Finally got some new news. Since getting used to both new display and receiver in addition to a new job, I haven’t been able to do more comparison work.

I finally got the TSWLM THX LD.

And it seems to confirm my suspicions that the THX process for LD and the other reworkings that appeared on the SEs had the audio retransferred and processed. The AQ of the matrix track cleans up the previous LD matrix audio (dropout in Ride to Atlantis is gone) but it is the same source track. However the matrixing has been redone and seemingly pulled in. Many things are narrowed and at one point a music cue goes from being panned hard right to center locked.(Opening notes of Bond '77 in the PTS) The sound is not as expansive nor does it seem as detailed. I presume this was done because they made a 5.1 mix and needed to do some processing.
On MR the difference between matrixed tracks was much more subtle. Here I think the old disc is better.

PQ: the THX LD is head and shoulders above the old disc which as usual was rather cheaply done by MGM and is filled with noise and lack of detail. The thx color is completely different and is identical to the early DVDs. While the entire transfer is improved I do have to question the color at times as it looks far more “videoish” than it really should. But a worthwhile upgrade sorry needed. Same case as MR on LD.

Btw, I plan to redo many comparisons on my new setup which is insanely revealing in PQ and AQ, and this is why I haven’t done DAD yet since that also has several audio tracks to compare. Hopefully at some point I can get an extra matching speaker to finally try out EX/ES.