The bastardization of the Blu-ray format continues as studios like Universal and Lionsgate have started to omit one of the key features of the format from the rental versions. I was extremely disappointed to find out that my rental version of Cabin in the Woods (Lionsgate) contained only the Dolby Digital 5.1 track as opposed to the DTS-HD Master Audio track which is only available on the for-sale version.
I refuse to buy a Blu-ray disc without knowing if the audio/video is worth owning.
I don't mind watching Twilight-Breaking Dawn in Dolby Digital at all but come on.
In my humble opinion by employing this strategy the studios are hurting the only people that truly care about the format. Your average Netflix-streaming-soundbar happy-I want a cheap blu-ray player person could care less.
Audio/video enthusiasts (like me) who pay roughly $300/year to Netflix for movie rentals love to see their receivers front display read "DTS HD MASTER AUDIO", but thanks to Lionsgate and Universal we now see TWO LETTERS (not F-You but close): Dolby Digital.
I feel sorry for all the people including me who ran out and purchased a bit-streaming blu-ray player and an HDMI bit-stream decoding Receiver just so that they can see the display read "DTS HD Master Audio".
Remeber the excitement over Blu-ray?
Remember the format war with HD-DVD?
Remember when Blu-ray Players used to weigh 20 pounds.
I remember!
I remember reading about the potential of Blu-ray especially on the audio side. Up to 24 MBPS for DTS HD Master Audio and up to 18 MBPS for Dolby TrueHD compared to 460 KBPS for Dolby Digital and 1.5 MBPS for DTS and saying "Holly Crap! I need a Blu-ray player". Then it was, "I need a new receiver", and then "I need a new TV". It didn't stop there because then I needed speakers that could handle the hi-res audio. Then it was on to Separates!
All of that has now gone down the drain!!!!
Thanks to all the Netflix-streaming-soundbar happy-I want a cheap blu-ray player people out there.
Thanks to Lionsgate and Universal for ruining a perfectly good A/V medium
Thank you Netflix or Quickflix, whatever it's called now, for following along
Thanks to Sony for killing HD-DVD and for teasing us with what could have been.
