Question:
I’m sure many of you have had conversations like this one with friends, relatives or loved ones:
[My brother and I are watching about to start watching a DVD in my room. I have it all set up to play in Dolby Digital 5.1, when the phone rings, so I turn the volume down on the menu. When I return from making the phonecall, my brother has turned the volume back up on the television, and hits play]
ME: Wait a second, let me turn the TV down and turn the amp back up.
HIM: [getting unnecessarily impatient] Why? What difference does it make?
ME: [turning the amp up] So we can listen to the movie in surround, as it was originally meant to be heard.
HIM: Oh, I suppose it does have a bit more bass.
ME: But notice how the sound is much clearer and comes from all around you!
HIM: That doesn’t really bother me. I’d just as soon watch a movie on my little portable TV.
ME: Fair enough, but you’re kind of missing the point of DVD.
HIM: A movie’s still just a movie, whether on a small screen or the big screen.
ME: Yeah, but bear in mind that on DVD, you also usually see the movie in the correct aspect ratio [I lose him here]. You know, the shape of the frame.
HIM: But that doesn’t alter the acting, or the story.
ME: Maybe not, but there’s more to filmmaking than just acting and story. Such as the composition of the shot, and the way the sound is mixed to enhance atmosphere.
[Moulin Rouge begins]
ME: Imagine if 45% either side of the picture was cut off, hmmm?
HIM: I probably wouldn’t notice. I don’t think it would bother most people.
ME: So it would be OK if some studio decided to remix your favourite Stevie Wonder album, so that parts of his piano backing were removed.
HIM: No, of course not.
ME: Well, it’s the same for me with cropping movies. Less so with listening to it through a TV, but if you’ve got the equipment, why not use it to the fullest?
HIM: How much did that set you back [referring to my widescreen TV, 5 speakers, DVD player, amp etc.). £1500?
ME: Less than £1200, but that’s my choice.
HIM: Seems like an awful lot to spend when you’re essentially just getting the same movie, just on a slightly bigger screen and with better sound.
ME: That’s how the director intended it to be seen, so I’m just trying to recreate that the best I can.
HIM: I think that’s incredibly naïve. The director probably doesn’t give a toss about ‘home theatre’, as you call it, and DVD.
ME: What do you base that on? A lot of DVDs are director approved, and many directors and producers spend a lot of time preparing material specifically for the home market.
HIM: You sound like a marketing manager’s wet-dream.
ME: Did it occur to you that maybe the studios actually give the fans what they want, because that way it keeps us happy and keeps them in business?
HIM: It seems you just buy what they tell you. Me, I just buy what I want. Hell, I hardly even watch a movie twice, unless I really love it, then I’ll catch it on TV whenever it’s on.
ME: Right, but you buy a hell of a lot of albums, because you’re a musician and a music enthusiast.
HIM: It’s not the same. They’re cheaper, and have greater longevity. But you’re paying over the odds just to watch the same product.
ME: No, DVD greatly enhances the movie experience.
HIM: I can’t take what you say seriously, because you talk about DVD like you’re an advert trying to sell me something. [he mimicks that advert going on about DVD, and how great widescreen is] ‘See it how the director intended’ etc. etc.
ME: It’s just because I’m enthusiastic about it, just like you are about your music. You’ve often heard you having debates with people over the current music industry, but I never get at you personally for feeling passionate about it.
HIM: At the end of the day, there are more important things in life.
ME: I agree, but you’re missing the point of what we were originally discussing.
HIM: By the way, why have we still got those black bars if you’re TV’s widescreen?
[At this point I lose it]
Petty, I know, but this is how hard it is to be a film enthusiast in my family, where nobody’s really prepared to respect my hobby. Anyone else know the feeling?
A friend of mine got impatient and turned the sound to the top ("Where's the sound?" he cries fiddling with the mono TV remote)..I had the processor switched to the TV, but the rest to DVD..when I switched the processor to DVD I could have blown the speakers! :rolleyes:
Then as for the fiancée..no interest. "It's too loud, there's too much bass, lower it down!"..in fact I know no-one else with the same all-in-one passion for Home Cinema, DVDs and movies.
I think you should divorce your family and never speak to them again. He sounds like a right annoying *******, but being your brother he was just probably just saying the opposite of what you thought just to annoy you :lol:
I dunno...he's sold me. Anyone want to buy my WS tv, Pioner444 and 70 dvd's? ;)
I kinda get his point tho - I don't think films are rewatchable in the way that music is re-listenable (a word? you decide :D ). In fact, I've recently been questioning how often I'm going to watch many of my films, causing me to trim my collection a little and rent more.
