Quote Originally Posted by Quagmire
John,

You said...

"Yet I still dont understand the packaging or marketing behind this---if there are two channels of audio available to begin with, why not offer the DVD in "Dolby Stereo Surround" rather than have two channels of identical audio collapse into a one channel mono experience?"

This is at the very heart of the issue... there AREN'T two channels of audio available to begin with. The original soundtrack IS a mono track. In order to change it, a remaster would have to be done. It would be great if they remastered all such tracks to at least a Dolby Stereo Surround format as you say, but in many cases they don't. The point is that they are not downgrading a stereo track to a mono track for the DVD release, they are mearly keeping the original mono track intact.

Q
Q:

So then WHY the "2.0" designation if the "original soundtrack IS a mono track" as you say....what am I not getting here? I understand there are no surround elements in the film to decode, hence why there is no "Stereo Surround Mix" or some such rhetoric to play back in PL II; but IF the film is genuine MONO, why does the packaging not say "1.0" as other mono films (like MGM's "Amityville Horror") in my collection do?