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There is a licence fee, it's true but the tests still need to be passed you cant just buy your way in to the THX Certification scheme.
It is the only way of guaranteeing everything related to sound in film production though from mastering through to reproduction. If everything is certified then it sounds how it is supposed to, its an absolute goal.
Also remember that THX is now not part of LucasArts and they're one of the only people that measure and improve acoustic performance in theatre at every stage in the chain. Its an evolving standard for sure but in terms of absolute purity its the best we've got for maintaining directorial intention. All the sound quality in the world is fine but if its not what the director intended it cannot be measured as good.
It is the only way of guaranteeing everything related to sound in film production though from mastering through to reproduction. If everything is certified then it sounds how it is supposed to, its an absolute goal.
Also remember that THX is now not part of LucasArts and they're one of the only people that measure and improve acoustic performance in theatre at every stage in the chain. Its an evolving standard for sure but in terms of absolute purity its the best we've got for maintaining directorial intention. All the sound quality in the world is fine but if its not what the director intended it cannot be measured as good.
I completely agree with the standards being set.
On a professional basis, after producing a mix on a top-end - and coincidentally THX ratified components! - system, my mixed are often critiqued on an Aiwa system from Argos.
That is annoying, and of course a standardisation is a great thing.
However, if you look at something like this:
http://www.monstercable.com/thx/Monster_THX.asp
The 'THX' part is not just a footnote stating it meets standards, it looks like a brand collaboration. On a set of audio interconnects that retail at £25 and probably produced for less than a fiver, cannot really have anything much to do with THX apart from the fact that they meet a very basic minimum requirement and they have 'bought' the right to print the trademark on the box and advertise it.
To my eyes, all that does is dilute the professional background and ethics of what THX originally stood for.
As I said... don't get me started...!
On a professional basis, after producing a mix on a top-end - and coincidentally THX ratified components! - system, my mixed are often critiqued on an Aiwa system from Argos.
That is annoying, and of course a standardisation is a great thing.
However, if you look at something like this:
http://www.monstercable.com/thx/Monster_THX.asp
The 'THX' part is not just a footnote stating it meets standards, it looks like a brand collaboration. On a set of audio interconnects that retail at £25 and probably produced for less than a fiver, cannot really have anything much to do with THX apart from the fact that they meet a very basic minimum requirement and they have 'bought' the right to print the trademark on the box and advertise it.
To my eyes, all that does is dilute the professional background and ethics of what THX originally stood for.
As I said... don't get me started...!
Monster and Liberty are the only two companies that make tested and certified THX cables.
How they wish to commercially capitalise on that is down to the manufacturer.
The Liberty THX speaker cable is something like £1300 a drum last time I checked.
But then if you're into late five figures, six figures on the speakers and mid six figures on the room construction then a few grand for cables/interconnects is really neither here nor there if having everything certified is the aim.
How they wish to commercially capitalise on that is down to the manufacturer.
The Liberty THX speaker cable is something like £1300 a drum last time I checked.
But then if you're into late five figures, six figures on the speakers and mid six figures on the room construction then a few grand for cables/interconnects is really neither here nor there if having everything certified is the aim.
Agreed.
However, this is the dicotomy - the ultra high end THX certified cable at £1300 a roll for professional use...
...and the THX certified cable made for a few quid and sold in Currys and supermarkets.
To me it is a bit like Rolex making plastic digital watches... IMHO of course, it dilutes what the certification or 'brand' means.
However, this is the dicotomy - the ultra high end THX certified cable at £1300 a roll for professional use...
...and the THX certified cable made for a few quid and sold in Currys and supermarkets.
To me it is a bit like Rolex making plastic digital watches... IMHO of course, it dilutes what the certification or 'brand' means.
I have just had a look at their site to find out that the THX logo is now being changed for the logo with about a dozen subheadings to make it easier for consumers!?
They also have a menu system where you can check which products are certified.
Out of interest I just checked my B&W 802's and they are not there. This is quite strange as it is what they are monitoring on at Skywalker Sound...
It says the rest of my stuff is 'Ultra 2' though.
They also have a menu system where you can check which products are certified.
Out of interest I just checked my B&W 802's and they are not there. This is quite strange as it is what they are monitoring on at Skywalker Sound...
It says the rest of my stuff is 'Ultra 2' though.
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