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Another Glaring Example of how worthless SUPERBIT is

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Another Glaring Example of how worthless SUPERBIT is

 
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Old 10-31-03, 03:56 PM
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Another Glaring Example of how worthless SUPERBIT is

DVD Talk says that "Riverdance" Superbit looks like crap. I wonder why Sony uses their Superbit name on a POS video quality movie. Just another example of how ridicoulous SuperBit is!

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=8095

Do not watch this DVD hoping for great picture quality; in fact, even setting your sights for "acceptable" will result in a disappointment. To begin with, while the transfer is widescreen, it is not anamorphically enhanced, even though the case claims that it is. It gets worse, though: Riverdance just has a lousy transfer, period.
From DVD Talk's Review
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Old 10-31-03, 04:11 PM
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In my experience, the whole Superbit thing is either a hit or miss. I personally enjoyed the SB version of Fifth Element, though many of the other titles are just not worth upgrading.

Thanks for pointing this specific title out, btw!
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Old 10-31-03, 04:17 PM
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NOT anamorphic?!?!? WTF Sony?

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Old 10-31-03, 04:56 PM
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A non-anamorphic superbit has got to be the most rediculous thing I've ever seen
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Old 10-31-03, 05:21 PM
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I'll take the Pepsi challenge with a Das Boot Superbit vs the flipper version any day of the week. Ditto Lawrence Of Arabia Superbit vs the LE.

Granted, some Superbits are questionable in their need and/or improvement (based on your gear) and the choice of movies is suspect at best (I own 4 Superbits from the entire line), but to write them all off as worthless is wrong...

Non-anamorphic though? That's a little radiculos, Superbit or not.
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Old 10-31-03, 07:07 PM
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Haven't upgraded any to Superbit. Never heard enough to convice me they were far superior.
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Old 10-31-03, 07:24 PM
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i have five, and three of the five push my system to the max sound wise. two of the five just look great, although some dvds that i have can blow superbit out of the water anyday Saving Private Ryan DTS. Gladiator. The Haunting DTS. just to name a few
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Old 10-31-03, 07:44 PM
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You can only make a video track as good as the source. If you have an excellent video source, you can boost the quality a little. However, with an inferior track, it just gets worse because you are magnifying the problem.

That said, I think Superbit is crap.
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Old 10-31-03, 08:18 PM
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Superbit is just marketing speil. It's like "special edition" or "platinum edition"

People who think Superbits are incredible... I just don't understand. I once heard someone say they wanted Gladiator in Superbit. Uhh.. why? the picture is wonderful on the two disc set, and the second disc has TONS of extras. Basically this person was saying they want to pay more money to lose an extra disc of extras.
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Old 10-31-03, 09:59 PM
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Originally posted by Johnny Zhivago
I'll take the Pepsi challenge with a Das Boot Superbit vs the flipper version any day of the week. .....
That's a bold statement.
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Old 10-31-03, 10:09 PM
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Originally posted by BizRodian
Superbit is just marketing speil. It's like "special edition" or "platinum edition"

People who think Superbits are incredible... I just don't understand. I once heard someone say they wanted Gladiator in Superbit. Uhh.. why? the picture is wonderful on the two disc set, and the second disc has TONS of extras. Basically this person was saying they want to pay more money to lose an extra disc of extras.
I'm sure most people here share your sentiments, me being one of them - regardless, a Superbit update of a deserving title is often good news, if the release warrants an upgrade.

PS England has a Gladiator Superbit...
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Old 11-01-03, 12:29 AM
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there are people that care to have extras & decent picture/sound quality & there are others who concern more on picture/sound quality more than anything... i fell in the middle but lean towards the last qualification

i got few SuperBits (7 to be exact) & most of the time i can see the difference (better) in picture quality even on my 27" HDTV... i can only imagine much better quality differences on bigger HDTV system
BUT i can really feel the difference in sound quality on SuperBits (thanx to DTS)... maybe not much, but its there
specially in action movies like Air Force One, Bad Boys ( ), Desperado, Fifth Element....

