Dolby DTS/5.1 only disc? Help!

[djbone]

I have a R1 NTSC copy of Apocalypse Now Redux which I've been trying to watch on my (regionfree-handset-cracked) Aiwa XD-DV370.

After watching for a little while I noticed I could hardly hear the dialogue above the background noise/music. As I ain't seen the film before I thought this was normal for a while, but checked against a mate's VHS copy and realised of course it ain't normal! When I hit the 'Audio' button on my remote - which switches between different types of audio track - the only choices I seem to get are Dolby Digital 2.0 6-channel, or Dolby DTS 6-channel; there's usually a 2-channel option.

I don't have home cinema or owt, just a decent TV and a phono-lead link to our 2-channel stereo hi-fi amp n speakers.

So:
(a) Is the lack of 2-channel sound normal for this disc?
(b) If so, is there any way I can set up my DVD player or hifi so I can hear what the hell is going on?!

Many thanks in advance for any help or advice.

[Neon]

5.1 is downmixed by the player to 2-channel (prologic). I don't know of any dvd player which doesn't do this. So the apparent lack of a separate on-disc 2-channel source shouldn't be an issue. Clearly, you are getting sound through your 2-channel phono leads, so this appears to be happening.

Also, just because a VHS source doesn't exhibit the same problems doesn't prove anything. The dynamic range on VHS is much less than is available on a dvd, so inevitably the range is compressed - loud sounds are quietened and quiet sounds are loudened.

I suspect that the fault is with the dvd - and it may not be a fault - it may be what was intended. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the recording, so I don't know.

Can you play the disc on someone else's setup?

[djbone]

>"Also, just because a VHS source doesn't exhibit the same >problems doesn't prove anything"

sure, all I meant is that I initially thought the sound fx/dialog sound mix was *meant* to be like that in the film, as an artistic device.

I've also now tried the disc in my PC's DVD-drive, and I get the same problem. This is a R1 disc I bought provately (via eBay) from someone in Malaysia, is it possible it's a copy or something?

If anyone else owns the R1 version of this title could you please shout up and let me know if this doesn't right to you?

cheers,
djb

[Squirtle]

My copies fine.

Malaysia / Piracy !!

[kcxdev]

was the dvd description on ebay R1 or R0? I know you say its R1 but when you say ebay and malaysia...

[djbone]

there was no region given on eBay, but on the box and disc itself it's got the R1 symbol.

I checked the disc and the surface is gold. the artwork on the sleeve and disc surface are OK tho could be fake I guess. I've now tried the disc on two other DVD players, both of which have a 5.1 surround hi-fi set-up, and you can still hardly hear the dialogie (speech). I suppose there's a chance that the DTS soundtrack would work, but even if it does surely it should default to DD 2.0 on a system without DTS?

Do people think i should just return it and demand my money back?

[djbone]

great - looking on eBay, this guy's got 4 Negative comments (all about "pirated DVDs") out of 30-odd; and one of the positive feedbacks seems to be from an alias of his .....

[Phill]

You should report the guy to Ebay. I don't know if they can do much apart from cancel his account, he can always create new ones but you can make life difficult for him.