually, as far as I know, there is a line of thought that states that every speaker should be considered "small" because, whichever the speaker is, the subwoofer can reproduce better bass. And I'm not sure about that, but I think I read that the THX standard agrees with this statement. That led me to think the following: If the speakers should always be considered small, why then, in the audio track, do the studios record bass sounds directed to the speakers? Don't the movie industry people think that some bass sounds could indeed be reproduced by the speakers? It seems the movie industry has one idea on the subject, and the home theater industry another. A: As I'm sure you're aware, the "Large" and "Small" settings in the receiver don't just refer to the physical size of the speakers. They're actually meant to gauge whether the speakers can reproduce the full frequency range of an audio track, down to the lowest bass registers. To accomplish that, you generally need large woofers and a lot of power to drive them. Hence this usually only happens in physically large loudspeakers. However, it's perfectly possible to have big speakers that cannot reproduce the full bass range either, and thus should not be considered "Large." The vast majority of home theater speakers are not full-range, and should be defined as "Small." So, why then do movie sound mixers still place so much bass activity in the main speakers rather than moving it all to the .1 channel? Well, most movie soundtracks are mixed primarily with the theatrical release in mind. To give you a more detailed answer straight from the horse's mouth, I solicited advice from Marc Fishman, a Hollywood sound mixer with an extensive and impressive resumé of films he's worked on. Here is what he had to say: MF: This isn't one idea vs. the other... because they are two different venues. Since the goal is translation, these differing 'ideas' on the subject achieve the desired results. Theatrical sound systems are always at least 2-way (and some 3-way) designs, meaning they are all bi-amped and have plenty of power to drive the cabinets. On my stage, each main channel consists of high-end driver on a horn enclosure for the high end on top of a cabinet of 4 x 15" drivers. They are both separately fed by their own 1,000 Watt amps… plenty of power. Even though we are talking about smaller spaces, most home theater setups (and speakers for that matter) don't have that kind of power in them. And even if they do, it rarely comes in the form of bi-amplification. It's a matter of translating what we have the ability to do (large SPL and frequency reproduction across our main channels) into a home environment (accurate SPL and frequency reproduction using what is available) by using the amplification more wisely. Pillarbox Bars – Black vs. Gray Q: I have a Sharp Aquos television, a Pioneer Elite DVD player, a Panasonic Blu-ray player, and an Onkyo receiver. I have contacted each of these manufacturers with this question and they have all said they have no idea what the problem is (if it is a problem). When I play a full screen film on my Pioneer DVD player, the side bars are black. On the Panasonic Blu-ray player, the side bars are a kind of cream color. Is there some way to make sure the side bars are only black? A: First, let's be clear and define "full screen" movies as those with a 4:3 aspect ratio, which should be displayed in the center of your 16:9 screen with pillarbox bars. The term "full screen" is a bit of a misnomer that goes back to the days before HDTV. The term continues to be used, even though a 4:3 picture will obviously not fill a 16:9 screen without stretching or distortion. Are these movies you're watching all on DVD, or are you comparing the same movie on DVD and Blu-ray? I'm going to assume that you're watching the same DVD on two different machines. "Full screen" DVDs are natively encoded in a 4:3 shape. Any pillarbox bars you see are created by either the DVD player or your TV. If either of your players has a Pillarbox (or "Squeeze") mode, the player itself generates those bars. My best guess here is that your Pioneer DVD player has a Pillarbox mode. When you watch DVDs on that machine, your TV should be set for 16:9 aspect ratio, and the player does the pillarboxing. Those pillarbox bars it creates are black in color. Meanwhile, your Panasonic Blu-ray player probably doesn't have its own Pillarbox mode. (I'm not sure about current models, but the older Panasonic BD players I've owned did not). In this case, when you play a 4:3 DVD in the machine, your TV will have to be set for its own 4:3 mode. And, when that happens, the TV generates gray bars. Unfortunately, many HDTVs are designed to generate gray pillarbox bars rather than black. The reasoning behind this is that gray is supposedly less likely to cause image burn-in. Some TVs will allow you to adjust the color of the pillarbox bars, but many others will not. Most viewers find the gray very distracting. If your DVD picture quality is otherwise the same other than this issue, I'd recommend just watching 4:3 DVDs in the Pioneer player. But if you're unhappy with the quality of that machine, you may want to invest in a new Blu-ray player that has the