I think it depends on the film tho - home cinema will be wasted on some films (dialogue/character driven) but I watched Mothman Prophecies the other night, with a beautiful crisp picture and great sound flying all around me and I can't imagine for a second this film would have been anywhere near as enjoyable on a 14 incher.
The only point I agree with your brother on is this one -
Originally posted by SithLordSi
ME: Right, but you buy a hell of a lot of albums, because you’re a musician and a music enthusiast.
HIM: It’s not the same. They’re cheaper, and have greater longevity. But you’re paying over the odds just to watch the same product.
Originally posted by TimJBart
... but being your brother he was just probably just saying the opposite of what you thought just to annoy you :lol:
:D ... you understand siblings! :D
I use to think music was everything and I spent all my spare cash on Tapes, LPs, singles and then CDs ... I now look back and think what a waste of money my music collection is as I hardly ever listen to suzanne vega or dire straits CD anymore.
All my spare cash has since shifted entirely onto DVDs which not only excite musically but visually as well ... I see film as a higher form of entertainment to that of music with a much longer impact e.g. what 1920s movie can you remember? Then ask yourself what 1920s music/artist you remember?
... however ultimately it is all meaningless ...
SithLordSi - Get two bits of black card, stick 'em on the sides of the screen and recreate a cropped screen. Try watching Moulin Rouge like that and see how frustrated your bro gets.
Also, for a giggle, claim to be naive to the benefits of CD over cassette. After all, same album different format.
If he can't tell the difference between TV sound and 5.1 I think he's been playing his own CDs a bit too loud! ;)
To be honest a good film is just as good pan and scanned on a 7" screen in a 747 seat back with a pair of headphones worth about 75p as it is on a 42" plasma / DTS amp / Kef Speakers etc setup.
I couldn't afford a 747 tho so went the plasma etc. route..
My brother always moans that the TV or computer is too loud when he is round my place. But then if you got 5.1 sound and a WS TV why not use it to its fullest?
My Mum is the same. "What's the point in paying all that money on those extra speakers?"
My brother, "Why would you want a 42" TV, that's just being greedy."
My dad thinks it is pretty great though.
And my wife is nearly as enthusiatic about movies and home theater as I am. We re-aranged the whole lounge this weekend to accomadate the TV better, and optimised the speaker placement. Gladiator has never looked or sounded so good!
My wife does know the difference my setup makes but she would have been just as happy with just the tv and dvd player :(
She (reluctantly) agreed the addition of the centre speaker improved the overall sound and feel (but hated the sight of it when it was on top of the tv - it's now in a tv stand with the other amps/players and is much happier). I won't discuss her reaction to the bass speaker :(
On good films, though, such as Sixth Sense and The Others, she really does like it :D
Sadly your brother is typical of many. They can appreciate it but would be (and are) perfectly happy with just a tv and dvd player. And damn those black bars!!!
Originally posted by jnms
And my wife is nearly as enthusiatic about movies and home theater as I am. We re-aranged the whole lounge this weekend to accomadate the TV better, and optimised the speaker placement. Gladiator has never looked or sounded so good!
Jebus how many lads on the forums are luckier than me! Nearly every bloke has a wife or girlfriend who loves his home cinema set up. Mine deplores it! :(
If you've ever heard this phrase from your other half... say "I".
"Why are there so many wires? Can't you get rid of them?"
You should see the amount of wires behind my TV, it's horrendous!!! As you say, the other half does bring the subject up at regular intervals. However, she will do anything for me, so is quite happy with our nice surround set-up....except when I play my Rammstein live concert DVD through it at high volume :rocker:
Originally posted by Jimmyboy
The only point I agree with your brother on is this one -
quote:
---------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by SithLordSi
ME: Right, but you buy a hell of a lot of albums, because you’re a musician and a music enthusiast.
HIM: It’s not the same. They’re cheaper, and have greater longevity. But you’re paying over the odds just to watch the same product.
----------------------------------------------------
Wrong. DVDs have the same or longer life than CDs, 80+ years, and CDs are the same price as DVDs, $15 average.
And all in all, your brother, if wasn't intentionally trying to annoy you, sounds like an inconsiderate jerk.
Originally posted by Paul Bennison
If you've ever heard this phrase from your other half... say "I".
