The Laser Bin : <i> Reviews of laser</i> -<i> disc releases </i>

“RoboCop” (Image, CLV, $39.98) and “Dirty Dancing” (Image, CLV, $39.98). Among video formats, only laser discs can now provide a digital sound track of a motion picture, and these two sound tracks create the perfect digital audio demonstration video discs. Heard on a surround-sound audio-video system, the digital sound tracks are overwhelming--it’s as if you’re sitting in the middle of the film, since digital surround-sound creates a total sonic environment.

“RoboCop’s” sound effects are so realistic that they can fool you into thinking your phone is ringing or someone is at the front door. This kind of sound seems to make the small-screen picture much larger and more involving. The laser-disc digital sound is superior to what most of us heard in the theater and by contrast, the fuzzy picture and TV sound in the videotape versions are disgraceful.