Warner Bros

> Criterion Blu-ray > StudioCanal Blu-ray. Maybe 1998 LaserDisc better? See Blah-Ray

> StudioCanal https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=6600&d2=6586&c=2691

Criterion is new master

The WB Blu-ray audio is similar to the LaserDisc. The Criterion Blu-ray is noticeably more muffled.

https://blah-ray.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-leopard-man-1943.html

WB Blu-ray has 24 bit DTS-HD MA

> US WB Blu-ray

The older track sounds significantly more natural. The WAC BD uses a new mastering which sounds much worse. A lot of the dialogue sounds off, sort of echoey, garbled or even artifacted. Its overzealous click removal also erased some sounds. Its only positive is a new EQ that brings out the bass more making some of the score more effective.

It seems that the new mastering likely uses AI "enhancement" or some other form of aggressive filtering, resulting in extended peaks despite losing real high end detail (most pronounced on sample 3).

Samples (WAC is mislabeled as UHD)

Commentary is mono on the Blu-rays and panned stereo on NTSC DVD (different channels for each speaker).

The old DVD's track has significantly better detail compared to BD, especially on the score. The BD has some extra detail on dialogue, but also exhibits strange artifacting (e.g. sample 3, 0:20) which suggests possible AI "enhancement" or some other form of aggressive filtering. In contrast, DVD appears to be completely unfiltered and sounds good throughout. Samples

As the BD is significantly rolled off, a lot of the detail (real or fabricated) is buried in the mix and not audible during normal playback.

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative