THX Select 2 vs Ultra 2 - Receiver selection

kmartin971

I am considering the Yamaha V2600 with is a THX select 2 receiver.

Anyone know the difference betweenn THX Select, Select 2, Ultra, and Ultra 2?

The THX website does not offer anything? http://www.thx.com/mod/products/hometheater.html

Only difference they state is Select is for rooms upto 2000 SQ foot and Ultra is for rooms that are approx. 3000 SQ foot.

http://www.audioholics.com/FAQs/THX...ctvsUltra2.html

My room dimersions are 15x22x8=2640 sq foot. Sweet Spot will be approximately 10 feet from the screen.

Give that I have already invested in the LSi series, what should do?

cfrizz

K, there is no need to start multiple threads on the same topic.

Now with that said, don't focus on THX, focus on getting a receiver that has all the features you want & sounds good with pre-outs so that you can add separate amplification.

Better yet since you have already spent good money on LSI's go with separates altogether & be done with it.

kmartin971

Not everyone reads both sections. I am looking for specific information on THX not general info.

Airplay355

THX doesn't mean crap. It's just specifications. Like saying hot dogs are kosher. Congrats, George Lucas spit in that receiver. THX certified.

Cfrizz is right, grab some seperates or a nicer receiver. Check out Outlaw Audio for nice HT seperates and receivers. Buying used isn't a bad thing. It will save you cash and let you get a better product.

Holydoc

Kmartin,

Here you go with a good link about THX and the differences:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_13_1/feature-article-thx-1-2006-part-1.html

I tend to disagree with the others on the fact that THX does not mean a thing. What it does mean is that the receiver has to be capable of performing to a certain standard. This is nice in the fact that you know at least the minimum your receiver will perform and can begin to judge after that. Receivers that have not been THX certified do not have to meet certain criteria laid out by the THX certification.

However, this does not mean that a receiver that is not THX certified is not as good as one that has been certified. Some manufactorers do not wish to pay the extra to get their systems certified though they perform as good or better than a THX certified one. Those receivers will cause you to do a bit more homework but (as mentioned a bit abrutely in this thread) should not be eliminated just because they are missing that certification.

Good luck in your search!

kmartin971

Great article - perfect!!!!!!!!! Thanks!

kmartin971

http://hometheatermag.com/bootcamp/116/

aaharvel

baloney. Wanna see the REAL standard behind THX Ultra receivers?

Read this and check out the pics after they popped the top on a Kenwood model.

http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/blowing/kenwood-x9992d/index.html

THX-EX is only Dolby EX with re-eq. Prologic IIx is superior to both, and you don't need a THX-certified receiver to get it.

dorokusai

THX doesn't define my gear, it just happens to come with it.

speakergeek

aaharvel wrote:

baloney. Wanna see the REAL standard behind THX Ultra receivers?

Read this and check out the pics after they popped the top on a Kenwood model.

http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/blowing/kenwood-x9992d/index.html

THX-EX is only Dolby EX with re-eq. Prologic IIx is superior to both, and you don't need a THX-certified receiver to get it.

Yeah I've seen that one many times before :rolleyes: . But just because Kenwood is crap doesn't mean others are. I still think there are some plusses that come with a THX certified receiver.

Holydoc

aaharvel wrote:

baloney. Wanna see the REAL standard behind THX Ultra receivers?

Read this and check out the pics after they popped the top on a Kenwood model.

http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/blowing/kenwood-x9992d/index.html

Aaharvel,

I don't think the life span nor the build quality of the receiver has anything to do with meeting the THX standards. Those things have everything to do with the manufacturer and their customer base. The THX standards mean the receiver must be capable of performing to a given level. Nothing that I saw about the insides of that receiver hinted at the fact that it could not perform to the specs it was built for. All opening up that receiver told me was that Kenwood builds a cheap, assembly-line receiver for those that cannot afford or know better.

I hope Kmartin knows that a THX certified receiver does not mean build quality. I was thinking that Kmartin was using this certification as a starting point to get the features he wants, and then determining the best quality receiver for his needs and budget.

I have to agree with Dorokusai,

THX doesn't define my gear, it just happens to come with it.

VR3

Klipsch Computer Speakers******** are THX certified.

I think that says it all!

Holydoc

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Klipsch Computer Speakers******** are THX certified.

I think that says it all!

That tells me that the Klipsch speaker system will have surround around sound, have a subwoofer, cross-over of the speakers set to 80hz, etc., etc, etc. In other words, I know a little about those computer speakers without even seeing them. You cannot say the same about a non-THX computer speaker system. It is just a way of knowing what features you are getting without having to research all the systems to death. Again it does not tell you the quality of the system, just some of its minimum capabilities.

I do agree with the anti-THX members points. Getting a THX system does not equal getting a quality system. Also just because a system is not THX certified does not mean it is not as good or better than a comparable THX system. . I agree with these points 100%.

However I still think that it is a good starting point for those that wish to get a decent (probably starter) HT performing system without doing the research of us audiophilic hobbiests.

aaharvel

oh. well if i was wrong about THX also representing build quality then I apologize. I do wish I had re-eq.. that's a feature I would find useful.

Holydoc

I am with you Aaharvel. I wish there was a construction standard that would make it easier to understand exactly what you are paying for when you buy a piece of equipment. Until then we have to depend on reputation, brilliant people who have tested these products for themselves (like these in this thread), reviews, and personal tests.

Of course if it was too easy, then a lot of the fun of putting together that ultimate system would be eliminated. For me, it is a hobby. If I had all the answers straight up, it would just be a purchase.

dorokusai

THX has NOTHING to do with build quality....Kenwood finally made something that was WORTH popping the top off, that's all....nothing more.

THX is a marketing machine at it's finest....other manufacturers should learn something from their stranglehold on the brain of the common man.

stonepimp

http://www.thx.com/mod/products/chosngProduct.html

goingganzo

hold on just beacues a speaker/amp/rever/pre dont have the great thx logo dont mean it cant perform. on speakers/amps/cables you get nothing but a higher price. on a per and recever you get a few things like re eq and thx decodeing. i bet my speakers would get the thx logo on them if polk sent them in. so if you want to pay for a logo on your stuff that ads nothing go for it.

get something from denon/onkyo/hk or better. get what you need and something with pre outs. i would also look as cheap as you can sence the new hd-dvd will have a new sound format and prossesing. i hope i can get my pre upgraded when they have the new standard.

Holydoc

goingganzo wrote:

i would also look as cheap as you can sence the new hd-dvd will have a new sound format and prossesing. i hope i can get my pre upgraded when they have the new standard.

Rut Roh Raggy...

Is this true? Will the new HD formats not process through a standard receiver? I never had problems with SACD or DVD-A with my current proprocessor. I just assumed that the HD formats would not change any processing needs that the receiver would do.

Is there some documentation of this? Where can I read up on my very near future needs?

Skynut

aaharvel wrote:

I do wish I had re-eq.. that's a feature I would find useful.

I have this and am curious what is it for?
I have it switched on but when I shut it off I didn't really notice a difference.
What is it supposed to do?

aaharvel

re-eq when applied takes some of the overt brightness out of DVD soundtracks. A good thing I think- as many studios mix the treble too high above 12khz on many discs. I guess they're all Klipsch owners or something..

Skynut

I guess I should have listened to the same track both ways, I probably would have heard it.

speakergeek

dorokusai wrote:

THX has NOTHING to do with build quality....Kenwood finally made something that was WORTH popping the top off, that's all....nothing more.

THX is a marketing machine at it's finest....other manufacturers should learn something from their stranglehold on the brain of the common man.

I have to respectfully disagree. If you look at the different levels of THX certification you get an indication to what the product had to do to get certified. THX Ultra 2> THX select 2. THX Ultra 2 products come with a very hefty price tag indicating higher quality. THX Ultra 2 manufacturers include Aragon, Lexicon, Parasound, and Krell just to name a few. The Denon 5805 and Pioneer Elite VSX 59 TXi ( both Ultra 2 certified) are hardly crap. There aren't any Ultra 2 certified Kenwood products....

Holydoc

speakergeek wrote:

THX Ultra 2 products come with a very hefty price tag indicating higher quality.

Higher price means higher quality? Let's not get carried away.

speakergeek

Holydoc wrote:

Higher price means higher quality? Let's not get carried away.

In this case, most definately. Aragon and Krell speak for themselves. To get Ultra2 certification requires better engineering....no matter how you look at it.

dorokusai

speakergeek wrote:

In this case, most definately. Aragon and Krell speak for themselves. To get Ultra2 certification requires better engineering....no matter how you look at it.

That's crap....they have a standard, that's a given, but it's simply about how much you are willing to pay to have the logo. There's far too much generic stuff with a THX logo to be taken seriously anymore.

Holydoc

Speaker,

Price has absolutely nothing to do with quality. Price is only defined by what the seller and the buyer will agree upon.

*sigh* I guess it does not matter. It serves me no purpose to try to convince you that just because something is priced higher than another does not automatically make it better. However since we are on the subject, I do have this old Bose Center Channel that I will sell you for $1K. It is a bit more pricey than others so it has to be better, right?

*smile*

speakergeek

Holydoc wrote:

Speaker,

Price has absolutely nothing to do with quality. Price is only defined by what the seller and the buyer will agree upon.

*sigh* I guess it does not matter. It serves me no purpose to try to convince you that just because something is priced higher than another does not automatically make it better. However since we are on the subject, I do have this old Bose Center Channel that I will sell you for $1K. It is a bit more pricey than others so it has to be better, right?

*smile*

Never speak in absolutes. In general, quality comes with a price. I think you know what I mean.

dorokusai

I must agree with that, no doubt.

speakergeek

Oh, and I'll pass on the Blose for 1K.

goingganzo

yes price dont mean quality. i am bulding a replacements for my speakers for about 130 a speaker and to get a better quality and sounding speaker wyou will need to spend 2-3k each and that is minum. it is a mtm with a vifa ring tweater better than the one polk uses on the lsi and dual 6.6 high excurson and flat bl speaker.so these have great output and exelent sq.

actuley what re eq dues is tone down the hgh fr sence the theater speakers fronts are behind the screen the high end has some rool off and it is bosted to crect for this. and most ht the speakers are not behind the screen.