Lots of IMAX Enhanced news packed into this one!

CEDIA 2019 is just a week away and there is lots of new news regarding IMAX Enhanced. Today, it was announced that IMAX Enhanced is embarking upon a global expansion with new movies, device partners, and streaming platforms. For example, FandangoNOW and Rakuten launch IMAX enhanced streaming options while “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and “Bumblebee” will join the list of IMAX enhanced movies available on streaming platforms.

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I refuse to adopt streaming... I guess I am out. No money for IMAX from me. Glad I don't need to upgrade any of my gear. Unless of course... WED-DL-IMAX hits the scene then all bets are off.

just what we need, another format that only works on specific equipment.

The video "works" on any TV that supports 4K and HDR10 (on the video side, most of what makes it "ehnanced" is in the video processing and therefore "baked in"). And the audio "works" with any DTS:X equipped gear but works "best" with IMAX Enhanced gear. That's the best way I can describe it.

Works on all equipment. IMAX Enhanced soundtracks are encoded as DTS:X 7.1.4 and backwards compatible (like all new formats). Software upgrades to receivers & processors is free.

My 8012 has an update for this and I haven't bothered installing it. I don't see what this 'format' offers over Dolby Vision and Atmos.

Not sure I really get it either... and for me I have a dedicated home theater and am not interested in streaming for my movie watching either. I want the best quality as possible and don't believe streaming does that, so this is targeted at the average consumer of TV watching people. Not sure they really care about PQ and best quality in the first place so what is IMAX enhanced going to do for them or is this just another sales and marketing scheme?

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment also will release a series of new titles on IMAX Enhanced physical 4K Ultra HD disc, beginning with “The Angry Birds Movie 2.” The IMAX Enhanced titles (on discs) I've seen are a huge leap from the regular HDR discs.

The only tangible benefit of this is that we can get the expanded aspect ratio versions of movies. But they seem to be struggling to even put out any movies right now...

Yes, that announcement in itself is comically tragic. Angry Birds 2? Give me a F^king beak.

I guess ATV won't have this new format for another ten yrs

to be fair, i've completely ignored what 'imax enhanced is' so my doubt might be unfounded. like others, i just don't see a need for something else. in most cases competition is awesome, and at worst motivates the top dogs to keep working. But when it comes to stuff like this, it just kind of annoys me.

but hey, it's not like i can't watch movies without it, so really, what can i complain about. if i end up with gear that supports it, i'll check it out, but i have no reason to upgrade my gear, and this won't change that.

on a personal note, i really don't believe that 'imax' exists at home. like, if i have a 16:9 tv, and i watch an imax version of a movie, that's not imax imo. it's just a zoomed out 16:9 version. unless your screen is 'too tall', then watching a movie that is presented in imax format will just make the content on screen look smaller. I think this more than anything is what bothers me about this. imax is not just an aspect ratio, or 'framing' technique, and if you don't have the physical screen set up to go with it, i'd argue it's taking away from the immersion, not enhancing it. that's totally a personal opinion though, the choice is yours

I don't see the benefit of a new format. Imax Enhanced will be doomed to a shadowy existence...

IMAX enhanced= DTS version of Dolby Atmos .

Exactly.... Im sick of animated movies even being mentioned.

I'm shocked, shocked that you would make such a comment after the long-awaited announcements of this groundbreaking new format and the quality titles announced along with.

Art

TBPH I found this new (AVS creation?) "ecosystem expansion" annoyingly misleading.


I'm by all means an 'old school' IMAX aficionado, i.e. the spectacular nature programs and documentaries shown in giant screen IMAX or dome screen OMNIMAX theaters.


"Eco" suggests a connection / connotation to these kinds of films but the context is obviously the NuIMAX stuff which has hardly anything to do with "eco".

That was my understanding as well. I don't understand the complaints when you really do not have to upgrade anything to get the added benefits. I love the IMAX footage, and the few movies announced I am very interested in purchasing. Cannot wait to see Crawl.

Some IMAX versions have the same aspect ratio as the non-IMAX version. When I saw the first Transformers movie in IMAX, it maintained its 2.35 aspect ratio throughout. However, it was a few minutes longer (had additional scenes) and a different audio mix (included high centre channel).

DTS version of Dolby Atmos = DTS:X.

Imax thingy = DTS on steroids

IMAX Enhanced uses regular DTS:X 7.1.4 soundtracks.

The main thing the IMAX Enhanced program offers is a version of the movie that has not been seen outside of IMAX theatres. Doesn't use a different 'format' (standard 4K UHD, standard DTS:X 7.1.4 mix). IMAX versions have already been released theatrically. This program is about releasing IMAX versions on home video.

If it's standard HDR and DTS:X what's the point? As far as I can tell, it's just attempting to gain DTS some traction by leveraging the IMAX branding. If you have an example of a movie that's better this way, I'll check it out. I sort of doubt directors are making special cuts just for IMAX, other than to fit the aspect ratio or whatever.

Already mentioned in the post you quoted: The point is more about alternate content than any new technology. Going by memory: Apollo 13, Star Wars: Episode 2, Transformers and Transformers 2 all had different cuts (different run times) just for IMAX. Superman Returns had 3D sequences in IMAX that were never in the non-IMAX version. The recent Ghostbusters remake, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 and the two Fantastic Beasts movies used IMAX Frame Break where some of the special effects broke outside of the 2.35 frame.

Ah, so if someone buys an IMAX "enhanced" movie and plays it on a regular HDR/DTS:X setup, they are not going to see those extra scenes?

What "extra scenes"? However the IMAX version of those movies differs from the non-IMAX version, those differences can only be seen on home video by buying the IMAX Enhanced version (streaming or disc). Again, it has more to do with content than technology.

Well you've said a few times now there are differences, and when you said "different runtimes" I assumed that meant extra scenes. Can you provide any examples of how the same disc will be different playing on an IMAX "enhanced" receiver versus one with "normal" HDR and DTS:X?

IMAX "enhanced" really smells like all sizzle and no steak, as we used to say.

edit: BTW, hope it doesn't seem like I'm challenging you, I know you aren't responsible for the product. If there's any real reason to install the update on my receiver, I will, but so far, I've gotten zero information that has made me want to bother, even if I happen to buy a movie that only comes "enhanced" since it will just look and sound the same anyway.

A couple of the titles I mentioned had shorter run times, so it's not always extra scenes. For example: George Lucas was continuing to fine tune the editing of the IMAX version of Episode 2 for a couple of weeks after he had locked down the edit of the non-IMAX version. One example is bass management. IMAX soundtracks don't have a LFE channel, so they're 5.0 or 6.0 (w/ high centre) or 12.0 (immersive). IMAX theatres high pass each channel at 70Hz using a 24dB per octave filter, with everything below that range going to the subs. Home systems typically have 12dB per octave crossovers. So IMAX soundtracks are pre bass managed at 70Hz using a 12dB filter. When an IMAX Enhanced receiver detects the flag on an IMAX Enhanced soundtrack, it auto-switches the crossover to 70Hz. When the receiver's 12dB per octave crossover is combined with the 12dB per octave high pass in the soundtrack, you end up with the same 24dB per octave slope used in IMAX theatres. Other things are auto-switched as well, but most of those things can be changed manually one by one if you don't have an IMAX Enhanced receiver. The main difference is in the content, not the technology. That's like saying Blade Runner: Final Cut or Apocalypse Now Redux "really smell like all sizzle". How can an alternate version of a movie be "all sizzle"?