When do I use THX electronic processing?

[oneorangegrove]

I own a THX certified receiver which of course is able to apply THX electronic processing (Re-equalization, Timbre Matching, Adaptive Decorrelation etc) to DVD movie soundtracks. Here's the rule on when to use THX electronic processing as I understand it:

"Use THX electronic processing on movie soundtracks mixed for large cinema environments. Do NOT use THX electronic processing on movie soundtracks mixed for home theater environments because it doesn't need to be modified."

To further confuse matters I understand that some "THX certified" DVD's require THX electronic processing and some do not.

So here's my question: How do I know which DVD soundtracks were mixed for large cinema environments and which were mixed for home theater environments?

Thanks!

[Woochifer]

I own a THX certified receiver which of course is able to apply THX electronic processing (Re-equalization, Timbre Matching, Adaptive Decorrelation etc) to DVD movie soundtracks. Here's the rule on when to use THX electronic processing as I understand it:

"Use THX electronic processing on movie soundtracks mixed for large cinema environments. Do NOT use THX electronic processing on movie soundtracks mixed for home theater environments because it doesn't need to be modified."

To further confuse matters I understand that some "THX certified" DVD's require THX electronic processing and some do not.

So here's my question: How do I know which DVD soundtracks were mixed for large cinema environments and which were mixed for home theater environments?

Thanks!


Here's a simple way to sift things out. If the movie is more than 10 years old, and the highs sound overly emphasized, then you should try out the THX re-eq. In the pre-digital days, a lot of soundtracks were purposely mixed with the highs boosted in order to better fill a large auditorium. If this emphasis did not get removed in the DVD mix, then it might sound a bit bright. The THX certified DVDs just meet certain minimum picture and audio quality standards. Just try the playback out both ways and go with the one that sounds better to you.

[cam]

Here's a simple way to sift things out. If the movie is more than 10 years old, and the highs sound overly emphasized, then you should try out the THX re-eq. In the pre-digital days, a lot of soundtracks were purposely mixed with the highs boosted in order to better fill a large auditorium. If this emphasis did not get removed in the DVD mix, then it might sound a bit bright. The THX certified DVDs just meet certain minimum picture and audio quality standards. Just try the playback out both ways and go with the one that sounds better to you.
Wooch, if you rent a movie and are unfamiliar with the way it sounds do you watch the movie twice to find out if you should re-eq or not. I want to watch a rented movie right the first time.

[Woochifer]

Wooch, if you rent a movie and are unfamiliar with the way it sounds do you watch the movie twice to find out if you should re-eq or not. I want to watch a rented movie right the first time.

When doing any kind of comparison between components, do you watch the whole test DVD all the way through twice? Or when you turn on a DSP mode, do you go all the way through a disc before figuring out whether or not you prefer it on or off?

Figuring out whether or not the THX re-eq is needed is as simple as toggling the switch and seeing which sound you prefer. Should be readily apparent within a few minutes. If you want to watch a movie all the way through before evaluating whether or not it sounds too bright, it's your choice.

[cam]

When doing any kind of comparison between components, do you watch the whole test DVD all the way through twice? Or when you turn on a DSP mode, do you go all the way through a disc before figuring out whether or not you prefer it on or off?

Figuring out whether or not the THX re-eq is needed is as simple as toggling the switch and seeing which sound you prefer. Should be readily apparent within a few minutes. If you want to watch a movie all the way through before evaluating whether or not it sounds too bright, it's your choice.
My wife hates it when I make adjustments while the movie is playing. I agree some movies let you know right off the bat such as T2 which I own. Very bright and only 2 minutes into it. Other movies could be 30 minutes into it. Not everyone is sensitive to the higher then should be high frequencies so what is extemely bright to one person is mellow to another. It would be nice if they re-eq the disc so it would be right right off the bat.

[oneorangegrove]

I have been able to listen to some movie soundtracks and tell when THX electronic processing is beneficial or not by repeating a certain scene a couple times with it on and off. However, what I was hoping to find out was whether or not there is a rule that would make this an easier decision with less guess work. Something like this:

- Look on the DVD case for symbol "XXX" or for a statement that says "XXX" to tell whether THX electronic processing is necessary.

- DVD's mixed before the year "XXX" need THX electronic processing and those after do not.

- Go to website "XXX" and look up your movie to tell whether THX electronic processing is necessary.

Thanks for the input guys.

[omikey]

Thanks for your orginal post - and everyone else for their inputs.
As a result I have learned a great deal about this subject !!
Thanks !

I found the Audio Specifications very interesting, especially the part about the surrounds - the freq. response range and being dipole speakers.

info on HOME THX http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm

here's a listing of what's on this URL:


http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifWhat is meant by THX ? (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#what)
http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifWhy Home THX ? (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#homethx)
http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifTHX Audio Specifications (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#audio)
http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifThe De-correlation System (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#decco)
http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifThe re-equalization Process (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#equa)
http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifThe Timbre Matching Process (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#timbre)
http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifFinally Should I invest in THX ? (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#finally)
http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/logos/blueball.gifTHX-certified movie titles (http://membres.lycos.fr/tessier/thx.htm#titles)

[r3dline]

- Go to website "XXX" and look up your movie to tell whether THX electronic processing is necessary.

Hey! xxx.com is a dirty site! You tricked me! :eek:

[omikey]

My wife hates it when I make adjustments while the movie is playing.
Yep, mine too, and I'm just trying to find the BEST SOUND that I can for that movie ...... she will listen to anything that is turned on at the time ..... doesn't seem to bother her. She is way over on the visual side and just the dialogue than the overall soundtrack ..... oh well, we all have our thing I guess....... as long as she enjoys it, that's the important part :-)