TO THX or not to THX?

[rgriffin25]

I would like to know how most of you feel about your THX certified products. Some believe the certification is merely a marketing tool and others live by it. Please give a brief explanation for your answer. I would also like to know if any of you use the THX processing when watching a movie.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[docferdie]

I used to have a lot more faith in the THX certification logo when it was under Lucas arts. At the time, at least for me, the goal was for George Lucas' films to deliver a consistent experience from one theater to the next. Now that it's been bought by creative labs I don't feel that I trust the logo as much. If THX were to become more transparent as to the spefications that make a product THX certified then maybe I will trust them a lot more.

 

[m1abrams]

I hold very little weight on the THX logo. My main reason is they do NOT publish what it takes to be THX certified. Hell for all we know it could be how much money xyz company pays for the THX. I am sure it is not, but without published requirements it really means nothing to me.

I would purchase my equipment based on how it sounds to me and if it has the features I want. THX certified is not on my checklist. I would not look down on THX equipment at all but would not give it a bonus either.

Some companies make equipment that most likely would pass THX certification, but do not want to pay the royalities to get it certified. Note it makes the product more expenisive because the end customer pays those royalites.

I did not know creative labs now owns the THX logo. This makes it even worse of a certification, because they make audio gear. Hard to be unbiased when you are in the business, not good.

P.S. My computer speakers and audio card, both carry the THX logo. Granted I think it is the new "Multimedia THX" which means what? I am sure my computer speakers and audio card do not compete with say a Yamaha 2400! I also noticed my audio card is made by creative, hmmm.

 

[Audioholics]

I hadn't heard about the Creative Labs thing. My understanding is that THX is a privately owned Ltd.

THX is dealing with a two-edged sword. Their stated goal is to make the industry better through certifying equipment so that you (the consumer) can get a similar listening experience that can be replicated in more than one location. However, if they divulge all of their criteria, then everyone would be able to meet it, but not pay for the THX certification - thus putting THX out of business. To continue to exist then, they cannot release the exact THX specs except under NDA with manufacturers.

You can see the catch-22. We've had extensive conversations with THX and are actually working on getting some incredibly cool behind the scenes info for our readers on the THX certification process and technology.

it's easy to write it off as a money-making scam due to the licensing fees, however I woudl have to say that from our 1 on 1 conversations with John Dahl (Technical Product Marketing Manager) and Dr. Mark Tuffy, Phd (Director of Advanceed Technology) I think they are helping the industry, not hurting it. You can also bet that if it were a total scam, the manufacturers (and cinemas) would not have let themselves be put into a position of paying the icensing for a completely useless "label". They would have squashed it long ago.

My $0.02. We look forward to bringin you more info on THX at any rate - info that should be helpful in understanding why the certification is important - and why manufacturers pay thousands of dollars for it.

 

[dpjones]

I'm getting ready to purchase all of my electronics for my home theater. I too have been wondering about this. I called B&K's tech support yesterday to ask some questions about the Ref 50 Preamp. The topic of THX came up and their tech support guy said he didn't think it was important. I thought this was interesting coming from a company that is Ultra 2 certified. I would have expected this from a company that isn't THX certified. He said some of the things that THX requires can limit/hurt their product. I agree that it should come down to how the equipment sounds to you and if it has the other features you desire. If it happens to be THX certified, great, if not, great!

 

[O'Shag]

If they are now the owner of THX, Creative Labs should be cautious about applying the label on their own computer speakers. This may effect the credibility of the label/certification in the future. As for myself, I've been inclined to believe that the THX label does guarantee the buyer a product that meets stringent specifications and therefore will sound better overall, but to my mind it doesn't mean a product with the THX logo is always better than one without.
O'Shag

 

[rgriffin25]

Now that it's been bought by creative labs I don't feel that I trust the logo as much. If THX were to become more transparent as to the spefications that make a product THX certified then maybe I will trust them a lot more.

