Super Bit DVD

HDTV Forum · Post by **HDTV Forum** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 10:02 pm

DVD has a bit rate or stream. Many players have a means a to display this. You will find on many DVD

HDTV Forum · Post by **HDTV Forum** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 10:03 pm

I picked up the 5th Element and Mask of Zorro over the weekend and was very impressed. The background textures and details seemed more vivid and detailed than in normal DVDs. Some Scenes in 5th almost had a 3D effect, not like HD, but noticable anyway.

Motion seemed to be smoother with fewer artifacts. I usually notice some combing in action sequences with normal DVDs, but it appeared VASTLY improved this these (may just be that the progressive flags were coded better, my Pioneer DVD has a problem with poorly coded DVDs).

I would recommend people get or borrow at least one of them and see if you observe the same improvements I did.

I will probably make an effort to monitor Superbit releases and pick up a few more.

Grumpy Bob

HDTV Forum · Post by **HDTV Forum** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 10:04 pm

My player does show the bit rate, and I've noticed that Superbit DVDs do indeed generally have a higher bit rate. I say "generally" because with some scenes they have the same, or nearly the same, bit rate as the non-Superbit versions. The bit rate is not always significantly higher.

Also, if you watch the bit rate on "Shrek", you will see that it is consistently as high, or higher, than any Superbit DVD. I guess the fact that "Shrek" is animated may have something to do with that, but it still makes me wonder why more "standard" DVDs can't have the higher bit rate, and higher quality. I understand the storage capacity issue, but I wonder how much room is left on many DVDs, especially those with few extras. I suspect many more DVDs could be Superbit quality, without loss of existing extras, if the studios wanted to make them that way. But hey, creating a separate package at a higher price to draw the "videophiles" in makes more business sense. Sarcasm aside, given the choice, I always buy the Superbit version.

Stosh

HDTV Forum · Post by **HDTV Forum** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 10:05 pm

the fact that "Shrek" is animated may have something to do with that

That was a studio decision. Per gossip, A true HD/ISF event in that the artist wanted the viewer to see as much of their hard labor as possible. Even though it is animated it remains a great reference.

Richard Fisher