IMAX vs My Home Theater

[Bloodstriker]

I just watched "I Am Legend" in IMAX last night. I was completely blown away by the picture quality and sound quality. The PQ felt like I was watching HD, except 4 kabillion times larger, and the movie sounded so good that I would mistake some of the movie sounds for real life.

Now... how do I get sound like that at home? The two things I was most impressed by was the dynamics and fullness of the sound, and the surround effect was completely encompassing.

sigh.. I see myself spending a bunch more $$ now...

 

[Seth=L]

First you need to hit the lottery. Then take every possible lesson from WmAx you can and apply it.

 

[markw]

Having a big room helps. Big bass likes lotsa space to "stretch out"

 

[sparky77]

That's something I was kinda wondering about too, how does a typical theaters resolution compare to HD? Does anybody have any insight on this?

I was really impressed with the pq at our little local theater when they finally switched their light source from carbon-arc lamps to halogen, the color at least looks natural now, and at the same time they replaced the entire sound system and got the new system thx certified, not bad for a 150 seat theater in a town of 1400 people.

 

[Soundman]

That's something I was kinda wondering about too, how does a typical theaters resolution compare to HD? Does anybody have any insight on this?

I was really impressed with the pq at our little local theater when they finally switched their light source from carbon-arc lamps to halogen, the color at least looks natural now, and at the same time they replaced the entire sound system and got the new system thx certified, not bad for a 150 seat theater in a town of 1400 people.

That's not bad. Most theatres I've been to suck big time in the audio department! I get a better experience with my 5.1 setup I have on my PC!

 

[Seth=L]

Ravemotion pictures certainly uses something past 1080p and their sound is fantastic.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I would way rather watch a movie at home. I think my PQ and SQ are just as good as the local Rave but then again, I hate being around a bunch of nasty people at a nasty theater.

 

[markw]

So would I

I would way rather watch a movie at home.

They get pissed when I watch movies in my boxers at the local cinema.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yes and they also frown on the noise of my martini shaker!

They get pissed when I watch movies in my boxers at the local cinema.

 

[Seth=L]

I would way rather watch a movie at home. I think my PQ and SQ are just as good as the local Rave but then again, I hate being around a bunch of nasty people at a nasty theater.

Nasty people? At a Rave theater? That sucks, the Rave in my town is a classy area, less "dirties".

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Mine's in a decent area too but I just dont like people in general

Nasty people? At a Rave theater? That sucks, the Rave in my town is a classy area, less "dirties".

 

[Seth=L]

Mine's in a decent area too but I just dont like people in general

LOL, me neither. I don't pay any attention to them when watching movies though.

 

[mtrycrafts]

That's something I was kinda wondering about too, how does a typical theaters resolution compare to HD? Does anybody have any insight on this?

I have an article from 2001 by David Carlstroma member/pres of an audio club and this is what he has to say:

Straight forward film production involves a film negative with a resolution of around 7000 line pairs per inch. 35mm lenses do compromise this resolution, and the contact printing process for release prints will reduce the resolution a bit more, but we can expect at least 2000 line pairs delivered to the screen in a normal movie without optical effects. HDTV offers 1080x1792 pixels. But we must compare apples to apples. TV resolution is quoted in lines not line pairs and we have to discount the TV lines by the Kell factor to estimate the ability of the raster media to resolve real world objects.
(1792/2)*0.7= 672 by (1080/2)*0.7=378 is roughly the same resolution of HDTV in film terms. The 35mm image is about 1" wide, so 672/2000=0.31 is a fair comparison of HDTV to movie film resolution. Roughly speaking this says a movie is three times as sharp as HDTV.

I was really impressed with the pq at our little local theater when they finally switched their light source from carbon-arc lamps to halogen, the color at least looks natural now, and at the same time they replaced the entire sound system and got the new system thx certified, not bad for a 150 seat theater in a town of 1400 people.

That is impressive to have a THX theater there; enjoy.

ps. no idea where his 1792 came from or that a 35mm is about 1"wide as I just measured an old 35mm slide that is 1 3/8" wide so don't shoot the messenger

Here is a link to Kell Factor:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kell_factor

 

[RealMFG]

youre crazy to think you can match the almighty IMAX

 

[mtrycrafts]

youre crazy to think you can match the almighty IMAX

Well, if he hits the major jackpot, he can own an IMAX and invite all of us over, free trip included.

 

[Bloodstriker]

I guess I should keep dreaming, huh?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I swear I would rather set in front of a 19'' TV and wear headphones then to go to a movie!

youre crazy to think you can match the almighty IMAX

 

[Davemcc]

I swear I would rather set in front of a 19'' TV and wear headphones then to go to a movie!

You sure wasted a lot of money on a home theater if that's all it takes to make you happy.

 

[Warpdrv]

You sure wasted a lot of money on a home theater if that's all it takes to make you happy.

ROFL...

I tell you, I can't watch movies like those Imax ones... the screen is just way too big, and it makes me sick... Don't get me wrong, I like big screens, but those things are just rediculus. A friend made a HT in his house, with a screen that stretches from one side of a wall to the other, and it was just too big for the room... no-one likes to watch movies there, the room is too short for how wide the screen is..

 

[Halon451]

I recently went to an IMAX and saw the 3D Moon movie (whatever it's called) - I absolutely love the experience whenever I go - especially in 3D. Nothing beats total Audio/Visual immersion like that - if I could somehow replicate that at home I'd probably never leave the family room.