I own a modest home theatre 7.2.6 with an 85 inch 4K tv, The bass is more than enough for me, and the immersion is great. I did film study at school, from the age of 14, in 1978, I have worked as as photographer and Film Maker (Using Davinci Resolve Studio and Final Cut Pro) for the last 35 years. I used to go to the cinema, but now we can have a home theatre I enjoy that much more, best seats in the house, sound tailored to my liking, and no one talking or being annoying, plus, me and the wife smoke, I can have a few drinks and a smoke while watching. while I was sad to see the ABC Cinema of my youth knocked down and flats built in the place, I also remember how annoying some people could be.
You hit all the points I was trying to touch on in my video. I'll always have times where I'll want to go to an actual theater, but for mist stuff, I think a home theater is just as good. Thanks.
Really interesting video, man! Just stumbled on the channel tonight. I was 100% with you over the last 6 or 7 years as I just stopped going to the theatre around 6 years back. For me, I just didn’t need a theatre at all. I had a 120” projector screen at home that I loved. Fast forward to last year, my projector started acting up, and I swapped it for a 75” 4K TV. I also started going back to the theatre last year, a handful of times. I definitely enjoyed myself, but the “theatre bug” didn’t really bite until this year. My buddy and I started doing the bigger screens (called “EMAX” at our local theatre), and Dune Part 2 was a damn *EXPERIENCE*. It really made me realize how much I loved seeing movies on a gigantic screen, and now, at home, I just can’t get that. I also saw Alien in theaters for the anniversary, and it absolutely blew me away compared to my home setup. It also showcased how lackluster my home audio setup is compared to the theatre. So I’ve completely made a 180 swap since my projector died out on me. I actually told my wife that I want to get a new projector, but if I do that I also want to get a new audio setup, and the costs just keep going up and up. Im getting long-winded, but I think it’s a great topic. Our next home MUST have a basement where I can build a true home theatre, and when that happens, I’m sure I’ll be back to being the homebody I was born to be, haha! Until then, I’m going to keep heading out to the theatre as it gives me a nice night out with my buddy, and I don’t have to worry about pausing the movie every few minutes for the kids, lol (some of the intangibles you mentioned!)! Anyway, great video, man! Definitely checking out more of the video.
I appreciate the feedback. I've always enjoyed going to the theater, I just think the home theater experience is getting pretty close to what you can get at a movie theater. I don't think I'll ever be able to stop going to the movies, but I see how good my home theater is in comparison. Thanks.
I have a 7.4.4 with 128” at 10’ in a dedicated, light-controlled space. Yeah. It’s way better at home. WAY BETTER. I can hit well over reference with no problems. My theater chairs are much more comfortable. I have an endless supply of cheaper food/snacks. I can pause for pee breaks. I actually prefer not being near most folks unless it’s going to be an absolute experience - like infinity war or end game. Sound panning/movement is way better in my room. Subs usually dig deeper at home and can get infrasonic, which theaters are just not tuned to. A well done home theater is just better imo.
Hey Matt I’m really excited that I found your channel. It’s such a great idea to show people around the world that home theather hobby can be affortable. I personally try to avoid going to the cinema because of the sound. It’s literally damn loud, but most importantly, it sounds really bad at high volume. That's why I became interested in building my own home cinema in an apartment complex (YES, I KNOW, TRICKY SITUATION). I'm watching movies at 70 db average, bass peaks at about 90db). Almost all the equipment is used, and sometimes it’s a real challenge to find higher quality items at an affordable price in my local area. (P.S. I do not live in the US.) Big thumbs up to everyone who is building their home cinema, but most importantly, to everyone who is truly enjoying their JOURNEY. 3 years for me at this time.
Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback. I agree, try to enjoy the process of making your home theater. I think it can be overlooked sometimes and people just want to get the end.
You got my subscription. I have not been to a theater since 2017 way before COVID hit. After COVID some theaters never opened back up.I remember when you could walk in the theater lobby see what was playing and a human would sell you a ticket. Around 2016/17 I would start to see a sign to purchase your ticket from the concessions stand (to push you) from walking past it. Then just as I quit going to the theater I saw a sign to purchase your tickets off the theater’s website. Never mind the distractions you mentioned people doing at the theaters. I have had my setup since 2001 speakers, receiver, subwoofer. I can get very good sound out of my speakers (5.1) I did not mention. I have really only upgraded the TV. From CRT to LCD to LED to 4K. As far as calibration you mentioned the ONKYO came with a microphone and will send out signals from the speaker being calibrated. I just use the signal the the receiver tested for proper distance, echo, and volume. Really enjoy your channel I just happen to find it.
