Re: Is it even worth it?
You can’t have an HD audio conversation without me. “Is it worth it?”The best way I can answer you is:
[b]It’s not worth it, unless you think it is.[/b]
In my tests I can’t tell a difference on a Onkyo 875 and Axiom Audio m60, vp100, qs8 system. My speakers are revealing of problems with the audio, and I can’t tell any quality difference whatsoever. And I did these tests using the same encode of the audio, switching between the core track and the HD track on both DTS and DD. Double blind tests by experts in treated listening rooms have also shown that we can’t tell a difference. If you can’t repeat it when you are trying to hear it, then there’s no chance of hearing it when you are absorbed in a movie. Remember that the DD and DTS tracks on BDs use the full bitrate of DD and DTS (640k and 1.5mb respectively) which were chosen because they were the point at which no difference could be heard. That’s the explanation to the first part of my answer.
Now, if you think you will be able to hear a difference because it is “lossless” or you’ve tried switching between two audio tracks on a BD and heard a difference, then it is worth it to get HD audio working. Those that have heard a difference are because different tracks are from different masters and typically have some quality and more often loudness differences. Others simply fall to the placebo effect. This is totally fine. If you are in this camp and think you are getting better audio because it is lossless then that’s great. You’re thinking you are getting better audio and that is going a long way towards enjoying the movie and your system that you spent so much money trying to get.
So, what kind of person are you? Are you a results kind of guy? Or are you a ideological kinda guy?
I’m a results kinda guy. I rip to the lossy formats and don’t look back. But, if given the choice, I do like it when I see the HD audio logo on my receiver. It makes me feel good even though I know it doesn’t change anything.