"Why are there so many wires? Can't you get rid of them?"
I
... will get rid of them in a few years with wireless speakers.
I'm half and half.
I have a Denon 800 multiregion dvd player, widescreen dolby surround tv, but no amp.
So I have excellent picture and good sound but not excellent picture and excellent sound.:)
While were on the subject, the last couple of years tvs don't seem to have external speakers anymore just a tacky "3d sound" gimmick. Is this because they realise people will want to buy seperate speakers to get dolby digital 5.1?
Thanks to my 43" TV and cleverly set up sound sytem :dork:
it only usually takes 15 minutes for me to convince people on the appreciation of home theatre... and more like half a year to explain what anamphoric means!!! ;)
Just put on something like the key scequences with LOTR (R1) FATF: DTS or best of all SPR:DTS, and play it for 5-10 minutes through the TV speakers, then turn down the TV, and put on your surrounds, and if you've set up properly then there should be no doubt in convincing someone else.. if not, then either your TV speakers are better than your surround system (be very ashamed!) or you haven't set up your speakers properly (first mistake is placing the FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT speakers too close to the TV, give them some space to give a more spacial and atmospheric feel)... it goes without saying don't use a dialogue heavy film to convince someone, because the uninitiated won't get the nuances and subtle directional effects.
Most of my mates were a bit pig headed at first.. but having a bit of enthusiasm on my side, and some slow burning tact.. i've now converted all of them into amatuer Home Theatre buffs, and can actually have conversations with them about movies on a bit more advanced level. And they all have 5.1 systems now!! :rocker: but with stupid WS Tv's so they can digitally strectch and crop everything in sight!!! :nono: arghh!!! i hate that!!!
but yeah.. EVERYONE still complains about the wires... but what's the point of life without making sacrifices eh??
"At the end of the day, there are more important things in life" --- **********!!!! :zzz:
i actually find that surround home theater sound, whether its dts, 5.1 or pro-logic, distract me from the film on a 28" screen.
it's almost as if the sound is bigger than the image which isn't really cinema to me.
Originally posted by jimto
i actually find that surround home theater sound, whether its dts, 5.1 or pro-logic, distract me from the film on a 28" screen.
it's almost as if the sound is bigger than the image which isn't really cinema to me.
That's what a friend of mine says. I find though that with good films I get so involved that the screen and sound system effectively disappears. I've heard very expensive HT systems that are technically much better than mine*, but are so precise that they pull you out of the film with each sound effect, and you find yourself looking around the room for the source of that last gunshot or rear channel voice. :oh-hum: I really don't like that - in my opinion a properly setup system should surround you but not distract you from the film. I want to watch the film not be pulled out of it - if I wanted that I'd hire a bloke to stand in the corner and pop paper bags at me.
*29" Sony 4:3
Pioneer 444
Yamaha DSPX-A620
Mission 752 front
Linn Centrik
Mission 70 rears
Once you've tried it you never want to go back! :nuts:
I feel like I've spent my whole life trying to convince people of the benefits of widescreen movies.
I created a video once, where I juxtaposed pan & scan footage with widescreen footage. I found sowing people this usually did the trick.
When people come round my house and see my multi-media room I usually give them a blast of the helicopter attack sequence in Apocalypse Now, the opening to Saving Private Ryan or the pod race in Episode 1.
These usually convices them of the merits of a home cinema system.
I've converted about a dozen people to the cause.
I went into Comet yesterday, they had one row of plasma screens and another row of RPTV. Big sceen TV can't get much more mainstream than that!
Originally posted by Cirrus888
I see film as a higher form of entertainment to that of music with a much longer impact e.g. what 1920s movie can you remember? Then ask yourself what 1920s music/artist you remember?
I'm not sure I agree with this - I've got DVDs of films by Buster Keaton, F.W.Murnau and Carl Theodor Dreyer, but I also have CDs of recordings by Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith, not to mention 1920s compositions by Stravinsky, Bartók and Janácek, and I don't necessarily regard one medium as being superior to (or even more memorable than) another - it ultimately boils down to the original work.
Originally posted by SithLordSi
HIM: That doesn’t really bother me. I’d just as soon watch a movie on my little portable TV.
I'm with your brother on this one. A TV and DVD player is all I need (and the films)
Originally posted by Nick Laslett
I went into Comet yesterday, they had one row of plasma screens and another row of RPTV. Big sceen TV can't get much more mainstream than that!
