Should cinema be our HT reference?


Hi, recently I have a wierd dislike to the cinema's surround sound. First, I always feel that the sound level isn't loud enough. Secondly, I always feel like the movie was recorded with only 3 channels: front, left and right. I hardly hear anything from the rear. Normally I sit 7 to 8 rows from the back. When I watched X2, I sat in the middle of the theater and felt the same. So far, I have not 'heard' a movie that takes my breath away in a movie theater.

Here is my question, should we consider the surround sound in movie theater to be our point of reference for home theater surround sound? If so, I am a bit dissapointed with the sound that I have heard so far in the cinema. Does anyone else feel the same way too?
lkean

Showing 1 response by vectorman67

Out of curiosity, where is everyone located?
The reason I ask is that I'm in Los Angeles and I must say that the sound quality at some of the top theaters in town is outstanding. I'm wondering if this has more to do with the fact that I'm essentially in the movie capital. Don't get me wrong... for the most part, this tends to preclude any sort of multi-plex, though some venues will have 'decent' (not outstanding) sound in their main theater. But, go to the recently renovated Grauman's Chinese Theater, and you'll be amazed by both the audio and video... I don't know about it having a homogenized sound, as the theater definitely has a sweet spot (middle 10 rows and 15-seats to either side of center). Outside of that, and the sound experience is o.k.