THX Select 2 vs Ultra 2 - Receiver selection

aaharvel · January 2006

i've never seen re-eq boost treble for speakers. Ever.
-3db. at 5khz
-6db at 12khz

gregure · January 2006

Price has no relation to quality? So, I guess a BMW isn't better than a Saturn?
With the exception of Bose, I can't think of a manufacturer in electronics that doesn't offer better build quality and performance when charging significantly more than other price brackets. Pioneer Elite and Fujitsu plasmas are far better than Panasonic and Samsung plasmas, for instance.

As for THX, I think the theory isn't bad. Create a set of standards that these crappy receiver manufacturers are forced to adhere to in order to assure some level of quality for the consumer. It isn't a terrible idea. However, once a unit reaches a certain level of quality, the certification becomes somewhat superfluous. B&K, Lexicon, Krell, do these sound like names I need to have a THX sticker on to know they are superior?

Now if we can just get a set of standards for MUSIC playback to which these manufacturers need to aspire, that would be something. As it is, they all create their own standards, and their own way of measuring those standards, making the results....useless!?

venomclan · January 2006

gregure wrote:

Price has no relation to quality? So, I guess a BMW isn't better than a Saturn?
With the exception of Bose, I can't think of a manufacturer in electronics that doesn't offer better build quality and performance when charging significantly more than other price brackets. Pioneer Elite and Fujitsu plasmas are far better than Panasonic and Samsung plasmas, for instance.

As for THX, I think the theory isn't bad. Create a set of standards that these crappy receiver manufacturers are forced to adhere to in order to assure some level of quality for the consumer. It isn't a terrible idea. However, once a unit reaches a certain level of quality, the certification becomes somewhat superfluous. B&K, Lexicon, Krell, do these sound like names I need to have a THX sticker on to know they are superior?

Now if we can just get a set of standards for MUSIC playback to which these manufacturers need to aspire, that would be something. As it is, they all create their own standards, and their own way of measuring those standards, making the results....useless!?

Good post,
THX is marketing, period. Created by George Lucas. It will only tell you what you already know about the equipment if you did some research. In the beginning there was only THX certified. This only served the purpose of differentiating btween low end equipment and mid end equipment. They created a false sense of value that people would pay more if it was THX certified. The mid fi equipment already could meet the THX certification but had to pay a liscense to use it. $ for George. But that left a quandry, how could they put the same THX badge on an entry level mid-fi receiver as the flagship? Answer: THX Select, Ultra, Ultra 2...etc. Problem solved, more $ for George. The good equipment could already perform so quality did not come into play.

Fast forward to today, there is now THX certified sheetrock. Only lower/mid fi equipment use THX. THX is marketed every time you watch a movie before the credits. It is a message to those who are novices telling them that whatever they get should be THX _ _ _ whatever the suffix, and not the HTIB they were looking at, that is not certified. Most decent equipment manufacturers do not use or have stopped using THX. Why pay George a liscense to certify that thier equipment is already way surpassing THX.

THX is the equivalent of putting a sticker on a new car, assuring that it has an engine and tires. I take comfort in knowing that my sheetrock is THX certified and that George Lucas approves of my walls and has a little more pocket change due to me because he needs it. The only real sad thing about it all is that I did not think of it first. Hey guys, you know your gear will not sound good unless they are "VENOM" certified SUX. Send me $100 for the decal.
Venom

kmartin971 · January 2006

Fact is all major componies now have their receivers THX tested. So go info but does it really matter. I woud buy Ultra 2 graded receivers until they come down in price.

reeltrouble1 · January 2006

Well, if nothing else, as a collective group we are armed with an extreme amount of knowledge just to watch a friggen movie.

Surely we could request the Actors to be THX certified!!!

RT1

venomclan · January 2006

My remote contol is THX certified but the batteries are not. What now?

reeltrouble1 · January 2006

Opportunity Knocks!!!

RT1

cfrizz · January 2006

Waaa!

speakergeek · January 2006

reeltrouble1 wrote:

Well, if nothing else, as a collective group we are armed with an extreme amount of knowledge just to watch a friggen movie.

Surely we could request the Actors to be THX certified!!!

