How to avoid Home Theater purchasing fail

Question #1: How many different “picture modes” does your HDTV have? Ours has 4 pre-set modes and an unlimited number of custom settings.

Question #2: How many different audio style settings does your AV receiver have? I just counted 14 here.

Question #3: When was the last time you changed your system’s picture mode or audio style setting to match what you are watching? Uhhh … probably never. Though I once fiddled with my set-up enough to put it in “Stadium Mode” and it was stuck there for over a month. Nothing sounds quite like viewing a romantic comedy with audio effects from Monday Night Football.

As TechDadCentral, I hate to admit that I rarely change my set-up to match what I’m watching and listening to. I know that the sights and sounds of a Super Bowl broadcast share nothing in common with a foreign film, yet it’s way too much work to customize the video and audio settings to match the show. This should be automatic, right?

Enter THX Media Director

You’ve probably seen the THX logo at the movie theater. Developed in 1983, the original THX certification was a quality assurance system for all audio components of the movie delivery process – from recording it on the sound stage to playing it in the theater. The result provides a high-quality, predictable playback that will sound as near as possible to what was originally intended. THX certification was unveiled for the third Star Wars film: Return of the Jedi and you probably watched it in a THX-certified theater.

Fast-forward to 2011 – What does THX have to do with my audio and video settings?

Think of the newest THX technology, called Media Director, as automated set-up (audio and video) for your multimedia system. Without having to adjust any controls, a movie recorded and distributed with THX Media Director technology will automatically select the appropriate playback settings for your system.  It can even switch your brand new 3D HDTV between old school 2D mode and 3D automatically – determined by the content being viewed.

There is one kicker, for the automated set-up to work your individual components must be THX Media Director certified. In 2011, we will see the first certified products released to consumers by LG, JVC, Epson, Onkyo and Sonic. One of Media Director’s best features, however, is that it will be available across a broad price range of products — from high-end to budget. For a current list of manufacturers and components, take a look at the THX Media Director site

Bottom Line: If you are in buying mode for any video or audio products this year, look for the THX Media Director logo before you purchase. By doing so, you’ll preserve the value of your multimedia investment – and – your system will deliver picture and sound to your living room exactly as the director intended. Plus, you won’t have to convince your spouse that Brad Pitt is supposed to sound just like Al Michaels.

Ron Remy