Does anyone know what firmware# 6420-0151-8186-1000 adds to the Denon receivers? I got the update this morning. Do you guys think it has anything to do with Disney+ adding IMAX Enhanced content to their Marvel movies tomorrow?
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Disney is a stream that only offers IMAX in part, true IMAX enhanced includes a load of audio changes too . I use a Denon 4500h AVR , in my Denon menu, and using a source disc playing a true IMAX enhanced movie which is played on my Panasonic 820 I leverage the AVR which has full IMAX capability. This only occurs when you play an IMAX disc as it triggers extra settings. This is why streaming isn’t the right way to go as you only get a compromised experience, for true IMAX you have to have an IMAX capable AVR not a streaming set top box or tv . Denon produces a number of AVRs that are IMAX capable, along with others such as Marantz and Onkyo, you unfortunately cannot derive full IMAX enhanced from eArc , TVs or the likes of Disney+, Netflix etc, all of whom offer a part only presentation of the IMAX medium. IMAX audio is very different and you need a significant speaker configuration to appreciate it, the audio from IMAX is a cry down version of what you hear at an IMAX cinema, only cut down as an IMAX cinema has a huge number of speakers to deliver the extra sound channels and deeper base, Im running a 7.2.4 (11.2processing) to try and get as close as possible.
IMAX Enhanced soundtracks differ from most DTS:X soundtracks in two ways: they contain an audio object and they are pre bass managed.
IMAX theatrical soundtracks have 12 channels: typical 7.1.4 plus an Upper Centre speaker at the top of the (tall) IMAX screen. The IMAX Enhanced program brings the IMAX theatrical version of a movie to home video using the DTS:X format. Since the DTS:X format doesn't have a speaker location at the top of the screen, the IMAX 12th channel (Upper Centre) is encoded as an object in 3D space. That's one way IMAX Enhanced soundtracks are different from most DTS:X soundtracks.
IMAX theatrical soundtracks don't contain a LFE channel; they're 12.0 channels, not 11.1 channels. IMAX movie theatres feed their subs via bass management: all the channels are high passed at 70Hz using a 24dB per octave filter and everything below that range goes to the subwoofer. The crossovers in most consumer devices are 12dB per octave. So all the channels (and lone object) on an IMAX Enhanced disc come already high-passed at 70Hz using a 12dB per octave filter and everything below that range goes to the .1 channel.
When played back at home, the 12dB crossover in the receiver is combined with the 12dB filtered soundtrack to sum to a 24dB per octave high pass at 70Hz. Exactly like in an IMAX theatre. So that's another way IMAX Enhanced soundtracks are different from DTS:X soundtracks.
Disney is not able or offering DTS X which is needed to send IMAX theatrical sound, their offer is aspect changes only.
