Films which sound crap on a TV...

[Visionist]

Before I went 5.1 I suffered through rumbling, distorted bass, unintelligible dialogue, tinny, undefined music and general misery when watching the likes of Inception and, Horror of LFE Horrors, Dark City (sounded like the TV was constantly about to explode).

Which films have you found sound like crap on a 2.0 TV?

[HAMP]

Who watches any current movie in stereo?

[timcat4843]

Everything sounds terrible on a tv with 2.0 channel sound.

If you don't have at least a 5.1 surround sound HT system, then you shouldn't own a tv.

[crackinhedz]

TV speakers suck, period. They are way too small to sound like the real deal.

If you were expecting anything more...well...

[HHX]

i dont even remember the last time i heard a movie throuh tv speakers lol before i started my HT set up i had my old Panasonic shelf system hooked up to my tv so it still sounded decent (compared to tv speakers). whenever i go over to a friend's house though and we watch something on their tv (even if its a football game or cnn or movie previews) i keep thinking how i miss my systems

[Metric]

Originally Posted by timcat4843

Everything sounds terrible on a tv with 2.0 channel sound.

If you don't have at least a 5.1 surround sound HT system, then you shouldn't own a tv.

You watch movies on a tv? if you don't have 130"+ projection you shouldn't own a 5.1 system.

[timcat4843]

Originally Posted by Metric

You watch movies on a tv? if you don't have 130"+ projection you shouldn't own a 5.1 system.

Pretty hard to fit a 130" screen in my apartment. lol

Actually, I own a 7.1 surround sound system and you shouldn't own a surround system,
without four subwoofers.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by timcat4843

Everything sounds terrible on a tv with 2.0 channel sound.

If you don't have at least a 5.1 surround sound HT system, then you shouldn't own a tv.

Many elderly people don't have surround sound in their homes. My father didn't have surround sound, and neither my mother! They just want to watch TV. The elderly couldn't care less about 5.1 audio. Some have complained numerous of times, about the sound being too loud in theaters. As people get older, their hearing becomes intolerant, and sensitive to high decibels, which is exactly why the nursing homes, and exclusive senior citizens apartment complexes (who strictly doesn't rent to young people), are quiet.

[cole2kb]

Originally Posted by timcat4843

Everything sounds terrible on a tv with 2.0 channel sound.

If you don't have at least a 5.1 surround sound HT system, then you shouldn't own a tv.

A little pretentious, don't you think? Some of us are quite happy without 5.1.

I will agree that watching through TV speakers really dull the experience and just make it more of a pain, adjusting volume and EQ settings regularly. Even if someone was to just grab a shelf system or a 2.1 set normally sold for use with a computer, they'd have a much better experience.

Currently, I have a soundbar with a sub and it sounds great. I'd like to upgrade at some point, but I have no reason to rush.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by HAMP

Who watches any current movie in stereo?

there are more people then you might think that dont have even a HTIB.

theres many folks on this site alone that post their tv only ht setup.

[Dubstar]

I remember seeing 'Alien' for the first time on a small 13 inch TV mono sound years ago - the movie didn't impress me in the slightest - but then when the movie was shown in a mini 70mm film fest at the Uptown - oh... my ... god!!!

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by callas01

there are more people then you might think that dont have even a HTIB.

theres many folks on this site alone that post their tv only ht setup.

You're absolutely correct - the vast majority of consumers DO NOT play audio through any kind of system. I've commented on this many times before and there's many reasons for this, but one of them is that the A/V Receiver manufacturers have made the installation and operation of their receivers so convoluted, that "average Joes" cannot figure them out and as a result, simply do without or perhaps use a soundbar instead.

Also, those who care deeply about the sanctity of their living space do not appreciate the design attributes of a rack of equipment and a bunch of speakers and wires, including, but certainly not limited to, most female spouses. This isn't sexism, but high quality sound, for whatever reasons, is generally not a female thing. For those who can afford it, that's why the equipment is relegated, for better or worse, to a dedicated home theatre room.

In spite of all the hype, the audio industry is not doing well. In 1990, component audio (which includes receivers, tuners, amps, preamps, processors, soundbars without a player, speakers and A/V electronics) did $1.93b in sales. That's $3.242 billion in 2011 dollars. I don't have final 2011 figures, but it was projected to come in at $1.569b. Component sales, not including inflation are down 19% from their 1990 $1.93b peak, but including inflation, are at less than half, 48.4%, of their 1990 peak. (All numbers according to the CEA). In 2011, U.S. Blu-ray software sales actually exceeded A/V component hardware sales.

[Liquid_Swords]

One that comes to mind is From Dusk Till Dawn, US release. Echo Bridge, with no subtitles. Super low dialogue and then boom loud explosion. Theres a ton, I hate listening to movies through my plasma

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by HAMP

Who watches any current movie in stereo?

Me!I'd rather have a glorious 2-ch setup which sounds really nice rather than have a surround which sounds ok.But hey,thats me.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

Me!I'd rather have a glorious 2-ch setup which sounds really nice rather than have a surround which sounds ok.But hey,thats me.

Surround sounds OK? Whenever you go to see a movie in a theater, wouldn't you like to have that same overall theatrical presentation at home? With DVD I can see, but blu-ray? you're only getting half of what blu-ray has to offer! The audio is just as important as the video. You don't know what you're missing!

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Surround sounds OK? Whenever you go to see a movie in a theater, wouldn't you like to have that same overall theatrical presentation at home? With DVD I can see, but blu-ray? you're only getting half of what blu-ray has to offer! The audio is just as important as the video. You don't know what you're missing!

Ignorance is bliss

[Visionist]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

Ignorance is bliss

No it isn't.

It's ignorance.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Visionist

Before I went 5.1 I suffered through rumbling, distorted bass, unintelligible dialogue, tinny, undefined music and general misery when watching the likes of Inception and, Horror of LFE Horrors, Dark City (sounded like the TV was constantly about to explode).

Which films have you found sound like Ass on a 2.0 TV?

Just about every movie with multi-channel soundtracks, are going to sound horrible through TV speakers, because of their maximum low wattage, and limited range. The only type of films will sound adequate, are the movies that were originally recorded in mono including old TV shows, and programs.

[Tybo28]

All of them. Especially since a lot of HD tvs have weak sound. I could never, ever go back to that. HD surround is 50% of the experience.

[HHX]

even if i just have a 2.0 set up with 2 decent towers or bookshelf speakers - doesnt HAVE to be 5 or 7 or 9 channel surround system. I just cant listen to crappy tv speakers. My old rear projection tv had much bigger and better built in speakers than the new flat panel hdtvs and still i added 2 definitive SM350 bookshelves back then.