136 replies to this topic

[youngm]

Have not seen this gear in action. I have an old set of Jamo speakers and an older Onkyo receiver.  Been very happy with these brands so far. Just needs updating

I will definitely go see the JVC in a demo room. Just need to find one with a scope screen.

[Owen]

As long as the demo screen is as wide or wider than what you want to test it does not matter if its scope or 16:9. You can always project smaller to see what it looks like if the demo screen is bigger than you will use.
Don't forget to view at the distance you intend to at home.

[:)]

I would suggest check out audio wise too. while might have liked previous older jamo and onkyo. they make a huge range of stuff both brands. and keep in mind there is a huge amount of really good other brands out there too. absolutely no harm in checking out what the combination in mind actually sounds like and seeing what can also get for same money in other options

[youngm]

Totally agree, thanks guys. Really appreciate the advice and feedback.

I can't wait to finally have a dedicated HT room.  

At last then, the kids and I will stop fighting over the 64" plasma for movies

Hmmm, actually, they may even want to take over that room too

[Quark]

youngm, on 29 April 2012 - 10:37 AM, said:

Hmmm, actually, they may even want to take over that room too

Didn't one of our other members put a combination lock on the HT door for just that reason...  

[bbar]

Quark, on 29 April 2012 - 11:01 AM, said:

Didn't one of our other members put a combination lock on the HT door for just that reason...  

Not a bad idea to have it lockable with kids as can be some very expensive kit inside and not really meant for kids to play with. Especially teenagers!

Combination, you must be as old as me. It's all biometrics now.

[Quark]

bbar, on 29 April 2012 - 03:54 PM, said:

Combination, you must be as old as me. It's all biometrics now.

Can you put that in a larger font, or SPEAK UP!!!!  

[bbar]

Quark, on 29 April 2012 - 06:28 PM, said:

Can you put that in a larger font, or SPEAK UP!!!!  

[youngm]

:), on 29 April 2012 - 08:07 AM, said:

I would suggest check out audio wise too. while might have liked previous older jamo and onkyo. they make a huge range of stuff both brands. and keep in mind there is a huge amount of really good other brands out there too. absolutely no harm in checking out what the combination in mind actually sounds like and seeing what can also get for same money in other options

The requirements I put on the HT speaker setup was that it had to have wall mountable satellites and it had to be THX compliant.  There aren't a lot of vendors out there who make quality THX satellites, so I nailed it down to Jamo, and since I've been a happy Jamo user for years, I decided to stick with the brand that I've grown to like.

I haven't really looked at what other THX receivers there are out there, so I will do some research in that space for sure.  I've been happy with Onkyo and I know they offer a decent range of THX Select2 receivers, so that'd be my first preference.

[Owen]

I would not take much notice of a THX label, its not a guaranty of fine performance it just means the manufacture paid to use the THX name.
Many products without a THX label outperform the ones that do

[SDL]

Yes that is true, why do you particularly want THX certification? THX certainly don't certify crap gear but it doesn't mean you might not find gear without the certification that is better. I had a choice of THX speakers and went with ones that suited my personal listening preference better. However on my screen I got a THX certified perf. screen as they also suited what I was after. Worth considering why you must have THX and what it means, maybe you have a good reason, but maybe it is just that you are not sure what THX really means?

Edited by SDL, 30 April 2012 - 08:13 PM.

[:)]

youngm, on 30 April 2012 - 05:02 PM, said:

The requirements I put on the HT speaker setup was that it had to have wall mountable satellites and it had to be THX compliant.  There aren't a lot of vendors out there who make quality THX satellites, so I nailed it down to Jamo, and since I've been a happy Jamo user for years, I decided to stick with the brand that I've grown to like.

