Superbit DVD's Worth it or Scam to get more money?

[Luthien]

With the increasing release of more expensive superbit version of movies and rereleases of all the movies you already paid for is Superbit worth it or just hype? I read a little bit about them and seems can be noticably better video quality for some but it all depends on how much effort and care was put into the superbit version. Anyhow I am interested in superbit owners and what they think.

 

[V00D00]

"The Superbit? titles utilize a high bit rate digital transfer process which optimises video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and 5.1 Dolby digital audio."

No, IMO superbit is NOT worth the hype. It's just a ploy to get you to spend more money. When you make a DVD you're just encoding to MPEG-2. The DVD format supports a maximum bitrate of 8,000 bits/sec. So Superbit is just utilizing a higher bitrate close to the max. Seeing as how a good, efficent, encoder will be perceptually the same as a higher bitrate version, you're buying the same thing.

Encoding at a higher bitrate is faster, and without all the extras on the disk, I assume they're less expensive to make. Somehow they charge extra though? I don't get it.

 

[Gurck]

I'd guess it depends on the rest of your video output system, whether it be a PC/monitor or a DVD player & TV.... Personally I can't tell the difference between 700-800kbit divx video and DVDs from more than a few feet away from my 19" CRT at 1280x960, and I have 20/15 vision. Keeping in mind how greedy the RIAA & MPAA are, my guess is that it's BS.

 

[Zebo]

I think it's worth it. I own two copies of Lawrence of Arabia, ones a Superbit and the other is the normal collectors edition, anyway the superbit version is noticably clearer and sharper. Colors seems about the same. This on 50" panny display with the cheapest toshiba progressive DVD player they make.