Can you post a link (if possible) about Creative buying THX? I have not been able to find any info.

Thanks.

 

[Rob Babcock]

Bear in mind that even if you do feel THX is important, all links in the chain must be THX cert'd. Buying a receiver with the badge isn't going to get you there if you're speakers don't conform to the specs.

THX has done a lot of good for the industry, IMO. Their efforts have led to some standards and across the board improvements.

Didn't Lucas sell THX recently? I remember hearing some criticisms about their objectivity, and I was thinking they got bought by a manufactures that also liscences THX certification. Can't swear to it, though.

While I think THX is probably on the whole a good thing, I personally don't care about it, and the badging isn't a factor in my purchasing decisions at all.

 

[docferdie]

From Stereophile

THX Ltd., which has about seventy people working at its San Rafael location and another 15 in an office in Burbank, will be radically reorganized, according to acting general manager Mike Hewitt. He told the Marin Independent Journal that the breakaway will give the new company "more freedom to pursue growth in other technology areas such as car audio systems, digital projection for movie theaters, and electronic games." Hewitt also said that independence from Lucasfilm would give THX more leeway in signing deals with other production companies. Singapore-based Creative Technology, owner of Cambridge SoundWorks, whose Creative Labs division makes the popular "Sound Blaster" PC cards, is an investor in THX, as are several unnamed private investors and investment bankers. None of the THX investors, including Lucas, holds a majority share.

http://www.guidetohometheater.com/news/11332/

From High Fidelity Review

LucasFilm Sell THX Division – More Details
More details about the sale of THX are reaching us here at High Fidelity Review.

Last week we exclusively broke the news of the sale of THX by LucasFilm to Creative Labs., and now we’re in a position to provide more information thanks to Terry Shea, Vice President of Griffin Public Relations.

Our original story was correct; a 60% share of THX has been sold, but not just to Creative. A new company has been formed, it will become known as THX Ltd., Lucasfilm remains an investor, as is Creative Technology (parent company of Creative Labs.) and there are also several, undisclosed private investors.

As yet the specific percentages of ownership have not been disclosed, but we do know that no one individual investor or company has a majority share in THX Ltd. However, as Creative is a publicly held company and is accountable to its shareholders, specifics about their part in THX Ltd., and the amount of their financial investment will become known when their own balance sheet is published.

Terry was quick to inform us that it is “…business as usual - all THX programs (professional and consumer) remain in place.”

http://www.highfidelityreview.com/news/news.asp?newsnumber=76066

 

[rgriffin25]

Bear in mind that even if you do feel THX is important, all links in the chain must be THX cert'd. Buying a receiver with the badge isn't going to get you there if you're speakers don't conform to the specs.

THX has done a lot of good for the industry, IMO. Their efforts have led to some standards and across the board improvements.

Didn't Lucas sell THX recently? I remember hearing some criticisms about their objectivity, and I was thinking they got bought by a manufactures that also liscences THX certification. Can't swear to it, though.

While I think THX is probably on the whole a good thing, I personally don't care about it, and the badging isn't a factor in my purchasing decisions at all.

I completely agree with you Rob. I believe they have done alot to improve the movie experience, especially at the movie theaters. When I do go see a movie at a theater I will go to a THX certified theater before I go to any other. In my experience there is no comparison between theaters with the certification and those w/o. I also feel to some degree this can be carried over to Home Theater. Even more so if all the components are certified.

Thanks for the link Doc!

 

[RLA]

Hi
Has anyone ever seen what the THX report for a piece of equipment looks like? I have and it looks like a state budget report Many times the THX certification crew will find problems with a Pre Amp, Receiver or whatever that the manufacture did not know existed. Ask any manufacture what it takes to get a product certified Its much more than simply purchasing the Licensing agreement When I was at Skywalker Ranch in 1998
They were testing the absolute limits of a Parasound Amp and Pre amp in the Lab
I wont go into the testing details but lets just say you would not do what they were doing at home
Cheers