…provided they're set up properly!
If I had a penny for every time I've walked past a supposedly knockout widescreen telly display in a shop window that's showing a picture in blatantly the wrong aspect ratio (usually a 4:3 picture being horribly stretched), I might be able to afford a plasma set myself!
I was astounded when I got my 43" RPTV home and set it up properly, as the picture was infinitely better than the one I'd seen in the shop. They don't do their cause any favours - in most cases it's just a case of spending five minutes making sure the settings are appropriate for the material!
Originally posted by dmb6473a
I'm with your brother on this one. A TV and DVD player is all I need (and the films)
For me, it depends entirely on the film. I haven't watched <I>A.I.</I> yet even though I've had the DVD for ages, as my 5.1 system is currently in storage pending redecoration of our front room, but I thought nothing of watching <I>The Stone Tape</I> on my 12" laptop screen the other day.
And in that particular case, I really don't think blowing it up to 43" and routing the sound through six speakers would have made the slightest difference - in fact, come to think of it, I was <U>still</U> probably getting a better picture and sound than most viewers would have done back in the early 1970s when it was originally broadcast!
Originally posted by jimto
i actually find that surround home theater sound, whether its dts, 5.1 or pro-logic, distract me from the film on a 28" screen.
it's almost as if the sound is bigger than the image which isn't really cinema to me.
This leads nicely into something I've been wondering about for some time: according to a recent article in Gramophone (which has started doing HT equipment reviews recently), what everyone refers to as "rear" speakers are in actual fact "side" speakers; only with the new extended 6/7.1 channel systems do you have actual rear channel information.
Perhaps some people find the surround sound distracting because the sides/rears are not actually where they should be?
SimonI, this weekend I actually moved my rear speakers from above and behind the sofa, to the side walls. They are now about 2 foot above head height (when sitting), and about 6 inches behind listening position.
The sound is far supierior now, so I guess that kinda puts some merit to what you suggest...
My neighbor asked me why i had a dvd player in my room when i could use the PS2 for DVDS.
Answer: my Sony NS300 DvD player is much better quality than my PS2:
He aslo said we'll watch it through the T.v its just as good sound as the amp.
Ahh, some people dont seem to care about quality.
Also when An american werewolf in london had been on channel 5.The next day i asked some friends if they had watched it.I said to they the picture was crap there wasw loads of grain in the print, they all kept quiet like they did'nt know what i was talking about
my missus thinks spending alot of money on this equipment is a total waste of money.
I think, you only live once, so enjoy it!!!!
Anyway she spends money on clothes, make up etc...................
I don;t moan, if she is happy. so am i.
Originally posted by Marv
Also when An american werewolf in london had been on channel 5.The next day i asked some friends if they had watched it.I said to they the picture was crap there wasw loads of grain in the print, they all kept quiet like they did'nt know what i was talking about
One of the great things about living with a non-film buff who couldn't care less about these issues is that it's really helped me appreciate just how peculiarly anal some people can be about things that really don't matter that much if you think about it logically.
<I>An American Werewolf in London</I> is a case in point - originally released in 1.85:1 mono, it's by a director who's never been overly concerned about visual/compositional issues, and while it's obviously nice to have an anamorphic DTS version on DVD, the fact is that with this particular film it makes very little difference to overall enjoyment - its virtues are almost entirely down to the script, performances and special effects, all of which come across beautifully even in a pan-and-scan mono TV version.
So I'm afraid in this case my sympathies are entirely with your friends - they probably knew exactly what you were talking about but were utterly baffled as to why you thought it was such a big deal (but were too polite to say so, unlike me! :D )
I think the Home Cinema lark is by and large just for your genuine film enthusiasts mostly. Myself, and my better half usually go to the flicks every week and more often than not pop a DVD on once or twice a week at home too. My setup cost me a fair few bob but it gets regular usage so i think it's been a worthwhile investment. I think the Home Cinema helps recreate the atmosphere of the cinema which is why i think it's more appealing to like minded film enthusiasts.
I've converted a couple of mates into it and my mother too, much to my fathers chargrin. :o)
I do know people though who just bought a cheap player and hooked it up to their bedroom portable. These players only get infrequent use and most of their owners were originally in the "I'll buy a DVD player when i can record TV programs" camp !!!!! :(
Trying to explain to these people that they may as well use VHS for this purpose is like banging your head against a brick wall.
