The Metaphysics of HT

Tom Logan · 05-24-2003, 10:39 AM

Greetings all:

I hope this, my first post, won't be too abstract or simply annoying....but here goes...

I'm wondering if seasoned HT owners truly achieve something like the immersion effect of watching a movie in a theater.

I ask because I'm about to go from a 34-inch Sony and two stand-alone speakers to the Samsung 61" HLN617W DLP and HT sound system (specifics undetermined).

While it seems possible--and quite enjoyable!--to focus on the myriad aspects, trivial and important, that go in to perfecting an HT system, the bottom line for me as I evaluate my new system (30-day test drive through Magnolia HiFi) will be this:

Does the HT system allow one (me!) that sense of immersion in a film akin to the theatrical experience? Do you find your HT allows a qualitative (quantum?) improvement in your movie-viewing experience over your previous direct-tv, non-HT set-up?

Opinions?

(And thanks to all who maintain and participate in this forum--it's the Internet at its best!)

- Tom

Bob McElfresh · 05-24-2003, 11:46 AM

Well a HDTV gets you much closer to the film-like quality you get from a theater.

A lot of the immersive aspects comes from the speaker system and a good subwoofer.

You can answer the questions yourself. Keep your old TV and put it in another room/bedroom. After a few months with your new HT system, go to the smaller set and try watching a movie that you own/have watched on DVD on the main system.

You may find yourself un-able to finish the movie because you feel it's a waste of time on the older/smaller/non-ht television.

David Ruggiero · 05-24-2003, 05:02 PM

Tom, if you truly love to watch movies then a home theater is the only way to go. I have a 65" wide screen Toshiba tv, and watching movies on that tv is much more enjoyable then watch movies on my old 32" Sony. But not let's not forget sound, which may be even more important for that "Theater Experience" then a wide screen tv. The speakers on most tv's are not good at all, and even a cheap home theater in a box will completely blow them away in how they sound, not to mention you will have surround sound. So if something happens behind the camera on the screen you will hear it behind you coming from the rear speakers. Let me put it this way... before I bought my wide screen tv and theater sound system I owned about 10 dvd's.... now I have about 120 with more on the way! : )

Tom Logan · 05-24-2003, 05:32 PM

Thanks, David & Bob,

I realize my question was a tad general, but I do appreciate the answers!

And maybe I can entice more answers if I offer this...

Imagine a continuum of movie-viewing set-ups. On the high end: the best movie theatre (stadium seating, hugescreen, perfect sound, rapt but empathetic and appropriately QUIET audience members).

On the low end of the continuum is a good-size (say 32" direct view) TV in the family room.

Where on this continuum would a good 60" HDTV with, say, $1500K in sound, all optimally installed, configured, and calibrated, fit? Closer to the low end, the 32" TV? Closer to the high end, the perfect movie theatre?

(And please feel free to tell me I'm framing the question the wrong way!)

I realize since I'm awaiting the arrival of my own HT I'm really just managing expectations with these questions, but I'm truly interested in what the more thoughtful cinephiles think about the HT movie-viewing experience vis-a-vis the movie theater.

Thanks again...

- (ever-questioning) Tom

Brian tj · 05-24-2003, 05:33 PM

HI Tom
One word YES!!!!!!!!!!

OK more than one word, I am also new at this my theater is not all don and all ready I fined it hard to go to work in the morning!!

Like every one ells it all about sight and sound!!

SUB mager player.

I send my web page if you are interested.http://users.nac.net/armor/

Have fun

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Jim Williams · 05-24-2003, 05:34 PM

For me, watching a movie at home on my own HT system is far better than going to the theater. First of all, my HT is tuned perfectly, second of all, there are no distractions from other people, sticky floors, high prices and uncomfortable seats. My HT looks better and sounds better than any theater that I have been to since I left NYC.

Perhaps it is because I am older now or maybe it is some other factor, but I no longer experience the "romance factor" of going to a theater. Besides, if my wife and I decide to "make out" while watching a movie at home, we can now very easily put the movie on hold until after the flames of our passion have cooled.

Frank Zimkas · 05-24-2003, 10:12 PM

Yes, but only when I'm wearing my Pyramid hat, and rubbing my Moon Stones!

Jeff Engel · 05-25-2003, 01:17 AM

I find my HT to be leaps and bounds above any theater in my area. With properly setup gear and the size of screen yoou are talking about I think you will find it to be more immersive than the movie theater. The reason is that there are fewer distractions. At the movies someone coughing or sneezing, answering a cell phone(even if they leave) light from an Emergency exit sign, people chewing with their mouths open all remind me of the fact that I'm not "into" the movie and that I am really in my seat. Without these distractions at home I find myself more in tune with the movie and can appreciate all the nuances that the director put into his work. Small changes in score or odd framing that might have gone unnoticed at the regular movie theater.

I would say that with the tv and sound you're talking about you would be a little over half way to the big time. You will be leaps and bounds above the low end, but still missing some key pieces to really push you closer to the theater dream. I'm talking about front projection and separate amps and pre/pros mainly to get you closer to the high end.

The setup you're suggesting is what I had(minus HD) when I first started out and the results were awesome. I wanted to be closer to the high end however and have been taking those necessary(and expensive) steps to get there. Trust me, you will like where you are starting from.

Inspector Hammer! · 05-25-2003, 06:33 AM

Is it as satisfying as going to a theater? Absolutly!

Can it be better than a theater? Pour enough dough into it and you betcha!

With the right A/V equipment, (your off to a GREAT start with that 61"), properly set up and calibrated, in a darkened room with you on the couch with popcorn, their is nothing that matches the experience of watching a movie on your own HT, nothing!

I've had many HT over the years and it ust keeps evolving, from first hooking up the family hi-fi VCR to my mom's old floor model stereo back in 89, to Dolby Surround, to Laser Disc and Dolby Pro-Logic (I went through 3 recievers) and finally to progressive scan DVD, Dolby Digital, DTS and a 48" 16X9 HDTV.

I promise you, that once you get it all together and spend just ONE DAY with it previewing movies, you will never watch another film on that other TV again. And also maybe, just MAYBE, you won't go to the theater as much either. Since I discovered my system often looks and sounds better than any theater in my area, I never go to the theater's except to see a film that I REALLY want to see.

Bob McElfresh · 05-25-2003, 08:36 AM

The equipment as you describe it is way closer to the theater experience than the 32" unit.

You forgot 2 important things that make your HT experience 'better' than going to the theater:

- You had the fun/anticipation of picking out the equipment
- You (will) learn a lot about HT & movies doing the setup/calibration

These two things 'flavor' the experience.

If you look at older posts, you will find LOTS of guys who setup their first HT system with a 32" TV, Dolby Digital sound system, couches placed on risers to create 'rows', sheets hanging over windows to control light, etc. It's budget, low-end, home-made. Yet, the guys are so proud of their HT, they post pictures, learn to calibrate/equalizer, debate nuance issues about movies/sound with owners of more expensive systems.

Like so many other things, it's the journey that's important, not just the destination.