Great subject! I've had a proj since my boss lent me his in the 90s and hooked chasing the cinema experience ever since. My personal thoughts: Love movies but me and Mrs hate going out to the cinema - noisy people around you. The sound is way too loud to compensate for this and ambient noise that it ruins the relaxed experience. Sometime dirty seats. Mostly terrible food and popcorn. Not allowed to bring your own food and snacks. No interlude to refresh and stretch in between long movies. Uncomeatable seats no matter the quality for long durations, messing with posture. Being an audio engineer, I find the audio sub standard in mostly all cinemas. If you don't sit directly in the middle of the cinema, you have a very poor surround experience. So on the audio side I find it's like a buss - good enough to carry many people but not like a luxury/sport car that is focused on performance. (some cinemas are good enough but sadly not many) The cost and effort to see a film can add up quite high as you end up spending much because you are there. Most of the time after we get home, we've felt it wasn't worth it! On the plus side - you have that communal experience all enjoying the movie together. Amazing times watching the first Ghostbuster, Gremlins, Superman Returns etc. Where the whole room expresses emotions together. You get to see films first with sometimes very long waits for physical disc releases. Huge screen wins! Also much more social and a great physical activity going out of your house. However on the screen size for home cinemas - If you investigate, it's actually all about viewing angle. A small screen nearer is similar to a huge screen very far. But to be fair unless your going to build/buy a screen over 100" then the distance works. A smaller TV isn't the same, plus TV's emitting light directly is not the same experience as reflected light from a proj. (Even though it cant match black levels etc) So on the audio side, if you have enough quality your home experience (luxury/sports car) will be way better than a cinema (bus). All in all, enjoy what you like doing and love what you want! 😄
That's a very detailed commentary on the movie going experience. I think I'm a little different because my local theater is so small, not even 100 seats, and the ownership really cares about the customers. So usually the experience is always pleasant when I attend my local theater. The home theater experience is still better just because you can have total control of what you're watching, eating, and how loud you listen to it.
I agree with you. I too have a home theater and I truly enjoy the experience. But don’t forget to still go out and support your local cinema once in a while. Cheers!!
I swore off theaters in 2019 due to annoying audiences. I came back in 2021 for Spiderman No Way Home and I've been an AMC A List member ever since. I've gone to probably 100 movies in the past 3 years (including repeats). I'm this close to swearing off theaters again. It's just so frustrating and disheartening to be hyped for a movie, go to the theater and end up with a guy or a few people in there just ruining the experience. Whether it be talking kids, crying babies, some guy on his phone, or 2 women talking to each other like we're in a restaurant, the experience gets ruined for me. I want to be in a room where everyone SHUTS UP and I can focus ON THE MOVIE. I don't want to be taken out of the movie every few minutes because of a disturbance. At home I can almost get that. I live in apartment by a busy road so sometimes it's hard to get quiet time, but it's still better than dealing with Mike on his phone and Timmy yapping to his mom all movie. I have a 117" screen with a 5.1 (3 subwoofers for tight bass).
I don't think I'd ever be able to completely swear off theaters, especially locally as I like to support my small town theater, but I do understand your points. I enjoy the freedom and control of having a home theater. You can adjust your settings how you want, you can eat & drink what you want, you can play on your phone, and a big factor for my wife is that she likes to lay down on our back couch. Those are all things that you can't do or have in an actual theater. Plus the fact that you don't have random people ruining the experience, makes a home theater such a good option. Thanks.
I have been into home theater for decades. I run 4 subs all around the room in addition to Atmos. Currently use a 100" alr fresnal screen on a 4k laser projector and it is stunning say the least. Just upgraded from an 82" Mitsu DLP with isf calibration on it.
Love your videos! My wife and I used to have the AMC subscription and used to go to the movies 2-3 ties a month. Then the pandemic hit. We started talking about building our own home theater, got some cheap equipment, and decided we'd never go back to the theaters again. While I have great memories of going to see huge blockbusters in crowded theaters as a kid, I realized that my favorite times in a movie theater were always the midnight showings of movies when there was no one else in the theater anyway. At home, I can be on my phone, or pause to go to the bathroom, or talk with my wife, and not worry about bothering anyone else. While hardcode movie-goers will get mad at this, I actually DO want to do those things in a movie theater most times - I want to use IMDB to see who that actor is, or find out more about the production of a particular scene. So a home theater is more conducive to the kind of experience I personally enjoy, and it doesn't bother anyone else.
I agree and sorry for the long reply. I also have fond memories of midnight showings here in my small town. When the current owners of our local theater took over back in the mid 2000's, they started running midnight showings for the first time in forever (granted I grew up in Chicago prior to this, so I was going off my wife's insight). They ran all the big movies starting with the original Iron Man in 2008 all the way up until Endgame. It wasn't just Marvel movies, it was any big blockbuster. They would also print custom tickets with the movie poster on them for the customers at the midnight showing. I kept all the custom tickets for shows I had attended for that entire run. I had tickets for all the major Marvel movies, DC movies, Transformers, and even some lesser thought about films like Michael Jackson's This Is It. I'm sure I'm leaving a bunch out. Anyways, I ended up throwing those tickets out about 10 years ago when we moved into our house. I didn't see the need in keeping them but thinking back, I wish I would have kept them as décor for my home theater. Hindsight is always 20/20. Anyways, they stopped doing midnight showings roughly after Endgame. I think one of the Marvel Spider-Man movies was officially the last one they did. The business just started to drop off after that, not only for midnight shows, but for every show. Fast forward through the pandemic to today and while the theater isn't struggling, it's no where near what it used to be. That's why I still like going there to see certain movies and support a local business. I'd hate to see it shut down.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater Absolutely get it - we live near a big city, so there aren't any smaller movie theaters around, but there is a drive-in theater near us that's opened in the summer. We will go to that one since it's a local business - we try to support our local owners any time we can.
I'm just way more comfortable at home. My Audio system sounds really good. I am going to a 77" or 83" OLED at about 8-9 feet away. I like getting set up with popcorn or maybe running by Dairy Queen before movie night. set the Hue lights for movie and enjoy. I haven't been to a theater in 5+ years.
