THX Certified - Obsolete today ?

[JimPullan]

With the advent of High Definition displays and high resolution audio, is THX certification products a thing of the past? In the past, those who wanted a THX level certified theater room had to have all THX certified products, the display, the DVD player, the audio components, and the speakers, to ensure they experience, in the home, that which they experienced in the theater. Being that we are at a much higher level of enjoyment experience, are these THX certified products worth the additional expense? and if so, why? What does THX bring to the table now that enhances what we're presently enjoying? You insight, and expert opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses.

Jim

[LembasBread]

THX is highly overrated. It's great that they exist for quality control so that those products/environments that are certified aren't complete and utter crap. But, just because it's got THX stamped on it doesn't mean it's going to be the best quality ever, just that it meets certain quality levels. I can think of some of my best looking/sounding DVD's (i.e. Master & Commander, Gladiator, LOTR) and they aren't THX certified.

The recent releases of Pirates of the Caribbean and other top-tier A/V experiences on BD are amazing and will probably be for the remander of BD's techology lifecycle and these discs aren't even THX certified.

[JToddler]

Sony products are never THX certified! Sony do not believe in THX certification. THX certification does not mean that the product is any better than those products with no such recognition. Any company whose products is THX certified pays a hefty merbership fee, that's all it is and that's all there is beside the fact that a member company follows the THX guidelines! I myself do not believe in THX!

[JimPullan]

Thank you for your comments . . . . . . [Jim]

[Sir Terrence]

A THX certification used to mean alot. Especially in regards to the performance of "A" and "B" chain components. In a world where there were no standards, it was conforting that we had some standards. However THX certification became a money stream to THX, and they attempted to certify things that just aren't worthy of a certification. Like computer speakers and VCR's. To open that cash flow even more, you began to get levels of certification to match room size when all your really needed was larger amps, not different speakers or controllers. This push for cash flow has watered down the certification to a meaningless expensive badge that doesn't guarantee the most important quality of a system, the sound quality.

[JimPullan]

Thanks Sir Terrence. I agree with your comments. I believe the quality and performance of mid to high end components often meet or exceed THX criteria and it is an expense now unworthy of paying simply getting a THX logo on the devices.

Jim Pullan
Audio Excellence
Ocala, FL

Originally Posted by Sir Terrence

A THX certification used to mean alot. Especially in regards to the performance of "A" and "B" chain components. In a world where there were no standards, it was conforting that we had some standards. However THX certification became a money stream to THX, and they attempted to certify things that just aren't worthy of a certification. Like computer speakers and VCR's. To open that cash flow even more, you began to get levels of certification to match room size when all your really needed was larger amps, not different speakers or controllers. This push for cash flow has watered down the certification to a meaningless expensive badge that doesn't guarantee the most important quality of a system, the sound quality.

[JToddler]

Originally Posted by Sir Terrence

A THX certification used to mean alot. Especially in regards to the performance of "A" and "B" chain components. In a world where there were no standards, it was conforting that we had some standards. However THX certification became a money stream to THX, and they attempted to certify things that just aren't worthy of a certification. Like computer speakers and VCR's. To open that cash flow even more, you began to get levels of certification to match room size when all your really needed was larger amps, not different speakers or controllers. This push for cash flow has watered down the certification to a meaningless expensive badge that doesn't guarantee the most important quality of a system, the sound quality.

Well said! I couldn't have said it better myself. Way to go!

[ClaytonMG]

Have any of you actually priced a THX system? Or better yet, used one?

[LembasBread]

Yes. They are not God's (or George Lucas') gift to man.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by SumYonGuy

Sony audio products are never THX certified! Sony audio cannot get THX certification.

Fixed.

THX certified pays a hefty merbership fee

Well yeah, who can pay a merbership fee anyway?

SumYon has become to THX what rdjam is to Blu-ray.

[PeterTHX]

This is redundant with the HD DVD thread.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=9664

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by LembasBread

Yes. They are not God's (or George Lucas') gift to man.

Lembas, what did they ever do to you?

You aren't paying for it anyway.

I can think of some of my best looking/sounding DVD's (i.e. Master & Commander, Gladiator, LOTR) and they aren't THX certified.

Ironic you should mention those because "LOTR" was mixed in a THX certified theater and had Skywalker Sound work on it. Just because the discs aren't certified doesn't mean they didn't pass thru something certified by THX somewhere in the production chain. Guess who Peter Jackson gets advice from?

The recent releases of Pirates of the Caribbean and other top-tier A/V experiences on BD are amazing and will probably be for the remander of BD's techology lifecycle and these discs aren't even THX certified.

Disney doesn't have their transfer/production certified yet. Doesn't mean they will or won't in he future. I can tell you this, if they were YOU WOULDN'T BE PAYING A DIME MORE FOR THESE TITLES.

[dakota81]

Topic: THX Certified - Obsolete today?

Question: Is it only obsolete because an HD DVD movie was recently certified?

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by dakota81

Topic: THX Certified - Obsolete today?

Question: Is it only obsolete because an HD DVD movie was recently certified?

