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In Reply to: Re: Levine/Met's Ring Cycle on DVD posted by John C. - Aussie on November 29, 2002 at 13:25:28:
In a direct comparison (playing simultaneously and switching back and forth) it was no contest--the DVDs were far cleaner, albeit a tad darker than the LDs, which looked terribly fuzzy, grainy, and washed out by comparison. But then, these are NTSC laser discs; perhaps the PAL ones are better? (Your Boulez DVDs are NTSC, right?) Sound-wise, they were identical, at least when employing the PCM track on the DVDs. (And thank goodness that Universal gives us PCM tracks on most of their DVDs.)Russell
Follow Ups:
No the LD set here is NTSC as was the DVD set.
The DVD was played via a Meridian 800 V3 and the LD via the Pioneer HLD-X9. Audio from both was via the Meridian 861.I was both surprised and disappointed at the DVD set as generally DVDs have better video. However, projected on a 112 inch screen the LD came through more sharply -> a reflection on how good the HLD-X9 is? I performed the same A/B test as you did Russell but only on the first disc of "Rheingold".
Maybe I was unlucky in having a defective DVD pressing - sent back to the store.
John
Peace at AA
Hi John--Perhaps our respective equipment can account for our differing observations. My LD player (a Panasonic LX200, c. 1991) is not a top-of-the-line unit, although it was certainly very respectable at the time. For DVDs, I use a Sony DVP-S9000ES, and it very likely does a better job with DVDs than the Panasonic does with LDs. Both machines feed a direct-view Sony 36" XBR TV--the LD via S-Video and the DVD via component connections and progressive scan. As I mentioned, the most notable difference between the DVDs and the LDs of the Boulez Ring was a significant reduction in grain and chroma noise with the DVDs, resulting in a much cleaner looking image. The DVDs also look a bit darker overall. Neither the LDs or DVDs are very sharp, but the cleaner image of the DVDs makes for more pleasurable viewing.BTW, have you seen the Covent Garden 'Rigoletto' DVD on BBC Opus Arte? It's a real stunner in all departments--absolutely superb picture (anamorphic widescreen), great sound despite the lack of a PCM track (though the orchestra can be too overwhelming), and a terrific production and performance.
Russell
.... seen & heard the Ceilia Bartoli Vivaldi concert yet? This ARTHAUS DVD (100 228 - PAL) is absolutely stunning from all points of view and has the sharpest video ever seen on this screen :-( And I'm besotted by this lady - she is absolutely gorgeous.John
Peace at AA
...and it's superb in all ways as well. (Visually, it's the best Decca DVD I've seen--on a par with the Arthaus Musik DVDs, and that's saying something!) Bartoli is wonderful here, and the opening Vivaldi number is simply jaw-dropping. Now I will have to get that all-Vivaldi DVD on Arthaus!Will be interested to see what you think of the Covent Garden Rigoletto. The production is a bit controversial and apparently caused a bit of a stir; I just loved all aspects of it.
Russell
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