Hello I totally agree with what you’re saying and I’m with you on this I haven’t gone to a movie theater in 5 years due to the fact that I have my own personal home theater I have a 120” motorized screen by Elite screens and a 7.2.4 sound system by Pioneer elite and let me tell you I enjoy every moment watching 4k movies on my 4k Optoma projector the reason why I stop going to the movie theater is because the same video and audio experience is the same as what I have at home in fact even better at home in my own opinion and of course people talking and food pricing is ridiculous that is why I stop going and I rather be at home enjoying the cinematic picture and sound with my family and friends but that’s just me everyone is in tittle of their own personal opinion and I respect that peace.
I have to agree, i am someone who went to movie theaters for a decade every saturday for half priced morning movies becore it gained popularity. And after having a (VERY BUDGET) home theater, I feel the home experience is unparrallelled. The quality is better. The sentiment and excitement is different with a real theater, based on tradition. But the quality at home is much better, especially audio. If you can replicate items, it adds to nostalgia. For example, smells of popcorn, or theater decor. I now prefer to wait to watch a movie at home instead. You say home theater is "not that far off", but i think you are being modest... it is far superior. Very good points, great video.
Unless we are talking about Dolby cinema or imax, I honestly don’t think regular theaters are anything special. For around a 1000 bucks you can find some great deals on a used sound system that will sound better then most movie theaters in my opinion 🤷♂️
I've always been aware that my local, family run place was always a little lacking, it's just the nature of the building and it's historical status, but the fact that a multiplex would be so comparable to my home theater was eye opening. Since I live so far away from the big chain theaters, I usually only attend my local one.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater Even the big theaters sound quality is generally lacking. The best IMAX theater I've ever heard was in the Science Center in Singapore but the center's own engineers designed and built the loudspeakers themselves. That level of DIY is typically going to produce better results than most commercial options. Most commercial cinemas tend to have muddy bass with very little detail, and the bottom end is usually cut off around 25 Hz. As hofmarskal mentioned, it's frequently too loud, or at least it's too loud for the theaters loudspeakers causing compression making it harsh and fatiguing. When Interstellar came out my commercial cinema experience was the same as hofmarskal"s experience with Dune pt2 to the point I had to go ask for a manager and request they turn it down. If they want to play it that loud, they need a better quality sound system.
With the tech at this point new or secondhand you can beat a normal movie theater at home on a budget no doubt.When you have a large or huge budget the sky is the limit.
I recently saw The Fall Guy at the Samsung ONYX screen at a theater in Culver City. It was very bright and colorful. They used JBL Dolby Atmos system. I recommend trying it out
Great subject! My wife and I still love to go to our local AMC theater. You just can beat a good old fashion date night with your queen bee. However, sound wise and quality of the image in the theater vs what we have at home is no contest. Our 5.2.4 home theater experience blows away anything the theaters in our area can offer. With that being said, we still love having a date night out.
Same for us bro, depending on the movie. For example, when Top Gun Maverick came out, we had to see that in the theater. The nostalgia and being around a bunch of us 80's babies who saw the original in a movie theater was a must. Now, when A Quiet Place 3 comes out, that will be a must-see at home. If it's anything like the first 2 films, our dual 18's will be an experience the theater will never be able to compete with. At least not the local AMC we go to.
I prefer my 4k panels over the projector at a cinema. I agree though my cheap surround system cant hold a candle. I only bought it to hear the separate channels. That said I prefer my home theater.
I'm with you on this one. I have an Epson Home Cinema 4K projector, 124" screen, and 7.1 surround. Going to a standard movie showing is a step down. I usually notice how dim the picture looks, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable, and they keep the sound very low, I guess because too many Karens complained about it. These are big chains I'm talking about, not little run down theaters. If I make the effort to go to a premium theater, we have a mini IMAX and a GPX near us, they are pretty good, but I'm not visiting those but maybe once a year. If there's a movie I want to see, like Dune 2, I'm happy to wait for the disc release. If the 4k is 25 or 30, I'm still spending about the same I would've spent going to a theater, and I get to own the movie.
You make a good point about buying a full priced 4k or Blu-ray disc. When you put it in context of how much it costs to go to a big chain theater, $30 is a good deal. Thanks.
I was thinking about this just the other day. For me I think going to the theater is more about nostalgia. The image isn’t better, the sound isn’t better, the convenience isn’t better. So why do I enjoy going to a theater every so often? The only thing I can think of is nostalgia.
Agreed. For me at least, I enjoy supporting a local family business. That's the main reason I go to our local theater. The ambiance is cool too, since it's a historical building for my town. The experience at home however, is still better as you have total control over your settings, customization, breaks without missing anything, etc.
Yes with my SONY VW1000 for 2D + two JVC X7500 for 3D (Infitech) at 120 inch my Home Cinema experience is way better than any movie theater IMAX not included greetings from Germany
Thanks for the reply. I can't believe my small channel has reached that far across the world. I really do appreciate it. How is the theater business in that part of the world? I would imagine the same situation applies there as it does here. Thanks again.
Unless your rich and have a massive dedicated home theater, one main difference between a typically home theater and a commercial cinema is scale. I would consider my atmos setup pretty nice, but there is something about the huge soundstage of a cinema that still makes going to them appealing and something I can't replicate at home.