[My brother and I are watching about to start watching a DVD in my room. I have it all set up to play in Dolby Digital 5.1, when the phone rings, so I turn the volume down on the menu. When I return from making the phonecall, my brother has turned the volume back up on the television, and hits play]
ME: Wait a second, let me turn the TV down and turn the amp back up.
HIM: [getting unnecessarily impatient] Why? What difference does it make?
ME: [turning the amp up] So we can listen to the movie in surround, as it was originally meant to be heard.
HIM: Oh, I suppose it does have a bit more bass.
ME: But notice how the sound is much clearer and comes from all around you!
HIM: That doesn’t really bother me. I’d just as soon watch a movie on my little portable TV.
ME: Fair enough, but you’re kind of missing the point of DVD.
HIM: A movie’s still just a movie, whether on a small screen or the big screen.
ME: Yeah, but bear in mind that on DVD, you also usually see the movie in the correct aspect ratio [I lose him here]. You know, the shape of the frame.
HIM: But that doesn’t alter the acting, or the story.
ME: Maybe not, but there’s more to filmmaking than just acting and story. Such as the composition of the shot, and the way the sound is mixed to enhance atmosphere.
[Moulin Rouge begins]
ME: Imagine if 45% either side of the picture was cut off, hmmm?
HIM: I probably wouldn’t notice. I don’t think it would bother most people.
ME: So it would be OK if some studio decided to remix your favourite Stevie Wonder album, so that parts of his piano backing were removed.
HIM: No, of course not.
ME: Well, it’s the same for me with cropping movies. Less so with listening to it through a TV, but if you’ve got the equipment, why not use it to the fullest?
HIM: How much did that set you back [referring to my widescreen TV, 5 speakers, DVD player, amp etc.). £1500?
ME: Less than £1200, but that’s my choice.
HIM: Seems like an awful lot to spend when you’re essentially just getting the same movie, just on a slightly bigger screen and with better sound.
ME: That’s how the director intended it to be seen, so I’m just trying to recreate that the best I can.
HIM: I think that’s incredibly naïve. The director probably doesn’t give a toss about ‘home theatre’, as you call it, and DVD.
ME: What do you base that on? A lot of DVDs are director approved, and many directors and producers spend a lot of time preparing material specifically for the home market.
HIM: You sound like a marketing manager’s wet-dream.
ME: Did it occur to you that maybe the studios actually give the fans what they want, because that way it keeps us happy and keeps them in business?
HIM: It seems you just buy what they tell you. Me, I just buy what I want. Hell, I hardly even watch a movie twice, unless I really love it, then I’ll catch it on TV whenever it’s on.
ME: Right, but you buy a hell of a lot of albums, because you’re a musician and a music enthusiast.
HIM: It’s not the same. They’re cheaper, and have greater longevity. But you’re paying over the odds just to watch the same product.
ME: No, DVD greatly enhances the movie experience.
HIM: I can’t take what you say seriously, because you talk about DVD like you’re an advert trying to sell me something. [he mimicks that advert going on about DVD, and how great widescreen is] ‘See it how the director intended’ etc. etc.
ME: It’s just because I’m enthusiastic about it, just like you are about your music. You’ve often heard you having debates with people over the current music industry, but I never get at you personally for feeling passionate about it.
HIM: At the end of the day, there are more important things in life.
ME: I agree, but you’re missing the point of what we were originally discussing.
HIM: By the way, why have we still got those black bars if you’re TV’s widescreen?
[At this point I lose it]
Petty, I know, but this is how hard it is to be a film enthusiast in my family, where nobody’s really prepared to respect my hobby. Anyone else know the feeling?
Answers:
A friend of mine got impatient and turned the sound to the top ("Where's the sound?" he cries fiddling with the mono TV remote)..I had the processor switched to the TV, but the rest to DVD..when I switched the processor to DVD I could have blown the speakers! :rolleyes:
Then as for the fiancée..no interest. "It's too loud, there's too much bass, lower it down!"..in fact I know no-one else with the same all-in-one passion for Home Cinema, DVDs and movies.
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I think you should divorce your family and never speak to them again. He sounds like a right annoying *******, but being your brother he was just probably just saying the opposite of what you thought just to annoy you :lol:
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I dunno...he's sold me. Anyone want to buy my WS tv, Pioner444 and 70 dvd's? ;)
I kinda get his point tho - I don't think films are rewatchable in the way that music is re-listenable (a word? you decide :D ). In fact, I've recently been questioning how often I'm going to watch many of my films, causing me to trim my collection a little and rent more.
