So here's the update: One PR rep says the disc will have TrueHD. Another PR rep says it won't. Finally, a contact at Warner production says DD 5.1 only, and that looks to be the final word.

All I personally ever wanted was confirmation one way or the other from a credible source. The news isn't what we wanted, but there it is.

It sucks that they didn't give this a lossless track. Heck, I wish they'd at least have included a DD+ track (like the ones Paramount would use).

Lame.

Thanks for the scoop!

So this confirmation is the same that Bill Hunt mentioned weeks ago. Got it.

Given the release is 5 weeks away, I imagine this has to be into the pressing phase already, yes?

If so, that's pretty sad some WB reps don't even know what's on the disc if it's that far along.

They estimate sales to hit about twelve units, so they've reserved five minutes of pressing time at a plant next Thursday. Should be plenty of time to have them done by release .

Does anyone know if there is a reason why no lossless track? With numerous catalog titles getting such a track (even from Warner), it seems odd to admit it from a new release. And a big budget new release at that.

Laziness?

Lack of disc space?

Warner is the only one who knows. They have already lost several sales from me due to their lack of lossless.

Emphasis added by, well . . . me. I don't mean to be "snarky", and I don't mean to be unkind, but I don't consider that particular source to provide trustworthy reporting. I'm sure everybody here has differing preferences and/or predjudices when it comes to who's providing their news; there's mine.

As for this final word about the Speed Racer Blu-ray, it's definitely a shame. Warner is not being faithful to their customers in providing us with the best that the format has to offer.

Warner's has slipped to such inconsistencies it's embarrassing [I hope someone from Warners is reading this] - they've become just as bad as Fox.

I have a feeling that they're doing this to test the waters to see if the audio specs really affect sales in any tangible way. That's just a personal supposition, however.

So far the only DD5.1 track Warner release Ive picked up was One Flew...simply because I don't feel a lossless track would have done much. I did bite on Lost Boys II...simply for my love of Mrs. Reeser. I've since passed on several other titles from them that I might pick up used off eBay so Warner won't see an actual new sale from me.

Then don't be snarky.This specific thread confirms exactly what was said in the thread that was locked by the moderators. Whether or not a few posters here consider Bill to be trustworthy I think has very little to do with the subject. Regardless of the veiled tactics they use to unleash yet another attack on a fellow journalists.

Otherwise we can all start opening our own threads making sure that the info that is posted here is credible.

Pro-B

You mean like you did at Josh Z in the same thread?

That's an interpretation, and, in this case I assure you, a wrong one. Snarkiness -- if that's even a word -- is not my intent. It's not my intention to sound disrespectful toward anyone.

I think it's perfectly well within our rights to question sources which we don't trust. In addition, I consider open, respectful discussion to be useful and valid. Are you saying you don't?

BD review of U-571 by HD Digest buddy Peter Bracke:

"I remember watching 'U-571' on HD DVD and thinking it sounded fantastic. This was also before high-res audio became de riguer for next-gen releases. Today, standard Dolby Digital and DTS just don't cut it. Luckily, Universal has upgraded 'U-571' to DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround, and it blows away the previous HD DVD. This is a reference-quality mix."

Do you owe him $100?

If I'm not mistaken didn't Peter Bracke also start volume matching as well?

If you don't mind me asking, what information has Hunt given that would not make him trustworthy or credible? Bill has great connections at the studios that allow him to speak for viewers such as you and I. I honestly feel a lot of the animosity towards Bill Hunt started with the format war. Prior to that, I had yet to hear any issues to Bill's reliability and what not.

To bring this thread back on topic, it's a shame that Warner has gone from the best studio to the studio that is dragging Blu-ray in the mud now.

As far as I'm concerned the only credible source on this will be the disk itself when someone has it in hand and posts a pic of the actual physical product.

Based on the way things sound, it's enough to cancel my pre-order, but I still don't believe any of the sources based on the level of confusion coming out of WB and other sources.

Yeah, I've been trying not to get into it, but I too don't know what makes Bill so untrustworthy. There's of course nothing wrong with wanting to check with your own sources, but I don't know what grounds there has been in the past to make him a suspect source of info. Not liking his style and not trusting the specs and info he runs on his site are different things.

Did you read his Miami Vice one? He claimed Universal changed the codec from VC1 to AVC... He must have a magical disc as I'm looking at my BD disc with VC1 on it...

What's even more confusing is that the press sheet from Warner clearly shows the TrueHD logo on it...so hearing that it won't have it is just mind boggling. I guess we won't know 100% for sure until the disc is on retail shelves.

I don't mind a bit. You're right on the money: it has everything to do with his handling of the format war. I regularly perceived his attitude and approach to be one of condescension and arrogance. Both traits admittedly have little to do with accuracy, however, I was left with the perception that his partiality in the matter was influenced primarily -- if not solely -- by business, rather than "journalistic integrity".

Again, those are my opinions based on what I've witnessed over the past couple of years. That's what informs -- or perhaps, if you prefer "predjudices" -- my reaction when I hear information from him which contradicts something I might've heard from another source.

It is most distressing to see Warner Bros. lowering their standards and sacrificing quality. It's a disservice to us, their customers.

I think this is where the problem starts.

People are treating him like he's Anderson Cooper. He's a blogger. I'm not sure where it's written he's trying to be a journalist who is impartial. He sure wasn't impartial about Divx or non-anamorphic. He's a blogger with his own opinions, and he uses his site to voice those opinions.

That said, I still think he is a credible source on most news related to DVD and high-def. As I've said before, he's been right with details much more often than he's been wrong.