Robert.CB

THX Question

If you buy a THX certified receiver, dvd player, and/or amp, but do not buy THX certified speakers. Would there be a significant difference, because you didn't buy THX certified speakers? If so, what would the difference be?

Lev-S

No. It's just a badge.

John S

The certification is not what is important.

It is the ability to achieve the performance that certification entails.

Get great speakers, they will rock, and possibly rock better than THX certified products.

GordonL

That was real informative.
Read the THX FAQs. It'll tell you everything you need to know about the THX program and what problems it addresses. In a nutshell, if you don't believe the problem exists for you, don't buy it.

Bob McElfresh

There is currently NO outside testing/certification for your home theater equipment. You can find "High Power Digital Home Theater" equipment selling on eBay that make claims similar to equipment with Yamaha/Dennon/Paradigm/B&W names on them.

How do you tell the truth from the lies?

One way is to have an outside organization set some standards then test products to make sure they comply.

This is what THX certification is: promising that the equipment meets some standards.

So if you dont know what you are looking for in HT equipment, looking for a certification sticker like THX is a good thing to do.

However, there are lots of good HT products that meet or surpass the THX specification.

For speakers - spend some time in the "Speakers and Subwoofer" fourm and you will find about 20 or so brands that crop up as being well-respected.

But remember - speakers have 'flavor'. It's important that you try and audition speakers to determine if they meet your taste. Just because some else raves about butter-brickle ice cream does not mean this flavor is superior to chocolate to my taste buds.

THX certification does not really gurantee how a speaker sounds. They cover a lot of technical issues like efficiency, throw patterns, etc., but this does not really tell you how it sounds.

Beware: manufacturers tend to only get their higher-end speakers certified by THX. Because of this, stores often take better care to setup the rooms & speakers for the higher-end demonstrations. This naturally makes the THX certified speakers sound better than the 'shoved against the wall' speakers that are lower priced.


Hope this helps.

Jeff W.

THX = This Here is more eXpensive.

Jeff W.

But seriously. The THX badge does mean it had to pass some sort of quality test, but that doesn't mean that those without the THX badge are of lesser quality.

Unfortunately getting the THX badge does cost money and they pass this cost on to you. Is it worth it? Not really, but it can't hurt (other than your wallet).

JamesGL

is this why Harman Kardon no longer get their receiver THX certified?

Jack Shappa

THX certified DVDs often SUCK, THX certified theatres often SUCK, and there are tons of equipment that sounds awesome without the certification. The manufacturers PAY for the badge. Yes they have to meet some "standards", but you're better off knowing what you're doing and buying speakers based on what really sounds good and performs well in your room, not some badge whose importance is debatable.

- Jack

GordonL

Heh, the consumer pays for the badge. Any costs associated with the final product is factored in to the retail price. Nothing is free.

That's pretty much true for anything in life.

But for the joey six-pack who doesn't want to know/care about the technical issues involved, nothing wrong with buying THX equipment.