pillarbox feature. Blu-ray Quality Control Q: In light of the recent audio issues with the 'Saving Private Ryan' Blu-ray, I was curious if you had any insight into how something so major could make it to retail. Is no one reviewing the master before replication? A: Somebody at either the studio or the production facility screwed up. I honestly think it's as simple as that. Mistakes sometimes happen, even major ones. At least, in this case, the studio has acknowledged the problem and issued a recall. Compare Paramount's response to this issue to the way that Magnolia has treated 'Let the Right One In' on Blu-ray. Initial copies of that disc were authored with a simplified English subtitle translation that many fans objected to. When complaints came in, the studio agreed to include the original theatrical subtitle translation on future pressings. That sounds like a good thing. The problem is that they never recalled the old disc, and the new copies use the same UPC. The only way to tell the difference is to look at the fine print on the back of the case. Consumers ordering from online retailers have no way of knowing which version they'll get. And the updated copies still seem to be in short supply even in brick & mortar stores. Homework Assignment: You Be the Advisor The HD Advisor knows many things, but he doesn't know everything. Some questions are best answered with a consensus of opinions from our readers. If you can help to answer the following question, please post your response in our forum thread linked at the end of this article. Your advice and opinions matter too! Blu-ray Players with Wi-Fi Q: I need to buy a Blu-ray player for a friend and he is interested in streaming Netflix. However, his TV is a million miles away from his router. Have you know of any specific players that handle wi-fi streaming better than others? My PS3 handles it superbly, but I don't think a PS3 is in his cards. Check back soon for another round of answers. Keep those questions coming. Joshua Zyber's opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of this site, its owners or employees.Posted Fri May 21, 2010 at 10:55 AM PDT by: -
Four More Dragon Dynasty Titles Hitting Blu-ray in August[teaser]A quartet of Asian films are coming to high-definition this August. [/teaser] Vivendi is working on 'An Empress and the Warriors,' 'Invisible Target,' 'The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk,' and 'Tai Chi Master' for Blu-ray release on August 10. Specs and supplements haven't been confirmed yet, but suggested list price for each Blu-ray has been set at $19.97. You can find the latest specs for 'An Empress and the Warriors,' 'Invisible Target,' 'The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk,' and 'Tai Chi Master' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under August 10.Posted Fri May 21, 2010 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season' Blu-ray in 1080p[teaser]A press release has been sent out issuing a correction that the hit Starz series coming to Blu-ray in September will be presented in glorious 1080p after all! [/teaser] As previously reported, Starz/Anchor Bay Entertainment announced 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season' starring Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennett, John Hannah, and Peter Mensah for Blu-ray on September 21. The 4-disc Blu-ray release will contain all 13 episodes and will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio Commentaries, Gladiator Camp, History Rewritten, Make-up Effects, The Hole, Behind-The-Scenes Footage, Bloopers, and Trailers. Enhanced digital effects have been added to several of the episodes, and as a Blu-ray™ exclusive, four episodes have been personally selected as “Directors’ Cut Extended Episodes” by Robert Tapert, featuring content too risqué, even for cable TV! The legions of 'Spartacus: Blood AND Sand' fans who have been anticipating the second season, were excited to learn earlier this month that Starz will air a six-part prequel in early 2011 that tells the story of the gladiator school before Spartacus arrives. It will focus on Batiatus and Lucretia, as well as some new characters that will be introduced. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $79.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 21.Posted Fri May 21, 2010 at 09:10 AM PDT by: -
'DOA: Dead or Alive' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser] Hong Kong action director and choreographer Corey Yuen will enter four sexy sirens in a martial arts tournament on Blu-ray this August. [/teaser] Vivendi is planning to bring 'DOA: Dead or Alive' starring Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter, Jamie Pressly, and Holly Valance for a Blu-ray release on August 17. The film based on a popular video game is already available on the format in Canada from Alliance. Specs and supplements haven't been confirmed yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.97. You can find the latest specs for 'DOA: Dead or Alive' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 17.Posted Fri May 21, 2010 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season' Blu-ray Dated & Detailed[teaser]The '300'-esque TV series produced by Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi will be spilling blood and sex all over high-definition this September. [/teaser] Starz/Anchor Bay Entertainment has just announced 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season' starring Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennett, John Hannah, and Peter Mensah is coming to Blu-ray on September 21. It appears the Blu-ray release will feature 1080i video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio Commentaries, Gladiator Camp, History Rewritten, Make-up Effects, The Hole, Behind-The-Scenes Footage, Bloopers, and Trailers. The release will come in a high-end book-style packaging, and four episodes will be given "Director's Cut Extended" treatment with content deemed too risqué for cable as a Blu-ray exclusive. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $79.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 21.Posted Fri May 21, 2010 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: 35th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' Blu-ray Release Date Changed[teaser]The previously reported high-definition double dip of the Academy Award-winning drama is now coming in mid-September. [/teaser] Warner Brothers had announced a special 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: 35th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' for Blu-ray with a date reported for July 15, then September 7, and now the official release is September 14. The film was nominated for nine academy awards, winning five including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher) and Writing Adapted Screenplay. The Blu-ray appears to be identical to the 2008 release , but it will be repackaged with a variety of collectables including playing cards, character cards, posters, movie trivia, and more! Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $49.99. Here's a peek at the contents: You can find the latest specs for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: 35th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 14.Posted Thu May 20, 2010 at 12:25 PM PDT by: -
'Wonders of the Solar System' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Explore the fascinating planets and stars that make up our solar system in high-definition this September. [/teaser] Warner Brothers/BBC has just announced 'Wonders of the Solar System' for a Blu-ray release on September 7. The 5-episode documentary series is hosted by Professor Brian Cox. Specs and supplements haven't been confirmed yet, but the release appears to be a 2-disc set. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Wonders of the Solar System' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 7.Posted Thu May 20, 2010 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Mother' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The acclaimed award-winning 2009 Korean crime thriller will have a stateside Blu-ray release this July. [/teaser] Magnolia has announced 'Mother' for a high-definition release on July 20. The film is about a mother who desperately tries to clear the name of her son, who has been framed for murder. The film is directed by filmmaker Joon-Ho Bong ('The Host'). Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements will include: Making of Mother, The Music, Cast interviews, Cinematographer interview, Production design, A look at actress Hye-ja Kim, Behind the scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98 You can find the latest specs for 'Mother' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 20.Posted Thu May 20, 2010 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Repo Men' Dated & Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The futuristic sci-fi thriller where human organ possession is 9/10 of the Jude Law is hitting Blu-ray this July. [/teaser] Universal has announced 'Repo Men' also starring Forest Whitaker and Alice Braga for Blu-ray in both its theatrical (113 minutes) and Unrated Director's Cut (120 minutes) versions on July 20. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Feature commentary with director Miguel Sapochnik and writers Eric Garcia and Garrett Lerner, deleted scenes with optional commentary with Sapochnik, Garcia and Lerner, Union commercials: see the unique Union commercials used in the film in their entirety, and Inside the visual effects: get an "insider's" look at the unique visual effects used in the film. Exclusive to the Blu-ray will be U-Control, My Scenes, pocket BLU, Social BLU, and BD-Live connectivity. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Repo Men' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 20.Posted Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music' Blu-ray $26.99 at Amazon[teaser]Today's Gold Box special heads to Woodstock for the 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition! [/teaser] Amazon is selling 'Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music: Ultimate Collector's Edition' for just $26.99 (63% off suggested list price). If this must-own title isn't already part of your collection, click here to take advantage of this exceptional, today-only offer!Posted Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:15 AM PDT by:
