THX Is this term a marketing ploy??

tophatjohnny

In my search for different amps, and I have been searching....I see the THX certification being used a lot!! Is it something to be looking for or more of a marketing ploy?? I'm not hung up on it, but sure would like to see if anyone here has an educated answer?? Thanks

heiney9

This has been discussed ad nauseum in the past. A little searching will net you several past threads that will answer your question.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&q=+site:polkaudio.com+polk+audio+thx&sa=X&ei=1oNQUIq5CKnkywHEq4GQBw&ved=0CC0QrQIwAA&biw=1397&bih=708

H9

strider

I wouldn't bet the farm that I'd be able to pick out a THX certified amp fom a non certified by listening. They do, however, have a bit of a certification process that they need to go through to get that designation, which may speak to the overall quality of the amp.

steveinaz

Not completely marketing--there are certain standards that have to be met to display the "THX" logo.

zingo

Steve's right as there are standards that need to be met in order to be THX certified, but not every piece of equipment not THX certified cannot be. THX certification is also expensive as it goes carry some weight, especially in the theater and home theater market, and not all manufacturers want to pay for the certification.

gdb

My 1080p G10 panny plasma has a THX picture mode, don't use, too dark, too dark to see............. I will say, however, I've never been to a Lucas movie that had bad picture quality or poor sound.

tophatjohnny

The THX feature is in my Onkyo TXnr708 tuner...wonder if that is eliminated when I am using the Acurus amp?? But who cares, this amp make s my speakers dance!! Not kidding!!

gdb

You might be sued or arrested......

cnh

tophatjohnny wrote: »

The THX feature is in my Onkyo TXnr708 tuner...wonder if that is eliminated when I am using the Acurus amp?? But who cares, this amp make s my speakers dance!! Not kidding!!

I'm not following this. THX is a "processing" mode that is done by the Onkyo which functions as your pre-amp when you use an external amp. If you have THX engaged running an external power amp does NOT make it go away!

I run an Onkyo that has THX Ultra 2 certification. Part of what that means is also how much power/volume it can put out in a certain amount of space. If you're running a more powerful external amp then this is simply augmented.

"THX Ultra2

THX Ultra2 Certified products bring the cinematic experience to larger home theaters, 3,000 cubic feet in size, with a viewing distance of 12 feet or greater from the screen."

cnh

Syndil

It's just a certification. Certifications were invented for marketing purposes--that's the only reason they exist. Consumer brands will pay the money for the certification in order to stand out from the crowd; a lot of higher-end gear doesn't bother with THX certification because they feel they should be able to stand on their own name without slapping someone else's on their product. Doesn't mean they couldn't be THX-certified if they wanted to pony up the money and go through the process.

Also "THX-certified" can be found on some truly cheap and crappy products nowadays (computer speakers, for example). So in their greed to sell their certification to more and more markets, THX has pretty much made the term THX-certified meaningless. Brands that used to pay the fee to THX certification no longer do so for this reason--Krell, for example. But do you think a THX-certified Onkyo AVR is going to be a better product than... well, any Krell?

Fongolio

Syndil wrote: »

Also "THX-certified" can be found on some truly cheap and crappy products nowadays (computer speakers, for example).

I have a set of Logitech Z-5500 THX certified computer speakers that were neither cheap nor crappy. The best sounding near field computer speakers I've yet to hear. There are better to be sure but the Logitech's I own sound fantastic.

tophatjohnny

Well, my new Acurus amp 125x5 does not have THX, but man does it sound rich. Wont miss the HK Pa5800, but that thing is so like new, I'll hold on to it for the bedroom set up. Or sell it???

steveinaz

THX certification does NOT guarantee excellent quality. Many hi-end products don't bother paying for the silly logo.

jbooker82

It also depends on what component your talking about. Between a good amps that are and are not you probably wouldn't notice. But in an AVR I would want a THX certified. Not because of the x amount of power rating but because of the audio processing and decoding.

cnh

It should be added here that there are some receivers out there that "could" meet THX standards for certification but prefer NOT to pay for the Logo. And Steve is right. Not all THX certified receivers are "equal". Don't mean to complicate matters!


cnh

nwohlford

tophatjohnny wrote: »

Well, my new Acurus amp 125x5 does not have THX, but man does it sound rich.

I believe the old Acurus (pre-Indy Audio Labs) did not have any THX certified components. This may have been one of the ways for Mondial (and later Klipsch) to disguish between the Aragon and Acurus brands. The Acurus components are very good components, but not quite at the Aragon level. The only thing that I would think would limit the THX certification for Acurus amps was they did not have great 4-ohm power ratings (often just about 25% higher than the 8-ohm number).

tophatjohnny

nwohlford wrote: »

I believe the old Acurus (pre-Indy Audio Labs) did not have any THX certified components. This may have been one of the ways for Mondial (and later Klipsch) to disguish between the Aragon and Acurus brands. The Acurus components are very good components, but not quite at the Aragon level. The only thing that I would think would limit the THX certification for Acurus amps was they did not have great 4-ohm power ratings (often just about 25% higher than the 8-ohm number).

All I know is that this amp rocks!! I have a better feel about the THX thing now. Thanks to all.

gdb

It (THX) started out as a movie in 1971.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066434/

cnh

That was a very "young" Robert Duvall there.

And the ending is reminiscent of Plato's Allegory of the Cave (in the Republic)! I have a copy (THX 1138) and I occasionally show the final scene in class when we do the Republic. Need to show students, occasionally, that there is very little that is entirely "new" under the SUN, literally!

cnh

gdb

cnh wrote: »

That was a very "young" Robert Duvall there.

And the ending is reminiscent of Plato's Allegory of the Cave (in the Republic)! I have a copy (THX 1138) and I occasionally show the final scene in class when we do the Republic. Need to show students, occasionally, that there is very little that is entirely "new" under the SUN, literally!

cnh

I'll have to re-watch it, it's been a good while since I've seen it. I do remember that it provoked "thought".

Syndil

Fongolio wrote: »

I have a set of Logitech Z-5500 THX certified computer speakers that were neither cheap nor crappy.

Obviously opinions vary. I've heard the Z-5500 (best friend owns a set); my Altec Lansing 641s (not THX certified) blow them away. He also owns a THX Select 2-certified Onkyo AVR, but would I trade my non-certified Outlaw 990 and Adcom 6000 for it? Hell no.

The way I see it, all you have to do is realize THX is not a non-profit organization. They are not interested in helping you distinguish one receiver from another, although that's what they would like you to believe. They are interested in marketing and selling their certification to companies, and that is all they are interested in doing. If they were a non-profit categorizing every piece of electronic gear like Underwriters Laboratories or CE, then their certification might mean something to me.

To be fair, I despise nearly ALL for-profit certification organizations. Chuck the lot of them into the ocean for all I care. Worthless marketing shysters.

tophatjohnny

Syndil wrote: »

Obviously opinions vary. I've heard the Z-5500 (best friend owns a set); my Altec Lansing 641s (not THX certified) blow them away. He also owns a THX Select 2-certified Onkyo AVR, but would I trade my non-certified Outlaw 990 and Adcom 6000 for it? Hell no.

The way I see it, all you have to do is realize THX is not a non-profit organization. They are not interested in helping you distinguish one receiver from another, although that's what they would like you to believe. They are interested in marketing and selling their certification to companies, and that is all they are interested in doing. If they were a non-profit categorizing every piece of electronic gear like Underwriters Laboratories or CE, then their certification might mean something to me.

To be fair, I despise nearly ALL for-profit certification organizations. Chuck the lot of them into the ocean for all I care. Worthless marketing shysters.

Not enough experience to say all that here, but you put it well, and exactly what the person I bought my Acurus amp said!!

cnh

I think it's a bit silly to quote oneself but in this case, well....

cnh wrote: »

It should be added here that there are some receivers out there that "could" meet THX standards for certification but prefer NOT to pay for the Logo. And Steve is right. Not all THX certified receivers are "equal". Don't mean to complicate matters!


cnh

How about a "low budget" Klipsch THX Ultra2 system for you all:

http://www.klipsch.com/thx-ultra2-home-theater-system

tophatjohnny

cnh wrote: »

I think it's a bit silly to quote oneself but in this case, well....



How about a "low budget" Klipsch THX Ultra2 system for you all:

http://www.klipsch.com/thx-ultra2-home-theater-system

OMG??? That looks sooooo cool to me!! Man..I'm a wishing rite a bout now!!

gdb

Any THX cables available ??? :cool:

headrott

gdb wrote: »

Any THX cables available ??? :cool:

Monster cable made some I believe.:biggrin:

gdb

headrott wrote: »

Monster cable made some I believe.:biggrin:

Will they work on Bose speaks ??

headrott

gdb wrote: »

Will they work on Bose speaks ??

The cables I have seen were IC's, but maybe they made THX speaker cables? They'll "work".:razz:

tophatjohnny

gdb wrote: »

Any THX cables available ??? :cool:

Absolutely Love It!!! :razz:

kidglove13

I am sure the Monster THX cables are the bomb as is all Monster products and their prices are always right:razz:

But, I thought cables do not make any difference anyway:razz:

What are the actual THX standards that need to be met to be certified?

Because if all AVR THX certified receivers are not created equal, the standards must be minimal at best.

It must be more about the marketing then about the technology, especially for Johnny home owner looking for an HT setup who does not know the difference, besides the fact that they can relate to the "THX" and supposed theater quality standards

tophatjohnny

kidglove13 wrote: »

I am sure the Monster THX cables are the bomb as is all Monster products and their prices are always right:razz:

But, I thought cables do not make any difference anyway:razz:

What are the actual THX standards that need to be met to be certified?

, especially for Johnny home owner looking for an HT setup who does not know the difference, besides the fact that they can relate to the "THX" and supposed theater quality standards

What did you call me???:razz::razz: