Mono on HD/BR. Why the low bitrate?
 

Why do the studios not give full uncompressed or at least higher bitrate mixes of mono soundtracks on the HD formats?

I've read a few reviews for older titles like The Omega Man, Halloween, Rio Bravo among others. And the mono mix,(sometimes the only audio option included) is still only at 192 Kbps like on SD dvd. Why is that?

I don't know. I think the feeling is that the tracks are of limited dynamic range and fidelity anyway, especially in the older films (60's and earlier). It would be nice if they went higher though.

Well I think that is a bad and stupid decision on the studios part. Since mono can sound excellent. It's all in how the mix was put together in the first place. If a mixer is careless,it can sound like nothing special. But when done properly,it can be amazing.

Jaws is a great example of an excellent mono mix. And speaking of Jaws, I must say the mono audio on the SE laserdisc sounded much richer, than the cramped compressed to the extreme mono mix on the 30th Anniversary dvd. So studios should start offering mono at a higher bitrate on the HD formats in my opinion.