I think it depends on the film tho - home cinema will be wasted on some films (dialogue/character driven) but I watched Mothman Prophecies the other night, with a beautiful crisp picture and great sound flying all around me and I can't imagine for a second this film would have been anywhere near as enjoyable on a 14 incher.
Answers:
The only point I agree with your brother on is this one -
Originally posted by SithLordSi
ME: Right, but you buy a hell of a lot of albums, because you’re a musician and a music enthusiast.
HIM: It’s not the same. They’re cheaper, and have greater longevity. But you’re paying over the odds just to watch the same product.
Answers:
Originally posted by TimJBart
... but being your brother he was just probably just saying the opposite of what you thought just to annoy you :lol:
:D ... you understand siblings! :D
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I use to think music was everything and I spent all my spare cash on Tapes, LPs, singles and then CDs ... I now look back and think what a waste of money my music collection is as I hardly ever listen to suzanne vega or dire straits CD anymore.
All my spare cash has since shifted entirely onto DVDs which not only excite musically but visually as well ... I see film as a higher form of entertainment to that of music with a much longer impact e.g. what 1920s movie can you remember? Then ask yourself what 1920s music/artist you remember?
... however ultimately it is all meaningless ...
Answers:
SithLordSi - Get two bits of black card, stick 'em on the sides of the screen and recreate a cropped screen. Try watching Moulin Rouge like that and see how frustrated your bro gets.
Also, for a giggle, claim to be naive to the benefits of CD over cassette. After all, same album different format.
If he can't tell the difference between TV sound and 5.1 I think he's been playing his own CDs a bit too loud! ;)
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To be honest a good film is just as good pan and scanned on a 7" screen in a 747 seat back with a pair of headphones worth about 75p as it is on a 42" plasma / DTS amp / Kef Speakers etc setup.
I couldn't afford a 747 tho so went the plasma etc. route..
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My brother always moans that the TV or computer is too loud when he is round my place. But then if you got 5.1 sound and a WS TV why not use it to its fullest?
My Mum is the same. "What's the point in paying all that money on those extra speakers?"
My brother, "Why would you want a 42" TV, that's just being greedy."
My dad thinks it is pretty great though.
And my wife is nearly as enthusiatic about movies and home theater as I am. We re-aranged the whole lounge this weekend to accomadate the TV better, and optimised the speaker placement. Gladiator has never looked or sounded so good!
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My wife does know the difference my setup makes but she would have been just as happy with just the tv and dvd player :(
She (reluctantly) agreed the addition of the centre speaker improved the overall sound and feel (but hated the sight of it when it was on top of the tv - it's now in a tv stand with the other amps/players and is much happier). I won't discuss her reaction to the bass speaker :(
On good films, though, such as Sixth Sense and The Others, she really does like it :D
Sadly your brother is typical of many. They can appreciate it but would be (and are) perfectly happy with just a tv and dvd player. And damn those black bars!!!
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Originally posted by jnms
And my wife is nearly as enthusiatic about movies and home theater as I am. We re-aranged the whole lounge this weekend to accomadate the TV better, and optimised the speaker placement. Gladiator has never looked or sounded so good!
Jebus how many lads on the forums are luckier than me! Nearly every bloke has a wife or girlfriend who loves his home cinema set up. Mine deplores it! :(
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If you've ever heard this phrase from your other half... say "I".
"Why are there so many wires? Can't you get rid of them?"
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You should see the amount of wires behind my TV, it's horrendous!!! As you say, the other half does bring the subject up at regular intervals. However, she will do anything for me, so is quite happy with our nice surround set-up....except when I play my Rammstein live concert DVD through it at high volume :rocker:
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Originally posted by Jimmyboy
The only point I agree with your brother on is this one -
quote:
---------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by SithLordSi
ME: Right, but you buy a hell of a lot of albums, because you’re a musician and a music enthusiast.
HIM: It’s not the same. They’re cheaper, and have greater longevity. But you’re paying over the odds just to watch the same product.
----------------------------------------------------
Wrong. DVDs have the same or longer life than CDs, 80+ years, and CDs are the same price as DVDs, $15 average.
And all in all, your brother, if wasn't intentionally trying to annoy you, sounds like an inconsiderate jerk.
Originally posted by Paul Bennison
If you've ever heard this phrase from your other half... say "I".
