THX, worth the price?

[MADMAN]

I am shopping for a home theater system. I currently have a 50" Samsung DLP TV. I really like the Denon AVR-3806, seems like a great AV receiver with plenty of power and other features. One thing it does not have is THX. The AVR-4806 does but for over $2k more. My family room in not perfect by any means accoustically, is THX really that much of an improvement?

Thanks

MADMAN

 

[bpape]

Wow. That will open a can of worms...

IMO - I would not buy a piece over another purley for the THX badge. There are some great pieces out there that are not certified and others that ARE certified that are, well, let's be nice and leave it at less than great.

As for the 3806/4806, there are other difference between the 2.

4806 has:

Slightly more power
THX Ultra 2 Certs
3 chip TI DSP vs. Analog Devices SHARC
Toroidal transformer
1 more power supply
Source Renaming
1394 Inputs
Digital Out to Zone 2
Analog to HDMI video conversion
Ethernet Port
PC Setup and Control option

 

[agabriel]

Hello,
I'll give a plug to the 38 series - I have a 3801 and I think its great. THX is just a verification that a component meets a certain criteria. I think they also throw in a few sound modes as well, but really I'm only need Dolby Digital and from time to time DTS. Have you tried either of the receivers out? Why not give each a listen in the store and see if you can even hear a difference.

Anthony

 

[j_garcia]

How big is your room? If you have a very large room, a THX cert receiver may be a benefit to you.

THX Select states that the amp will be capable of reference levels in a 2000cf room, while Ultra2, which the 4806 is, is for rooms larger than that.

Note also that there will be a middle ground between the 3806 and 4806 - the 4803. I believe it should hit stores either at the same time or shortly after the 3806.

 

[RLA]

THX is just a verification that a component meets a certain criteria. I think they also throw in a few sound modes as well, but really

Have any of you seen the actual report generated by the THX lab on a piece of gear? It’s about as thick as the annual state budget. I have talked to many manufactures on this subject and many engineers have told me that THX found problems that they overlooked and thus had a chance to correct before the product went into production.

I have found many non-THX certified products with software bugs and bass management problems conversely I have found very few THX certified products with problems.

There are many fine non-THX certified pieces but THX is more than a plastic badge on a face plate.

Happy Listening
Ray

 

[agabriel]

There are many fine non-THX certified pieces but THX is more than a plastic badge on a face plate.

Do you know where we can look at the report generated? THX, although a great thing to have, seems so secretive. The only thing the lab seems to discuss is the hours spent on each device. The do not seem discuss actual specs that a product needs in order to get the stamp of approval. With that said, based on what I have read, the THX folks do seem spend alot of time on a particular component and with there experience and a bit of gear they should be able to discover the 1 or 2 percent effects that the component has. I just think they should be a bit more open with there reports and what they actually do.

Just my opinion.

Anthony

 

[bpape]

Unfortunately, that will be almost impossible. You can't even get your hands on what the tests and specs are - much less results.

I'll agree that third party testing is always a valuable thing to do. However, I think there are other more cost effective methods to do it rather than paying the supposedly exhorbitant amounts that costs to become THX certified.

As I said, I wouldn't buy or not buy purely on a THX badge. Buy what sounds good to you, has the feature set you want, and fits in your budget. If there are 2 that are close in price, performance, and featurs, it's up to you. Just remember that the tremendous cost for this certification is why a lot of smaller companies just can't do it. It would totally price them out of the market. The Pioneers, Yamahas, etc. of the world can spread the cost over many many units - others can't.

Just don't take the lack of a badge as a bad thing.

 

[j_garcia]

There was an article in Home Theater mag regarding THX cert for receivers and it said there is no significant cost in getting the certification, and the manufacturers DO NOT pay for it, directly anyway. If they have to make numerous changes, they may incur delays and additional cost to redesign. If a manufacturer has done one THX receiver before, they'll already know what is going to be required to achieve the cert and design with that in mind if that is their intent from the start. Yes, it is easier for a big name manufacturer to do it as well, due to volume.

My receiver is THX Select, but that had nothing to do with me choosing it. I agree that it should not be a deciding factor when looking for a receiver, unless you are going for an ALL THX system.