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

[stoopid]

I've often wondered,,,, If you were only worried about one listener in one spot of the room, would you be better off placing the speakers much, much closer to get the effect you speak of, or still place them farther away for a less "in your face" experience.

I'll provide a slightly different perspective from marpow [arriving at a similar conclusion], based on making my own and mixing others music at home for many years. Using studio monitors and sitting within 3-6 feet of them is intentional in order to hear all the nuances that are necessary when doing detailed mixing. Same size speakers, or even the same studio speakers hypothetically, in a large room placed where you would traditionally for a stereo image at a distance would not sound the same. So, yes having the speakers closer (much like wearing headphones) vastly alters the 'information' reaching the ears.

 

[Bill B]

It's a very good question. I have seen some pictures of surround systems in very small apartments and I have read some articles.

My experience having both they are different, I think your listening space should engulf the size of room. If I had a 20' X 30' X 12'ceilings I don't think I would lay out a 5' X 5' niche in the corner. However when I was building my surround for car I did do a layout pretending equipment and wires where as if in the car.

The home 12' X 14' with 8' ceilings has a flavor for lack of a better word, that has been played and tweaked to my liking. I think it sounds bad ass. I am basically the only one that has listened to it, my biggest fear in life is a group of QQers would come over and say this sounds like shit. It is hard when you are your only feedback.

The car, I used a Crutchfield mounted Blu Ray player, USB in- sub in trunk-3 mains on dash, 2 rear deck-and two mids front doors, the key is the JBL DSP that you access from Ipad, and you can really dial it in, plus all the auto deadening stuff. I have never played an Atmos file, I just keep with 4.0's and 5.1's.
The music is exaggerated when I say in your face, like if there is a swirl going round in speakers, or an isolated voice coming from rear left, man, you really hear it,
Keep in mind it is not a small niche in house it is a vault of plastic metal and glass, where sound is mostly not escaping, the DSP on the Ipad is really important.

Regarding that “biggest fear in life “,as long as it sounds good to you, who cares what anyone thinks (of course, I’ve wondered that too).

 

[barfle]

The home 12' X 14' with 8' ceilings has a flavor for lack of a better word, that has been played and tweaked to my liking. I think it sounds bad ass. I am basically the only one that has listened to it, my biggest fear in life is a group of QQers would come over and say this sounds like shit. It is hard when you are your only feedback.

Ain’t dat da troot! I’ve never had another discerning ear in my room, either. Lots of family and friends are impressed, probably more with the fact that I have a dedicated room than with the actual fidelity in it.

I like it, but always looking for more.

 

[Michael Marshall]

Ok, maybe I am NOT looking at/for the correct/right threads on "our" forum, needless to say, I AM surprised that there are NOT more conversations about the new Dream Theater "Parasomnia" release ESPECIALLY since it IS available on a Blu-ray hi-rez immersive audio.and a completely NEW release!!! I just opened and have been devouring my deluxe 2CD/Blu-ray today (Saturday 2/22 although it was delivered on Friday 2/21) and what a GREAT multi-media release it is! For my tastes, I appreciate and enjoy a mix where I just get "lost" in the music and this release is that plus more in spades! I would encourage anyone who enjoys their hard rock/progressive metal on the "hard n' heavy" side to give this MONSTER a spin...a beautifully played, recorded and produced album that harkens back to a time when groups really paid attention to EVERY detail of their new release. Now, if only Maiden would deliver such a package (Sinjitsu came close but there was NO hi-rez/immersive component, only individual song videos if you bought the Japanese deluxe edition). CHEERS!!!

 

[Bill B]

Mine finally showed up yesterday evening and I gave it a serious listen a couple of hours ago. I have to say I was very happy with the content. This is the first DT album I've put on and listened to from beginning to end on the first listen in a long time. I usually get overwhelmed to the point of boredom with the barrage of flying notes and give up on the first listen (to circle back around another day).

The songs on this album have a nice ebb and flow. It's definitely a bit more accessible than the last several. Not as dense and therefor easier to listen to IMO.

I'm not sure how anyone can say the mix isn't decent. All speakers seemed quite engaged to me.
And the video was cool. Perhaps it will make more sense if I delve into the lyrics. Not sure I will care enough to do that, but maybe.

I actually can't wait to give it another spin and that's something that hasn't happened for a long time with a new DT album.

 

[Michael Marshall]

Mine finally showed up yesterday evening and I gave it a serious listen a couple of hours ago. I have to say I was very happy with the content. This is the first DT album I've put on and listened to from beginning to end on the first listen in a long time. I usually get overwhelmed to the point of boredom with the barrage of flying notes and give up on the first listen (to circle back around another day).

The songs on this album have a nice ebb and flow. It's definitely a bit more accessible than the last several. Not as dense and therefor easier to listen to IMO.

I'm not sure how anyone can say the mix isn't decent. All speakers seemed quite engaged to me.
And the video was cool. Perhaps it will make more sense if I delve into the lyrics. Not sure I will care enough to do that, but maybe.

I actually can't wait to give it another spin and that's something that hasn't happened for a long time with a new DT album.

Ditto Bill B, DITTO!