Ok, I found my lost chord today and I just got through giving it a few listens. 1st listen was the DTS 96/24 version and as has been stated sounds dull and stuck in a hole, raising the volume helps a little, but not much a disappointment to be sure . I then went to the LPCM 96/24 stereo and it sounded better and not half bad through Dolby PLIIx, brighter and much fuller and a little more dynamic than the DTS, and then I gave the original mix a go and it sounded really good, all the dynamics are there no wet blanket covering the drums and vocals and sounds even better via Dolby PLIIx than the new stereo mix did.
So, now to the controversial part to my observations...I haven't noticed if anyone has given the DD AC-3 a listen, well I started the DTS again and just for shits 'n giggles midway through "Ride My Seesaw" I decided to switch to Dolby and and lo and behold it sounded like a whole different animal, the blanket for the most part disappeared (bass is still a little boomy), it is a little louder and brighter, the surround field seems to open up a little sounding fuller as the surrounds sounded a little more active or at least I noticed more coming out of them, the vocals came out of their box a little and sound a little more natural it still lacks the dynamics of the original stereo version but to my ears it was almost enjoyable, at least in comparison the the DTS (that just ain't right?!?).
I will of course have to give it a few more listens before before I decide how it ranks, but I think I will be able to live with this, I mean content wise I love this album, and what I am hearing from the dreaded Dolby 5.1 vs the DTS 5.1...well it may not be great but I am feeling it may at least qualify as good YMMV of course...having said that, it would be very interesting to see what Mr. Wilson could have done with it after what he accomplished with Tull's "This Was" hmmmmmm (...yeah I know not gonna happen...You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm the only one...)
So, now to the controversial part to my observations...I haven't noticed if anyone has given the DD AC-3 a listen, well I started the DTS again and just for shits 'n giggles midway through "Ride My Seesaw" I decided to switch to Dolby and and lo and behold it sounded like a whole different animal, the blanket for the most part disappeared (bass is still a little boomy), it is a little louder and brighter, the surround field seems to open up a little sounding fuller as the surrounds sounded a little more active or at least I noticed more coming out of them, the vocals came out of their box a little and sound a little more natural it still lacks the dynamics of the original stereo version but to my ears it was almost enjoyable, at least in comparison the the DTS (that just ain't right?!?).
I will of course have to give it a few more listens before before I decide how it ranks, but I think I will be able to live with this, I mean content wise I love this album, and what I am hearing from the dreaded Dolby 5.1 vs the DTS 5.1...well it may not be great but I am feeling it may at least qualify as good YMMV of course...having said that, it would be very interesting to see what Mr. Wilson could have done with it after what he accomplished with Tull's "This Was" hmmmmmm (...yeah I know not gonna happen...You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm the only one...)