THX Certification of High-Def Discs Comes to Europe; Is U.S. Next?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Frode

Anyone remember the crappy Highlander DVD that was THX certified?

Uh gawd.

The Highlander debacle was a decade ago (1997!). It was because Anchor Bay took a certified LD transfer, slapped it on a DVD and called it THX. SINCE THEN the THX certification program on DVD has been much stricter and MUCH MUCH BETTER.

I supposed EVERYTHING you've ever done is perfect as well? Do you say things like "The Indianapolis Colts are a lousy ball team" because of the 1997 season?

Talk about credibility!

[Frode]

Sorry Peter but people have long memories. I also have other THX certified discs that I'm not that happy with. One for instance (Tenchi Muyo: Daughter of Darkness) has issues with a flipped field order when using alternate angles which leads to very annoying aliasing artifacts whenever the alt. angles kick in. Whether you're a THX fanboy or not, you can't deny that THX has lost a lot of credibility over the years compared to what they used to have. If that loss of credibility feels justified from THX side of the fence is a different discussion/matter.

[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!

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Frode

Anyone remember the crappy Highlander DVD that was THX certified? Yeah, that one. I'd say THX has no credibility left. They did their job back in the 80s when there were a lot of movie theaters with crappy sound systems, but these days the point is gone.

Yes the Laserdisc image was better compared to the first Highlander DVD’s. I was disappointed with the first release many years ago and it had the THX label on the poor quality DVD. The Laserdisc which was not THX looked better.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Uh gawd.

The Highlander debacle was a decade ago (1997!). It was because Anchor Bay took a certified LD transfer, slapped it on a DVD and called it THX. SINCE THEN the THX certification program on DVD has been much stricter and MUCH MUCH BETTER.

I supposed EVERYTHING you've ever done is perfect as well? Do you say things like "The Indianapolis Colts are a lousy ball team" because of the 1997 season?

Talk about credibility!

I have seen many good quality items that are THX certified. Also THX has different levels of certification. So some products are going to be better quality then others.

[ClaytonMG]

I'd say there was a middle section of THX certified DVD's that were pretty good. When DVD's first came out, of course the THX certified movies sucked! It was the beginning of the format! However, now, with some of their recent titles, they've kinda let themselves go. King Arthur looked pretty bad to me. But then there's Speed, which was a major improvement over the first DVD. Same with its sequel (though I still get horrid migrains from it for a number of reasons ranging from nothing but flashing lights for 45 minutes and a story that makes toddlers vommit). But! I say it again, I think the best thing THX could do for High Def titles would be, set up a standard and stick to it.

Make sure each title has uncompressed audio, video that's true to the original source (unless it needs remastering, in which case go for it), and absolutely (even though there's no risk of this) no edge enhancement. Another thing they could look into is making sure there's no compression blocks of any kind.

As for the person who says people who get things THX certified because of their hefty membership fees and THX actually does nothing... I suggest you check out a THX certified reciever. I've had many pieces of equipment over the years and the ones that have been THX certified have blown the competition away. Yes, it's true that things that aren't THX certified can be just as good. However, when you buy a THX certified reciever, you know it went through tons of testing to acheive it's certification and it also has their great surround modes. Now, my hands are tired and I am gonna go ahead back to watching my movie on my THX certified reciever!

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMG

As for the person who says people who get things THX certified because of their hefty membership fees and THX actually does nothing... I suggest you check out a THX certified reciever. I've had many pieces of equipment over the years and the ones that have been THX certified have blown the competition away. Yes, it's true that things that aren't THX certified can be just as good. However, when you buy a THX certified reciever, you know it went through tons of testing to acheive it's certification and it also has their great surround modes. Now, my hands are tired and I am gonna go ahead back to watching my movie on my THX certified reciever!

Very good point

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMG

When DVD's first came out, of course the THX certified movies sucked! It was the beginning of the format!

