Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Movie to test Surround

For starters here's two easy ones. I like 'Saving Private Ryan" DTS edition for mature audiences & if you have kids 'Lion King' SE. Enjoy...

Perhaps you're looking for subtle ambiant sound, but Adaptation has a scene (#13?) with a surprise car crash that is incredible. It's the closest you can come to being in a car crash without physical injury. I've used it to demo the surround sound system for lots of guests, and several have said they might need to change their shorts. Good movie in all other respects, too.

You don't need kids to enjoy The Lion King. In fact we just watched it last night! GREAT audio on that disc.

Hi Denver,

I'd forgotten about "Adaptation." I saw it in a theater and you are right about that accident scene. Haven't tried it at home.

I just watched a fairly cheesy thriller, "Identity," on HBO in DD 5.1, and it has a terrific thunderstorm and effects in all speakers, including a few lightning strikes that seem to be "hard-mixed" to the surrounds. But despite the good cast, it's a mediocre effort. Don't know if it's out in DVD.

Regards,

In reply to:

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GREAT audio on that disc.

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No kidding! One of the best mixes I've ever heard on a dvd. I love what the Disney sound engineers did with thier "Disney Enhanced Home Theater mix". It is a pleasantly enveloping experience.

Star Wars (either EPISODE I or II). But in this instance Episode II. I believe it's chapter 7 or 8?? The scene where it starts out that Obi-Wan jumps out the window and it turns in to a speeder chase scene. Great use of surrounds as vehicles are passing by!

the western 'open range' has some great use of surrounds in it. there are several thunder storm scenes which make you think its raining in your living room. also, the sound of boots walking across the hollow wood floors is kinda neat, and the gun battle at the end of the movie is awesome.

i am told 'the patriot' has some great surround efx, but i have never actually seen the movie.

bigjohn

For something that puts a lot of demands on the surrounds try Monsters Inc. Check out the scene named "23-19"...a helicopter flies overhead, the monsters are running around the room, alarms going off, etc.

Also, the THX intro (test?) scene puts a lot of sound through the surrounds.

If you're into music and concert DVD's then I would recommend "A Concert For George", the tribute to George Harrison. Great music and the surrounds make you feel like you're right there.

Excuse the long post. Here is a summary of DVDs with interesting audio I put together from a variety of sources:

MOVIES

Here is a summary of DVDs with interesting audio I put together from a variety of sources:

Black Hawk Down.
Academy Award for best sound, couple of years ago. Great bass and bullets whizzing all around.

Blue Crush
A movie that has good sound in general, good bass and makes decent use of surrounds is. Chapter 2 is especially good. Unfortunately, you must also watch the movie.

Bourne Identity
The surround mix is stunning in both DD and DTS. Well done and realistic The scene in the field when the birds take flight is special for the surrounds

The Haunting has unbelievable bass - loud and extremely powerful.

Independence Day is a good surround workout.

The Italian Job - The intro music sounds so pure and there is some chest thumping bass when the armored truck is blown "under" the street

Last of the Mohicans is great!

LOTR - Fellowship of the Ring and LOTR - The Two Towers Just excellent all the way around.

Mission to Mars
If you want a really good demo of rear vs. side imaging in the surrounds, then try chapter 11. There is a part where the mission commander's voice circles the room. Put your receiver in DD EX mode and listen as Armin Mueller-Stahl's voice pans from front to side to rear to other side, all in one continuous arc.

Open Range
Awesome on surround speakers. There are several scenes when it is storming, and you can hear the thunder actually 'roll' thru the living room. The sound of boots thumping hollow on an old wood floor. If you aren’t impressed by then, the final 'shoot-out' at the end is very impressive. The shotgun scene is impressive.

The Patriot
Cannons, swamp noises, crickets, bugs, bullets, explosions

Phantom Menace Attack of the Clones
The plot and acting in both of these are poor, but the action and surround mixes are fantastic. The pod race, and the light saber battle scenes are great.

Saving Private Ryan. All of the battle scenes are good, but the opening sequence is stunning.

Seabiscuit
This movie should have won the award for best sound, IMHO. The sound of the horses hooves as they came barreling down the stretch was so thunderous and powerful - it really allows the viewer to better comprehend the strength that the horses have - not to mention the fact that its pretty awesome, hearing a dozen or so horses stampeding through your living room.

Signs, Exorcist and The Others
All three are great for scaring you with the surrounds. They use the rears so effectively to get you to jump or just to creep you out. It's like a new version of the "open door - have something jump out and scare you gag" for frights sake alone. Now, by using the surrounds, the mixers are able to really immerse the audience in the scene, making you feel like you are there - it truly is scarier to hear what goes bump in the night as opposed to what you see (which is usually much less menacing).

S.W.A.T. has some good surround effects with gunshots and helicopters flying around.

U-571 - (depth charges) - great scene for both visual and audio demo. DTS testing the clarity and power of your subwoofer

We Were Soldiers
Has a scene where the camera pans around Mel Gibson and so the sounds of the guns swirl around the room. The scene with the planes coming in and bombing is also pretty impressive. This is DD-EX.

What Lies Beneath
Another one of those subtle, well mastered DTS jobs...lot of water dripping kind of stuff, pretty good modern day Hitchcock too, great flick.


6.1 / 7.1 MOVIES
Two that readily come to mind are Finding Nemo and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Nemo has some of the greatest bass available, as well as some spectacular above water/below water effects and sound panning.

LOTR:FOTR has some very nice quiet sections in the early rural (Shire) parts of the film where it's possible to feel immersed in a real field or forest. The natural sounds are breathtaking. The dynamic range of the film is huge, from whisper quiet to ear drum splitting. The scenes on the mountain or in the mines are a real test for any system, and if your system can pass the test (i.e., play loud without distortion), everyone in the room will be mightily impressed.



MUSIC

In theory the DD or DTS 5.1 audio on DVD video can be better than CD. In actuality it varies depending on many things -- acoustics during recording (especially relevant if a live concert), quality of masters, quality of mix, etc.

Peter Gabriel, Growing Up Live (DTS)

Eagles, Hell Freezes Over (DTS)
Give the well-regarded Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" DVD a try... It's amazing. DTS or DD both sound incredible; it's as if they're doing the show in your room. On the DTS version, there's a bonus track (Seven Bridges Road) that is worth hearing. Enjoy.

Fleetwood Mac - The Dance. The Fleetwood Mac disc is even BETTER. It was recorded in 1997, and I believe it was their first public appearance since their break up in the 80's. They have never sounded better. I have watched this DVD over 150 times and I am still amazed at their flawless performance.

Norah Jones live in New Orleans is an amazing DVD, great picture (not that there's a lot going on) and even better sound. Fantastic for any Norah fan and they now sell a version that includes the DVD and her first CD.

I would also suggest Eric Clapton - Live in Hyde Park.

Geez Ray, that was huge.
Have a slow day did we?