Watching
Aliens (1986) Dolby Stereo / Lucasfilm Ltd THX Sound System / JBL professional x73
Arrived in the morning post today.
So far the picture looks good for the transfer and age of the PAL laserdisc.
PAL speed-up of the Dolby Stereo mix on this pressing seems to be good with a top end frequency response reaching around 12KHz and down to 31Hz.
The opening has the cymbal Whoosh panning from front to matrix surrounds when the ALIENS title fades out. The top end isn't a problem to re-eq if most find it too much.
The compressed audio on the analog I can get used to fast its still enjoyable.
SW extension can felt pressing on the chest with some bass stage and some occasional bass mid from the surrounds arrays.
Directional sounds fight the compression due to the analog with not too much stress. Matrix surrounds still have the same familiar surrounds effects of the opening music title of ALIENS fading out to a whooshhhh and panning into the surrounds, making me look around with the surrounds naturally defuse the room or the flamethrower when Ripley fires a short burst upwards at the ceiling.
Dialogue is intelligible clear against the effects and music/score.
Disc 1 side 2 CLV a little facehugger rot a few random specs flicking with small faint crackles on the analog sound but once the dynamics of the mix raises up it masks it.
A typical colour flaw due to the brightness/contrast levels where the floodlight on the APC should be white.
No visible EE edge enhancement.
ALIEN chest-buster scene Ripley at the space station, shows a reasonable wide frequency response from 31Hz to 12Khz with score sound effects and dialouge playing.
TrueRTA set at peak hold.
Some portions of the framing curved edges of the 35mm print can be seen.
No cue reel change over dots noticed on this transfer.
CAV side 3 after removing disc after film had finished as I was puzzled as to why the disc stopped suddenly on side 4 as it appears silver blank! So if anyone hasn't already brought this pressing of ALIENS make sure to stop player the moment end credits finish.
Silver blank side.