"Why are there so many wires? Can't you get rid of them?"
I
... will get rid of them in a few years with wireless speakers.
Answers:
I'm half and half.
I have a Denon 800 multiregion dvd player, widescreen dolby surround tv, but no amp.
So I have excellent picture and good sound but not excellent picture and excellent sound.:)
While were on the subject, the last couple of years tvs don't seem to have external speakers anymore just a tacky "3d sound" gimmick. Is this because they realise people will want to buy seperate speakers to get dolby digital 5.1?
Answers:
Thanks to my 43" TV and cleverly set up sound sytem :dork:
it only usually takes 15 minutes for me to convince people on the appreciation of home theatre... and more like half a year to explain what anamphoric means!!! ;)
Just put on something like the key scequences with LOTR (R1) FATF: DTS or best of all SPR:DTS, and play it for 5-10 minutes through the TV speakers, then turn down the TV, and put on your surrounds, and if you've set up properly then there should be no doubt in convincing someone else.. if not, then either your TV speakers are better than your surround system (be very ashamed!) or you haven't set up your speakers properly (first mistake is placing the FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT speakers too close to the TV, give them some space to give a more spacial and atmospheric feel)... it goes without saying don't use a dialogue heavy film to convince someone, because the uninitiated won't get the nuances and subtle directional effects.
Most of my mates were a bit pig headed at first.. but having a bit of enthusiasm on my side, and some slow burning tact.. i've now converted all of them into amatuer Home Theatre buffs, and can actually have conversations with them about movies on a bit more advanced level. And they all have 5.1 systems now!! :rocker: but with stupid WS Tv's so they can digitally strectch and crop everything in sight!!! :nono: arghh!!! i hate that!!!
but yeah.. EVERYONE still complains about the wires... but what's the point of life without making sacrifices eh??
"At the end of the day, there are more important things in life" --- **********!!!! :zzz:
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i actually find that surround home theater sound, whether its dts, 5.1 or pro-logic, distract me from the film on a 28" screen.
it's almost as if the sound is bigger than the image which isn't really cinema to me.
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Originally posted by jimto
i actually find that surround home theater sound, whether its dts, 5.1 or pro-logic, distract me from the film on a 28" screen.
it's almost as if the sound is bigger than the image which isn't really cinema to me.
That's what a friend of mine says. I find though that with good films I get so involved that the screen and sound system effectively disappears. I've heard very expensive HT systems that are technically much better than mine*, but are so precise that they pull you out of the film with each sound effect, and you find yourself looking around the room for the source of that last gunshot or rear channel voice. :oh-hum: I really don't like that - in my opinion a properly setup system should surround you but not distract you from the film. I want to watch the film not be pulled out of it - if I wanted that I'd hire a bloke to stand in the corner and pop paper bags at me.
*29" Sony 4:3
Pioneer 444
Yamaha DSPX-A620
Mission 752 front
Linn Centrik
Mission 70 rears
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Once you've tried it you never want to go back! :nuts:
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I feel like I've spent my whole life trying to convince people of the benefits of widescreen movies.
I created a video once, where I juxtaposed pan & scan footage with widescreen footage. I found sowing people this usually did the trick.
When people come round my house and see my multi-media room I usually give them a blast of the helicopter attack sequence in Apocalypse Now, the opening to Saving Private Ryan or the pod race in Episode 1.
These usually convices them of the merits of a home cinema system.
I've converted about a dozen people to the cause.
I went into Comet yesterday, they had one row of plasma screens and another row of RPTV. Big sceen TV can't get much more mainstream than that!
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Originally posted by Cirrus888
I see film as a higher form of entertainment to that of music with a much longer impact e.g. what 1920s movie can you remember? Then ask yourself what 1920s music/artist you remember?
I'm not sure I agree with this - I've got DVDs of films by Buster Keaton, F.W.Murnau and Carl Theodor Dreyer, but I also have CDs of recordings by Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith, not to mention 1920s compositions by Stravinsky, Bartók and Janácek, and I don't necessarily regard one medium as being superior to (or even more memorable than) another - it ultimately boils down to the original work.
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Originally posted by SithLordSi
HIM: That doesn’t really bother me. I’d just as soon watch a movie on my little portable TV.
I'm with your brother on this one. A TV and DVD player is all I need (and the films)
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Originally posted by Nick Laslett
I went into Comet yesterday, they had one row of plasma screens and another row of RPTV. Big sceen TV can't get much more mainstream than that!
