Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[sapiendut]

The problem is cause by the impossibility to have centre channel behind the screen so they use psychoacoustics to create phantom centre. The problem with phantom channel is that unless you are sitting in the sweet spot the illusion fails, making at least two thirds of the theatre being unable to pinpoint the centre channel coming from the centre but more above or below the screen.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Vilya

This kind of talk just reminds me of all the times that people say that unless you're doing what I do, you're doing it wrong:

You don't have a "real" home theater unless you have what I have.

You are not a "real" film lover unless you buy what I buy and watch as I watch.

...and all the variations of these themes. My way or the highway.

Did you read what I write? I do the same towards MYSELF. When I didn’t have a projector I never called what I have as home theatre. Nobody forced their point of view. You can call a 32” TV viewed from 24ft away with a pair of headphone in the middle of the cacophony of a farmer’s market if you want. But don’t tell me that it is a home theatre and forcing me to agree on that either.

[Lee A Stewart]

Samsung/HARMAN Onyx Cinema Solution

https://jblpro.com/product_families/...inema-solution

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Most here would not qualify a smart TV as a home theater, it is just that, a TV

Originally Posted by Vilya

Having a preference is perfectly valid, but to state that someone's set-up isn't a home theater unless it uses a projector is just arbitrary and wrong.

We can call our HT anything we want, but to the Elite that have a dedicated room with Projector and Sound System is the only Home Theater for them. Sound & Vision Magazine had a write-up on this, and to them a Dedicated Room with Projector and Sound System was a HT. A room with a Big Screen and Sound was a Media Room!

[Wendell R. Breland]

For anyone interested, a Dolby white paper on Cinema sound here.

Also, have ANSI/SMPTE 202M X-Curve, 222M Modified X-Curve (ISO 2969) in my TrueRTA program for audio testing.

[Show spoiler]

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by alchav21

We can call our HT anything we want, but to the Elite that have a dedicated room with Projector and Sound System is the only Home Theater for them. Sound & Vision Magazine had a write-up on this, and to them a Dedicated Room with Projector and Sound System was a HT. A room with a Big Screen and Sound was a Media Room!

I know several people, myself included, that have invested quite a bit into our home theaters but we are not elite. We worked damn hard for our earnings and investments (38 years for me, 40 years for spouse). Our home theater was constructed by myself and spouse. Hired carpet install, HVAC and some drywall hanging. We did ALL the rest, muding, painting, trim, drapes, lighting, riser, etc.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Did you read what I write? I do the same towards MYSELF. When I didn’t have a projector I never called what I have as home theatre. Nobody forced their point of view. You can call a 32” TV viewed from 24ft away with a pair of headphone in the middle of the cacophony of a farmer’s market if you want. But don’t tell me that it is a home theatre and forcing me to agree on that either.

You would have to live at that farmer's market for it to be considered a home theater.

It is revealing that you chose to not only place this hypothetical viewing arrangement in a ridiculous location, but you also chose to place equipment that you disdain (32" TV and headphones) in it. This sounds like thinly veiled gear shaming.

We can each define a home theater how we choose, but your definition is just completely arbitrary and that's all that I am demonstrating. Your definition has no basis in fact. There is no "requirement" that we must own a projector in order to have a home theater. If that was the case, I suspect that it would still have to be a projector that you approved of or else we still couldn't join your exclusive and snobby club.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Sound & Vision Magazine had a write-up on this, and to them a Dedicated Room with Projector and Sound System was a HT. A room with a Big Screen and Sound was a Media Room!

A projector usually includes a "big screen", so that would also make such a room a "media room" as well as a "home theater" by the definition that you are using. Wouldn't a media room require the presence of, say, some actual media? Something you have little to none of?

At what size is a screen, direct view display or projection screen, "big" enough to qualify for either of these designations? Is screen size really the primary determinant here? If I sit too far away, or at the wrong angle to the screen, am I disqualified?

Why does the room have to be "dedicated" to a single purpose? Do I lose my home theater credentials if I crochet in the same room? If I listen to music without corresponding video in this "dedicated" room will my exclusive "genuine home theater" card be revoked?

[Vilya]

For just $45.99, I can haz real home theater with 180" screen!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/APEMAN-Up...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Lee A Stewart]

So I guess this "Home Theater" by definition will have to have a perforated screen with the three front channels behind it because - that's what commerical cinemas have. If they are not, ie the center either above or below the screen and the L & R on either side of the screen . . . that would not be correct.

