Thx Certification, How Important

[achani]

I Am Setting A Dedicated Theater 16'wide 24' Long With 9'ceiling In My Basement.

How Important Is To By A Reciever Which Is Thx Certified.

Do I Need Ultra 2, They Are Expensive, I Can Buy It If I Realy Need It

Help Please

 

[MDS]

You don't need THX certification, but it is nice to have. THX certified gear simply meets minimum standards of performance set by THX and also include THX post-processing enhancements.

This kind of question always leads to replies like 'THX is just a money-grab and is worthless', but the reality is it does ensure at least a minimum level of guaranteed performance and some people find the post-processing enhancements to be very useful.

Some non-THX certified equipment may meet or exceed the THX requirements anyway, so just buy the equipment you want/need - if it also happens to be THX certified, that's a plus.

 

[achani]

You don't need THX certification, but it is nice to have. THX certified gear simply meets minimum standards of performance set by THX and also include THX post-processing enhancements.

This kind of question always leads to replies like 'THX is just a money-grab and is worthless', but the reality is it does ensure at least a minimum level of guaranteed performance and some people find the post-processing enhancements to be very useful.

Some non-THX certified equipment may meet or exceed the THX requirements anyway, so just buy the equipment you want/need - if it also happens to be THX certified, that's a plus.

THANKS,

ANY SUGESSTION IF MY BUGDET IS $1200-1500 FOR RECIEVER

 

[topjimi]

i think it's a scam on the same level as bose, do yourself a favor, get some mid level electronics, good speakers, don't get nuts on the wires(another scam thats been proven), and put most of your money on the display! you'll be happier. let the flaming begin

 

[MDS]

Achani1,
See what I mean? A totally non-sensical, factless post right away from topjimi. Alot of people bash THX when they don't even have a clue what it is all about. There is certification (THX Select, Ultra), post-processing (Re-EQ, adaptive decorrelation, etc), standards for bass management (4th order low-pass, 2nd order high-pass), color coding conventions (Red=Right, White=Left, Green=Center, etc). All receivers that are THX certified include the post-processing enhancements. Most receivers that are not THX certified still follow at least the bass managment and color coding 'standards'. There is quite a bit of information on what THX is and is not on the web - start at http://www.thx.com.

There are alot of great receivers in the $1200-1500 range and even less. I am partial to Onkyo and the TX-SR702 is THX Select certified and well under $1000. 'Select' receivers are rated to play at Dolby Reference Level in a 2000 cubic foot room. 'Ultra' certified are rated for a 3000 cubic foot room.

You really need to audition various brands and read their manuals on line to find which one you would prefer.

 

[topjimi]

say what you want, but 4 friends and i sat in a showroom and listened to two identical setups with the exeption of the recievers, one being thx, and not one person in the room could say which one was the thx! IMO there was no difference. come to think of it, a good place to see how good bose is, is their own website also

 

[jaxvon]

Unlike Bose, THX standards actually mean something. Basically anyone on this site knows that Bose is overpriced trash. However, the standards for THX certification are quite rigorous. And to feel the true effect of THX, you need to have a whole system (including the room and its performance) to be certified. If you compared a "normal" home theater with one that met THX standards, you could most definitely differentiate the two.

But, enough of the flaming, and back to the topic at hand. For a reciever, THX certification isn't a meaningless certification. However, it costs a manufacturer to get gear certified, so that jacks up the price.

 

[bpape]

THX guarantees you a set of 'minimums.' Whether those matter to you are not is a totally different subject. There are a lot of THX receivers out there I wouldn't give 2 cents for and a lot of non THX stuff out there that is great. Oveall it means little or nothing. If you know what you want and need, all it buys you is a bigger bill and a pretty badge. If you don't, you can stay with it and at least get the minimum.

 

[MDS]

I wouldn't make THX certification a make or break criteria when selecting a component, but to dismiss it and call it a 'scam' just because you either don't notice any difference or don't care for it, for whatever reason, is uninformed.