I haven't really looked at what other THX receivers there are out there, so I will do some research in that space for sure.  I've been happy with Onkyo and I know they offer a decent range of THX Select2 receivers, so that'd be my first preference.

this $180 set from logitech is THX certified

http://www.ebay.com....d#ht_757wt_1114

not that suggesting above, just that THX sorry to say means didly squat. there is a lot of good gear that ends up with the thx logo. And couple of pieces of gear I own is thx ultra 2 certified, but unfortunately a lot of average stuff that gets the same tag as well.

thats not to say the ones looking at are rubbish or anything, just that if considering something it really is worth checking out. jamo and onkyo both make a huge range of stuff. worth a demo to confirm even what your looking it will hit the spot. while there it also doesnt take much to demo some alternatives. will do couple of things either confirm what your buying is a good buy or at worse tell you that there might be another better option/s !. as mentioned really no harm in demoing. can only be a good thing

personally I think the sub they throw in that system isnt the most fantastic and for a speaker set those offered by some of the local makers can be better value, but thats just my opinion you might find or believe otherwise.

same with amps onkyo just one, and huge range of stuff they make, there might be one model better suited to the set than another and who knows there might be another brand / model altogether you find a better match with speaker in question. wont know till check out really.

look no right or wrong with this stuff, just so many options. your getting a huge screen and a nice projector it helps balance that with a sound to match. something probably not not something get a handle on till check out for yourself

[youngm]

Reason why I'm keen on a THX certified system is because it ensures the movie's soundtrack sounds as near as possible to the intentions of the Director / Sound Engineers.  So I guess THX certified HT speakers would under-go a rigorous sound certification process, right?

The Jamo D500 THX 5.1 system has received rave reviews (mainly for watching movies tho, not music).

I'd be open to other brands too, but they must be wall mountable satellites.  I don't really like having speaker stands all around the room.

I quite like the Bose Acoustimass 5.1 speaker system with the tiny adjustable satellites too, but not sure how they'd perform in a mid-sized dedicated HT room.  Might not have enough "oomph" so to speak.

[ajm]

youngm, on 01 May 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

Reason why I'm keen on a THX certified system is because it ensures the movie's soundtrack sounds as near as possible to the intentions of the Director / Sound Engineers.  So I guess THX certified HT speakers would under-go a rigorous sound certification process, right?

The Jamo D500 THX 5.1 system has received rave reviews (mainly for watching movies tho, not music).

I'd be open to other brands too, but they must be wall mountable satellites.  I don't really like having speaker stands all around the room.

I quite like the Bose Acoustimass 5.1 speaker system with the tiny adjustable satellites too, but not sure how they'd perform in a mid-sized dedicated HT room.  Might not have enough "oomph" so to speak.

It may have once meant that but clearly no longer.  IIRC the THX label was bought by Creative who then slapped it on a whole lot of their PC speaker products. These days its not much more than a marketing thing. It's a bit like what happened to the heart foundation tick - once it went onto a McDonald's burger it pretty much lost all credibilty.

Bose hire fantastic marketers.

There are some excellent sub/sat systems out there, I would check out Paradigm and Focal versions.

[SDL]

If you are absolutely set on THX then their website allows you to select various products if you haven't looked already? You also need to consider that while that is the THX aim, to provide what the engineer wanted, that non THX discs may not give you that anyway. IMO it isn't quite as bad as some may suggest as they have developed the various THX grades that cover PCs small, medium, large rooms, commercial etc. however it does cost for THX certification and costs to maintain so you pay a premium for the products. Only you can work out if that premium is worth it in order to meet your expectation of hearing what you think the engineer intended but it is worth IMO doing some listening at the price point to decide whether you get something you prefer that may not be THX certified. I guess it's a value decision for each step in the path source, transport, receiver, cable speakers, screen perhaps? and you need to decide where you draw the line and where money is best spent and whether a badge is worth much?

