StreamFab General Query EAC3 or AAC Audio?

[littlebluealien]

Hi Guys,

Question. Which audio would you suggest is best when downloading titles for burning to Blu-ray for playback -EAC3 or AAC?

In the main I have StreamFab defaulted to download the EAC3 audio, but have found on occasion that this can, when burnt to Blu-ray using DVDFab's Blu-ray Creator software, cause slight lip sync issues on playback. Whereas AAC I never get this lip sync issue. Yes I know, then common sense says use AAC if you get no issues with it, but you guys are far more knowledgeable than I, so I wanted to see what you used/suggested as the best. I've googled the EAC3 vs AAC question, with varying pros and cons, my main find seems to indicate that EAC3 is better for surround output, but I may have read that wrong. And as I have no interest in surround sound out put ...

My Blu-ray player is the Panasonic DP-UB820EB 4K Ultra HD connected to a Panasonic TX-58GX800B LED 4K TV using a direct high quality HDMI connection from the TV to a Panasonic SC-HTB900 Home Theater Audio System sound bar. I have no surround sound speakers connected as previously mentioned I'm not interested in it.

Any advice would be genuinely appreciated and welcomed.

Thanks.

I hope I've posted this in the right section?

[Salotto]

AAC is only superior if it is on 2 channels with a bitrate of 128kps.
Any possibility above that, EAC3 will always be superior.

[fanatic]

Go with EAC3

[littlebluealien]

Salotto fanatic thanks guys. So even though I'm not entertaining surround sound, your advice is always go with EAC3.

[Cats4U]

Panasonic SC-HTB900 Home Theater Audio System sound bar. I have no surround sound speakers connected as previously mentioned I'm not interested in it.

In your case, since you are using a stereo soundbar that is not set up within a 5.1 (or better) system, you are absolutely best to go with AAC. If you try to use EAC3 5.1 on a stereo system, you would have to constantly be adjusting sound levels with having to turn up the voice channel while being blasted with background sounds and music.

[littlebluealien]

In your case, since you are using a stereo soundbar that is not set up within a 5.1 (or better) system, you are absolutely best to go with AAC. If you try to use EAC3 5.1 on a stereo system, you would have to constantly be adjusting sound levels with having to turn up the voice channel while being blasted with background sounds and music.

Thanks Cats4U, but my soundbar isn't merely a "stereo" soundbar, it's classed as a 3.1 channel system - a 3.1 channel system is not considered "stereo" because while it includes left and right channels like a stereo system, it also adds a dedicated center channel and a subwoofer, making it a more advanced setup than a basic stereo system; essentially providing a more immersive sound experience by enhancing dialogue clarity with the center channel and adding low-frequency bass with the subwoofer.

In this case would you still subscribe to my using AAC?

Understand, I'm pretty confused over which is better. And all opinions and advice being offered is equally valued and greatly appreciated. So please, if I seem to be challenging advice given, I'm honestly not, merely trying to get my 'thick' head around the finer details.

[Germania]

since you are using a stereo soundbar that is not set up within a 5.1
(or better) system, you are absolutely best to go with AAC.

That's why I also prefer AAC (i use a small room) ..
.. and compared to EAC3 5.1 it also saves disk space
and downloads faster because it is smaller

3.1 channel system .. it also adds a dedicated center channel and a subwoofer

In this case I would use EAC3 (which I usually only do for music movies/concerts) ..
.. if in doubt, test a title with both and let your ears decide

[littlebluealien]

Salotto fanatic Cats4U Germania Thanks ALL for responding and offering me your advice and input. As always this forum is truly the best for support. Clearly driven by the quality of users who frequent and use it.

[Cats4U]

In this case would you still subscribe to my using AAC?

I've written this before - at my last house, my TV room was perfect for using a 5.1 system. When I married my wife and moved into her house, I found that the room used for the TV was oddly shaped and there was no way to set up my 5.1 in any way to get the proper 5.1 effect. So, I bit the bullet and went with stereo. That's when I learned about trying to use a 5.1-type codec such as EAC3 through the stereo and how it makes a mess with volume levels.
Having never used a 3.1 system, I really don't know the correct answer. I'd probably take the advice of Germania and tell you to use your own ears to decide what is best.

[littlebluealien]

I've written this before - at my last house, my TV room was perfect for using a 5.1 system. When I married my wife and moved into her house, I found that the room used for the TV was oddly shaped and there was no way to set up my 5.1 in any way to get the proper 5.1 effect. So, I bit the bullet and went with stereo. That's when I learned about trying to use a 5.1-type codec such as EAC3 through the stereo and how it makes a mess with volume levels.
Having never used a 3.1 system, I really don't know the correct answer. I'd probably take the advice of Germania and tell you to use your own ears to decide what is best.

Thanks Cats4U. Sometimes the simplest of advice is the best. Appreciate your input. Always.

[walker189]

If you try to use EAC3 5.1 on a stereo system, you would have to constantly be adjusting sound levels with having to turn up the voice channel while being blasted with background sounds and music.

This should not be the case and comes down to equipment being used, and how it is decoding the 5.1. The decoder should properly down mix the 5.1 to 2 channel and embed the center channel information equally into the left and right speakers. In older surround processors this was called phantom center channel. If using a multi channel device, and only connecting 2 channels, and that device doesn't have a phantom center option - then you have audio level issues becasue the center channel information is 'lost'

[littlebluealien]

I thank everyone who reached out to me and offered their advice and suggestions. I contacted Panasonic directly, they are after all the manufacturers of the devices I use and their technical department responded with the following answer in regards to which audio codec I should use when downloading titles from streaming sites and burning to Blu-ray to playback on my equipment ...

"..the highly recommended option for the best format when burning discs, would be the AAC audio codec.."

So now we (all) know!

This post I believe is now resolved and closed!

[Cats4U]

This should not be the case and comes down to equipment being used, and how it is decoding the 5.1. The decoder should properly down mix the 5.1 to 2 channel and embed the center channel information equally into the left and right speakers. In older surround processors this was called phantom center channel. If using a multi channel device, and only connecting 2 channels, and that device doesn't have a phantom center option - then you have audio level issues becasue the center channel information is 'lost'

That's probably the case then. My wife and I have been married for about 17 years, and I probably had my 5.1 setup for about 10 years before that. It's not always good to be a pioneer with new technology. 5.1 had just started trending at that point and prices were finally reasonable, but all the features were not included as they are now. It feels like sort of what Atmos is going through now. People are paying top dollar for an Atmos system so that they can say they have one, but they are leaving out the overhead speakers, which are the essential element for using an Atmos system. All they have is a 5.1 system with a fancy hi-tech name attached to it.