HiRez Poll Pearl Jam - DARK MATTER [Blu-ray Audio (Dolby Atmos)]

[mandrix]

I had a time getting the new Pearl Jam discs out of the sleeves but the post it note trick worked great.

 

[GOS]

I found this release very refreshing. Never been much of PJ fan, but decided to grab this one. Forget the stereo, I didn't even listen. I went straight for the Atmos (5.1.4 on my system).
Just a ton of volume on this, though I don't notice it being compressed, fatiguing or low in vocal volume at all. I just really didn't. Also know that I generally never listen at lower volumes, this sort of music isn't going to grab you unless you punch it up. (also know I am not questioning what others hear, only addressing some comments I've heard here and other parts of the forum)

The height speakers are utilized quite a bit from what I can tell. I say it this way because I never go towards speakers to see which ones are playing (unless I clearly sense that one isn't) It's the overall presentation in surround that matters to me. This title just rocks, and I love how it sounds in Atmos. I voted a 9. I honestly couldn't be happier.

Since checking dynamic range across a multi-channel release is not accurate, I isolated the front 2 channels on song 2 to have a more apples to apples and here are the results. Heck, I listened to those front 2 channels, and it sounded pretty damn good as well. This is an incredibly dense (grunge, well, what do we expect) sounding release. Having it in Atmos or even if it were 5.1 is the way to go. They left the dynamics in place, left the durge, grunge, dense sound...but opened it up best they could with Atmos. Good stuff. Just turn it up, like really loud, grab a beer and enjoy.

foobar2000 1.6.13 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2024-04-24 12:10:21

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statistics for: ?-Chapter 02
Number of samples: 10114104
Duration: 3:31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Left Right

Peak Value: -7.24 dB --- -6.64 dB
Avg RMS: -21.18 dB --- -20.77 dB
DR channel: 11.87 dB --- 11.87 dB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Official DR Value: DR12

Samplerate: 48000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 1589 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

 

[Tres Discrete]

I found this release very refreshing. Never been much of PJ fan, but decided to grab this one. Forget the stereo, I didn't even listen. I went straight for the Atmos (5.1.4 on my system).
Just a ton of volume on this, though I don't notice it being compressed, fatiguing or low in vocal volume at all. I just really didn't. Also know that I generally never listen at lower volumes, this sort of music isn't going to grab you unless you punch it up. (also know I am not questioning what others hear, only addressing some comments I've heard here and other parts of the forum)

The height speakers are utilized quite a bit from what I can tell. I say it this way because I never go towards speakers to see which ones are playing (unless I clearly sense that one isn't) It's the overall presentation in surround that matters to me. This title just rocks, and I love how it sounds in Atmos. I voted a 9. I honestly couldn't be happier.

Good to hear!
I am not a huge PJ fan either, but am looking forward to giving it a spin

 

[6WheelCowboy]

I hear the vocals perfectly on my system.

wow thanks for the feedback

 

[CINERAMAX]

Its seems to be going to hell in a handbasket lately, my poor format of choice. MIXER HACKS!!!

Here is hoping that Luther Van Dross makes up for MK, Quadro Nuevo and Pearl Jam.

 

[Calcaneous]

I too am experiencing decreased volume on vocals. Poked around some and realize there is zero center channel output on my system with this disc. Every other Atmos and 5.1 disc and recording I have is fine. Do those of you loving this mix have center channel output?

 

[Mickb]

Not listened to it yet, but the centre channel doesn't seem to have much content - Eddie's vocals appear to be mostly in front L / R, if I'm reading this correctly:

 

[James Jay]

I checked out Dark Matter on Apple Music - Dolby Atmos mix and was impressed with how solid the song quality was ( No filler IMO). So I purchased the blu ray /cd combo. As others have noted, the center channel is recessed, more on some tracks than other tracks. This is a very discrete Dolby Atmos mix with plenty of surround channel action. The Dolby Atmos mix sounds even better in Blu ray and I am very satisfied with this mix. Glad I bought Dark Matter as it is fairly priced for a change for this blu ray disc. I vote a high 9 IMO.

 

[Jim.olga]

I too am experiencing decreased volume on vocals. Poked around some and realize there is zero center channel output on my system with this disc. Every other Atmos and 5.1 disc and recording I have is fine. Do those of you loving this mix have center channel output?

I have very little to no center channel output on both my Atmos and 5.1 systems. But the vocals are still strong and clear. It sounds like a quad recording on my 5.1 system.is very immersive on my Atmos system.

 

[Jim.olga]

I have very little to no center channel output on both my Atmos and 5.1 systems. But the vocals are still strong and clear. It sounds like a quad recording on my 5.1 system and is very immersive on my Atmos system.