True, there is just something you just can't replicate at home. For big blockbuster movies, it is fun to see them on a big screen in a theater. More "normal" movies, I think I prefer to watch at home. Just my opinion.
My home setup (eventhough it is only 4.1, but with mid to high-end speakers) beats cinemas any day. Audio is much better at home, more balanced, natural sounding. The phantom center works better, voices are not just coming right from the center. Picture comes from a Samsung S95C, which provides a much more colorful, natural image, larger (as I sit closer), higher contrast (pitch black and 1300 nits max vs grey and 50-100 nits max). Thus if possible I save event movies for watching at home.
I understand. Outside of certain things, I prefer to watch content at home. Like you said, the audio quality is a big factor. How do you like the phantom center? I've tried it in the past and never really enjoyed it. I've always liked having a center channel to try and do the heavy lifting for all the dialogue. Thanks.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater Phantom center works very well when you sit in the center, though of course the quality of the speakers matter too. The voices come from the screen in a way that a center speaker can't (as it sits below the screen) (unless using projection with an acoustically transparent screen or one of those Sony-TVs where the screen is the speaker).
That makes sense. I have my center under the screen but angled upwards towards everyone's head. I also know plenty of people that use acoustically transparent screens and sit the LCR speakers behind the screen. That would be fun to do, but my room doesn't allow for it. I may have to give a phantom center a try as an experiment again now that I have different L&R speakers. It might make for a neat little video. Thanks.
I personally think home cinema is better than the commercial cinema. 100%sound is. And if you have a dlp projector, the picture quality is soooo freeking sweet, even with regular dvds.
That's the boat I'm in. I also think other types of projectors or even TV's can be just as good. You just need time to find some quality equipment and you can get a great experience regardless. Thanks.
In my little world of NW Iowa the closest theater is 20 minutes away. It not worth going there as my home setup is better for the most part. Closest atmos is around 2 hours away.
You're in a similar situation to mine. We don't have any big chain theaters within an hour drive from my house. Our small town theater is neat but it is just that, a small town theater. My theater is definitely good enough, but I do enjoy supporting a local business.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater I try to support the 2 community run theaters close by both of which would be considered 2nd run theaters. They are volunteer based and most profit goes towards other community events. There was an initiative to get the former theater in my town to reopen as a community run theater that didn’t seem to get too far. I watched ET in the theater in town those were great times.
You forgot a very important thing (in my opinion)... THE SIZE ... Yes, that it's as important as the Sound quality, AT LEAST from 120 inches screen and beyond if you want similar Movie Theater experience. The image needs to be as big as the sound, and the sound as big as the image.
That is a good point. I think there is something special about seeing a big budget action or sci-fi movie on a really big screen. Despite having a 110" or even 120" screen, which for my space is still really nice and fits perfectly, there is just something that you can't replicate about seeing a movie like that on a huge theater screen. Thanks.
I believe the home theater experience has a much higher potential for the highest quality experience over commercial cinema. The commercial theater is fun because it's big and you've got that partially diffused sound field. But at least here in AR, the projectors and screens are low quality. There's only 2 theaters that are THX certified but the subs aren't cutting it. No way. We have no immersive theaters. At least at home you can dial in your viewing angle on a large OLED or MiniLED, dial in your acoustic treatment, and then dial in your speakers to 105db peaks and your subs to 115db peaks. Far higher quality experience at home. Of course there's also projection and projo screens for the home but you still have to spend 4-5 cost of an 85" tv to get a projection setup to the same quality as the tv. Not worth it IMO.
Very well said. I don't think my local theater is bad by any means, but I agree that the ability to control & customize your home theater to different specs / preferences can be more enjoyable.
I recently went to se Dune part 2 in an Imax Theater, and I had the very best seat, nr. 1 in the center. The audio was very disappointing! It was calibrated wrong or not at all and it was way to loud. The bass was ok, there was a lot of bass and I felt it more then at home. Many times during the film me and my sister had to put our fingers in our ears🕳️🙄😱 and I like it loud, but this was wrong. My audio is way better, with a little less bass. And then a week or to later we saw kung fu panda in a smaller theater and it was so much better! Why go to an Imax theater when its not done wright?
I know a lot of variables play into this type of situation. Each theater has its own level of quality control / calibration. That's also a big plus for a home theater, as you can control the sound levels and calibration.
Too loud for you is another moviegoer’s not loud enough. Preference plays a significant role. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people complaining when exiting the theater about loud volume levels, meanwhile I’m wishing they had it a few notches higher.🤷♂️
i find going to a theater for say a top movie like top gun or in that caliber its worth going, but say some other movies its better waiting and to see it in your own home theater...
I agree, I've gone to see movies like Dune or the Alien re-release, but for most "normal" movies, we usually wait and watch them at home. We also do this because the turn around time for new movies to be available at home is so quick nowadays.
I have to agree. I went to see Top Gun Maverick and Avatar- Way of Water 3D in theaters but watch all the other movies at home on a 65" LG C1 OLED TV with a 5.1 setup with good LCR speakers.
I own a modest home theatre 7.2.6 with an 85 inch 4K tv, The bass is more than enough for me, and the immersion is great. I did film study at school, from the age of 14, in 1978, I have worked as as photographer and Film Maker (Using Davinci Resolve Studio and Final Cut Pro) for the last 35 years. I used to go to the cinema, but now we can have a home theatre I enjoy that much more, best seats in the house, sound tailored to my liking, and no one talking or being annoying, plus, me and the wife smoke, I can have a few drinks and a smoke while watching. while I was sad to see the ABC Cinema of my youth knocked down and flats built in the place, I also remember how annoying some people could be.
