D-BOX - Movement added to home theater.

[SamW]

So I just finished watching Alien vs Preditor on my Blu Ray and as I was going through the "Special Features" I came across something called "D-Box." I'd never heard of it...so I looked it up on the internet and what do you know...it claims to connect movement from the movie with your chair!

Anyone have it? Does it really work? Does it add realism to the movie? I never thought they could get the "Star Tours" feel into a home theater, but looks like we may be close!

 

[Seth=L]

I have experianced it with DVD, there are only a few select titles that featured D-Box compatitability and you had to order them special (you couldn't just go to Best Buy and pick one up). But it sounds like Blu-ray is just throwing it on their discs as an extra feature. The chairs are very expensive. The systems can range from at the lowest (this is from memory) $5000, if even that low, to $20,000. It is entertaining to say the least, but if your pockets are lined with anything short of Gold you may not find it worthy of purchase.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... but if your pockets are lined with anything short of Gold ...

You mean you'd have to take out the pocket lining then? LOL

 

[FguerraG]

I don't believe that they perform well either , there is a home theater building thread on another forum where the owner (SMX) installed a couple of those under his seats only to have them up for sale a coupla of weeks later so that has to mean something...

 

[SamW]

Expensive

The systems can range from at the lowest (this is from memory) $5000, if even that low, to $20,000. It is entertaining to say the least, but if your pockets are lined with anything short of Gold you may not find it worthy of purchase.

So, yesterday I went looking for a dealer in my area and could only find one. Unfortunately their demo wasn't up as they were changing out some equipment. It was the sort of shop where prices aren't listed anywhere and when you ask specifically about the cost of something they're really vague. Near as I can tell a simple set-up can run in excess of $10,000 and it goes up from there.

I plan to go back to the store in a few weeks once they've got the demo up and running to try it...then I'll decide if it might be worth it.

 

[jcPanny]

Tactile bass shakers

Sam,
Check out tactile bass shakers like the buttkicker product line. For a few hundred bucks you can add "feel" to the LFE track and they can be mounted to any chair or couch and will work with all source material.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90140306&listingid=6487664&dcaid=17902

Also for <$10k you could get 4 really good subs that would provide the "feel" without a special chair.

 

[Seth=L]

Also for <$10k you could get 4 really good subs that would provide the "feel" without a special chair.

And hear it.

 

[Audioholics]

I don't believe that they perform well either , there is a home theater building thread on another forum where the owner (SMX) installed a couple of those under his seats only to have them up for sale a coupla of weeks later so that has to mean something...

D-Box is an all-in-one motion chair solution, so I don't think this is what SMX was referring to.

Anyone who has done a motion simulator will known how cool the D-Box concept can be. The downsides are price, software availability and (I imagine) not-so-timely release dates.

 

[SamW]

Good suggestion.

Sam,
Check out tactile bass shakers like the buttkicker product line. For a few hundred bucks you can add "feel" to the LFE track and they can be mounted to any chair or couch and will work with all source material.

That may be a good idea. I'll have to see if I can find a place to try a demo of those. 'Course I can't imagine a simple vibration is going to be the same as actual up/down/left/right movement. But for 1/20th of the price it may be a good value alternative.

I'll check into it - thanks.

 

[SamW]

Software availability.

The downsides are price, software availability and (I imagine) not-so-timely release dates.

Yeah...I was wondering about availability of titles. Near as I can tell they aren't loading it onto Blu Rays as a standard feature yet...still more the exeception than the rule by far.

 

[FguerraG]

D-Box is an all-in-one motion chair solution, so I don't think this is what SMX was referring to.

Anyone who has done a motion simulator will known how cool the D-Box concept can be. The downsides are price, software availability and (I imagine) not-so-timely release dates.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=574704&highlight=D-Box&page=86



You made me go trough that thread again!!!



as you can see he did get the D-Box only to have it up for sale a page later

I also found out that it was because he wanted a bigger one...

 

[SamW]

Great thread.

You made me go through that thread again!!!

Well, that was a great thread to read. 'Course I didn't make it all the way through, but the section on the D-Box was entertaining.