Best Region 1 DVD Transfer In Your Collection?

Dr. Spec
Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
edited July 2004 in Music & Movies
What is the best (overall) Region 1 DVD video transfer in your collection?

For me, it has to be "Below". We have nearly 300 titles in our collection, and while some come close in certain respects, but none can match the overall excellence of "Below". It is a true Reference DVD and borders perilously close to HDTV picture quality.

Below has razor sharp detail and yet exhibits no edge enhancement whatsoever. There is a scene where you can actually see a speck of dust floating in the air next to someone's head.

There is no video noise, no grain (except as deliberately added in the flashback scenes), and no digital artifacts.

Black levels are super deep and yet retain excellent shadow detail. Color saturation is perfect and color hues are spot on natural.

Contrast is fabulous, with excellent dynamic range from dark to bright scenes and yet with no blooming evident.

"Below" is a video masterpiece and technical showcase of just how good DVDs can look, and gets my vote for the best Region 1 DVD video transfer I have ever seen.

Doc
"What we do in life echoes in eternity"

Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
Director - Technology and Customer Service
SVS
Post edited by Dr. Spec on
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Comments

  • kberg
    kberg Posts: 974
    edited July 2004
    I'm going to go with Underworld. Have the new two-disc set, but I believe the transfer is the same as the original release. But Below makes at least my top three.
    Mains: polkaudio RTi70's (bi-wired)
    Center: polkaudio CSi40 (bi-wired)
    Surrounds: polkaudio FXi30's
    Rear Center: polkaudio CSi30
    Sub: SVS 20-39 PC+
    Receiver: ONKYO TX-SR600
    Display: JVC HD-56G786
    DVD Player: SONY DVP-CX985V
    DVD Player: OPPO DV-981HD 1080p High Definition Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI
    Remote: Logitech Harmony H688
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited July 2004
    Yes, Underworld is very good. Most of it was shot at night, and the transfer had lots of blues and light browns/greys.

    I love the scene where her eyes slowly turn blue after she whacked the Lycan in the sewer tunnel. (boing!)
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • hamzahsh
    hamzahsh Posts: 439
    edited July 2004
    I vote for " MATRIX RELOADED" one of the best transfers available on DVD. One word, pristine!
    Panasonic TH-50PX80U Plasma HDTV
    Polk Audio RT800i (fronts)
    Polk Audio CS400i (center)
    Polk Audio F/X1000 (side surrounds)
    Polk Audio RTi6 (back surrrounds)
    Velodyne CHT-15 (subwoofer)
    Yamaha RX-V1400 (Pre/Pro)
    NAD C272 (2-ch Amp)
    Adcom GFA-7605 (5-ch Amp)
    Toshiba SD-3109 (DVD/CD player)
    Malata DVP-580 (Multi-region DVD player)
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  • gregure
    gregure Posts: 871
    edited July 2004
    Unfortunately, I haven't seen "Below" or "Underworld," so I can't attest to their superior picture quality. Personally, I think the best transfer I've seen in awhile is "21 Grams." The picture just looked amazingly clear. Much of the film is overexposed, so there is intentional grain, but the naturally lit scenes looked perfect on my HD Trinitron. I also agree that the Matrix films have received superb transfers.
    Current System:

    Mitsubishi 30" LCD LT-3020 (for sale**)
    Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand (Rosewood)-Mains (with Audioquest Mont Blanc cables)
    CSi5-Center (for sale**)
    FXi3-surrounds (for sale**)
    Martin Logan Depth-Sub
    B&K AVR 507
    Pimare CD21-CD Player
    Denon 1815-DVD Player
    Panamax M5500-EX-Line Conditioner
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited July 2004
    Hmmm..........good question Doc. You know watching a DVD is certainly a visual experience, but it has always been about sound for me although I certainly notice the difference in some DVD picture qualities. I really think Moulin Rouge has to rate near the top as being visually satisfying. I found the transfer to look great, lots color and great costumes, Ms. Kidman's skin actually seems to glow in the lighting.

    I agree with you about Below, this a great movie against any and an exceptional submarine movie especially for a horror flick, I can imagine being on that sub and letting my mind get the best of me, scary thoughts, if I remember right it had a pretty damm good sound track as well.

    RT1
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