You hit all the points I was trying to touch on in my video. I'll always have times where I'll want to go to an actual theater, but for mist stuff, I think a home theater is just as good. Thanks.
Really interesting video, man! Just stumbled on the channel tonight. I was 100% with you over the last 6 or 7 years as I just stopped going to the theatre around 6 years back. For me, I just didn’t need a theatre at all. I had a 120” projector screen at home that I loved.
Fast forward to last year, my projector started acting up, and I swapped it for a 75” 4K TV. I also started going back to the theatre last year, a handful of times. I definitely enjoyed myself, but the “theatre bug” didn’t really bite until this year. My buddy and I started doing the bigger screens (called “EMAX” at our local theatre), and Dune Part 2 was a damn *EXPERIENCE*. It really made me realize how much I loved seeing movies on a gigantic screen, and now, at home, I just can’t get that. I also saw Alien in theaters for the anniversary, and it absolutely blew me away compared to my home setup. It also showcased how lackluster my home audio setup is compared to the theatre. So I’ve completely made a 180 swap since my projector died out on me.
I actually told my wife that I want to get a new projector, but if I do that I also want to get a new audio setup, and the costs just keep going up and up.
Im getting long-winded, but I think it’s a great topic. Our next home MUST have a basement where I can build a true home theatre, and when that happens, I’m sure I’ll be back to being the homebody I was born to be, haha! Until then, I’m going to keep heading out to the theatre as it gives me a nice night out with my buddy, and I don’t have to worry about pausing the movie every few minutes for the kids, lol (some of the intangibles you mentioned!)!
Anyway, great video, man! Definitely checking out more of the video.
I appreciate the feedback. I've always enjoyed going to the theater, I just think the home theater experience is getting pretty close to what you can get at a movie theater. I don't think I'll ever be able to stop going to the movies, but I see how good my home theater is in comparison. Thanks.
I have a 7.4.4 with 128” at 10’ in a dedicated, light-controlled space.
Yeah. It’s way better at home. WAY BETTER.
I can hit well over reference with no problems. My theater chairs are much more comfortable. I have an endless supply of cheaper food/snacks. I can pause for pee breaks. I actually prefer not being near most folks unless it’s going to be an absolute experience - like infinity war or end game. Sound panning/movement is way better in my room. Subs usually dig deeper at home and can get infrasonic, which theaters are just not tuned to.
A well done home theater is just better imo.
Hey Matt I’m really excited that I found your channel. It’s such a great idea to show people around the world that home theather hobby can be affortable. I personally try to avoid going to the cinema because of the sound. It’s literally damn loud, but most importantly, it sounds really bad at high volume. That's why I became interested in building my own home cinema in an apartment complex (YES, I KNOW, TRICKY SITUATION). I'm watching movies at 70 db average, bass peaks at about 90db). Almost all the equipment is used, and sometimes it’s a real challenge to find higher quality items at an affordable price in my local area. (P.S. I do not live in the US.) Big thumbs up to everyone who is building their home cinema, but most importantly, to everyone who is truly enjoying their JOURNEY. 3 years for me at this time.
Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback. I agree, try to enjoy the process of making your home theater. I think it can be overlooked sometimes and people just want to get the end.
You got my subscription. I have not been to a theater since 2017 way before COVID hit. After COVID some theaters never opened back up.I remember when you could walk in the theater lobby see what was playing and a human would sell you a ticket. Around 2016/17 I would start to see a sign to purchase your ticket from the concessions stand (to push you) from walking past it. Then just as I quit going to the theater I saw a sign to purchase your tickets off the theater’s website. Never mind the distractions you mentioned people doing at the theaters. I have had my setup since 2001 speakers, receiver, subwoofer. I can get very good sound out of my speakers (5.1) I did not mention. I have really only upgraded the TV. From CRT to LCD to LED to 4K. As far as calibration you mentioned the ONKYO came with a microphone and will send out signals from the speaker being calibrated. I just use the signal the the receiver tested for proper distance, echo, and volume. Really enjoy your channel I just happen to find it.
Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback.
Great subject! I've had a proj since my boss lent me his in the 90s and hooked chasing the cinema experience ever since.
My personal thoughts:
Love movies but me and Mrs hate going out to the cinema - noisy people around you. The sound is way too loud to compensate for this and ambient noise that it ruins the relaxed experience. Sometime dirty seats. Mostly terrible food and popcorn. Not allowed to bring your own food and snacks. No interlude to refresh and stretch in between long movies. Uncomeatable seats no matter the quality for long durations, messing with posture. Being an audio engineer, I find the audio sub standard in mostly all cinemas. If you don't sit directly in the middle of the cinema, you have a very poor surround experience. So on the audio side I find it's like a buss - good enough to carry many people but not like a luxury/sport car that is focused on performance. (some cinemas are good enough but sadly not many) The cost and effort to see a film can add up quite high as you end up spending much because you are there. Most of the time after we get home, we've felt it wasn't worth it!
