THX Optimizer for calibration

[rex]

One easy way to fine tune your TV is to use the THX Optimizer which is included on every THX-certified DVD. Has anyone ever used this tool? If so, what did you think of it? http://www.thx.com/home/dvd/optimizer/index.html
THX recommends extremely large screens and extremely LOUD sound levels. They recommend dividing the diagonal screen size by .84 to determine the optimal viewing distance. This means that to optimally view a 60" screen you should sit less than 6 ft away! Ouch! Isn't that hard on the eyes? And to sit a mere 10ft from the screen, your screen should be more than 100" diagonally. Do most people really sit that close to their screens? Anyone who has optimized their sound level can tell you that the THX "optimal" level is high enough to wake the neighbors, if not cause serious hearing damage. What is going on here? I honestly can't imagine that anyone actually listens to movies at that level. Or am I wrong? How do the folks at THX come up with these recommendations, and why are they so exaggerated?

[kennyt]

I think those screen sizes are the maximum recomended. I sit about 10' from my display which is 70" and that I believe is the minimum, I can easily see how 90" would work, if I put a screen on the wall it would raise my viewing distance to ~13 feet and 100" would be awesome! Now if I can convinvce the wife to allow me to seal up the stepdaughters room and put in some Star Glass and a projector behind it......

[deacongreg]

Listen kenny, your wife, when it comes to you and your equipment, is the best. I know this might start a debate, but you are truly blessed with an understanding wife. All the best, to her.

[kennyt]

Well,

The 18 year old step daughter want to move out and live on her own delaying college another year.... How do you live in a high dollar area like we live in on minimum wage?

She earns less than $300/week, and was telling my wife how she found an efficiency for $1,000/month......

[i30krab]

Originally Posted by kennyt

Well,

The 18 year old step daughter want to move out and live on her own delaying college another year.... How do you live in a high dollar area like we live in on minimum wage?

She earns less than $300/week, and was telling my wife how she found an efficiency for $1,000/month......

This will open her mind to the real world!

Send her to Manhattan and tell her the rents are the lowest in the country and give her 2 years on her own before she can come back home.

[kennyt]

I know it will, I just don't want to be on the hook for another monthly payment when she fails!