Confused about THX processing mode

[Southpaw]

Okay, I just purchased the Pio Elite VSX-92TXH and so far I love it. I have a 5.1 set up. The MCACC set my speakers for large and I left them like that and made my sub a plus so it would take most of the lfe.
I am confused about THX processing modes that it has. THX cinema? Select2 cinema? It looks like some of these are for 7.1 setups so I don't have to worry about those. But will a basic THX cinema distort anything? Say I'm listening to a TrueHD track on an HD DVD. Should I use one of these THX modes or just leave it as is?

 

[j_garcia]

If you don't have a THX system, then applying the post processing may not yeild "better" sound. I know it doesn't in my system so I never use it.

 

[Brian_the_King]

Unless you really prefer how the THX processing sounds, just leave it 'unprocessed' or at default or w/e.

 

[GlocksRock]

THX is just another form of processing, it's neither good nor bad, just different. If you like the way it sounds, use it, if not then don't. I use it on occasion, but mostly just use standard dolby digital and dts with PLIIx overlayed. THX Cinema is the only THX mode that you can apply with only a 5.1 setup, with 6.1 you can use THX Surround EX and with 7.1 you can use THX Select2 Cinema. THX adds certian features that you may or may not like, check out their website for more info.

 

[agarwalro]

THX processing mode settings are optimized to work with THX certified speakers and vice versa. If your speakers are not THX certified, don't bother with this setting. THX mandates a crossover setting of 80Hz for all speakers, so the closest you can come to THX sound on the "THX processing" setting when using non-THX certified speakers, is by crossing over all speakers at 80Hz. (thats quite a brain twister )

Electronics and speakers that are THX certified meet specifications with tightly controlled roll off characteristics for the electronics and acoustic characteristics for the speakers.

THX also give guidelines for the speakers placement which are slightly differenct from DD/ DTS.

 

[Bluesmoke]

When I had my Pioneer 1015, I never used the THX modes. To me, they just added another layer of crap on top. The natural surround field always sounded more clearer than any THX mode.

 

[j_garcia]

Some of the THX post processing assumes you have speakers that are intended to be used with it and those speaekers ae designed accordingly. What I hear is a bit of a softening of the sound at the top and since my speakers are already fairly warm sounding, adding the processing makes things sound TOO rolled off.