Does anyone have any info on why hk does not have their receivers THX certified? I am looking at purchasing an avr520 which is not certified but the next higher model, avr8000 is ultra certified. What is up with this? Do they not meet specs or does hk not go through trouble or pay for licensing or whatever?
Also does anyone have any comments for someone planning to buy an hk avr520?

Dom, why a given company does or doesn't certify a specific component, I couldn't say, but I can tell you this:

NOT being THX certified does not necessarily mean that a component is NOT capable of passing the requirements, only that it hasn't.

Nothing in my system is THX, but I doubt it's lacking anything in the sound-quality department. It's more than capable of filling my 16x26-foot room.

There are two THX certification classes: Select and Ultra, the difference being the volume of the theater space.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com



This message was edited by Larry Fine on 12/18/01 13:19.01.

My opinion for what it's worth: Why should YOU (HK)pay someone else to say you meet (or exceed) THEIR standards/specs? THX used to be 1 standard. Now it's 3-Ultra & Select & now (as I heard a year ago) the 3rd is now called ULTRA2.(Not that I want to differ with Larry)THX home certification was based on 2 subwoofers for over 3000 square feet for home systems, also on the ability of the amps in the system to sustain equal & separate levels to each discreet channel (to name only 2 issues). I spec'd out the Select models of several lines & I see those Select models as NOT being as high a standard as ULTRA - yet it is being licensed anyway -what does that tell you? You can buy a CDN$400.00 Select! I can only assume Ultra2 is better than ULTRA.
The cash merry go round goes around & around.PL1 to PL2, DTS to DTSneo6, it will never end, just like the PC game! It has become an elitist club, nothing more. In choosing my Yam I read quite a bit & there is an awful lot of extremly high end equipment out there that is not labelled THX. I am not saying THX is not good quality I'm just saying there is a lot of stuff around that is equal to or even extremely beter than THX - speakers included. I remeber Addidas had to be on the shoe or you were not a good athelete, now I guess to be tops you gotta have Nike.
Tell you what my friend, get the specs on a THX amp & compare them to the one you are considering. If there appears to be an issue with what you want not coming close to the THX spec then shop around. Although if $ is a consideration then choose accordingly. The cost of putting a THX logo on a product is VERY high!
There are some basic specs any product should meet such as Total harmonic Distortion & others, Matt, Mike Larry & others around this site can give you those.
I sold my top of Kenwood's line THX Reciever - not a Select, not ULTRA, not ULTRA2, - just THX when there was only THX. The Yam is wonderfull & it out specs the Kenwood to Japan & back! If you want the hk avr520: HK is an extremely excellent brand with a legacy behind it. Read some reviews & reports on it on the net. I don't know much about that model but if it is an HK it's great at doing what it was designed for. Its got: MP3, Dolby Digital, DTS, ProLogic II, 7.1 Logic 7, DTS5.1, 6.1 ES Matrix, discrete and Neo processing plus HDCD decoding. - seems good & the price too. Is it upgradeable to PL3 to 9? DolbyX, Neo6 to 12? who gives a damn in 2 to 3 years we will Have DolbyX(squared),DTS NewNEO99, PLgoogleplex, & on & on -I think you get my point. Dom, if you like the HK get it & have fun - it will sound perfect, I'm sure.
Dogofthenorth (wishing tech advancement would be honest)


This message was edited by Dougofthenorth on 12/17/01 22:21.57.

I know that there are many products out there that definitely are "THX certified" quality but are not officially certified. I'm just a bit curious if anyone knew of a specific reason that hk didn't certify this reciever.(such as not capable of meeting specs) Thank you very much for your replies.
Dom

This message was edited by dominic stoltz on 12/18/01 19:35.40.

I've done some checking on THX specs and have found that it appears that the avr520 is not capable of being certified. Aside from the re-eq, timbre matching, and de-correlation processes required, the avr520 is underpowered. From what I understand select and ultra are basically the same but designed for different room sizes. The avr520 only is capable of 75 watts in multichannel and THX select requires a minumum of 100 watts to ensure a 105dB SPL.
However, I don't imagine that would be much problem with speakers with a high sensitivity rating. I use a speaker system comprised entirely of one line of infinity(aside from the sub)with a sensitivity rating of 103dB(except for 93dB for center) so I believe I could attain very high SPL readings.(75 watts is 18.75 dBW plus 103 would be 121.75dB as SPL reading at 1 meter or 111.75 for center. Does this look right? I couldn't imagine getting even close to that loud.) Using speakers from the same manufacturer and line would also help with the timbre matching I would think.
Probably the biggest downfall for me in this reciever would be the lack of Dolby Digital Surround EX which I think it can't include due to lack of THX certification. I'm pretty sure this is the reciever for me but I am open to suggestions yet. If anyone has any comments or suggestions or recommendations for comparable recievers please let me know. Thanks, Dom

This message was edited by dominic stoltz on 12/18/01 21:38.54.

Dom, great job on your homework! Now I'll bookmark this thread to see what the pro's answer on this one. There should be lots of useful data! re: "lack of Dolby Digital Surround EX" I wonder myself as my manual states "Dolby Digital 5.1 normal & enhanced. Dolby Digital 6.1 enhanced & Matrix 6.1. when a movie program is encoded with dolby digital surround ex you can enjoy the full 6.1 channel with the built in marix decoder" Does this mean it is not "true" DDS Ex?
Dougfothenorth (not meaning to be rude jumping in on Dom's thread)

Dougofthenorth,
From what I've recently read, officially recievers not THX certified could not decode Dolby Digital Surround EX having apparently something to do with lucasfilm thx developing this. However, this option will now
be available to non THX certified recievers under the name Dolby Digital EX. Source: Sound & Vision Magazine, January 2002, middle of page 16 in a/v digest.
Also a good brief overview of home-THX/specs can found at the following website for those intrested and might save you some hunting around:

[Link: multimania.com]

Dom,

I just finished looking at the link you provided. It looks good as far as the original THX (now Ultra1) and Dolby Pro Logic (one) is concerned, but bear in mind it was last updated in Nov '97 and doesn't address the numerous changes since then.

For a quick, not too detailed breakdown of Home THX Ultra(1) and Home THX Select, you can also check out the "official" (ooh!) description at [Link: thx.com]
This link does not address some more technical questions (darn it!), nor does it talk about THX-ES, nor Ultra2.

BTW, in addition to power ratings another difference between the Select and Ultra processor standards is that Select processors are not required to include the de-correlation circuitry.

-Bruce

This message was edited by Bruce Burson on 12/19/01 06:22.16.