Which THX is best?

thehalo8

This may be a stupid question, but I have researched online for a few days and I cannot find an answer to my question. When I look at a amp and I see it has THX, are they all the same? I have see three difference types of THX Surround EX and THX Certified: Select, Ultra, or Ultra 2. If I purchase a receiver with just Select THX Surround EX am I wasting my money? Or is it just as good as Ultra 2? I even read a lot of the THX website itself, but it did not help me out to much. Hopefully some of you out there with the more advance systems can clear this up for me

ntculenuff

try this site hopefully it should answer your question to all the thx formats
THX

thehalo8

I read through a lot of pages on that site, but nothing I found would break down what the Ultra 2 can offer over the Ultra, or what the Ultra can even offer of the Select. All it really states is what THX Surround EX offers over the Prologics.

Grimster74

My honest opinion about THX is this. I know there are quit a few manufactures out there that meet the THX requirements, most just don't want to pay THX to have the logo placed on they're equipment. I could be wrong but it just seems to be a way for the manufactures to get a little extra money.

ntculenuff

THX is some what like a good houskeeping seal of approvel..
my rcvr has it but i dont use that setting...

thehalo8

I read on the forum about how people pay the $500 or more to upgrade their receiver to Ultra 2. People talk about how great the Pioneer VSX-49TXi is and to pick one up. If a receiver is THX Select certified and is very capable of processing 7.1 sound, what is the extra oomph that the Ultra 2 can give you? It just seems no matter what I read or who I ask I can't get an answer.

Grimster74

Found this for ya Halo, see if this helps out any.

http://www.thx.com/mod/techlib/surroundEx.html

thehalo8

That was one of the first pages I read on this matter. However it does not tell me what the difference is between the Ultra's and Select receivers. It just talks about what those receivers technology has over others. There is one line that states an "encouraged" segment with the Ultra's but that does not help me any.

"THX Ultra licensees are encouraged to include proprietary DSP modes for the two Surround back output channels to enhance the audio performance for 5.1 music recordings."

Shizelbs

This is sort of off topic, but sort of on it as well. Recently I was looking at getting some cheap computer speakers to replace the ultra cheap ones I have now. I noticed that some of them were THX certified. I released that because they sound like total crap, there must be some sort of different requirements for computer speakers to be THX certified. So, when I looked them up on their site, they made no mention of quality anywhere. Well, not sound quality. They talked about being user-friendly, quality build, ease of connectivity, but never sound quality. I think it cheapens the THX name, not that I know anyone that really holds much value in the name anyways.

dorokusai

THX is not worth paying extra money for IMO. If it comes standard, then AMEN, but you should not lose any sleep over not having THX ready gear.

I have a THX certified Parasound amp, but I could care less, as long as does what the hell its suppossed to do.....amplify, and make me feel good.

George Lucas blows Goats.

F1nut

Originally posted by dorokusai

George Lucas blows Goats.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

thehalo8

OK, I emailed Yamaha, Pioneer, Onkyo, Sony, and THX asking for an explanation of the difference between Select and Ultra2 THX. I emailed them all before I started this post, and I just received my first response today from Onkyo......

"For receivers and loudspeakers, the THX Select certification is for components that are certified to perform in a mid-sized home theater environment of up to 2,000 cubic feet. The volume of a room, expressed in cubic feet, is computed by multiplying the length by the width by the height of the room. (For example, a room that is 18 feet wide by 14 feet wide by 9 feet high, has a volume of 18 x 14 x 9 = 2,268 cubic feet.) The more stringent THX Ultra certification (which is equivalent to the original, plain THX certification) is given to components that meet the THX performance standards for larger home theater environments (up to 3,000 cubic feet). Theoretically, if you have a home theater environment that is 2,000 cubic feet or less, THX Select receivers and loudspeakers should deliver about the same presentation standards as the higher-end THX Ultra components."

scottvamp

Thanks Halo - learn something new everyday - has to do with room size. My 898 is THX Select. Interesting how NOBODY knew this!!!!!!!!!!!!

PolkThug

Good research!! I can't wait to use this tidbit of knowledge to school someone.

wallstreet

THX Ultra2 is 7.1 for rooms > 3000 cubic ft. THX Select is for rooms < 3000 sq.ft. THX originally had one classification, THX Ultra. This went on receivers like the Denon 5800. Since the marketing geniuses at THX figured that the amount of people dropping $4g's on a receiver was pretty small, they invented THX Select. It's basically the same requirements as THX Ultra, but with less power. Then 7.1 came out and THX invented THX Ultra2 for those receivers with 7.1 processing capabilities.

thehalo8

But the THX Select can also process 7.1

wallstreet

Originally posted by thehalo8
But the THX Select can also process 7.1

Yes for less than 3000 cubic feet.

TroyD

THX schmee-HX.


Someone post the pic of the THX lab with the NON-THX B&W 801's in it....

BDT

thehalo8

Ok I have another little update to teach you all more about THX. I finally got a response directly from THX and below is a section from a PDF they sent me.

Tour2ma

Nice chart. Pretty well sums it up. Thanks.

All THX certification means is that the equipment meets their criteria. Not having it does not necessarily mean the equipment cannot meet it.