On the plus side - you have that communal experience all enjoying the movie together. Amazing times watching the first Ghostbuster, Gremlins, Superman Returns etc. Where the whole room expresses emotions together. You get to see films first with sometimes very long waits for physical disc releases. Huge screen wins! Also much more social and a great physical activity going out of your house.
However on the screen size for home cinemas - If you investigate, it's actually all about viewing angle. A small screen nearer is similar to a huge screen very far. But to be fair unless your going to build/buy a screen over 100" then the distance works. A smaller TV isn't the same, plus TV's emitting light directly is not the same experience as reflected light from a proj. (Even though it cant match black levels etc)
So on the audio side, if you have enough quality your home experience (luxury/sports car) will be way better than a cinema (bus).
All in all, enjoy what you like doing and love what you want! 😄
That's a very detailed commentary on the movie going experience. I think I'm a little different because my local theater is so small, not even 100 seats, and the ownership really cares about the customers. So usually the experience is always pleasant when I attend my local theater. The home theater experience is still better just because you can have total control of what you're watching, eating, and how loud you listen to it.
Well said!
I agree with you. I too have a home theater and I truly enjoy the experience. But don’t forget to still go out and support your local cinema once in a while. Cheers!!
My wife and I enjoy supporting a local business, so we try and go whenever possible to our local theater.
I swore off theaters in 2019 due to annoying audiences. I came back in 2021 for Spiderman No Way Home and I've been an AMC A List member ever since. I've gone to probably 100 movies in the past 3 years (including repeats). I'm this close to swearing off theaters again. It's just so frustrating and disheartening to be hyped for a movie, go to the theater and end up with a guy or a few people in there just ruining the experience.
Whether it be talking kids, crying babies, some guy on his phone, or 2 women talking to each other like we're in a restaurant, the experience gets ruined for me. I want to be in a room where everyone SHUTS UP and I can focus ON THE MOVIE. I don't want to be taken out of the movie every few minutes because of a disturbance.
At home I can almost get that. I live in apartment by a busy road so sometimes it's hard to get quiet time, but it's still better than dealing with Mike on his phone and Timmy yapping to his mom all movie. I have a 117" screen with a 5.1 (3 subwoofers for tight bass).
I don't think I'd ever be able to completely swear off theaters, especially locally as I like to support my small town theater, but I do understand your points. I enjoy the freedom and control of having a home theater. You can adjust your settings how you want, you can eat & drink what you want, you can play on your phone, and a big factor for my wife is that she likes to lay down on our back couch. Those are all things that you can't do or have in an actual theater. Plus the fact that you don't have random people ruining the experience, makes a home theater such a good option.
Thanks.
I have been into home theater for decades. I run 4 subs all around the room in addition to Atmos. Currently use a 100" alr fresnal screen on a 4k laser projector and it is stunning say the least. Just upgraded from an 82" Mitsu DLP with isf calibration on it.
Love your videos! My wife and I used to have the AMC subscription and used to go to the movies 2-3 ties a month. Then the pandemic hit. We started talking about building our own home theater, got some cheap equipment, and decided we'd never go back to the theaters again. While I have great memories of going to see huge blockbusters in crowded theaters as a kid, I realized that my favorite times in a movie theater were always the midnight showings of movies when there was no one else in the theater anyway.
At home, I can be on my phone, or pause to go to the bathroom, or talk with my wife, and not worry about bothering anyone else. While hardcode movie-goers will get mad at this, I actually DO want to do those things in a movie theater most times - I want to use IMDB to see who that actor is, or find out more about the production of a particular scene. So a home theater is more conducive to the kind of experience I personally enjoy, and it doesn't bother anyone else.
I agree and sorry for the long reply. I also have fond memories of midnight showings here in my small town.
When the current owners of our local theater took over back in the mid 2000's, they started running midnight showings for the first time in forever (granted I grew up in Chicago prior to this, so I was going off my wife's insight). They ran all the big movies starting with the original Iron Man in 2008 all the way up until Endgame. It wasn't just Marvel movies, it was any big blockbuster.
They would also print custom tickets with the movie poster on them for the customers at the midnight showing. I kept all the custom tickets for shows I had attended for that entire run. I had tickets for all the major Marvel movies, DC movies, Transformers, and even some lesser thought about films like Michael Jackson's This Is It. I'm sure I'm leaving a bunch out.
Anyways, I ended up throwing those tickets out about 10 years ago when we moved into our house. I didn't see the need in keeping them but thinking back, I wish I would have kept them as décor for my home theater. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Anyways, they stopped doing midnight showings roughly after Endgame. I think one of the Marvel Spider-Man movies was officially the last one they did. The business just started to drop off after that, not only for midnight shows, but for every show. Fast forward through the pandemic to today and while the theater isn't struggling, it's no where near what it used to be. That's why I still like going there to see certain movies and support a local business. I'd hate to see it shut down.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater Absolutely get it - we live near a big city, so there aren't any smaller movie theaters around, but there is a drive-in theater near us that's opened in the summer. We will go to that one since it's a local business - we try to support our local owners any time we can.
I'm just way more comfortable at home. My Audio system sounds really good. I am going to a 77" or 83" OLED at about 8-9 feet away. I like getting set up with popcorn or maybe running by Dairy Queen before movie night. set the Hue lights for movie and enjoy. I haven't been to a theater in 5+ years.
