THX worth the $$$

[rhaeckl]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post, so please forgive me for any errors. By the way, this site is wonderful, packed with quality info and links and super user friendly. Nice work!

Planning on updating my AV, I'm just wondering if spending the major extra $$ for THX is worth the sound quality. I don't have a theater room. I do have Bravia LCD 46", but only use a bose satelite system with an extra powered sub for the room. The room is our family room and has high off angle ceilings and connects to the entry room of the house. The fireplace and chimney seperates the two rooms.

I'm thinking about the Denon 4308CI which I know doesn't have THX, but seems pretty sweet in all other areas.

thanks!

 

[Seth=L]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post, so please forgive me for any errors. By the way, this site is wonderful, packed with quality info and links and super user friendly. Nice work!

Planning on updating my AV, I'm just wondering if spending the major extra $$ for THX is worth the sound quality. I don't have a theater room. I do have Bravia LCD 46", but only use a bose satelite system with an extra powered sub for the room. The room is our family room and has high off angle ceilings and connects to the entry room of the house. The fireplace and chimney seperates the two rooms.

I'm thinking about the Denon 4308CI which I know doesn't have THX, but seems pretty sweet in all other areas.

thanks!

Woah, slow down for a second.

Do you plan on upgrading the speakers at any point during the use of your next receiver? What receiver are you using currently?

Welcome to Audioholics, sorry for getting straight to business.

 

[rhaeckl]

current AV is a Denon 3300. As far as speaker upgrade, I wish, but in reality due to room and space available, probably not.

No worries about the "business", that's why I like this site so much. NO bs, just the facts.

thanks

 

[Seth=L]

current AV is a Denon 3300. As far as speaker upgrade, I wish, but in reality due to room and space available, probably not.

No worries about the "business", that's why I like this site so much. NO bs, just the facts.

thanks

Well, I have to say that getting a high end receiver like the AVR-4308ci isn't going to be a very wise decision, no offense meant, just being honest given certain variables. With your speakers similar performance if not the same could be had by getting a budget receiver like the Onkyo TX-SR605 which has the latest in processing with HDMI 1.3 like the Denon AVR-4308ci. The Onkyo also has the latest auto setup from Audyssey and Onkyo has a reputation of having some of the easiest to use components among other mass manufacturers.

THX certification is a nice feature, but not really necessary unless you have a very large room with power hungry and load bearing speakers.

What TV, components are you using or plan on using in conjunction with the receiver?

 

[Adam]

With your speakers similar performance if not the same could be had by getting a budget receiver like the Onkyo TX-SR605 which has the latest in processing with HDMI 1.3 like the Denon AVR-4308ci.

I agree with Seth=L on this one.

THX certification is a nice feature, but not really necessary unless you have a very large room with power hungry and load bearing speakers.

One thing that I like about my Pioneer with THX is the THX sound modes. If I recall correctly, they are intended to remove some of the overly bright aspects of a movie soundtrack when it's being played in a regular room versus being played in a theater - as the soundtracks are mixed for a theater. I think that it has a pleasant effect in my room and does exactly what it says it will do.

 

[rhaeckl]

TV; sony bravia xbr246 lcd
Denon DVD-1920 (also planning on getting and HD player)
Comcast HD-DVR dual tuner
Bose Acoustimass 10 series II
klipsch 12" powered sub

2 outdoor speaker ran on seperate amp operated with multi-function on Denon 3300.

room is 16'x16' give or take, with about 30' high point on ceiling which is not directly over the family room. I wish I could draw on this post, but picture an upside down V the point the v being about 10' from center of the audio room. Sorry if totally confussing!

 

[Seth=L]

TV; sony bravia xbr246 lcd
Denon DVD-1920 (also planning on getting and HD player)
Comcast HD-DVR dual tuner
Bose Acoustimass 10 series II
klipsch 12" powered sub

2 outdoor speaker ran on seperate amp operated with multi-function on Denon 3300.

room is 16'x16' give or take, with about 30' high point on ceiling which is not directly over the family room. I wish I could draw on this post, but picture an upside down V the point the v being about 10' from center of the audio room. Sorry if totally confussing!

The Onkyo TX-SR605 has a powered zone 2 feature that would power the speakers that are outside independantly from what it is operating inside. So you would not need to use the amplifier anymore. The TX-SR605 has enough HDMI ports to support your components. A y-adapter may be necessary if you don't have one already to connect the acoustimass module as well as the Klipsch.

Concerning THX. If you find your speakers to be bright THX can help, however Onkyo's Re EQ feature will perform a similar function that helps remove the brightness from movie soundtracks.

Getting the Onkyo TX-SR605 can save you some bucks and more than likely be fair simpler to operate over the Denon AVR-4308ci.

 

[Seth=L]

One thing that I like about my Pioneer with THX is the THX sound modes. If I recall correctly, they are intended to remove some of the overly bright aspects of a movie soundtrack when it's being played in a regular room versus being played in a theater - as the soundtracks are mixed for a theater. I think that it has a pleasant effect in my room and does exactly what it says it will do.

