What are the best audio versions for the Prequels and Original Trilogy?
Audio is typically restored as a different project, and then included with restorations that are designed to sync to it. The only difference is scan-based projects which will usually include optical audio directly from the film print.
“Best audio” could be its own thread, and there are tons of opinions. First of all, some people swear by the optical audio because it sounds more like what you’d have heard in the theater back in the day.
However, Laserdisc-based preservations provide more of a clean, high-end home-video sound. Laserdisc-based audio is available for the original stereo mixes and 1993 revised “THX” mixes, and the 1985 home video mix for Star Wars. The mono audio is typically from either broadcast recordings or film scans. There will likely soon be at least one original six-channel mix available from a print scan too.
But what I feel stands above the rest is hairy_hen’s six-channel reconstructions, which are based on the matrixed stereo mixes, and a ton of TLC.
Which mix is “best” is a matter of taste and priorities, but I feel I can safely say:
- For Star Wars, people gravitate to the six-channel or mono mixes. The 1977 stereo is so close to the six-channel as to be a “why bother?” option – you may as well downmix the six-channel. The 1985 stereo mix has no dynamic range to speak of, but is a valid mix if you’re trying to reproduce that home video feel. And the 1993 stereo mix is generally great quality, but includes divisive additions.
- For Empire, the six-channel is much-loved. The 1980 stereo mix is solid, and as with Star Wars, the 1993 stereo mix is generally great quality with one small error. The 1980 mono mix is more of a novelty but it includes alternate dialogue, so it’s fun.
- For Jedi, again I recommend the six-channel. The 1983 and 1993 stereo mixes are both very good, 93 with better quality and no divisive changes or errors. The mono mix is definitely a novelty with missing foley effects.
Hope that helps. Generally speaking, the most recent preservations will have the most recent versions of the six-channel audio. The others have not changed much in years, as the best-of-breed Laserdiscs were found and ripped years ago.
Be careful mix-and-matching audio. There are two frame standards currently in use (GOUT and theatrical), but they’re close enough that you might not notice slight sync differences until years later.
I have no opinions on prequel audio.