 

[topjimi]

i just don't like being told that something is worth extra money when they cant prove it! if you've seen a difference, more power to ya, but i fail to see it. hey, it's just my opinion, but if you want lucas to tell you what sounds better instead of forming your own opinion, get in line!

 

[MDS]

What is it that you want THX to prove?

That 'Select' certified receivers can achieve Dolby Reference Level in 2000 cubic foot rooms? DONE.

That Re-EQ rolls of the high frequencies of soundtracks originally mixed for the theater so they aren't as 'bright' in a small home theater? DONE. Same for the other post-processing features.

That THX certified receivers paired with THX certified speakers exhibit the correct 4th order crossover so the sub blends smoothly with the mains. DONE.

And on and on...you get the point.

Really, if you don't think it is worth it - fine. Just don't tell people it is all a scam because you find no value in it yourself. You obviously know nothing about it.

 

[Duffinator]

You don't need Some non-THX certified equipment may meet or exceed the THX requirements anyway, so just buy the equipment you want/need - if it also happens to be THX certified, that's a plus.

This is a very sensible statement. In the THX Select price range there are many receivers without the certification that would meet it but the manufacturers chose not to pay for the certification. If you did a blind sound test with those receivers it would be hard to tell the difference between them. Buy the receiver you like, if it has THX select then great.

 

[bpape]

Anonymous,

All of the things you just attributed to being THX certified - my system can do with no problem - as can several of my friends' systems. None of the pieces are THX certified. Like I said, being THX doesn't make it better or worse - it just sets a set of minimums. I never said it was a scam.

 

[MDS]

bpape,
My comment was directed at topjimi - not you.

 

[mtrycrafts]

[=topjimi]i think it's a scam on the same level as bose,

Why do you think this? Based on what evidence?

 

[mtrycrafts]

say what you want, but 4 friends and i sat in a showroom and listened to two identical setups with the exeption of the recievers, one being thx, and not one person in the room could say which one was the thx! IMO there was no difference. come to think of it, a good place to see how good bose is, is their own website also

Perhaps the THX mode was not fully engaded?
Perhaps the others performed as well as THX ?

 

[mtrycrafts]

a good place to see how good bose is, is their own website also

And many, many people are very satisfied with Bose. What would that tell you?

 

[mtrycrafts]

i just don't like being told that something is worth extra money when they cant prove it! if you've seen a difference, more power to ya, but i fail to see it. hey, it's just my opinion, but if you want lucas to tell you what sounds better instead of forming your own opinion, get in line!

Ah, but you didn't say it was not worth it, did you?
No, you said it was a scam= a fradulent scheme to make a quick profit, That is what you said. Maybe you have evidence of this fraud?

 

[topjimi]

he asked, and i gave my opinion, most of you didn't like it, and i'm alright with that, as i don't like yours either! dudes, i heard it in a very nice av store, and they did it right hence the lit thx logo on the reciever, and i could not tell the diff! what do you want me to do, lie? it is my opinion that it is not worth it, i may have went alittle overboard when i compared it to bose, but still say scam. i thought we were free to have a voice and not get burned at the stake when we represent the non popular side? geeees!!! clones!

 

[rgriffin25]

he asked, and i gave my opinion, most of you didn't like it, and i'm alright with that, as i don't like yours either! dudes, i heard it in a very nice av store, and they did it right hence the lit thx logo on the reciever, and i could not tell the diff! what do you want me to do, lie? it is my opinion that it is not worth it, i may have went alittle overboard when i compared it to bose, but still say scam. i thought we were free to have a voice and not get burned at the stake when we represent the non popular side? geeees!!! clones!

I think if you were to take a different approach to your original statement there wouldn't be so many people hashing it out with you. I don't think I read one comment that stated that THX was necessary. Most were in defense of what you stated, which was that THX is the equivilent of BOSE.

I think we know where you stand on the issue so there is no need to argue about whether or not you heard a difference. I think if someone wants to post a statement as bold as yours, they should be prepared to back it with some facts. I am sorry but you and your 3 friends are not a factual source.. That is unless you provide the proper credentials...