THX overrated?

[woodman]

Actually, THX is more than just a ceritfication. It's actual sound mode on some receivers just like DTS, PLII, etc.

JSE

No - sorry JSE, THX is not a surround sound "mode" at all ... it is as SteveH suggested nothing more than a certification that a product meets certain performance qualifications as required by LucasSound - nothing more (or less). If some mfg. has the audacity to proclaim it as a surround mode, either they don't know as much about their business as they should, OR they are totally unscrupulous and seriously lacking in business ethics (such as Bose).

What receiver that you know of makes such a claim? I'd sure like to know.

[markw]

Heck, I'm still trying to figure out what a "THX Certified" interconnect/cable is.

[JSE]

Heck, I'm still trying to figure out what a "THX Certified" interconnect/cable is.

That's funny. It's weird, the Monster "THX Cert." cables are the cheaper than their normal lines. You would think they would charge more for them. Go figure.

JSE

[mtrycraft]

Heck, I'm still trying to figure out what a "THX Certified" interconnect/cable is.

A cable that meets their specs, whatever that is. Most likely a flat Fr.

[GaToy]

If I remember correctly it's either DDex or DTSes is the same as THX ex. One or the other. My STR-DA7ES reciever has both of these so I know i'm capable of the same standards. And up until now I was proud that Sony hadn't given in to the THX propaganda. Unfortunately this years models have the certification. But anyway, THX ex is the button that you have on your remote even if it inly says THX. They are correct that THX is only a certification. I want to say it's DTS es thats the same with THX ex. This is what companies call theirs if they haven't bought the THX license.

~C.C.~

[GaToy]

Heres some info.

THX
A lot of confusion is surrounding THX. It is not a sound format and it is not a special image format. THX is a Lucasfilm company that is certifying films, software and hardware, and as such making sure the presentation quality meets certain standards. THX certified films or equipment are not necessarily better than parts that do not carry THX’s seal of approval, but at least you have some kind of a guarantee that it meets certain quality aspects.


THX EX
THX EX is the name of a new Dolby Digital sound format, using 6.1 channels. The format adds an additional surround center channel to the current 5.1 setup to create a more engrossing surround field that is compatible to the front field in terms of spatial integration. Unlike sound formats like DTS,THX EX does not necessarily require additional equipment to listen to the audio track. It is an extension and as such backwards compatible with the current Dolby Digital standard. If you do not have a THX EX decoder in your home theater setup, the playback will be automatically converted for 5.1 playback.

~C.C.~
http://hometheater.about.com/library.../aa061400a.htm

[Woochifer]

THX EX
THX EX is the name of a new Dolby Digital sound format, using 6.1 channels. The format adds an additional surround center channel to the current 5.1 setup to create a more engrossing surround field that is compatible to the front field in terms of spatial integration. Unlike sound formats like DTS,THX EX does not necessarily require additional equipment to listen to the audio track. It is an extension and as such backwards compatible with the current Dolby Digital standard. If you do not have a THX EX decoder in your home theater setup, the playback will be automatically converted for 5.1 playback.

~C.C.~
http://hometheater.about.com/library.../aa061400a.htm

That was true until about two years ago. With the original round of 6.1 receivers, only the THX certified models were allowed to use the "EX" trademark to describe the back surround channel decoding. The theatrical format was Dolby Digital EX, while the consumer version was called THX Surround EX. Dolby and Lucasfilm jointly developed the EX spec, so THX partly owned the trademark. Non-THX receivers could still do the back surround decoding to the correct specs, they just couldn't call it EX. Rather, they called it 6.1 Matrix or some other linguistic variation. It was about two years ago that the EX trademark was opened to all receiver makers. It's no different from THX Surround EX, only the name is different.

[JSE]

No - sorry JSE, THX is not a surround sound "mode" at all ... it is as SteveH suggested nothing more than a certification that a product meets certain performance qualifications as required by LucasSound - nothing more (or less). If some mfg. has the audacity to proclaim it as a surround mode, either they don't know as much about their business as they should, OR they are totally unscrupulous and seriously lacking in business ethics (such as Bose).

What receiver that you know of makes such a claim? I'd sure like to know.

Well, My Yamaha RX-V1400 is THX certified and has a THX mode. The remote hs a THX button. This defintely a different sound field from DTS or PLII . Actually I think it's just a variant of EX called "THX surround EX". Here's a link that discusses it. Look about halfway down the page.

http://www.timefordvd.com/tutorial/SurroundSound.shtml

If I am confused on this, let me know.

JSE

[woodman]

Well, My Yamaha RX-V1400 is THX certified and has a THX mode. The remote hs a THX button. This defintely a different sound field from DTS or PLII . Actually I think it's just a variant of EX called "THX surround EX". Here's a link that discusses it. Look about halfway down the page.

http://www.timefordvd.com/tutorial/SurroundSound.shtml

If I am confused on this, let me know.

JSE

OK ... now I understand the confusion. Yamaha is simply making use of the THX certification (which they've always met, but refused to pay for) as a way to differntiate DD-Surround-EX (so called 6.1 mode) from the more prolific DD-5.1 surround mode that is the standard surround mode in use for HDTV television broadcasting and DVDs.

But in the final analysis, I stand by my previous comment that THX is not a surround sound format at all, but merely a performance certification. Yamaha has always qualified for such certification, but refused to pay LucasFilm their "pound-of-flesh" for the right to put the logo on their equipment. Now, with competition in the A/V receiver marketplace heating up and getting hotter than ever, they've caved in and paid for the right to use the THX logo. As long as they've done that, they're making use of the THX name to try and put forth the idea that it's worth more than it actually is.

[JSE]

OK ... now I understand the confusion. Yamaha is simply making use of the THX certification (which they've always met, but refused to pay for) as a way to differntiate DD-Surround-EX (so called 6.1 mode) from the more prolific DD-5.1 surround mode that is the standard surround mode in use for HDTV television broadcasting and DVDs.

But in the final analysis, I stand by my previous comment that THX is not a surround sound format at all, but merely a performance certification. Yamaha has always qualified for such certification, but refused to pay LucasFilm their "pound-of-flesh" for the right to put the logo on their equipment. Now, with competition in the A/V receiver marketplace heating up and getting hotter than ever, they've caved in and paid for the right to use the THX logo. As long as they've done that, they're making use of the THX name to try and put forth the idea that it's worth more than it actually is.

OK, I am starting to pick up what your laying down. But, I think (I am at work right now) my receiver has both a DDEX and the THX mode. What's the difference then. They do sound different. I thought after reading the article I linked earlier DDEX and THX surround EX are the same thing. Bare with me, it's starting to sink in.

JSE

[Dharris]

If THX is anything like ISO 9000 or 13485, I fully respect the THX level of quality. I work for an ISO certified company. It takes allot of work and effort to keep the ISO Quality certification.

[Woochifer]

If THX is anything like ISO 9000 or 13485, I fully respect the THX level of quality. I work for an ISO certified company. It takes allot of work and effort to keep the ISO Quality certification.

Not exactly, at least for home consumer products. The certification is simply ensuring that the products meet certain minimum standards and some specific performance and/or design parameters. ISO's kind of the flip side in that it does not certify the end products, but rather the management, quality control, and decision making processes. With the THX theater alignment program, there are periodic recertifications involved.

[Waxxiemann]

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