Dream Theater - Parasomnia (Atmos Blu-Ray!) - Feb 7, 2025

[SomethingAnything]

We like what we like. I'll never criticize anyone for their choice of music!
I'm about 58 minutes into Parasomnia, and the current track was going good...until it wasn't.
Way it is. I just tell it the way I see it, no harm intended or implied.

Hi Mandrix
Apologies. My comment came straight after yours and so may have looked as if I was specifically responding to your post, which I wasn't, though your post made me think about it. I was more just noting that there are quite a few negative comments, more than I would have expected as the album itself is getting pretty good to great reviews in general across the internet.

The mix itself is OK, with some nice moments (especially when there are effects). And, while I'm not a huge DT fan (seen them twice, and Jordan by himself once), this album is certainly coming across as a definite grower (I'm on my third listen, and this is the most enjoyable so far).
Best cheer to you!

 

[Marplot]

I said I like the album but the mix is pedestrian.
I do agree, like what you like and don't sweat other's opinions on what makes you happy.

 

[perzon57]

I said I like the album but the mix is pedestrian.
I do agree, like what you like and don't sweat other's opinions on what makes you happy.

I don't get your take on the mix as pedestrian, don't sure what it means, but it don't sound good. It's not the best Atmos mix, but to me it's quite enjoyable much of the time, and I really like the music. What Atmos configuration do you have?

 

[Marplot]

Pedestrian as in not taking full of the entire speaker range and soundstage provided by my 7.2.4.

While I enjoyed the music I could not help but lament the missed chances to fill the room while restricting the music to mostly the fronts.
I probably should not have played this following EJ's Diamonds which occupies every speaker.

 

[GOS]

So, I've just given the Atmos a listen and personally, I really like it. I'm not a huge DT fan, though Images/Words was huge I thought. For the genre, I think the fidelity is solid, certainly not lacking in thundering bass on my system. Vocals are clear, drums rock solid and keys also clear. It rocks.

The surround mix suits me just fine. While I would agree, it may not have mucho discreet stuff super often, I still get the very distinct feeling of a wide enveloping mix that uses some of the space around where the speakers are. Portnoy's drums sound good to me and his drum rolls for sure don't feel isolated to the front speakers. Whether it's trickery with some reverb, I'm not sure. But for me, it works just fine.

I would easily give this some good rotation going forward. I like it. I didn't find a poll, at least using a search. I'd vote as follows;

Content 9
Fidelity 9
Mix 7.5

Comes out to 8.5, I'd probably round down as not to over inflate my vote. So, 8

 

[peterzach]

I wonder if it's my speaker positioning and as when I have my lazyboy chair reclined my ears are right at main(the 7) floor speaker height levels and I am seated fairly close to my rear speakers of traditional 5.1 setup,I am hearing tons of stuff in my rear's as Gene as said the drum rolls are right in the rear speakers with main drumming coming from the front and there are some fantastic guitar riffs that spring up in the rears. I have the screen turned off for my whole listen as don't want anything distracting ,can't remember which song but there is a music box that is playing in back right and seems like many of the sound affects start in back right and then stuff fills out from there as band starts getting into their groove.
In one of the songs the main vocals switch to the rears and have a bit of front and then back thing going on with vocals.

 

[marpow]

Looks like my order arrives tomorrow, Sunday.
It seems reviews are all over the place.
I hope I like the music first, then I can get behind whatever surround is. But if I don't like the music, then it turns into a box on a shelf.
Dream Theater is hit and miss for me.
I did see them at The Warfield in SF when there debut album was released , packed house and mostly all guys and all drummers as Portnoy was a revolution on that album.

 

[Bill B]

Looks like my order arrives tomorrow, Sunday.
It seems reviews are all over the place.
I hope I like the music first, then I can get behind whatever surround is. But if I don't like the music, then it turns into a box on a shelf.
Dream Theater is hit and miss for me.
I did see them at The Warfield in SF when there debut album was released , packed house and mostly all guys and all drummers as Portnoy was a revolution on that album.

This!!!
100% agree