Page 1 of What`s better DVD Essentials or Ultimate DVD Platinum?

Both of these discs are at eazydvd. I read in earlier posts that the Essentials disc is fantastic for setting up your home cinema, but is the Platinum the updated version?

I have just bought a DVD player, and my Toshiba 36 CRT is arriving on Friday, so I really want a disc to help set up my picture/sound for optimal pleasure.

Thanks

No, Ultimate DVD Platinum is a different disc, and (from what I`ve heard) not as useful. I`d go with Essentials; having tried it, it really is very comprehensive and simple to use.

Mike

Thanks for that, I`ll go for the Essentials then.

how do these discs actually work??? surely they cannot change the output of the picture in any way?.. exsactly how can they improve picture or sound quality?.... Cheers chaps......... Chivalry...

These discs contain test patterns and audio, along with instructions for adjusting the controls of your TV and DD amp to best effect. So they effectively provide you with the means to optimise the picture and sound quality of your equipment.


Mike

I haven`t tried DVD Esentials but I can recommend Ultimate DVD Platinum, a two disc set that comes with a colour filter that you view the test patterns with. This then allows you to adjust colour,contrast and brightness. The tests are easy to do and the instructions given are concise and easy to follow. I`ve used it to set systems for other people as well and they all comment on the improvement afterwards. The sound tests got me out of trouble with the significant other as well, but remove small children and pets from the room when you do them.

Know of any places which sell these titles cheaply? Play doesn`t sell them at all.

Try www.ezydvd.com.au

Mike

I`ve tried both DVD Essentials and Ultimate DVD Platinum, and both are good in different areas. Essentials is excellent about giving you general home cinema advice, as well as test patterns. DVD Platinum doesn`t give the general advice that Essentials does, but includes a lot more tests for your system (for example, the subwoofer rattle test so you can determine what objects need pinning down to stop detracting sonic vibrations...).

If it were up to me I would have to plump for Ultimate DVD Platinum for one very simple reason. Its a PAL release (Region 4 or 2 doesn`t make a difference). DVD Essentials is Region 1 and is therefore configured for NTSC TVs in the first instance (pure NTSC that is, not the NTSC your UK telly can grab hold of).

One of the controls (colour or contrast, I can`t remember which - the one which uses the blue filter) is impossible to set simply because your set isn`t pure NTSC - therefore your TV will never be set correctly, and if you`re spending the cash to get this right anyway, it seems a bit pointless to waste it on something that can`t do the whole job.

Giles.

according to ezydvd.com.au Ultimate DVD Platinum is in NTSC...

which is bugging cos i thought u had a killer reason to get one over the other there.