Sci-fi dystopian enthusiasts, this is for you. In this adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller, you will notice an active mix of dynamic range that tickles your surround system throughout the movie. The interesting bit is that, at each wave, a featured dynamic will command your soundscape. It lays itself as a bed for the next star ambient effect to layer on top, creating an almost tactile depth of sound. The cherry right on top is the overhead sound elements that pressurize and that ticks the experiential box as the intensity builds. Clean bass impacts from your subwoofer(s) command presence through resonating across your floor to further engage you in the on-screen visual.
A Good Day to Die Hard (R)
A good day to enjoy reliable surround effects is when you put this disc on. The film uses ear simulating surround effects through your discrete speakers to enhance the color of the action on-screen. Shootouts are perfectly layered within each bullet providing more than head-turning moments but spatial depth, making it almost believable that you are on set. Bass, as expected, aggressively takes control and will engulf you from bottom up, creating a full experience with the utmost clarity regardless of channels.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Jack the Giant Slayer (PG-13)
Fueled by giants, your subwoofer(s) will definitely be the star of this movie presentation, especially when the beanstalk shoots up. Every weight of the giant’s footsteps is boldly translated to ground-shaking rumbles. Details of the fantasy world are clearly replicated in their respective channels to mirror whatever that is on-screen. Distinct directionality can be heard throughout the movie to provide the extra surround oomph. Lines have excellent textures that do not separate to give you an uncomfortable listening experience. This is indeed a successful childhood fairytale revamp that features a spectacular audio presentation that brings the pages of the storybook classic to live.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Narcos: Mexico (TV-MA)
SEASON 1 EPISODE 8 (01:53 - 07:00)
If a sense of surround spaciousness is what you crave, this is for you. From lighting your front channels with dialog over the phone to ATVs revving from the back of you to the side, every surround effect seamlessly blends to build a detailed soundstage. Traveling from one speaker to the next, you’ll notice how realistic the whirling sound of the helicopter is, as it slowly takes its position from behind to above you. Even with rifles firing loudly from all of your surround speakers, you’ll still be able to hear distant ambient panic-stricken yells and hurried footsteps clearly. An ATV then steals the spotlight from the rustling sounds in the marijuana field, before zooming past to behind