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New THX® Ultra2 Provides Optimum Playback of All Multi-Channel Music
and Movie Formats
INDIANAPOLIS, September 7, 2001 —
Establishing a new performance benchmark for home entertainment
systems, THX® today introduced THX Ultra2.
The THX Ultra2 specification provides uncompromised
eight-channel playback of any multi-channel program, whether movie
soundtracks or music over the widest possible seating area. In
addition, all Ultra2 controllers and receivers incorporate video
switching capable of handling all wide-bandwidth sources, including
HDTV and progressive scan DVD, without degrading the picture. The
first THX Ultra2 certified products to be marketed will be two AV
receivers from Pioneer Elite — the VSX-49TX and VSX-47TX, both
scheduled for October delivery — and a home theatre speaker system,
pending certification, from Snell Acoustics comprised of the XA1900
LCRs, the AMC900 in-wall dipole surrounds, and a new dual 12-inch
powered subwoofer.
"THX Ultra2 is a breakthrough in home
entertainment technology — a single entertainment system that
accommodates current and future multi-channel formats for both music
and movies," said Mark Paddack, Director of Licensing, Lucasfilm
THX Consumer Division. "Its advanced technologies deliver the
best possible performance while making it easier than ever to extract
that performance."
"The new THX Ultra2 specification goes
hand-in-hand with Pioneer’s dedication to providing the most
accurate multi-channel audio reproduction for both movies and
music," said David Bales, Marketing Manager, Pioneer Elite.
"Current technology makes it possible to deliver a truly
three-dimensional audio experience, but it’s more than just adding
amplifiers and speakers. It’s about making a variety of sources work
accurately with a variety of speaker configurations. THX has provided
our products with that advantage."
THX Ultra2 uses seven channels of amplification to
play back any multi-channel-encoded program through a single fixed
seven-speaker/one subwoofer layout. In the new THX Ultra 2 Cinema mode
or THX MusicMode, all program material with 5.1 channels or more is
auto-detected and proprietary processing is applied that blends the
directional and ambient surround information prior to replay through
four surround speakers — two at the side and two at the back. Ultra2
receivers and controllers also feature switchable Boundary Gain
Compensation (BGC) to alleviate "boomy" bass performance
that can occur with near-wall listening positions.
David Smith, President and Chief Engineer of Snell
Acoustics, said, "We are pleased to be among the first to offer a
product that meets the new THX Ultra2 specification. THX Ultra2 has an
emphasis on response smoothness and high output with low distortion,
so we felt that our XA1900 LCRs, AMC900 surrounds and new subwoofer
would be ideally matched to the specification. Having been the first
THX loudspeaker licensee some years ago, it is fitting that we
revitalize our THX connection with the new Ultra2 specification."
THX has drawn on its considerable experience in the
design and certification of professional mixing and monitoring
facilities to redefine the performance standards needed for the
highest quality home speaker systems. The directional characteristics
of the new THX Ultra2 LCR and rear surround speakers have been revised
to minimize any changes in perceived timbral balance over the widest
possible listening area, and Ultra2 subwoofers now have bass extension
down to 20Hz, to better reproduce the very low frequency information
increasingly found in modern digital multi-channel recordings.
The THX Division of Lucasfilm Ltd. is dedicated to
achieving superior presentation quality in theatres and homes through
its unique certification program and services. The THX Theatre Program
works with the exhibition and post-production community around the
world to deliver the ultimate cinema experience by building certified
theatres that adhere to comprehensive and proprietary THX standards.
Home THX allows consumers to replicate that experience at home through
Certified THX home theatre and multimedia products available from
leading audio/video and PC manufacturers. For studios and filmmakers,
THX provides comprehensive quality assurance services for theatrical
film releases through its Theatre Alignment Program (TAP), and for
DVD, laser disc and videotape releases through its award-winning THX
Digital Mastering Program.
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Source: Lucasfilm THX
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