NETFLIX

[Marco]

+1 for "Haunting of Bly Manor". I recommend this one Marco, I know you like a good horror (why you have so many mirrors at home) You'll find it satisfyingly creepy.

Watching it now!

Just one thing... Does anyone else notice that the sound levels on Netflix are rather low, compared with, say normal TV? I find I've got to turn the sound up considerably, in order to get the realism and 'presence' I seek from the content - then when switching back to normal TV, I get blasted!

That's not right - whoever's in charge of the techy stuff at Netflix needs to ramp up the levels a bit, so they're in line with other stuff! That doesn't apply to, say, the output on Sky, which is fine.

Marco.

[Marco]

Anyway have you started watching any 'Trailer Park Boys' yet? There's a film too although IIRC it is set after the events of the series so you might want to watch it all in the right order.

Caught a couple of them earlier, and yes funny as fuck!

Marco.

[Jac Hawk]

The Queens Gambit is worth a watch

[Macca]

Watching it now!

Just one thing... Does anyone else notice that the sound levels on Netflix are rather low, compared with, say normal TV? I find I've got to turn the sound up considerably, in order to get the realism and 'presence' I seek from the content - then when switching back to normal TV, I get blasted!

That's not right - whoever's in charge of the techy stuff at Netflix needs to ramp up the levels a bit, so they're in line with other stuff! That doesn't apply to, say, the output on Sky, which is fine.

Marco.

Higher dynamic range, it's a good thing really. You just have to remember to lower the volume before switching to a channel that's more compressed. In some cases it isn't the level the channel broadcasts at, it's how the sound was recorded. I often find I have to crank up the volume with a film but when the advert break kicks in the sound blasts me.

[Marco]

Higher dynamic range, it's a good thing really...

Is that actually true though, or simply that the levels are just MUCH lower than normal - and by 'normal' I mean compared to the likes of Sky or Virgin movies, not bog-standard TV.

Do they quote any measurements to back up your theory? For me, it doesn't seem that way, and ideally the levels should be tweaked a bit.

Plus, as I use a centre speaker (and fronts) in my home-cinema set up, I'm finding that the sound balance is different from normal, with less coming through the fronts and much more through the centre, especially with programmes or movies not recorded in 5.1 surround sound.

It's fine, but something I'm going to have to get used to, and interesting that Nefflix has chosen this different approach.

Marco.

[DarrenHW]

Higher dynamic range, it's a good thing really. You just have to remember to lower the volume before switching to a channel that's more compressed. In some cases it isn't the level the channel broadcasts at, it's how the sound was recorded. I often find I have to crank up the volume with a film but when the advert break kicks in the sound blasts me.

+1. I agree with everything bar the last sentence, one of the biggest advantages to streaming is little to no adverts.

Marco, what device are you streaming on / which Netflixs package do you have?

[struth]

I think netflix default is 5.1 audio so if your not using 5.1 then it can affect output... but i agree it is a bit quieter, as are nature blurays like Attenborough.. they always seem to start quiet and build up then as they switch to next scene, it stars low again. not sure what goes on there. might be some hardware sound protection.. or it again might be the 5.1 kicking in.. i guess you could try setting audio to 2 channel and see if it changes

[Marco]

Marco, what device are you streaming on / which Netflixs package do you have?

Dunno, mate. How would I check that? Friends of ours added us to their 'list', or something, and we gave them something for the trouble, so we log-in via their account.

Do you know what I mean about the sound, though? This was most noticeable with The Irishman, as 90% of the sound was coming through the centre speaker, and only the occasional 'sound effect' through the fronts.

In that respect, it was a bit like listening to an old movie in mono. Plus the levels for that film were particularly low. Probably had to add a good '10/12' onto the number (amp level) I normally play movies at with Sky or Virgin.

Do you find the same?

Marco.

[Macca]

Is that actually true though, or simply that the levels are just MUCH lower than normal - and by 'normal' I mean compared to the likes of Sky or Virgin movies, not bog-standard TV.

Do they quote any measurements to back up your theory? For me, it doesn't seem that way, and ideally the levels should be tweaked a bit.

Plus, as I use a centre speaker (and fronts) in my home-cinema set up, I'm finding that the sound balance is different from normal, with less coming through the fronts and much more through the centre, especially with programmes or movies not recorded in 5.1 surround sound.

It's fine, but something I'm going to have to get used to, and interesting that Nefflix has chosen this different approach.

Marco.

That's why I gave up on using centre speakers. Phantom centre is superior IMO.

No idea about the Netflix sound transmission. But if you think about it, when they record a film soundtrack they don't use much compression, but for an advert or regular TV show they will as they are not going to be shown in a cinema with its super-fancy sound system, it has to be mixed and mastered so Doreen with her old mono speaker CRT TV can hear it with no problem.

[Marco]

That's why I gave up on using centre speakers. Phantom centre is superior IMO.

Not for me, up until now, lol! It's super-duper when playing Blurays or Sky/Virgin movies - no comparison really, as I have it all really well set up

No idea about the Netflix sound transmission. But if you think about it, when they record a film soundtrack they don't use much compression, but for an advert or regular TV show they will as they are not going to be shown in a cinema with its super-fancy sound system, it has to be mixed and mastered so Doreen with her old mono speaker CRT TV can hear it with no problem.

Yes, and I think that might be the problem, so the output has been mixed with that in mind. Surprised though that no-one else here using Netflix, with proper home-cinema setups has commented on the issue?

Marco.