Is Thx Certification Bullshite?

univera
univera Posts: 848
edited August 2006 in Electronics
Just curious if most feel THX certification is a big deal or more of a marketing ploy. I look at items that are THX certified against other pieces with similar specs, and I can't figure out the big deal. Within the same company (NAD), a THX piece with similar ratings and even less headroom and dynamic power costs alot more? What gives and what makes THX certification a big deal? I have heard in the past that it is just a marketing ploy. And, I have yet to see any THX certified pieces offered with a free lightsaber....Then I could see the true value.
UNIVERA
Historic Charleston SC

2 Channel:
SDA-SRS's RDO tweets
Biamped Anthem 2 SE's w/1970's NOS Siemens CCA's
Anthem Pre 2L w/E.harmonix platinum matched 6H23's
CDP- NAD C 542


HT setup:
AVR: NAD T 773
Rears: Polk LC80i
DVD: Toshiba 3109 dual tray
Subs: Velodyne and M&K
T.V.: Sony KDL-52XBR4 w/Vans Evers Clean Line Jr.
Conditioner: Panamax M5100EX

Master Bedroom Sony 40KDL-XBR3

"I love it when a plan comes together." Hannibal Smith, The A-Team
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Comments

  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited August 2006
    There are some benifits to having some of the THX features, but for the most part...it's hype IMHO.
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited August 2006
    imo.. Re-eq and genuine certification for actual movie theaters provide cool benefits.
    Other than that... exactly what Frank said.

    Technically, my amplifier meets THX standards, and I don't need the badge for that warm, fuzzy feeling.
    I wouldn't worry about it.

    (edit) I don't take THX seriously (well, TOO seriously). Not after "THX Select" or "THX 2" or THX whatever. You wanna see what sort of stuff is carrying the THX certified monikor nowadays?

    http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=924 :rolleyes:
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • frdranger
    frdranger Posts: 110
    edited August 2006
    aaharvel wrote:
    imo.. Re-eq and genuine certification for actual movie theaters provide cool benefits.
    Other than that... exactly what Frank said.

    Technically, my amplifier meets THX standards, and I don't need the badge for that warm, fuzzy feeling.
    I wouldn't worry about it.

    (edit) I don't take THX seriously (well, TOO seriously). Not after "THX Select" or "THX 2" or THX whatever. You wanna see what sort of stuff is carrying the THX certified monikor nowadays?

    http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=924 :rolleyes:

    Hey, I own those for my PC lol. They're pretty good sounding speakers, they do their job well.
    My Living Room 3.1 config:
    Toshiba 40RV525U
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-NR609
    Center channel: Polk CS1
    Front L/R: Paradigm Reference Studio 20
    Subwoofer: Velodyne DPS-10
    Rears: None

    My Computer setup
    Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 THX
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited August 2006
    no disrespect intended, I've heard them myself at Best Buy. They sound excellent for computer speakers, and I don't even like Klipsch.

    But does a 2channel set of PC speakers need to be THX certified? Afterall, THX originated in movie theater applications. Multi-channel theater applications. :)
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • mutelight
    mutelight Posts: 1,054
    edited August 2006
    aaharvel wrote:
    no disrespect intended, I've heard them myself at Best Buy. They sound excellent for computer speakers, and I don't even like Klipsch.

    But does a 2channel set of PC speakers need to be THX certified? Afterall, THX originated in movie theater applications. Multi-channel theater applications. :)
    THX certification specs are very different for multimedia speakers than they are for HT applications. THX is a mixing specification as well as a playback spec. The reason for it is so that when Skywalker makes a movie mix and is played back on a system properly calibrated for THX playback it will be accurately represented. From taking many mixing classes, with Sound Design being my area of study, I can definitely appreciate the specification. Its like when I work on a mix in the surround lab with Genelec 3-way monitors then move to a satellite lab with some entry level Yamaha monitors and no sub I lose almost half of my subtle sound effects since they are significantly less accurate. But in a way it is nice to have access to multiple different labs with different setups so I can mix my session to suit all kinds of different setups. Basically THX is designed to allow the consumer to experice the sound how the designer intended.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited August 2006
    Yes.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited August 2006
    Great answer,

    when it comes to IC's being Thx like my monster 600's. LOL its a joke.. but recivers, amps and maybe speakers makes more sense. Its not a decideing factor for most but has its place.. I don't think its just marketing as a blanket statement.. except like i said, for cables and such
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited August 2006
    Thanks for the info Mutelight. I was always wondering why those Klipsch speakers were certified.
    Now I know.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • univera
    univera Posts: 848
    edited August 2006
    dorokusai wrote:
    Yes.

    I feel enlightened....:)
    UNIVERA
    Historic Charleston SC

    2 Channel:
    SDA-SRS's RDO tweets
    Biamped Anthem 2 SE's w/1970's NOS Siemens CCA's
    Anthem Pre 2L w/E.harmonix platinum matched 6H23's
    CDP- NAD C 542


    HT setup:
    AVR: NAD T 773
    Rears: Polk LC80i
    DVD: Toshiba 3109 dual tray
    Subs: Velodyne and M&K
    T.V.: Sony KDL-52XBR4 w/Vans Evers Clean Line Jr.
    Conditioner: Panamax M5100EX

    Master Bedroom Sony 40KDL-XBR3

    "I love it when a plan comes together." Hannibal Smith, The A-Team
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  • mulveling
    mulveling Posts: 505
    edited August 2006
    My impression also is that it's mostly hype. Gear might get certified, but that doesn't mean it's audiophile grade. For the gear I'm interested in (good quality separates), I'd rather not see the THX certification as I don't want that factored into the price. The only gear I know of with the THX label that makes me salivate is the Parasound Halo JC1 monoblocks - I don't care what label's slapped on there; they're just pure awesome.
    Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,093
    edited August 2006
    Not something I would lose a lot of sleep over.

    Movie soundtracks...accurate? I don't know about you guys but I've never heard a planet, plane, ship etc explode and the like so I wouldn't know if it was accurate anyhow.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited August 2006
    I had some THX certified cereal this morning.

    That's about what it's worth.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited August 2006
    I thought you "sounded" better today Demi.

    The ML answer followed by the yes says it quite nicely.

    RT1
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