Am I too arrogant?? or are DIY HT outperforming Theater ??? - Page 2

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imax#Theatre (though I can't find it on IMAX's website that they reference), imax theatres are classified as "classic design" or "multiplex conversion".

Films must be modified to be displayed on the classic design as the screen (like the film) is 4:3 format. I, personally, object to films being modified from their intended presentations. The other option may be to not use the entire projection screen, which is probably OK for me but also probably not for most people. Further, IMAX claims that the systems meet the same technical specs regardless of theatre type.

I'd suggest, therefore, that what constitutes "real IMAX" is a bit of a grey area. If one absolutely had to categorize (which actually I think is a pretty decent idea because I've been to some IMAX presentations that weren't as good as my moderate-quality home theatre), I posit that what is really needed is a catalog of IMAX theatres based on those three categories. Within the two non-dome categories also should have the screen size noted since this is actually the main difference (assuming that theatre owners are doing everything properly per specifications etc from IMAX). This way, you know if you are going to a "classic" theatre where they may crop your film (this is how I saw Star Wars 2 - Electric Boogaloo), and viewers can make their own decisions as to visual impact based on experience, and decide their own screen size threshole to pay the IMAX premium.

Of course this is probably what viewers already do... go to an IMAX presentation at a given theatre and decide if they liked it enough to go back. Of the IMAX theatres I've been to in the last year or so, one had the sound so high I couldn't enjoy ANY film in there anyway. We left and received a refund. One, however, has the sound at a reasonable level and a large enough screen to satisfy me and make it worth the cash.

The truth is that, almost inevitably, if I don't care about seeing some specific film in 3D I will almost always wait until I can rent it on gru-ray and watch it in my own home theatre. Even if it's due to the fact that I can eat BACON while I watch a film.

Only 20,000. There are plenty of guys here that can easily beat that when you take room size into consideration.

The IMAX theaters around here advertise 14,000 or 16,000 watts. One of my amps will do that, and I have four

Who says you can't put pro cinema gear in your HT either? =]

You can...I have actually read your build thread previous to this and was impressed.

No one is saying that you can't install pro audio in your home and many people are going that route in their dedicated rooms, but there is no way you are getting 70mm film with a 6-story screen and be calibrated to every seat in your house. To me IMAX is the entire package that makes it amazing.

Basically you just proved the point of the original poster who said he enjoys his home theater better than your average movie theater.

a 120" screen at 12' fills the field of view quite well, and "calibrated to every seat and the house" is kind of a joke as the bass response in a theater is anything but even.

Also, not too hard to calibrate properly to a couch, vs a huge room

Everyone who sees a movie on my setup lets me know that I've ruined movie theaters for them forever.

I'm not trying to argue with you...your awesome and we all know it...the entire point of this thread is to talk about that exact thing

I'm actually quite confident Notnyt's system can match IMAX, if not beat it, at least in the audio department.

Yes, but how low does that bass go?

That sounds like a feature, not a bug.

What that really means is every seat in the house is a compromise. There is no magic box that can calibrate every seat in the house for best response.

I just thought this was a cool video and in no way am I trying to incite an argument with this video. I'm sure other peoples systems can do this as well.

http://www.imax.com/mobile/video/636748944001/

I am doing this from my phone so I hope this video works on computers as well

This is the inside of an IMAX subwoofer which houses 8-18's. Same amount of drivers as notny

Probably not. I do recall that they once advertised a "Rolling Stones" concert that was going to be shown there. One very impressive show I saw was titled "Ring Of Fire" which had some very stomach wrenching visual effects. I am speaking of the Omnimax in Chicago. I always visit the omnimax when I am visiting the museum of science and industry.

I saw Avatar in an IMAX theater in 3D. I thought it was worth it, but most other theaters I do not. On a side not, I can do without 3D. Can't stand the glasses (I never wear glasses or sun glasses) and the 3D experience didn't do anything for me.

That would be harder to do with driver energy instead of port energy...... driver energy would be less focused, still would like to see it tried or done by someeone though.....

I've seen some features in 3D that were good and plenty I could have done without. In general, though, Dome IMAX / Omnimax >> 3D.

If I were The Gates, I'd put in a Dome IMAX at my house, and get someone to figure out how to project feature films on it. Actually it could be a profitable venture unless their monopoly on their material is contracted and not merely de facto. The Omnimax in Cinci runs well into the late evening and it appeared to me that people go to it just like going to the movies. I'd think they'd want big-name material, even if it were older. For example, Watchmen in Dome IMAX? Sign me up. Heck, even Despicable Me would have been fun in the dome.

