Region 4 Winners and Losers

    Apparently, the R1 release has fewer special features. I have heard lots of complaints about the lack of a booklet providing episode summaries. Moreover, from what I can tell, the R1 release does not have the USS Defiant featurette and only has 6 Hidden Files instead of the 7 available on the R4 release.

    There is also the PAL/NTSC differential, but I have no way of telling whether the image is better mastered in its original NTSC format. If someone could enlighten me, I would be grateful. I have heard similar criticisms to what I have pointed out above, so I somehow doubt the NTSC transfer is much better. But the cross colouration may not be present.

    On top of that, there is the difference in audio and subtitle options. The R1 offers only English 5.1 Dolby Digital and English 2.0 Dolby Surround audio options and only English subtitles. Unless you have specific language requirements, however, these are largely a matter of preference. The R4 release is certainly more multiculturally friendly.