 

[Mickb]

I have very little to no center channel output on both my Atmos and 5.1 systems. But the vocals are still strong and clear. It sounds like a quad recording on my 5.1 system and is very immersive on my Atmos system.

that kinda reinforces my thought that the vocals are mainly in the L/R channels, with very little in the centre.

 

[marpow]

I thought I would come back and add to my Post #2 review.
I think most of us really like the new music, I do, it is the sonic quality, and I bet that we all have different feelings based on equipment and room, thus this recording is very sensitive to acoustic conditions.
I have been going back and forth with the 3 versions and at least I have come to my listening choice, based on my acoustic conditions.
The 5.1 is what I will future listen to.
All of you have very good observations about lack of center channel.
It seems split on hearing vocals vs not as well as you would like to hear.
I do not have vocal problems with this release.
I feel this way, the music has a lot of distortion, I like it, but when the Atmos mix was put together the distortion coming down from the heights, is too much, for me, it makes me feel like something is wrong.
The stereo mix on the other hand, lacks that open field of surround to hear the heaviness of the recording.

The 5.1 is a happy medium, it is surround, but it is not crushing with too many things fighting each other.

 

[edisonbaggins]

I thought I would come back and add to my Post #2 review.
I think most of us really like the new music, I do, it is the sonic quality, and I bet that we all have different feelings based on equipment and room, thus this recording is very sensitive to acoustic conditions.
I have been going back and forth with the 3 versions and at least I have come to my listening choice, based on my acoustic conditions.
The 5.1 is what I will future listen to.
All of you have very good observations about lack of center channel.
It seems split on hearing vocals vs not as well as you would like to hear.
I do not have vocal problems with this release.
I feel this way, the music has a lot of distortion, I like it, but when the Atmos mix was put together the distortion coming down from the heights, is too much, for me, it makes me feel like something is wrong.
The stereo mix on the other hand, lacks that open field of surround to hear the heaviness of the recording.

The 5.1 is a happy medium, it is surround, but it is not crushing with too many things fighting each other.

Cool observation! I'll try the 5.1 mix, which I ordinarily don't when there's Atmos.

 

[dobyblue]

I too am experiencing decreased volume on vocals. Poked around some and realize there is zero center channel output on my system with this disc. Every other Atmos and 5.1 disc and recording I have is fine. Do those of you loving this mix have center channel output?

I’ve found inactive centre channel to be quite common in Atmos mixes, I don’t know why as it can be used to great effect and my fav surround mixes typically have isolated lead vocals in the centre.

 

[rusinurbe]

A solid album from Pearl Jam, good use of the surrounds from a 'Rock Album' I did not have to many problems with the vocals unlike some, they are low in the surround mix but not inaudible.

 

[weekendtoy]

I've never understood more than 50% of what Eddie is singing. It also seems like it's gotten a lot worse in the last 15 years or so.

For this release, I don't find the vocal's audibility lacking, I just can't understand what he's saying.

 

[atlantasteve]

 

[privateuniverse]

Listening to the Atmos downmixed to 5.1. Short take, certainly some discrete activity in the rears. Guitar parts panned to either side. Good mix but nothing I'd call demo quality.

As for the music, I kind of lost interest in the band about twenty years ago. But this is a pretty decent collection of tunes. Not up to the standard of their 90's heyday, but probably the best thing since Riot Act.

I will go with an enthusiastic 8.

 

[Strilo]

This is my favorite band of all time, so this is about as far from an objective review as it gets. I love the album. It's about all I have listened to since I came out a month ago. Personally, I like the Atmos mix (folded down to 5.1 on my system) the best. I find it dynamic, active surround content, good bass and a nice blend of the band doing their thing. It sits alongside the other Pearl Jam Atmos mixes very well. I am beyond stoked that we finally have one on physical media. I will say, I also prefer the Atmos mix in my AirPods Pro. Actually the only place I hear the stereo mix is in my car. I am normally not one who notices too badly when something is compressed or brick walled. But this mix, wow. Especially "Waiting For Stevie." The stereo mix is like the perfect example of badly compressed music. I think I will use it as an example of what not to do. It actually makes me wish for Atmos in my car.

That said, I love the disc, love the packaging, etc. I do hate how hard it is to get the discs out, terrible design. I also agree that the visuals are totally lame. I don't understand why they didn't just include the visualizations we saw at the theatrical world premiere event.


Content: 10
Stereo Mix: 5
Atmos Mix: 9
Packaging: 7

Overall: 8

 

[stoopid]

Easily my favorite material since Yield. The atmos mix, when folded into a 5.1 mix on my system, has discrete elements but the overall sonics/sound quality is a mixed bag from song to song, moment to moment. Verified other atmos albums sound great on the same system with the same settings, so the sound quality issue is definitely unique to this disc. I gave it an 8, mostly because of how strong the songs are overall and the 'surround' elements generally good.