That is actually a very excelent point and might be why everyone is freaking out. I don't get what everyone has against THX. Personally, I think it's an excelent idea to have a way of letting the customer know "hey, this is a good product" byt creating a standard to certifying Blu-Rays. I don't see where there is a problem with that at all. And it seems almost insane to think it's a bad idea and no one seems to be able to say why it is a bad idea. Yes, there are fees for using THX, yes there might be better products on the market (I can pretty much guarantee you though that none of Sony recievers aside from the ES ones are better than THX certified ones), but where is there a problem with creating a new standard with THX?

[JToddler]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Fixed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SumYonGuy
Sony audio products are never THX certified! Sony audio cannot get THX certification.



Fixed.


Quote:
THX certified pays a hefty merbership fee

Well yeah, who can pay a merbership fee anyway?

SumYon has become to THX what rdjam is to Blu-ray.

LMAO! If you have to quote what someone said you actually "quote" what was said and not edit it! Editing is falsifying it and voids the "quote" just so you know! I am just being nice to you my friend! PEACE!

[JToddler]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMG

Have any of you actually priced a THX system? Or better yet, used one?

Umm.. I have this Logitech Z-2300 speakers that I bought for my PC. It does say it's THX certified but I did not purchase it for that stamp. I bought it to the credit of the maker Logitech and not the certification.

[JToddler]

Originally Posted by Sir Terrence

A THX certification used to mean alot. Especially in regards to the performance of "A" and "B" chain components. In a world where there were no standards, it was conforting that we had some standards. However THX certification became a money stream to THX, and they attempted to certify things that just aren't worthy of a certification. Like computer speakers and VCR's. To open that cash flow even more, you began to get levels of certification to match room size when all your really needed was larger amps, not different speakers or controllers. This push for cash flow has watered down the certification to a meaningless expensive badge that doesn't guarantee the most important quality of a system, the sound quality.

My Logitech Z-2300 PC speakers are THX certified! Can you imagine that? PEACE!

[LembasBread]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Lembas, what did they ever do to you?

You aren't paying for it anyway.

lol, they haven't scarred me for life or anything like that. It's just that everyone acts like THX is this god-send of uber-quality and that everyone must bow down to them because everything they touch is gold. I'm in the sound industry myself and I can tell you the loudspeaker placement and specifications they have are not conducive to a home cinema environment with a single sweet spot, but a professional cinema environment that plays to a large crowd of people.

Don't get me wrong - I appreciate that they exist because THX at least gives the industry a standard to improve/work off of. I'm sure mixing environments and specifications have greatly benefitted from things they've done. But they've seemed to turn into what Sir Terrence was getting at with it becoming watered down and everything electronic under the sun needs to be THX certified or else it's crap. I own a few THX titles and honestly, the only ones that I think are top notch are the Star Wars series and not much else really stands out except the sound mixes on the two T2 special editions.

Ironic you should mention those because "LOTR" was mixed in a THX certified theater and had Skywalker Sound work on it. Just because the discs aren't certified doesn't mean they didn't pass thru something certified by THX somewhere in the production chain. Guess who Peter Jackson gets advice from?

I do know that George Lucas acts as a mentor for pretty much every filmaker who is anybody in Hollywood. I didn't realize Park Road Post, where all the audio post-production mix for Return of the King was done, down in New Zealand was THX certified; it doesn't mention that anywhere on their website (unless I'm blind):http://www.parkroadpost.co.nz/.

I know the LOTR trilogy was mix/mastered for home video by Mi Casa Mulitmedia which isn't, afaik, THX certified. They optimize for home cinema and if you look at the work that they've done for DVD, you'll see that the AQ is generally well recieved.http://micasamm.com

Like I said before, I'm not totally anti-THX. They've done some spectacular things and I can appreciate their work. It's just that they've seemed to become over rated and items with the logo stamped on it are becoming overpriced because you start paying more for the name instead of the quality, a la Monster and Bose.

[LembasBread]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Disney doesn't have their transfer/production certified yet. Doesn't mean they will or won't in he future. I can tell you this, if they were YOU WOULDN'T BE PAYING A DIME MORE FOR THESE TITLES.

I know I wouldn't be paying more for movie titles. My qualm for that area is that just because a BD or DVD is THX certified, doesn't mean it's reference quality home theatre material. I own The Last of the Mohicans on DVD and the PQ/AQ is, shall we say, not awe inspiring. I'm certain it could be a lot worse, and it's THX certification keeps it from being so, but it's also not the best quality ever put on DVD.

T2 on BD is THX certified and it is generally considered a so-so effort. It's never mentioned as one of BD's best titles, in fact, it's usually the opposite.

I forgot about the THX certified Pixar titles in my previous post. Those are some spectacular achievments in home cinema. But, I think that has more to do with the inherent quality of the production more than its THX certification which does help, but is not the defining factor as to why these titles are audio/visual gems.

[ClaytonMG]

Actually... I believe it was Return of the King that was mastered for home video by someone from THX in a THX theater. The other 2 (which magically get the most complaints for being "too loud") were done elsewhere.