"Serge Auckland" wrote in message
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"Keith G" wrote in message
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"MiNe 109" wrote in message
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In article ,
"Keith G" wrote:


Hi Def *video* is a completely different story - basically reverse
everything above and you can see why HDTV and Blu-ray is here to stay.
Bigger and better is easy enough for anyone to see and the the bigger
you do
get, the more resolution you need. Doesn't hurt also that and HD video
is
*constantly* being advertised in the media you are watching, on the
equipment you are (or would be) watching it on!

Yes, I agree the introduction was botched.

Properly done, surround is a step up.


Not for me it's not - I don't much care for it with movies* other than
the 'HD' soundtracks are so far ahead of the basic 'DD 5.1' they simply
can't be ignored and *never* for music! For me, half the point of a good
'stereo' (solid) soundstage is that at times, some of the instruments are
way back *over there* like they were in the superb Shostakovich Symph No.
8 I played the other evening - which I am certain was a two mic 'Russian'
recording, despite being described as 'A First American Recording' on the
sleeve....


*Total immersion scenes like the landing scene and various anti-tank
battles in Saving Private Ryan are an exception; I have terrified
visitors with them, with the volume turned right up and a 120 inch
projected picture - they stand there with *slapped faces*!! @:-)


I can't even cope with stereo on TV. A 3m wide audio stage with a 1.5m
wide video stage is all wrong. As to a surround audio stage when the
picture is all in front is even more wrong. I watch TV with 'speakers
directly either side of the picture. Actually prefer mono on TV, then the
sound comes out of the screen.


I agree and a good two-channel stereo (with a sub, as of about 20 minutes
ago) will do me but the *total immersion mayhem* scenes are very impressive!
You are also not wrong about the silly big sound/small image imbalance - is
why my preferred (normal) viewing is a big sound with a 6 foot wide image!!

And the voices *always* come straight out of their mouths!!



On the other hand, surround sound for classical music is fine if the
surround is used for hall ambiance, or for effects as composed, like
Palestrina's vespers which had various small choirs arranged round the
hall. What doesn't work is phantom images created by pan-potting, as
phantom images don't form to the sides, and less well at the back.


I'd sooner listen to a mono Roberts portable (and frequently do) than to all
that BS done badly!