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Testing: DVD Movie Playback (DVD Player, PC DVD)

The VS4121 after the display in music demonstrates that it tends to perform better under more common methods of sound reproduction. Since mainstream music took well to the system I had to hear the results of normal movie playback using Dolby Surround Downmix in PowerDVD Pro EX.

Test Settings:
Digifire Setting: 2.1
EQ: Disabled

PowerDVD Setting:
2 Speaker
Dolby Surround Compatible Downmix
Dolby Pro Logic II: Off
Misc: Quiet Environment, LFE off

The Bourne Identity (Collectors Edition):
The Movie features full 5.1 and DTS. Sadly I don't have a DTS decoder onboard so I had to use the DD5.1 instead. The result was quite nice. Once again the Micro Drivers save the day as voices and background elements are easily reproduced. The chase scene was one of the main focuses. So many cars tearing around and passing through traffic or on public sidewalks. The drivers push hard to get every single detail but they miss a few when voices and steering clash. This could be due to the downmix though. Either way gears grinding, people yelling on the sidewalks and oncoming traffic are depicted with life. The lows don't overpower the movie though with too much boom bass hits in and rolls out on time. If the user feels there is too much bass the responsive knob on the satellite will cut down the bass until everything matches up.

Gone in Sixty Seconds:
Dolby Digital Encoded the movie features a little bit of everything, explosions, chases and some gun fire. During the movie the sub holds a bit of trouble being distinct from the rest of the movie. Too many low effects and voices tend to crowd the sub and the overall effect is a bit distorted. When things break apart to single instances the sub returns to normal and it holds the same punch as it once did. The roar of the GT500 in the final chase scene is music to the ears. Police radio, construction worker commentary and car collisions are portrayed quite well through the system and the midrange seems to be visible on the spectrum. Normally the higher tones get lost and tend to be drowned out by the bass. With the current setup the bass kicks in but not enough to crowd the rest of the movie.

Braveheart:
The issue that can commonly be experienced is that the sounds of the movie crowd the field. The instrumental soundtrack in the background combined with foreground sounds and sounds from the background such as fire or horses make it hard for a 2.1 or 2.0 system to deliver because the drivers on the satellites and sub are constantly working to produce everything. While the sub is rather mellow during many of these scenes without full definition the satellites highlight the crackles of the fires and the peaks of the voices. The midrange actually manages to liven the tones up when confronted with traditional drums. The biggest power of the sub in this case is that it can rumble the room as the heavy calvery storm over the hill in the battle of Stirling. The high and mid areas work together to carry on the marches through the grass and the sounds of heavy armor and swords coming to clash. Truely this is the most impressive display of the two movies tested in the higher ranges.

The VS4121 proves itself to be a true solution to those seeking to escape the daily cycle of boring clouded TV reception. While it may not be a home theater in a box it still performs quite well and includes 3 drivers per satellite to deliver clear sound with high peaks and some deep low tones.