chiefs1313

I am getting my first surround sound system and installing it sunday. I would like some help as to what dvd would be best to test my new system out.

Cysco

Hands Down....

The Matrix (specifically the lobby sceene)


MMMMMMMM... the sweet sound of shell casings hitting the ground and bullets flying over your head.

palebluedot

So far the best I have heard is U-571..it's an unbelievable soundtrack. Gladiator is good also.

rmvman

The Fifth Element sounds great from the opera scene through the fight scene with Bruce Willis and the alien monsters---a good subwoofer will really shine. Matrix rooftop rescue scene where the helicopter crashes into the building will rock your room!!!

Tarl_Saxon

The battle scenes in Saving Private Ryan are awesome!

Joel White

Matrix Lobby Scene is our staff's favorite.

Gladiator has some great DTS sound, especially if you have a rear center you want to show off.

Also, the beach scene in Saving Private Ryan (pretty gruesome) is incredible.

Another title we often use is Imax: Super Speedway. The sound is suprisingly good and has some great full range scenes.

eXcentris

The opening scene in Twister will make your walls shake.

juice21

For impressive seperation, try anything that is THX mastered: Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Dragonheart, etc. Not the loudest, or noisiest, but pretty impressive seperation.All those above are also impressive, especially U-571! If you want to hear distinct 5.1 sound at it's finest, THX does it best!

ABNVet

I recommend pretty much anything DTS and THX. The matrix has some great sounds as does T2: UE.

chess

my favorites:

toy story 2 (chapters 1,2, and 16)
titan a.e. (intro, boat chase, ice field)
contact (entering the machine)
air force one (engaging the enemy)
matrix (lobby to rooftop)
jurassic park (t-rex chapter 11)
u-571 (depth charges!)
saving private ryan (normandy)

the THX screens from T2 and toy story are pretty nifty too.

Jabx

I recommend Desperado. Great sound effects, also I love the score by Los Lobos

Iron Chef

The helicopter chase scene in the X-Files movie (in DTS) is awesome.

strangelove

I've only had my home theater setup for about a month, but the title I've been impressed by the most so far is Princess Mononoke. I don't know if anyone else had a similar impression. I tried all the other titles that keep coming up in threads like this and was generally impressed. What impressed me about PM is that it has many elements to show of a HT (loud bass explosions, good use of channel seperation, fantastic composed score). Also it's just a fantastic movie. I suggest giving it a try.

noleman

Independence Day
Jurassic Park
The Lost world

Fhrx

Twister and Saving Ryans Privates are two of the best I've heard so far.

D113

Ready?

Here's my list, I've gathered these from people's reviews.

Gladiator

Saving Private Ryan DTS (hard to find in Toronto)

Beastie Boys Anthology Criterion (makes my 2 10" front firing subs go crazy during the 5.1 mix of Intergalactic)

The Haunting DTS (Hard to find in Toronto)

Matrix

Super Speedway (Hard to find in Toronto)

Toy Story 2

Terminator 2 Ultimate Edition

Dolby Digital Demo Disc (www.dolby.com in merch section)

Virtuosity (believe it or not, the intro titles have a killer sub soundtrack)

Tea Party Illumintaions

Jurrasic Park DTS

Fight Club (mid air collision scene demonstartes beautifly the dynamic range of some movies)

Seven Platinum Edition (shows the difference between dolby and DTS with on the fly changing of soundtracks with the audio button)

Independance Day

Contact (Very intense during the "trip" scene)


Darryl

ckolchak

GODZILLA had some great seperation...very strong use of the rear speakers...and of course the sub gets a good work-out.

TITAN A.E. also sounded great (and was a better movie, imo)

GLADIATOR

stingo

I'd heard Das Boot has an excellent sound track. Try to pick up the single side (non-flip) version if you're going to go this route.

chiefs1313

^^

Kromax

Please allow me to pledge another vote for U-571 as #1. As opposed to some of the other great reference DVDs (e.g., The Matrix, T2 UE, Contact--the "OK to Go Chapter," Jurassic Park, etc.) that place you in the middle of the action as kind of a "spectator," U-571 seemingly places you in the action. A great viewing experience.

Also, an often overlooked demo scene is the Harrier chapter in True Lies.

jas722

how about the opening "bloodbath" scene of blade
the base will rock your world
it rocks

chiefs1313

I tried out the original gone in sixty seconds. The movie was really bad, but the sound was great. Also can anyone list some THX other than T2 and toy story.

Kromax

Ahh, yes. Blade should not be overlooked.