Hello I totally agree with what you’re saying and I’m with you on this I haven’t gone to a movie theater in 5 years due to the fact that I have my own personal home theater I have a 120” motorized screen by Elite screens and a 7.2.4 sound system by Pioneer elite and let me tell you I enjoy every moment watching 4k movies on my 4k Optoma projector the reason why I stop going to the movie theater is because the same video and audio experience is the same as what I have at home in fact even better at home in my own opinion and of course people talking and food pricing is ridiculous that is why I stop going and I rather be at home enjoying the cinematic picture and sound with my family and friends but that’s just me everyone is in tittle of their own personal opinion and I respect that peace.
You aren’t wrong bro!
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.
I have to agree, i am someone who went to movie theaters for a decade every saturday for half priced morning movies becore it gained popularity. And after having a (VERY BUDGET) home theater, I feel the home experience is unparrallelled. The quality is better. The sentiment and excitement is different with a real theater, based on tradition. But the quality at home is much better, especially audio. If you can replicate items, it adds to nostalgia. For example, smells of popcorn, or theater decor. I now prefer to wait to watch a movie at home instead. You say home theater is "not that far off", but i think you are being modest... it is far superior. Very good points, great video.
I appreciate your feedback. Maybe I am being a bit modest, but I do think home theaters have come a long way over the years. Thanks.
With the tech available today even secondhand you can beat a basic movie theater ,no doubt.
Unless we are talking about Dolby cinema or imax, I honestly don’t think regular theaters are anything special. For around a 1000 bucks you can find some great deals on a used sound system that will sound better then most movie theaters in my opinion 🤷♂️
Agreed. While they have improved over the years, it's still pretty easy to put together a home system that out performs most commercial cinemas.
I've always been aware that my local, family run place was always a little lacking, it's just the nature of the building and it's historical status, but the fact that a multiplex would be so comparable to my home theater was eye opening. Since I live so far away from the big chain theaters, I usually only attend my local one.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater Even the big theaters sound quality is generally lacking. The best IMAX theater I've ever heard was in the Science Center in Singapore but the center's own engineers designed and built the loudspeakers themselves. That level of DIY is typically going to produce better results than most commercial options.
Most commercial cinemas tend to have muddy bass with very little detail, and the bottom end is usually cut off around 25 Hz. As hofmarskal mentioned, it's frequently too loud, or at least it's too loud for the theaters loudspeakers causing compression making it harsh and fatiguing. When Interstellar came out my commercial cinema experience was the same as hofmarskal"s experience with Dune pt2 to the point I had to go ask for a manager and request they turn it down. If they want to play it that loud, they need a better quality sound system.
LoL, not even Imax and Dolby.... we have Oled... works better and faster....
With the tech at this point new or secondhand you can beat a normal movie theater at home on a budget no doubt.When you have a large or huge budget the sky is the limit.
I recently saw The Fall Guy at the Samsung ONYX screen at a theater in Culver City. It was very bright and colorful. They used JBL Dolby Atmos system. I recommend trying it out
Great subject! My wife and I still love to go to our local AMC theater. You just can beat a good old fashion date night with your queen bee. However, sound wise and quality of the image in the theater vs what we have at home is no contest. Our 5.2.4 home theater experience blows away anything the theaters in our area can offer. With that being said, we still love having a date night out.
I agree. There is something special about going to a theater, but for me and my wife, the home theater is usually the first option.
Same for us bro, depending on the movie. For example, when Top Gun Maverick came out, we had to see that in the theater. The nostalgia and being around a bunch of us 80's babies who saw the original in a movie theater was a must. Now, when A Quiet Place 3 comes out, that will be a must-see at home. If it's anything like the first 2 films, our dual 18's will be an experience the theater will never be able to compete with. At least not the local AMC we go to.
I prefer my 4k panels over the projector at a cinema. I agree though my cheap surround system cant hold a candle. I only bought it to hear the separate channels. That said I prefer my home theater.
I'm with you on this one. I have an Epson Home Cinema 4K projector, 124" screen, and 7.1 surround. Going to a standard movie showing is a step down. I usually notice how dim the picture looks, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable, and they keep the sound very low, I guess because too many Karens complained about it. These are big chains I'm talking about, not little run down theaters. If I make the effort to go to a premium theater, we have a mini IMAX and a GPX near us, they are pretty good, but I'm not visiting those but maybe once a year. If there's a movie I want to see, like Dune 2, I'm happy to wait for the disc release. If the 4k is 25 or 30, I'm still spending about the same I would've spent going to a theater, and I get to own the movie.
You make a good point about buying a full priced 4k or Blu-ray disc. When you put it in context of how much it costs to go to a big chain theater, $30 is a good deal. Thanks.
I was thinking about this just the other day. For me I think going to the theater is more about nostalgia. The image isn’t better, the sound isn’t better, the convenience isn’t better. So why do I enjoy going to a theater every so often? The only thing I can think of is nostalgia.
Agreed. For me at least, I enjoy supporting a local family business. That's the main reason I go to our local theater. The ambiance is cool too, since it's a historical building for my town. The experience at home however, is still better as you have total control over your settings, customization, breaks without missing anything, etc.
Yes with my SONY VW1000 for 2D + two JVC X7500 for 3D (Infitech) at 120 inch my Home Cinema experience is way better than any movie theater IMAX not included greetings from Germany
Thanks for the reply. I can't believe my small channel has reached that far across the world. I really do appreciate it.
