Not as impressed by surrounds?

[acritzer]

Strange title, I know. Basically, I'm beginning to wonder if:

1) I'm so used to having surrounds that they're less "effective" for me.
2) Or, if plenty of titles don't use them all that much and that's why they don't seem to have the impact?

Recent example....last night I watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and while I know there were a few spots here and there that came through, I often found myself wondering if they were calibrated correctly (which I know they are).

Anyone else ever feel this way?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by acritzer

Strange title, I know. Basically, I'm beginning to wonder if:

1) I'm so used to having surrounds that they're less "effective" for me.
2) Or, if plenty of titles don't use them all that much and that's why they don't seem to have the impact?

Recent example....last night I watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and while I know there were a few spots here and there that came through, I often found myself wondering if they were calibrated correctly (which I know they are).

Anyone else ever feel this way?

It may be a combination of placebo, the titles themselves don't give out alot of ambient sounds or maybe something has been added or removed in the room recently to cause a reduction in quality for your surround experience?

I have to say I personally have not noticed any difference with their contributions to my audio experience, still as good as ever IMO.

[Better in Blu]

Originally Posted by acritzer

Strange title, I know. Basically, I'm beginning to wonder if:

1) I'm so used to having surrounds that they're less "effective" for me.
2) Or, if plenty of titles don't use them all that much and that's why they don't seem to have the impact?

Recent example....last night I watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and while I know there were a few spots here and there that came through, I often found myself wondering if they were calibrated correctly (which I know they are).

Anyone else ever feel this way?

When I first put my system in place, there were times when I wondered if my surrounds were working. Like Fors said, it may be the fact that certain titles do not have as much surround activity.
When you play a movie like Gladiator for example, you say Wow! my surrounds sound great.

[acritzer]

Originally Posted by Better in Blu

When I first put my system in place, there were times when I wondered if my surrounds were working. Like Fors said, it may be the fact that certain titles do not have as much surround activity.
When you play a movie like Gladiator for example, you say Wow! my surrounds sound great.

Maybe this is it....Most of the action stuff, gunfire, car chases etc seem quite good. I was just surprised after reading the audio rating for Apes that I didn't notice more surround activity.

[blonde_devil]

depends on the movie. I thought Doctor Who Series 5 used their surround really well. Even the Enterprise dvds used them good at times - Regeneration is a good example where you hear the borg arm starting up offscreen. but a lot of movies don't use it properly. i think as much as movie making has evolved, a lot of directors/studios forget that sound is a large part of the experience and don't focus enough on it. for example, i can understand them not having the wind blowing on every outdoor scene but they could add a little surround sound if the scene is windy(no specific movie, just in general).

[McGarnigal]

I just got new polk rear speakers, and i'm really loving the surround noise in skyrim for ps3

[acritzer]

Originally Posted by McGarnigal

I just got new polk rear speakers, and i'm really loving the surround noise in skyrim for ps3

Actually, I think games in general do a better job with this than a lot of movies.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by acritzer

Maybe this is it....Most of the action stuff, gunfire, car chases etc seem quite good. I was just surprised after reading the audio rating for Apes that I didn't notice more surround activity.

I noticed the same thing watching that movie last weekend, so it's not just you (and I know my surrounds are set up and working just fine).

[acritzer]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

I noticed the same thing watching that movie last weekend, so it's not just you (and I know my surrounds are set up and working just fine).

Cool...makes me feel better.

Just got these titles today in the mail and can try one tonight...what's better for surrounds?
The Last Samurai, Ronin, Apollo 13?

[McGarnigal]

The Dark Knight and or Batman Begins are great for surrounds

[MaCruz]

I just upgraded my surrounds to finally match my front stage. I didn't expect much improvement since they are still the same brand (Energy) just different model. I played a lot of war movies just to get that satisfaction factor in but nothing compares to upgrading the front stage.

[Dixon]

Originally Posted by acritzer

Actually, I think games in general do a better job with this than a lot of movies.

Agreed, I don't have a fancy set up so I don't really notice all the subtleties in each speaker with films/TV, but I do when I play a shooting game like Uncharted or something.

[WiWavelength]

Originally Posted by acritzer

Strange title, I know. Basically, I'm beginning to wonder if:

1) I'm so used to having surrounds that they're less "effective" for me.

Surround channels are not intended always to beat you over the head with "ping pong stereo." Such is their most obvious but least sophisticated use.

Try this as an experiment. In the middle of a program that seems unexpectedly light on surround activity, flip your AVR or pre pro from the native surround mode down to two or three channel stereo. Most likely, the sound field that you had taken for granted, that you were only subliminally aware of will immediately collapse, and then you will notice the true contribution of the surround channels.

AJ

[Justin83]

Aside from the more obvious stuff like gunfire, explosions, etc, I find that music can be very effective when coming through the surrounds at key moments. For example, I was watching The Tree of Life last night and found it very powerful/emotional when the choral music swelled during the creation of the universe sequence.

[tilallr1]

I always thought the purpose of surrounds was to immerse one self into the soundtrack. To eliminate directional and/or to help specify it for key sounds.

So if you can't tell they are on, that is a good thing in most cases. You never want the surrounds to distract you or take away from the overall sound. Unless key sound effects were meant to do so.

The important question to ask is whether you feel immersed. Like the music fills the room. If you feel like all the sound is coming from the fronts, then you might have a problem, and might want to check everything is setup correctly in terms of the sound level of each speaker, distance settings, etc ...

[MrFattBill]

Maybe the listening mode on your receiver was change on accident?

Bill

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by acritzer

Anyone else ever feel this way?

Hell no!!! I love my surrounds, they absolutely help to immerse me into the movie I'm watching.

The reviews on 'Planet of the apes', mainly talk about how well the surrounds are on this movie. I’ve seen this at the theater and wasn't too much in a rush to get it, but I think I will rent it tonight or tomorrow.

[acritzer]

Originally Posted by HAMP

Hell no!!! I love my surrounds, they absolutely help to immerse me into the movie I'm watching.

The reviews on 'Planet of the apes', mainly talk about how well the surrounds are on this movie. I’ve seen this at the theater and wasn't too much in a rush to get it, but I think I will rent it tonight or tomorrow.

If you do, let me know what you think. Sounds like Ricshoe agrees with me somewhat about that movie.

I'm beginning to think part of the problem is that I've bumped the center a little too far for dialogue so now my master volume is less overall. I plan to drop the center closer to the others and raise volume...see if that helps.
I did try a few scenes of Apollo 13 last night a did really appreciate what the surrounds did though.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by acritzer

If you do, let me know what you think. Sounds like Ricshoe agrees with me somewhat about that movie.

I'm beginning to think part of the problem is that I've bumped the center a little too far for dialogue so now my master volume is less overall. I plan to drop the center closer to the others and raise volume...see if that helps.
I did try a few scenes of Apollo 13 last night a did really appreciate what the surrounds did though.

How do you like the surrounds with 'Band of Brothers'?

I can't think of the name right now, but it's when they first go into a small town and everything goes nuts... That is one hella of a scene to test the surrounds. I always use TRON for my example of surrounds, most use it for the bass, and of course any transformers movie will do.

[chad_1138]

While we're suggesting movies for surround-effects, has anyone watched the new Don't Be Afraid of the Dark? I know not everyone liked the movie, I'm not wanted to discuss the movie itself, but the surround effects blew my wife and I away. Especially

[Show spoiler]the creatures talking and scurrying through the house.

I use Polk Monitor 30's for surrounds btw.