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The Sad State of Movie Theater Sound Systems

In the last 2 weeks I have done something I haven't done in many years,go to a movie theater to see  new releases.First was the latest Star Wars & then at a completely different theater the new Dawn of Justice.In BOTH theaters 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!!!If I hadn't paid well over $10.00 per ticket I would probably have walked out of both theaters!So for those of you who regularly go to movie theaters is this the norm or is Seattle just too tight to spend on the good stuff?
freediver
effischer
564 posts
 
As kijanki noted, theaters are largely automated now, and many of the settings are done by set-up techs that are not on-site.  I ran into a similar problem when I went to see Rush in Toronto.  They started running a kiddie movie and ended up having to move us to an entirely different theater.  Nobody could re-initialize the system.

Fortunately, we live in a small town and our 8 screen multiplex recently got someone who at least knows how to set focus and sound level.  Star Wars was quite impressive, and we'll go see other new stuff as they come in.

Automation is great.  Until it isn't.

jafant's avatar
jafant
19,883 posts
 
Agreed
it is automation and quite possibly some form of "streaming".
At the lowest entertainment factor, it should be criminal!
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The Golden Age of theater sound was what, forty years ago?  Sound familiar?
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,905 posts
 
It's rare, indeed, when I go to a theater and when I do, it's the local Laemmle cineplex because at least it's decent. Decent, mind you, not really good. 

What I get from my simple two channel set up with my OPPO blu-ray and Samsung plasma runs rings around anything I get at a movie theater. Sometimes I just have to see something but every single time I go, the picture is so-so as well as the sound.

The state of the art has progressed to the point where what you can get at home easily rivals, and betters, anything you can get at a theater. It's the way of the world my friend.

All the best,
Nonoise
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,655 posts
 
I view most movies in the home screening rooms of the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg et cetera (and then only when an abundance of Playboy Bunnies are present), so I really cannot relate to your experience.

However, I do thank you for the word up.

Recently considered going out into the real world, but now I think not.
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