You guys with projectors - you got a perforated screen with speakers behind it? If not - you don't have a "Home Theater."

BTW - anyone using horns for those 3 front screen channels? That's what commerical theaters use.

Be careful how you define something. You may define yourself right out of the definition.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

You would have to live at that farmer's market for it to be considered a home theater.

It is revealing that you chose to not only place this hypothetical viewing arrangement in a ridiculous location, but you also chose to place equipment that you disdain (32" TV and headphones) in it. This sounds like thinly veiled gear shaming.

We can each define a home theater how we choose, but your definition is just completely arbitrary and that's all that I am demonstrating. Your definition has no basis in fact. There is no "requirement" that we must own a projector in order to have a home theater. If that was the case, I suspect that it would still have to be a projector that you approved of or else we still couldn't join your exclusive and snobby club.

So going by your thinking, we could plonk a IPad on our living room coffee table and call it a HT? It’s a screen after all.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

So I guess this "Home Theater" by definition will have to have a perforated screen with the three front channels behind it because - that's what commerical cinemas have. If they are not, ie the center either above or below the screen and the L & R on either side of the screen . . . that would not be correct.

You guys with projectors - you got a perforated screen with speakers behind it? If not - you don't have a "Home Theater."

BTW - anyone using horns for those 3 front screen channels? That's what commerical theaters use.

Be careful how you define something. You may define yourself right out of the definition.

The clue is in the ‘Home’ part of theatre. We don’t have 200 people eating smelly burgers and popcorn at home either.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

We can call our HT anything we want, but to the Elite that have a dedicated room with Projector and Sound System is the only Home Theater for them. Sound & Vision Magazine had a write-up on this, and to them a Dedicated Room with Projector and Sound System was a HT. A room with a Big Screen and Sound was a Media Room!

Which is correct of course.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

So going by your thinking, we could plonk a IPad on our living room coffee table and call it a HT? It’s a screen after all.

You said that; I never did.

I never made any exclusive arbitrary definition as to what constitutes a home theater unlike the two of you.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Which is correct of course.

Correct is it? Really thought this through did you?

By that definition, the $46 projector that I linked to and ANY sound system, including that projector's built-in speakers, qualifies as a home theater...if I place it in a "dedicated" room.

Who knew that I could join your frat house for only $46?

By that same definition, our resident streaming fanatic has a media room...even though he owns next to no media.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The clue is in the ‘Home’ part of theatre. We don’t have 200 people eating smelly burgers and popcorn at home either.

More importantly, you likely do not have the perforated screen that he describes nor do you have the speaker type and placement, either.

All you have in common with a commercial cinema is that you shine a light at a wall with a screen draped in front of it and maybe also the sticky floors.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

More importantly, you likely do not have the perforated screen that he describes nor do you have the speaker type and placement, either.

All you have in common with a commercial cinema is that you shine a light at a wall with a screen draped in front of it and maybe also the sticky floors.

Well, that and Atmos.

No sticky floors here, I’m immaculate.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Well, that and Atmos.

No sticky floors here, I’m immaculate.

Is Atmos capability still another requirement to having a home theater?

What is the minimum number of channels necessary? Pretty sure you don't have anything that rivals a commercial theater.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Is Atmos capability still another requirement to having a home theater?

What is the minimum number of channels necessary? Pretty sure you don't have anything that rivals a commercial theater.

Answer a) never claimed it was

Answer b) never claimed I did

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Answer a) never claimed it was

Answer b) never claimed I did

I never claimed that you claimed either one; thus the usage of the "?" mark in my comment.

This business of defining a home theater is a bit of a moving target, but lowly Merriam Webster defines it as follows:

"an entertainment system for the home that usually consists of a large television with video components (such as a DVD player and VCR) and an audio system offering surround sound."

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dict...home%20theater

Britannica (whoever they are) defines it as:

"an entertainment system for your home that usually includes a large television, a DVD player or VCR, and a sound system with many speakers."

https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/home-theater

Oxford (isn't that a junior college in your country?) defines it as:

"television and video equipment designed to give a similar experience to being in a cinema, with high-quality pictures and sound and a large screen."

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionari...h/home-theater

But who the hell are any of these compared to the brain trusts that we having opining here?