Here's another I've often wondered about: what about early Warner DVD's which are obviously from a LD master and feature 384 kbp/s Dolby 5.1 audio? We've discussed that many say The Matrix is better on LD at the same bitrate but after recently doing a blind test with the first DD 5.1 theatrical release, Batman Returns, I'm not so sure they are different.
For a long time I wondered what the original 5.1 and Dolby Stereo mixes for Returns would play like. I assume they mixed for the norm of matrixed surround and got the green light for the 5.1 issue (which only played in 11 theaters in North America, so 99% heard the Dolby Stereo mix.) The LD PCM is similar to the first film, a very open soundstage and well mixed non-discrete 4 channels.
After Netflixing the old late 90's DVD, I can confirm it is the same video master and has a 5.1 track @ 384 kbp/s. It has that extra definition so wonderful of LD 5.1 compared to the matrix equivalent, and has the same tonal balance as the PCM Dolby Stereo mix. So I'm almost positive that this is the theatrical 5.1, prepared for a late LD reissue and scrapped in favor of an early DVD.
I checked with the remixed track on the SE DVD/BD which is the same in either DD, DTS or Dolby True HD. For all four of the original films, I'm pretty sure Warner went back to the master in 2005 and did a straight remix to 5.1 for all four films, with all that wonderful limiting for home TVs/soundbars built right in. This is why Batman sounds so damn tinny on anything besides LD. On Returns, none of the later mixes have the depth of the old DVD or LD. Also, all four films are now significantly louder than before, a sign of dynamic range loss.
To confirm this, I will have to get the Forever 1st issue DVD, which I can compare directly with the LD 5.1 audio.
Also, I really really wish films today could be as well mixed and presented as Returns. Man of Steel was so completely pathetic in 7.1.