Good DVDs/CDs/Games to test PC sound system?

[blahsome]

Hopefully my z560 and Audigy will arrive soon.

What are some good DVDs/CDs/Games to test this system with? I'm looking for the ones that cover various aspects of the sound system. If I can rent a DVD movie for this purpose, that'll be great.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Sugadaddy]

SW: The Phantom Menace
U-571
The Haunting
Jurassic Park 3

 

[DN]

DVD wise, I'd say "saving private ryan" and "the matrix" would be decent choices.. As for games, I'd say Unreal Tournament, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Medal of honour: Allied Assault and Quake 3 would be good choices with the proper sound settings..

 

[Mavrick007]

For DVD's, I would try Gladiator - good sound effects
ID4 - good explosions/effects
Romeo Must Die - good music
You can also look for a DVD that is used to test systems to see what you are getting out of them. I almost bought one the other day. It gives you a bit of all types of sound and video going through your DVD player.

For games, I would try UT and Quake 3. Also bench using sound/no sound. You will hear quality and also see how much of a hit that your Audigy takes on the application.

 

[Dufusyte]

The best implementation of sound in a game is the HL engine's use of A3D.

I guess if you do not have a Vortex(2) card, then you cannot use A3D anyway, so the point is moot.

HL engine games give you the best positional sound. Valve even said that one of the reasons HL won Game of the Year is because of the fabulous sound implementation which makes the environments so immersive. They attribute much of HL's popularity to the sound implementation.

 

[erikiksaz]

Just "test" it with whatever you usually use to game, listen to music, etc. There's really no point in testing the setup to the boundaries of your use.

 

[blahsome]

> Just "test" it with whatever you usually use to game.

Makes sense... Minesweeper, here I come!

I guess I bought a z560 for nothing.

 

[jteef]

find somebody who has a version of the 1812 overture with cannons on CD. dont bother with the mp3.

jt

 

[Katana]

<< SW: The Phantom Menace
U-571
The Haunting
Jurassic Park 3 >>




Those were the exact same ones i was thinking. I would also try Moulin Rouge, Planet of the Apes(2001), and Pearl Harbor. The Phantom Menace, Moulin Rouge, Planet of the Apes, and Pearl Harbor also have the THX Optimode so you can make sure the speakers are all set right.

 

[Mltsao]

MaX Payne is also a good choice for games.

 

[Duvie]

I would test dvd's:

1) Phantom Menace
2) Saving Private Ryan (opening sequence)
3) Matrix (lobby scene)
4) Heat (shootout in downtown LA)

No...I am not overly fascinated with violence...just in case anybody wondered

I don't play a lot of game so can't help you there...

I really like the linkin Park CD on my audigy...

 

[WarCon]

Sound of Music
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
and my all time favorite Yellow Submarine.

J/K

I really enjoyed the music and car sounds from Fast and Furious (movie wasn't as good as I thought it would be, but I loved the cars).

I second(third or fourth maybe) Saving Private Ryan. That first scene is a real test of your sound system. It was the first DVD that I really could tell a huge difference between dolby surround and 5.1 dolby surround.

 

[Raincity]

U-571,Moulin Rouge, and 12 Monkeys Also make sure you grab the ac3test.vob file from the internet to test to see if the 5.1 to 4.1 submix is working properly with your software dvd player.

Rain