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Audio comparison : Saor View & satellite TV

  • 08-05-2014 11:38pm
    #1
    mrtom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 699 ✭✭✭


    While watching Euro vision, I noticed the audio quality was much better on RTE 2 HD on Saor View than the simultaneous live broadcast on BBC 3 HD (Astra 28.2). Wide stereo image with little compression on the RF connection compared to a flat sound on the HDMI input. Is this just a characteristic of satellite TV?


Comments

  • #2
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    No. Nothing technical. Satellite, Digital Cable and Digital Terrestrial can deliver identical sound.

    Just different mixing & processing.


  • #3
    fat-tony
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭fat-tony


    I noticed that the audio feed on BBC3 HD was marked as DD on my amp which normally means (for Freesat HD channels) that it is 5.1. However, there was no audio through the rear speakers and the sound levels were low overall and pretty flat. As you say, the audio on RTE2 was actually better, but I assume it was the result of a different feed. Maybe the hosts will do better with the final - can't wait :p


  • #4
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    DD is just a codec type, it's often stereo. It can even be mono!
    AAC is optional on Saorview instead of MP2, it too supports stereo or 5.1

    Surround sound (5.1) is mainly only "properly" used on Cinema sound tracks. It's very much used as a dramatic & effects tool and nothing much to do with better "HiFi" or true "being in the location" surround sound.

    Actual production & Mixing & Processing standards and then transmission bitrate set the quality, not codec used or if Stereo vs 5.1.

    Beatles Revolver in original Mono will sound better than faked Stereo for instance. FM Radio stereo without evil optimod settings will sound better than any Stereo at only 128K bps MP2. But 256k MP2 will sound comparable to FM or 256K MP3. But 128K MP3 or 128K AAC will sound far better than 128K MP2 Stereo. DAB+ isn't used to give more quality, but to double capacity, i.e. poor 128K MP2 replaced by 64K AAC.
    When Sky started most Audio was 256K Stereo MP2. A lot of Satellite is now only 128K MP2.


  • #5
    fat-tony
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭fat-tony


    BBC (and ITV/C4) use the DD (AC3) codec on some programmes in 5.1 surround sound mode - usually films as you say, watty. Some music programmes (e.g. Jools Holland) are broadcast in 5.1. The Eurovision final last night was in 5.1 on BBC1 but the rear channels seemed to have just some audience ambient effects, but that would have been down to the broadcaster. The RTE stereo sound was just as good and the levels were higher. Picture quality on RTE1 Saorview was improved over that of earlier in the week on RTE2, probably down to higher bit rate (9-ish Mb/s) but still not quite as good as BBC1HD on sat, probably due to the higher resolution used on that platform.
    Pity that RTE/2RN are not experimenting with surround sound over AAC codec seeing that the Saorview standard requires receiver support compliance with this codec.


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