RT1

Amen!

m-rorem · January 2006

While I agree that THX ratings are not a sole reason to buy a receiver, amp, DVD player, DVD software, speakers, or cables, etc. It's not really a reason NOT to buy either.

As mentioned above, for the most part it was an attempt to create a standard that would enable a would-be customer to identify a product that met at least a bare minmum level of quality and features. Unfortunately as is almost always the case, many manufactures have bastardized this into a way to get people to blindy spend more money!

There are some features of the THX Ultra2 specification that do have benefits to all consumers (at least those with 7.1 systems). The "boundry-gain compensation" can benefit those that have limited placement options for their sub, and no other form of equalization. The Ultra2 processing for 5.1 soundtracks allows you to use the surround back channels of your 7.1 system (without having the rear soundstage collapse as is the case when using EX processing on non EX recordings). As mentioned, RE-EQ is a useful feature also.

THX certification cost manufacturers big $$$ so be aware that you will either have to pay more for this "feature" on a quality product, or pay more than you should for a product that is designed to "meet" the necessary specifications at the expense of quality elsewhere.

good luck

m-rorem :rolleyes:

doggie750 · January 2006

speakergeek wrote:

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

Holydoc wrote:

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

I am with you HOLY DOC

NOT true. SPEAKER GEEK

THX Ultra2 is developed to simplify calibration process (All the set up functions to your receivers). It fills in the soundstage w/o manually setting your receiver, that is no need to set your speaker levels, distance, lfe ..etc. Mainly it's developed to the not technically oriented folks, it's a fool proof. I hope I made a point here.

NOTE:
You must set your THX settings when play THX certified DVD. It's not the same as your Receiver's Test TONE.

speakergeek · January 2006

Doggie, you missed the point of the remainder of the post. :rolleyes: Not sure why you guys are so anti THX. It is an attmpt to improve things. Really, it is. Ultra and Ultra 2 are abit more than you imply...

"THX Ultra and THX Ultra2 Certified Products deliver top quality audio and video presentations to large home theaters. A viewing distance of approximately 12 feet / 4 meters from the display to the listening position is ideal for these specifications, which translates to a 3,000 cu. ft. room.

Considered the benchmark for home theater products, THX Ultra2 offers uncompromised playback of multi-channel movies, music and games. THX Ultra2 incorporates new features and more power requirements for premium home theater receivers, pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers and speakers that can distribute an optimal soundstage across wide viewing areas in dedicated home theaters.

While THX Ultra2 Certified Products are dependent on the room size, THX Ultra Certified Products are not. THX Ultra brings high end performance to interconnects, equalizers, projection screens and DVD players, complementing the THX Ultra2 category.

Both the THX Ultra and THX Ultra2 specifications are designed for the home audio enthusiasts who demand peak performance from their equipment in their dedicated home theater, representing the best THX has to offer in one package. "

doggie750 · January 2006

speakergeek wrote:

Doggie, you missed the point of the remainder of the post. :rolleyes: Not sure why you guys are so anti THX. It is an attmpt to improve things. Really, it is. Ultra and Ultra 2 are abit more than you imply...

"THX Ultra and THX Ultra2 Certified Products deliver top quality audio and video presentations to large home theaters. A viewing distance of approximately 12 feet / 4 meters from the display to the listening position is ideal for these specifications, which translates to a 3,000 cu. ft. room.

Considered the benchmark for home theater products, THX Ultra2 offers uncompromised playback of multi-channel movies, music and games. THX Ultra2 incorporates new features and more power requirements for premium home theater receivers, pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers and speakers that can distribute an optimal soundstage across wide viewing areas in dedicated home theaters.

While THX Ultra2 Certified Products are dependent on the room size, THX Ultra Certified Products are not. THX Ultra brings high end performance to interconnects, equalizers, projection screens and DVD players, complementing the THX Ultra2 category.

Both the THX Ultra and THX Ultra2 specifications are designed for the home audio enthusiasts who demand peak performance from their equipment in their dedicated home theater, representing the best THX has to offer in one package. "

:rolleyes: interesting :rolleyes:

THX Select 2 vs Ultra 2 - Receiver selection

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