There are countless albums recommended on the audio side of the forum which are considered reference classics used to show off a system. I'm interested in knowing what ten movies occupy top tier in your library as go to movies for surround sound
What's Your 10 Best Movies To Show Off Home Theater Surround Sound
- Thread starter Steve williams
- Start date
Pretty hard to beat Live Free or Die Hard, IMO.
Not just for the surround mix and use of sub-woofers, but because if you have an excellent sub-woofer(s), it will show off it's quickness and articulation as well as its sheer pants flapping ability. Also, the incredible variety of gun-shot sound effects, pinging off different materials. An audiophile will appreciate the lengths they went to to get amazing variation, resolution and detail.
Picture quality is also excellent.
If you just want to show off your audio and not PQ, Master and Commander Far side of the World has some terrific audio sequences that will show off your system's ability to create incredibly immersive spatial relationships along with the usual explosions and stuff. At points the sound track creates the illusion you are in the hold of a wooden ship while a bunch of activity is going on above you on deck, around you in the ocean, etc. Special credit for the well resolved sounds of cannon balls on vintage wooden ships, wood cracking and splintering, etc.
Likely suspects for audio/video are Dark Knight, Hulk, Transformers, King Kong.
Dark Knight is a big crowd pleaser, but so is Live Free or Die Hard. I use a 5 minute sequence in Live Free or Die Hard for the blow 'em away demo and most everyone who says he/she only has a few minutes to see the theater suddenly has a lot more time and wants to watch the rest. If you haven't watched Live Free or Die Hard and think you're tired of the Die hard franchise, you'll be surprised how enjoyable this film turns out to be.
Not just for the surround mix and use of sub-woofers, but because if you have an excellent sub-woofer(s), it will show off it's quickness and articulation as well as its sheer pants flapping ability. Also, the incredible variety of gun-shot sound effects, pinging off different materials. An audiophile will appreciate the lengths they went to to get amazing variation, resolution and detail.
Picture quality is also excellent.
If you just want to show off your audio and not PQ, Master and Commander Far side of the World has some terrific audio sequences that will show off your system's ability to create incredibly immersive spatial relationships along with the usual explosions and stuff. At points the sound track creates the illusion you are in the hold of a wooden ship while a bunch of activity is going on above you on deck, around you in the ocean, etc. Special credit for the well resolved sounds of cannon balls on vintage wooden ships, wood cracking and splintering, etc.
Likely suspects for audio/video are Dark Knight, Hulk, Transformers, King Kong.
Dark Knight is a big crowd pleaser, but so is Live Free or Die Hard. I use a 5 minute sequence in Live Free or Die Hard for the blow 'em away demo and most everyone who says he/she only has a few minutes to see the theater suddenly has a lot more time and wants to watch the rest. If you haven't watched Live Free or Die Hard and think you're tired of the Die hard franchise, you'll be surprised how enjoyable this film turns out to be.
Cloverfield
Master and Commander(audio)
I Robot
Fifth Element
Dark Knight
Watchmen
Kung Fu Panda
Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scotts
John Mayer
Akira (24/192khz)
Master and Commander(audio)
I Robot
Fifth Element
Dark Knight
Watchmen
Kung Fu Panda
Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scotts
John Mayer
Akira (24/192khz)
Baraka
Dave Matthews
Band of Brothers
Legends of Jazz
The Lives of Others
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte
The Police: Certifiable
The Dark Knight
Ratatouille
Avatar
Dave Matthews
Band of Brothers
Legends of Jazz
The Lives of Others
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte
The Police: Certifiable
The Dark Knight
Ratatouille
Avatar
Speaking of Avatar, have you gone all the way through the credit and experienced the music piece at the end? This will let you know if your sub is up to the task or not. This is the lowest most dynamic thing I've heard on my system. I almost jumped at the remote to turn it down when I thought the pictures would come off the walls.
Standard DVD or Bluray? I have the standard one. Do I need to purchase the Bluray version?
The Blu-Ray has a lossless audio track. I haven't heard the standard Dolby lossy track, so I can't speak to the differences. However, when you have the audio system, why not feed it the best input you can?
Lee
'Saving Private Ryan' is not too shabby either. although it's so realistic about war as to be a bit intimidating to experience very often as a demo disc.
Fellowship of the Ring - Cave Troll scene: This has great use of the surrounds, lots of low bass, and excellent sound quality.
Others I like:
Open Range - Storm at beginning and Shootout
Knight and Day - Motorcycle Chase
Quantum of Solace - Horse Race scene at beginning of movie
Others I like:
Open Range - Storm at beginning and Shootout
Knight and Day - Motorcycle Chase
Quantum of Solace - Horse Race scene at beginning of movie
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