HiRez Poll Pink Floyd - ANIMALS [Blu-ray Audio (Dolby Atmos)]

[JediJoker]

The WYWH sacd (assuming same 5.1 Guthrie mix) is excellent. I would welcome an 'upgrade' to the newer Bluray format if it was cheap (like $20, same as Animals and DSotM) but would wait if it comes in priced higher.

It's also already been released on Blu-ray as part of the Immersion box set, which will most likely and unfortunately remain the only official digital release of the quad mix.

 

[gorman]

which will most likely and unfortunately remain the only official digital release of the quad mix.

Why do you say unfortunately?

 

[JoshBasswood]

Why do you say unfortunately?

I guess because the box was (a) very expensive and (b) is OOP. As with the DSOTM blu-ray: they could have easily included the quad mix but opted against it.

 

[Jim.olga]

Please post your thoughts and comments on this brand new Blu-ray Audio edition of the classic Pink Floyd album "Animals".
Originally released in 1977 and reissued with new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes in 2022, this new Blu-ray Audio edition contains the original 1977 stereo mix, the 2018 remixes in stereo and 5.1 surround, and a brand new Dolby Atmos mix of the album, which is exclusive to this release.

I voted the Atmos mix as an 8 and here's why.

I just listened to it for the first time today and did an A/B comparison with the 5.1 mix that I have enjoyed for the past couple of years. Now that I have both the blu-ray Atmos and the blu-ray 5.1 discs l, can play them simultaneously. I was hoping to have a much more immersive experience with the Atmos version, but with my system, I didn't really hear any great changes. I think I sensed more fidelity and sound but If I was blindfolded, I'm positive that I could easily be fooled. I disengaged my Front L R and Center, and mited my L and R surrounds leaving only my height L and Rs as active along with the subwoofers. I had sound coming through the heights for sure. Sometimes a lot and other times not so much. So I know for sure there is more sound! It just did not make that great of a perceptual difference with everything going.

I would be just as happy with only the 5.1 mix. Suffice it to say that I will probably play the Atmos version as my go to just because there is a slight, IMHO, improvement. Had I not already heard the 5.1 mix I probably would have rated the Atmos mix as a 9 or 10! The 5.1 mix, to me is at the very least a 9 if not a 10. I don't remember if I officially rated that one or not!

The music is definitely a 10 for me. I got this album when it was 1st pressed and still have that original album. I may know the lyrics by heart!

My system consists of height speakers on the front wall pointed toward my MLP. I have the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7gs with the matching center speaker and my surrounds are Polk Fx speakers that I bought in the early 90s on my rear wall. My couch is unfortunately up against the back wall. So my Atmos configuration is not ideal. I also have two SVS micro subs.

I hope to someday either switch the front heights for ceiling speakers with something like the SVS elevated speakers. I'm sure the Atmos mixes would sound better that way....?

I did not take any physical measurements because I don't have the tools or the know how. I am a music and sound enthusiast to the extent that I must have worn off on my son as he got his degree in music and audio production.

So, I only paid a couple of dollars for the Atmos disc using my rewards points on Amazon. That was mostly the motivation for getting it. I'll be keeping it along with the 3 disc 5.1 and LP version because, like most of us, I'm somewhat of a completest and a little bit of a hoarder!