How is the theater business in that part of the world? I would imagine the same situation applies there as it does here. Thanks again.
Unless your rich and have a massive dedicated home theater, one main difference between a typically home theater and a commercial cinema is scale. I would consider my atmos setup pretty nice, but there is something about the huge soundstage of a cinema that still makes going to them appealing and something I can't replicate at home.
True, there is just something you just can't replicate at home. For big blockbuster movies, it is fun to see them on a big screen in a theater. More "normal" movies, I think I prefer to watch at home. Just my opinion.
My home setup (eventhough it is only 4.1, but with mid to high-end speakers) beats cinemas any day. Audio is much better at home, more balanced, natural sounding. The phantom center works better, voices are not just coming right from the center. Picture comes from a Samsung S95C, which provides a much more colorful, natural image, larger (as I sit closer), higher contrast (pitch black and 1300 nits max vs grey and 50-100 nits max). Thus if possible I save event movies for watching at home.
I understand. Outside of certain things, I prefer to watch content at home. Like you said, the audio quality is a big factor. How do you like the phantom center? I've tried it in the past and never really enjoyed it. I've always liked having a center channel to try and do the heavy lifting for all the dialogue. Thanks.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater Phantom center works very well when you sit in the center, though of course the quality of the speakers matter too. The voices come from the screen in a way that a center speaker can't (as it sits below the screen) (unless using projection with an acoustically transparent screen or one of those Sony-TVs where the screen is the speaker).
That makes sense. I have my center under the screen but angled upwards towards everyone's head. I also know plenty of people that use acoustically transparent screens and sit the LCR speakers behind the screen. That would be fun to do, but my room doesn't allow for it. I may have to give a phantom center a try as an experiment again now that I have different L&R speakers. It might make for a neat little video. Thanks.
I personally think home cinema is better than the commercial cinema. 100%sound is. And if you have a dlp projector, the picture quality is soooo freeking sweet, even with regular dvds.
That's the boat I'm in. I also think other types of projectors or even TV's can be just as good. You just need time to find some quality equipment and you can get a great experience regardless. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
In my little world of NW Iowa the closest theater is 20 minutes away. It not worth going there as my home setup is better for the most part. Closest atmos is around 2 hours away.
You're in a similar situation to mine. We don't have any big chain theaters within an hour drive from my house. Our small town theater is neat but it is just that, a small town theater. My theater is definitely good enough, but I do enjoy supporting a local business.
@@2ndHandHomeTheater I try to support the 2 community run theaters close by both of which would be considered 2nd run theaters. They are volunteer based and most profit goes towards other community events. There was an initiative to get the former theater in my town to reopen as a community run theater that didn’t seem to get too far. I watched ET in the theater in town those were great times.
You forgot a very important thing (in my opinion)... THE SIZE ... Yes, that it's as important as the Sound quality, AT LEAST from 120 inches screen and beyond if you want similar Movie Theater experience. The image needs to be as big as the sound, and the sound as big as the image.
That is a good point. I think there is something special about seeing a big budget action or sci-fi movie on a really big screen. Despite having a 110" or even 120" screen, which for my space is still really nice and fits perfectly, there is just something that you can't replicate about seeing a movie like that on a huge theater screen.
Thanks.
I believe the home theater experience has a much higher potential for the highest quality experience over commercial cinema. The commercial theater is fun because it's big and you've got that partially diffused sound field.
But at least here in AR, the projectors and screens are low quality. There's only 2 theaters that are THX certified but the subs aren't cutting it. No way. We have no immersive theaters.
At least at home you can dial in your viewing angle on a large OLED or MiniLED, dial in your acoustic treatment, and then dial in your speakers to 105db peaks and your subs to 115db peaks. Far higher quality experience at home. Of course there's also projection and projo screens for the home but you still have to spend 4-5 cost of an 85" tv to get a projection setup to the same quality as the tv. Not worth it IMO.
Very well said. I don't think my local theater is bad by any means, but I agree that the ability to control & customize your home theater to different specs / preferences can be more enjoyable.
I recently went to se Dune part 2 in an Imax Theater, and I had the very best seat, nr. 1 in the center. The audio was very disappointing! It was calibrated wrong or not at all and it was way to loud. The bass was ok, there was a lot of bass and I felt it more then at home. Many times during the film me and my sister had to put our fingers in our ears🕳️🙄😱 and I like it loud, but this was wrong. My audio is way better, with a little less bass. And then a week or to later we saw kung fu panda in a smaller theater and it was so much better! Why go to an Imax theater when its not done wright?
I know a lot of variables play into this type of situation. Each theater has its own level of quality control / calibration. That's also a big plus for a home theater, as you can control the sound levels and calibration.
Too loud for you is another moviegoer’s not loud enough. Preference plays a significant role. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people complaining when exiting the theater about loud volume levels, meanwhile I’m wishing they had it a few notches higher.🤷♂️
i find going to a theater for say a top movie like top gun or in that caliber its worth going, but say some other movies its better waiting and to see it in your own home theater...
I agree, I've gone to see movies like Dune or the Alien re-release, but for most "normal" movies, we usually wait and watch them at home. We also do this because the turn around time for new movies to be available at home is so quick nowadays.
I have to agree. I went to see Top Gun Maverick and Avatar- Way of Water 3D in theaters but watch all the other movies at home on a 65" LG C1 OLED TV with a 5.1 setup with good LCR speakers.