Columbia Star/Sony regular (or Special Edition) DVDs tend to have a rather skimpy extras anyway... so, i don't mind sacrificing 'em for better picture/sound quality

that just my take
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Old 11-01-03, 12:50 AM
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Just give me a damn two disc and I'll be happy.
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Old 11-01-03, 04:59 AM
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Some Superbits are better than the their original release. Bad Boys,Lawrence Of Arabia and Das Boot (the DTS track at least) are noticably superior
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Old 11-01-03, 09:10 AM
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Every Superbit I have bought shows a noticable difference.
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Old 11-01-03, 09:17 AM
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Re: Another Glaring Example of how worthless SUPERBIT is

Originally posted by chanster
Just another example of how ridicoulous SuperBit is!
Actually, I think it's another example of how ridiculous Columbia is with some of their choices for a SuperBit release.

I have 4 SBs and I'm happy with 'em.
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Old 11-01-03, 09:43 AM
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Originally posted by DavidH
Every Superbit I have bought shows a noticable difference.
The problem is that those transfers should have been included on the discs originally.

And with most Superbits, there IS still quite a bit of free space on the disc that could be filled with extras. But that would ruin their marketing scheme, wouldn't it?
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Old 11-01-03, 11:09 AM
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Originally posted by Gyno Rhino
The problem is that those transfers should have been included on the discs originally.

And with most Superbits, there IS still quite a bit of free space on the disc that could be filled with extras. But that would ruin their marketing scheme, wouldn't it?
Yep... when the original release is sabatoged to not look as good as it could - the Superbit will have to look better.

I think I'll stick to releases from other studios who do it right the first time with better transfers than the Superbits, and for a cheaper price too.

Marketing Scam all the way.
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Old 11-01-03, 11:42 AM
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The problem is that those transfers should have been included on the discs originally.

And with most Superbits, there IS still quite a bit of free space on the disc that could be filled with extras. But that would ruin their marketing scheme, wouldn't it?
Exactly.

It's all a marketing scheme. It has nothing to do with if you care more about extras or not. I personally do not. I'll buy the Lawrance of Arabia superbit over the other titles because of it's superior picture quality... it's just the people who want Superbits I don't understand. Why want a Superbit? why not want a nice 2 disc set with extras on one disc and a nice commentary, DTS, Dolby, and kick ass picture on the other.
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Old 11-01-03, 12:04 PM
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Desperado! Of course I haven't seen the latest re-re-re-re-release for comparison, but damn the SB looks FINE!
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Old 11-01-03, 12:20 PM
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The problem is that those transfers should have been included on the discs originally.
And with most Superbits, there IS still quite a bit of free space on the disc that could be filled with extras. But that would ruin their marketing scheme, wouldn't it?
If there is so much space left over, why are SBs looking better? Some have said they aren't applying the filter which allows more detail to be seen. This may be the case; I don't think anyone knows for certain. I am glad some space is left over on the disc to be on the safe side.

Yes, marketing is involved. But, it's no different that any other studio - every studio is releasing and re-releasing multiple versions of DVDs - which I am glad - some movies really need it (obviously, pre-2000 releases in particular).

But, to counter Columbia's marketing strategy, I NO LONGER purchase any of their movies until the Superbit version comes out.
If they would release both versions, or make "Deluxe" Superbits from the beginning, they would be getting my buck sooner. But, since virtually any movie from them that is a blockbuster, classic, or has a good transfer will become a Superbit, I will just wait. They aren't going to play me with it anymore.

Last edited by DavidH; 11-01-03 at 12:23 PM.
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Old 11-01-03, 12:23 PM
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You obviously have no idea how DVDs work, let alone what a SUPERBIT actually is.
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Old 11-01-03, 12:24 PM
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Are you talking to me?
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Old 11-02-03, 09:26 PM
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Bought my first Superbit a couple days ago, Bram Stoker's Dracula. Watched the entire film tonight and I am quite disappointed with it. The 5.1 DTS sound is pretty solid and uses the surrounds well, but the transfer is awful. Full of grain and lacks alot of detail. I was expecting something fantastic and was let down. Compression wasn't really much of a problem but I could see some speckles on the print every now and then. Some of the day scenes looked decent, but I'm very unimpressed with the picture overall. Hopefully not all Superbit titles are as lackluster as the Dracula one. I wouldn't even be able to count the number of Non-Superbit DVDs that blow away this one in terms of picture and sound. I was about to buy Das Boot Superbit but now I am reconsidering.
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Old 11-02-03, 10:46 PM
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I never noticed any grain on the Dracula SB.... guess I'll have to do a double check....
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