The Sad State of Movie Theater Sound Systems

3-D when called for and Imax pretty much the only attraction for me with most theaters these days.

Sound quality has not been an issue, pretty good overall with movies I have seen in recent years in my area.

But yes other than that the overall movie theater going experience ain't what it used to be.    Theatres mostly cutting costs to preserve any profits I suppose much like the rest of the world.

On teh flip side, times change and entertainment options in ones home are greater than ever and continue to grow.  That alone puts the pressure on traditional theaters to offer something unique of value.

I guess if one is still young and dating, there is always a place for a movie theater on a Saturday night but who knows.

yeah, i have to agree with you fellas that going to the movies recently is not really that great - you pay for an expensive ticket, pay more for unreasonably priced snacks because they know they got you [oh the joys of monopoly!!! :( ] & like another member mentioned XTRA loud previews....
Finally saw Dead Pool last weekend & the extra loud previews was reinforced. My younger son takes his ear plugs along (smart boy!) - I think i should as well. If the sound is not turned up, the sonics are not too bad. it's definitely digital sound - it has those clicks & sharpness that is so characteristic of digital sound.
But......isnt this what the public wants? The same public that's in nirvana with MP3 & MP4 sound for the downloaded music....
Us audiophiles are in the (vast) minority & the revenue from the mentally depleted (I like this phrase czarivey!) is a lot more...

" the sound level was WAYYY to loud,distortion was running rampant in both cases.The highs were tipped up & brittle,mids had ABSOLUTELY no organics & bass was booming & 1 note to the MAX!!!"

yup, same here, the wife and i went to an IMAX, first cinema i've been in for 10 years and it was atrocious ... maybe we're spoilt, being into hifi and all, but really, surely they can make it less volume and more quality

and whats that thing they always do nowadays when the action slows down and the bass drops ... i think they think its cool, and i remember thinking it was, the first time i heard it, but now, every 5 minutes or so??  they even do it on the telly now, whats that about?

we're in the uk so its a worldwide thing i think

needless to say my 'home cinema' (flatscreen on the wall and a half decent surround system) is much better, way more comfortable and cheaper!  don't think i'll be going to the cinema again for a while, maybe another 10 years lol

dont get me started on the price of popcorn and coke!

So everyone is overoverobsessed with sound quality in the movie theatres? I think it’s a very negligibly small chunk of the global problem.
Movies sucks and why they suck? Because of CENSORSHIP that is heavier then EVER than anywhere in the whole world including North Korea. All movies made to wash out your and your children’s brain so you keep on being foolish and entertained. Billions spent on new stadiums guess why?
Happy April Fools -- should really become our naitonal holiday.

Theaters are often too cold, as well ;-).