Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!...

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Posted by Rich H on January 11, 2002 at 07:12:01

Most Home Theater set-ups I've seen produce for me a common sense of disappointment. The experience feels somewhat ridiculous.

In a nutshell, the video displays are nowhere near as impressive as the sound systems with which they are paired. I'm not talking about those "Audio Video Interiors" type set-ups, seen in homes of the rich, who can afford to house huge screens and theater seating. I'm talking about the typical pairing of equipment seen in the vast majority of AV stores. The type of system being sold to most people as Home Theater.

In virtually every set-up, especially those involving CRTs and surround sound, the quality and size of the image seems ludicrous compared to the full-scale assault available from the surround system.
The image from most TVs is still pretty unimpressive, and it doesn't help when watching "The Mummy" letter boxed to oblivion on these screens. What you get is the sound of a huge army thundering in wonderful clarity through the sound system, while you strain to make out these miniature figures on the TV. I find it difficult to connect the sonic experience with the visual one. It just comes off as sort of ludicrous.

I should also say that, although surround can be kinda neat and immersive in of itself, it also tends to sound disconnected from the flat image in front of me, often pulling me "away" from the screen.

In a nutshell, in all but the most expensive set-ups, the visual side of the HT equation just isn't the equal of the sonic side, in either clarity, resolution or scale. Video displays have to catch up to what is possible in sound reproduction.

Anyone agree/disagree?

Rich H.

(BTW, don't take this as a diss against letterbox/original aspect ratios, which I fully support).

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Topic - Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!... - Rich H 07:12:01 01/11/02 (21)

Re: Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!... - Sam9 14:51:39 01/18/02 (0)

Not enough emphasis on picture quality in general - Ted in NJ 07:31:09 01/18/02 (2)

Re: Not enough emphasis on picture quality in general..AGREED..more... - Rich H 10:27:03 01/18/02 (1)

Agreed - bobo1 23:20:38 01/30/02 (0)

Re: I wish they'd bring back Beta... - Jim Willis 01:19:38 01/15/02 (0)

Re: Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!... - xenon101 06:24:21 01/14/02 (1)

Re: Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!... - abraham 07:41:14 01/31/02 (0)

Theaters - better video, but annoying people too - Larry S 18:25:39 01/12/02 (0)

You haven't seen... - Rod M 14:42:48 01/12/02 (0)

Re: Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!... - sam9 11:23:16 01/12/02 (0)

We have all seen... - Estes 19:57:05 01/11/02 (3)

Re: We have all seen... - sam9 11:27:14 01/12/02 (1)

Film has been around for a century... - Estes 18:16:43 01/15/02 (0)

But the sound is so much better(nt) - bstan 21:29:47 01/11/02 (0)

Agree to a point but .... - John C. - Aussie 18:02:20 01/11/02 (0)

a vast, Right Wing cable conspiracy... - petew 16:34:41 01/11/02 (0)

Re: Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!... - SamM 08:50:17 01/11/02 (1)

No Flames, I agree - bstan 17:19:25 01/11/02 (0)

Re: Most HT set-ups are d*mned silly!... - KenS 08:47:35 01/11/02 (2)

That is only when audiophiles set up HT - lwang 13:10:47 01/11/02 (1)

Re: That is only when audiophiles set up HT - Lizard 19:42:09 01/27/02 (0)

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