Purely depends on what YOUR local theater has to offer. Some of my local one both look and sound like crap. But there is 1 in my area that literally blows everything out of the water. Sound. Picture. Everything. So it really depends on what they have closer to you.

I could give a crap if a theatre can "do" 19Hz (whatever THAT means). My HT can shake the floor on LFE passages but I would never, EVER choose to listen at the volume level that makes that happen. I don't even hang around when people run demos at volume levels that will result in hearing damage. Give me a larger screen and a more comfortable seat, thank you very much. Also, note to the cinema industry, stop making crap films.

As far as cinemas go, 3D is being pushed because the cinema industry always wants to stay ahead of TV. It's the same as when they went away from the native 4:3 aspect of 35mm film back in the day. As for the television 3D push... well television marketing people don't care if they undercut the cinema industry as long as they can sell more widgets (although somewhat surprising they have gotten content providers to sign on). The question now is how cinema will attempt to differentiate itself.

I have been told by many of my friends that my system is better than the movie theater and all i have is SVS pc12-NSD and SBS/SCS across the front and paradigms in the rear.....honestly not that impressive....but my friends swear that its better because it is clearer and the bass is more impactful....

Now I plan to build a horn sub in the future that wont go as low as the SVS but it will be louder and still reach 30hz

I am still debating doing a sealed sub at times but I am fascinated by tapped horn designs....

im rambling but needless to say...i dont think it take much to top your "average theater"

Below 30-40Hz in a small room, even modest setups beat 'average theaters'. Where theaters really do well is in midbass. With all the problems caused by 1/4 wave cancellations and room modes, some of the slam can be taken away in a small room unless set up properly with listening positions carefully chosen and absorption used on front and back walls, if necessary.

For example, the loudest single effect effect encoded in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is at 120Hz. In the theatre, this effect was easily palpable, and made everyone's insides rumble. In my room, I have a 1/4 wave cancellation at 120Hz for my center speaker (solid projection screen just above and behind it). It's as if the effect was barely there.....

On the plus side, in my room all of the sub-25Hz content in films moves my couch.....

JSS

Most systems can't play under 20Hz and most cinemas can't even play down to 20Hz. It takes way too much power to achieve any respectable SPL under 20Hz for a venue as large as a cinema.

Can your HT do it cleanly though? What's your distortion levels?

So true.

Yep, two f-20's in my modestly sized theater and 2000 watts gets me close enough for my liking granted that is down to 20hz, not lower, but it makes me so happy, as a true transformers fan from the getgo, I wont even consider watching it until the 3d dvd arrives at my doorstep the rs40 oughta do it plenty of justice on my 110" screen while I drink my own cheap beer and listen at SQ levels that any movie theater in my small town cant even come CLOSE to!!!

I did the same for tron legacy 3d and couldn't have been happier watching with a bigger group than I could have brought to the theater, for cheaper (collectively, i bought the collectors set) and in the comfort of my own home!!! once a set of 4pi's and some JBL surrounds is in effect, i will be the best theater within 30 square miles unless Tom Hilton wants to show me up (I think he can)

EDIT: 8 sealed 15/18's sounds great to me at some point, but for my budget, i LOVE what I have and commend folks like lilMike for allowing me to, as a famous rapper once said "Ball on a budget"

[quote=notnyt;20679069]The IMAX theaters around here advertise 14,000 or 16,000 watts. One of my amps will do that, and I have four

Who says you can't put pro cinema gear in your HT either? =]

I have to see this picture EVERY DAY!.. Its a SHAME that my local Cinema does not have not even 1/8 part of what you have THERE!...

I wish to see Transformers 3 at your HOME! TOTALLY AWESOME!....

I have $1200 to spend in a new sub; and I dont have any skills or tools to work with wood. Im very interested in a Rythmik F15HP; but maybe DIYs is a better way to go IF you have any experience and tools to work with. Sadly, I have to spend on a ready-build sub. But your subs are really AWESOME and your equipment as well!!...

I go to the Omnimax in Cinci a couple of times a year. Saw Tornado Alley twice this year and got to check out the chase vehicles which was pretty cool. Omnimax is awesome. It could use a bit more bass though. .I don't think it goes much below 25hz.

Wow, I guess I'm better than IMAX then tee hee!

What do u have?

right now I've got 6 x 18's and 2 x 21's with 2 more 18's getting built. All in a room 14' x 23' but open to the rest of the basement.