Has anyone else found that with THX encoded movies, while most sound really good, you have to turn up the volume a few notches to match the dB of non-THX movies?

Hello Jim,

I have noticed that they are generally recorded at a lower volume and are 'less bright' than other DVD's.  Here is a quote from the THX web site as to what they are trying to accomplish.

 

• You hear a more natural tonal balance. Many motion pictures reproduced through typical home audio systems will sound unnaturally bright.
• The dialogue will be more intelligible. In 5.1 channel mixes, all 5 main channels can be operating at once. With dense sound mixes, action effects can seriously mask subtle dialogue. In THX Home Theatre, you hear dialogue more distinctly, even in sequences with loud or complex sound effects.
• You experience a more uniform sound envelope. The front and surround soundfields merge, seamlessly putting you into the motion picture.
• Sound localization is more accurate and focused. You notice that sound closely follows the action on the screen.
• You experience all of the dynamic range and frequency response of a motion picture soundtrack without distortion or other artifacts.
• The system effortlessly reproduces the bottom two octaves of bass with clarity and precision. "

"The dialogue will be more intelligible. In 5.1 channel mixes, all 5 main channels can be operating at once. With dense sound mixes, action effects can seriously mask subtle dialogue. In THX Home Theatre, you hear dialogue more distinctly, even in sequences with loud or complex sound effects."

I almost find the reverse of this to be true, I find the dialogue to be muted, or becoming lost?  I don't remember experiencing this on prior set-ups though?  I have always 'cheated' my center channel speaker though, turning up the dB a couple of notches after calibrating it using and SPL meter and AVIA, but I have noticed it more lately with the THX encoded tracks, I just found it curious?

I did say "what they are trying to accomplish"    I do enjoy the video quality of a THX certified DVD, but I am not particularly sold on the surround mixings.  I generally enjoy a slightly brighter sound than the THX mixes provide.

I do the same thing with my center channel.  I generally end up turning up the center channel a couple clicks over the SPL match with the other speakers.

"I did say "what they are trying to accomplish""

No, I caught that. 

THX isn't what it used to be IMO.  There are many other mixing companies that do a much better job at getting the surround mixing done right.  I've demoed THX cinemaEQ stuff on certified receivers with all THX certified speakers, and I just don't prefer that sound.  It seemed in the days of old VHS, that when it was a THX mix, you knew it was going to be quality sound, the best available.  I just find that isn't true anymore...

THX is also an assurance rating standard.  It is nice to know that something is of 'X' quality but it doesnt assure that a THX DVD, Receiver, DVD player, etc, is better than one without the THX stamp.  .....then you have to decide it the THX standards are 'better' for the way you like to listen to things.  lol, I know some of my post dont stand firm in one position, but I try to point out the differences and let people decide which is right for them.  I personally turn off the THX 'enhancement' when listening to a movie at home or in our showroom, but enjoy a THX movie at the theater where a brighter sound at those volumes could be fatiguing and too reflective in theater rooms.

I only prefer the THX home theater processing in certain rooms, or at certain volume levels. My home, which has hard wood floors, tall ceilings, and lots of windows, I like the THX mode. I also use it when playing at high volume levels in any room...

I agree, THX is not my cup of tea for movies at home (other than the THX intro which seems to get a lot of oohs and aahs). But as Korey pointed out, at least its a standard so you know what you're getting. On a non-THX DVD you never know what you'll get in terms of the sound mix, other than the number of channels. Some are fabulous, much better than THX imo, some are downright horrible (thoughts of 'my 11 year old could do a better job' running through my head as I watch and listen). But the bad ones make me appreciate the good ones that much more. And I think standards like THX raise the bar for all, which is a very good thing. Now if they could just do something about those storylines...

I don't know if anybody knows this but 2 years ago Creative Labs bought THX.  Click on link below for full story.

http://www.highfidelityreview.com/news/news.asp?newsnumber=499199

Now it makes sense how Creative has most of their computer speakers certified.

I still think THX certified equipment is good quality but it makes the name worse now that their certifing computer audio and car audio.

Thanks for the info Aaron, I did not realize that.  It looks like Creative may have worked a pretty nice financial deal since they are now branching into every audio/video format out there.  Maybe Gameboy's, portable DVD players and TV watches are next!?