…provided they're set up properly!
If I had a penny for every time I've walked past a supposedly knockout widescreen telly display in a shop window that's showing a picture in blatantly the wrong aspect ratio (usually a 4:3 picture being horribly stretched), I might be able to afford a plasma set myself!
I was astounded when I got my 43" RPTV home and set it up properly, as the picture was infinitely better than the one I'd seen in the shop. They don't do their cause any favours - in most cases it's just a case of spending five minutes making sure the settings are appropriate for the material!
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Originally posted by dmb6473a
I'm with your brother on this one. A TV and DVD player is all I need (and the films)
For me, it depends entirely on the film. I haven't watched <I>A.I.</I> yet even though I've had the DVD for ages, as my 5.1 system is currently in storage pending redecoration of our front room, but I thought nothing of watching <I>The Stone Tape</I> on my 12" laptop screen the other day.
And in that particular case, I really don't think blowing it up to 43" and routing the sound through six speakers would have made the slightest difference - in fact, come to think of it, I was <U>still</U> probably getting a better picture and sound than most viewers would have done back in the early 1970s when it was originally broadcast!
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Originally posted by jimto
i actually find that surround home theater sound, whether its dts, 5.1 or pro-logic, distract me from the film on a 28" screen.
it's almost as if the sound is bigger than the image which isn't really cinema to me.
This leads nicely into something I've been wondering about for some time: according to a recent article in Gramophone (which has started doing HT equipment reviews recently), what everyone refers to as "rear" speakers are in actual fact "side" speakers; only with the new extended 6/7.1 channel systems do you have actual rear channel information.
Perhaps some people find the surround sound distracting because the sides/rears are not actually where they should be?
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SimonI, this weekend I actually moved my rear speakers from above and behind the sofa, to the side walls. They are now about 2 foot above head height (when sitting), and about 6 inches behind listening position.
The sound is far supierior now, so I guess that kinda puts some merit to what you suggest...
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My neighbor asked me why i had a dvd player in my room when i could use the PS2 for DVDS.
Answer: my Sony NS300 DvD player is much better quality than my PS2:
He aslo said we'll watch it through the T.v its just as good sound as the amp.
Ahh, some people dont seem to care about quality.
Also when An american werewolf in london had been on channel 5.The next day i asked some friends if they had watched it.I said to they the picture was crap there wasw loads of grain in the print, they all kept quiet like they did'nt know what i was talking about
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my missus thinks spending alot of money on this equipment is a total waste of money.
I think, you only live once, so enjoy it!!!!
Anyway she spends money on clothes, make up etc...................
I don;t moan, if she is happy. so am i.
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Originally posted by Marv
Also when An american werewolf in london had been on channel 5.The next day i asked some friends if they had watched it.I said to they the picture was crap there wasw loads of grain in the print, they all kept quiet like they did'nt know what i was talking about
One of the great things about living with a non-film buff who couldn't care less about these issues is that it's really helped me appreciate just how peculiarly anal some people can be about things that really don't matter that much if you think about it logically.
<I>An American Werewolf in London</I> is a case in point - originally released in 1.85:1 mono, it's by a director who's never been overly concerned about visual/compositional issues, and while it's obviously nice to have an anamorphic DTS version on DVD, the fact is that with this particular film it makes very little difference to overall enjoyment - its virtues are almost entirely down to the script, performances and special effects, all of which come across beautifully even in a pan-and-scan mono TV version.
So I'm afraid in this case my sympathies are entirely with your friends - they probably knew exactly what you were talking about but were utterly baffled as to why you thought it was such a big deal (but were too polite to say so, unlike me! :D )
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I think the Home Cinema lark is by and large just for your genuine film enthusiasts mostly. Myself, and my better half usually go to the flicks every week and more often than not pop a DVD on once or twice a week at home too. My setup cost me a fair few bob but it gets regular usage so i think it's been a worthwhile investment. I think the Home Cinema helps recreate the atmosphere of the cinema which is why i think it's more appealing to like minded film enthusiasts.
I've converted a couple of mates into it and my mother too, much to my fathers chargrin. :o)
I do know people though who just bought a cheap player and hooked it up to their bedroom portable. These players only get infrequent use and most of their owners were originally in the "I'll buy a DVD player when i can record TV programs" camp !!!!! :(
Trying to explain to these people that they may as well use VHS for this purpose is like banging your head against a brick wall.
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