[bbar]

SDL, on 01 May 2012 - 02:45 PM, said:

If you are absolutely set on THX then their website allows you to select various products if you haven't looked already? You also need to consider that while that is the THX aim, to provide what the engineer wanted, that non THX discs may not give you that anyway. IMO it isn't quite as bad as some may suggest as they have developed the various THX grades that cover PCs small, medium, large rooms, commercial etc. however it does cost for THX certification and costs to maintain so you pay a premium for the products. Only you can work out if that premium is worth it in order to meet your expectation of hearing what you think the engineer intended but it is worth IMO doing some listening at the price point to decide whether you get something you prefer that may not be THX certified. I guess it's a value decision for each step in the path source, transport, receiver, cable speakers, screen perhaps? and you need to decide where you draw the line and where money is best spent and whether a badge is worth much?

+1 , and I suspect of some value when all speakers are wall mounted as their certification means that they can play all frequencies within their range with minimal distortion. Definitely a peace-of-mind thing.

I had always been a fan of THX post processing; but have been without since traded Marantz for Denon.

[Owen]

THX is just a marketing gimmick, I doubt any of the best speakers have THX certification.
When a cheap crappy pair of PC speakers have certification and $30,000 plus  hi end speakers dont what done THX certification really mean?

[SDL]

As stated owen THX has various classifications in its certification now that allow it to have pc speakers and $30k speakers and they are not classified the same or compared and certified on the same basis. Having said that it doesn't mean THX certification makes one speaker better than another that doesn't have it

[Owen]

SDL, on 01 May 2012 - 09:11 PM, said:

Having said that it doesn't mean THX certification makes one speaker better than another that doesn't have it

Exactly, so why base a purchase decision on THX certification?

Edited by Owen, 01 May 2012 - 09:21 PM.

[yorac]

Owen, on 01 May 2012 - 08:58 PM, said:

THX is just a marketing gimmick, I doubt any of the best speakers have THX certification.
When a cheap crappy pair of PC speakers have certification and $30,000 plus  hi end speakers dont what done THX certification really mean?

THX....................

[SDL]

Owen, on 01 May 2012 - 09:21 PM, said:

Exactly, so why base a purchase decision on THX certification?

Because it isn't just marketing there is a basis behind it and it is for the individual to determine what that is worth and whether it gives the desired results. You should read the THX basis for classification and what the various classifications can mean for the consumer. Again I am not an advocate for just purchasing THX and made none of my decisions based on the THX badge, but it shouldn't just be seen as meaningless.

[Owen]

So is there a reason to choose THX certified products over much better non certified products?

[yorac]

Owen, on 01 May 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:

So is there a reason to choose THX certified products over much better non certified products?

not anymore imho, there was a time but as you previously pointed out and I think so did Al a couple of years ago the value became lost at the point of Logitech, that is not to criticise Logitech stuff as I find it quite good but rather to say a commercial line was crossed, again all imho..........

[SDL]

Yes and no. He'll what an answer huh? Personally I put my preference before THX certification and I am suggesting the OP also take a listen before choosing purely on the basis of a THX certification, however THX certification means that the equipment meets criteria that ensure it has been tested at one of the several levels to perform to that criteria. You know when you buy an THX ultra certified for example it meets the THX Ultra requirements. Speakers are about sound preferences and my speakers meet a sound signature I like, but I know others don't like them as much as they like others. Some will like B&W, some like Mission, some like Klipsch, some like Jamo, this doesn't mean any of them are better than the other, but they all have a signature that appeals to someone. But if you want to be assured that the speaker meets criteria that supposedly allow you to hear what the sound engineer wanted and that is your decision criteria then to go for anything else is going away from what you are hoping to achieve.
Myself I have a non THX processor, non THX speakers and love the sound I have achieved as it suits me...each to their own

[SDL]

yorac, on 01 May 2012 - 10:01 PM, said:

not anymore imho, there was a time but as you previously pointed out and I think so did Al a couple of years ago the value became lost at the point of Logitech, that is not to criticise Logitech stuff as I find it quite good but rather to say a commercial line was crossed, again all imho..........

I think this is where the misconception exists. The criteria allow for ultra2, select2, I/S and multimedia where the pc stuff sits. The various products don't all get one THX certification and Logitech speakers would never get Ultra2 for example.