Its true when DVD’s in general first came out they were poor quality compared to the higher quality Laserdisc format. DVD’s were using single layer and mostly one side for most movies. As soon as the studios started going to dual layer discs instead of single layer discs then the DVD format started having a better picture quality compared to the Laserdisc format.
Kind of like the first BLU-RAY discs like Fifth Element that were done on a single layer BLU-RAY disc using MPEG-2. Now the Fifth Element is going to have a reissue with better quality on a dual layer BLU-RAY disc. Every format improves over time and the quality most of the time just keeps getting better and better.

[Jonalan34]

Hey people! you can say that to George Lucas. He is reponsible for bring technology forward to movie industry, THX, etc. THX do not mean anything alot but it is part of George Lucas to bring us a best expereince. He can push to limit, he want what is best for us.

So, in my opinion, there is nothing it has to do with pq or sq that are approved or certified by THX.

Star Wars series are certified by THX because it is own by Lucasfilm and Geroge Lucas.

It was certified by THX on all verisons of Star Wars DVD and VHS (1995 and beyond).
Not only DVD.

[JToddler]

Sony products go through rigorous testing and quality manufacturing checks before they go out in the market place. None of Sony products have never been THX certified! With the quality products they offer, Sony products will never need THX!

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Jonalan34

He can push to limit, he want what is best for us.

I wish that was the case with the Star Wars prequels.

[JToddler]

Originally Posted by Banjo

I wish that was the case with the Star Wars prequels.

Good point! Tell me about it! There's no need for another format or soundfield or quality control or however you call it (THX 5.1, THX 5.1EX, etc)

If HD-DVD adapts THX and blu-ray do not, would you switch to that format?

Leave High def alone, it is best as it is now! Sony will never adapt to George Lucas' THX quality control!

[HDTV1080P]

THX products are nothing more then a quality certification process so products that are released meet a certain level of quality. There are many products on the market that are just as good or better then THX certified products due to the fact some companies have good internal quality control before releasing their products on the market. That being said, if I was shopping for a new highend receiver I most likely would choose a receiver that is THX Ultra 2 or THX Ultra Certified since I know the product meets a certain level of quality to earn certification. There are 4 different levels of THX certification for AV receivers and each certification level means the product met a certain level of quality. THX certification is not perfect but it is better then nothing.

http://www.thx.com/products/home/avreceivers.html

[JToddler]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

THX products are nothing more then a quality certification process so products that are released meet a certain level of quality. There are many products on the market that are just as good or better then THX certified products due to the fact some companies have good internal quality control before releasing their products on the market. That being said, if I was shopping for a new highend receiver I most likely would choose a receiver that is THX Ultra 2 or THX Ultra Certified since I know the product meets a certain level of quality to earn certification. There are 4 different levels of THX certification for AV receivers and each certification level means the product met a certain level of quality. THX certification is not perfect but it is better then nothing.

http://www.thx.com/products/home/avreceivers.html

People know about THX but all I am saying is that "Sony will never adapt THX", it's a fact! PEACE!

[56@Yamamoto]

The first THX certificated High-Def title in the world is "Brave Story" released both Blu-Ray and HD DVD in Japan.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by SumYonGuy

People know about THX but all I am saying is that "Sony will never adapt THX", it's a fact! PEACE!

Well that probably explains why Sony audio components are largely junk (unless they carry the ES label).

They would never PASS certification.

[JToddler]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Well that probably explains why Sony audio components are largely junk (unless they carry the ES label).

They would never PASS certification.

LOL Sony has products that cater to everyone depending on your budget including Elevated Series and they are in no way largely junk as you put it! For example the PS3, what does George Lucas know? PEACE!

[ClaytonMG]

I am pretty sure that when he said they were junk, he was refering to recievers. In which case, he is right, their recievers are pretty much crap unless they have the ES logo. And chances are, none of them would pass the THX tests. But I am confused as to what the big argument is...

Do we not want a certification process that allows the consumer to know the film is at the highest level it can be?

I don't get why people think THX is a bad thing. It seems everyone is arguing over litterally nothing. Yes, THX didn't mean the greatest quality in the past, but this is something entirely new. They will have to have a new certification process people, which would probably mean major improvements over their early ones for DVD's.