The NHTs are naturally bright, what did you expect?

 

[Adam]

The NHTs are naturally bright, what did you expect?

Hey, they're neutral, buddy! That's what I was told, and I'm sticking to it.

The Pioneer auto-eq did a good job of leveling out the response. Still, I prefer the THX sound mode on movies. For TV shows on DVD that are mixed in Dolby Digital, I just use the regular DD mode because it sounds better to me. Perhaps because those soundtracks were already mixed for a home environment. For movies, I use the THX mode because I think that it sounds better.

 

[fmw]

THX is not a feature. It is a certification. THX certifies that the equipment meets its performance standards. Some non certified units may also meet THX standards. They just aren't certified. The certification ensures that the unit does meet them.

My advice is to buy whatever chimes your clock. But don't expect that, because you spent a lot of money or bought something new, the system will sound better or even different. It may or it may not and most likely it will not if the new equipment is a receiver. Speakers have way, way, way, way more effect on the sound of the system than the electonics do.

 

[Seth=L]

THX is not a feature. It is a certification. THX certifies that the equipment meets its performance standards. Some non certified units may also meet THX standards. They just aren't certified. The certification ensures that the unit does meet them.

My advice is to buy whatever chimes your clock. But don't expect that, because you spent a lot of money or bought something new, the system will sound better or even different. It may or it may not and most likely it will not if the new equipment is a receiver. Speakers have way, way, way, way more effect on the sound of the system than the electonics do.

There are some THX post processing features not available on non THX certified gear, so it isn't just certification, but for the most part those features are not commonly used in most home theaters.

With the money saved on the receiver, should the OP decide to go with the Onkyo TX-SR605, the OP could use that money saved to invest in some other satelite speaker system that would outperform the Bose for music and movies. Definitive Tech, Polk Audio, Athena, Orb Audio, and many many others offer small speaker solutions that also give you great sound for their size constraint, something that Bose has yet to really achieve (not that it was ever their plan to do so).

 

[MDS]

Concerning THX. If you find your speakers to be bright THX can help, however Onkyo's Re EQ feature will perform a similar function that helps remove the brightness from movie soundtracks.

I can't tell any difference whatsoever with that feature (maybe my room isn't 'bright' ). Re-EQ is the name of the THX version, Onkyo actually calls the feature 'cinema filter'. The only thing I don't like is there is no indication of any kind on the display that shows whether cinema filter is on or off.

 

[rhaeckl]

thanks for all the great advice!

 

[rhaeckl]

big trouble now!

I knew this would happen on this site. So if my speakers are the weakest part of the system, what in-wall speakers would you folks reccommend?? Remember I don't have a very big room

thanks again!

 

[Adam]

I knew this would happen on this site. So if my speakers are the weakest part of the system, what in-wall speakers would you folks reccommend?? Remember I don't have a very big room

I'll let the others recommend in-wall speakers, as I have no experience with those. I just want to say that there is always going to be a weakest part of the system - doesn't mean that the system is weak. If you like your speakers, keep them! Not everyone likes Bose, but a lot of people do. One big gripe is that they cost too much for what you get. That said, you already own them...so that gripe goes away.

 

[Seth=L]

Right, but if one wants to achieve better sound, it has to be the speakers and acoustics.

To the OP, yes we have a firm stance on how we feel about Bose (well most of us, there are some other members here that own and use their products, which is perfectly fine). I have personally owned some of their gear and was never very impressed, though I had hoped to be. The biggest beefs with Bose has been their missleading, expensive, and lacking where they should not. For example, the don't post specifications, and the Acoustimass systems with the cube speakers and woofer module aren't designed to cover the entire audible spectrum. The small cube speakers can go down to 400hz or so and the subwoofer can only go as high as 200hz, so there is a hole in the frequency spectrum in length of 200hz.

There are comparitively sized and priced speaker systems that sound much better than Bose IMO. Since you already have a Klipsch subwoofer you don't really need to get another sub, just the 5-7 speakers. You might look at the Klipsch Quintet III or predecessor. For $500 or less you could have better quality constructed and sounding speakers.

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/quintet-iii.aspx

 

[rhaeckl]

I like those Klipsch, I was also looking at these for an in-wall set up.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/wallspeakerw22_main.html

 

[gmichael]

I like those Klipsch, I was also looking at these for an in-wall set up.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/wallspeakerw22_main.html

I like those.

 

[Seth=L]

I like those Klipsch, I was also looking at these for an in-wall set up.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/wallspeakerw22_main.html

Gene installed those in his home I think, he may be able to offer his opinion on those. He may even be writing a review for them.

 

[jcPanny]

In-wall and inceling speakers

I recently installed some phoenix gold inceiling speakers for my distributed audio system. With their 6.5" woofer and 1" tweeter, they should have a better frequency response than your bose cubes and only cost $40/pair.

On the other end of the sepectrum, I will probably use the Polk LC60i speakers for the surround channels of my HT. They would be a major upgrade from the Bose but they cost $2-300 each.

One nice thing about on-wall speakers like the Axioms is they include the "black box" so they will have predictable performance in different installations.