Sound at Movie Theaters
 

Does anyone else think that the sound in movie theaters is too loud or am I just getting old?

If it's too loud, you're too old.

But seriously folks, I bet their doing it to drown out the asshats who use cellphones or just plain talk during the movie. I go ballistic when I hear a phone ring. How long have cell phones been available, and you can't remember to put it on farking VIBRATE!

I have thought this several times recently. Interestingly, it isn't the movies that bother me most of the time. They seem to be loud some of the time and soft, so your ears get a break. It is the commercials and trailers before the movie with their music and loud explosions that bother me - sometimes to the point of physical discomfort! The problem is significantly worse if the sound system is older, because the sharp noises just become a jumbled mass.

I agree with ubertuber. The sound during the movie itself is usually right-on. It is the intro material which usually seems way to loud.

Another reason I like going to the drive-in better. I have complete control over the sound.

Ditto. The commercials before ROTK were crazy loud. I was afraid the movie would be worse because of the war scenes, but the movie seemed to be fine.

I saw the third Matrix in NY at the Imax. They have a great sound system, but it was just overwhelming. During the long battle scenes with the big robot things and machine guns, I felt like every damn shell out of the gun was poking me in the ear drum. I was exhausted after that movie from the sound alone.

Yeah, I think some people are into that bigger is better mentality, which is why a lot of the theaters are going crazy with their sound systems nowadays.

As for the commercials thing....Maybe they use them to try and guage the sound level...taking it from the top and working their way down. That's what they do around here, anyways.

The only time the sound is really loud is during the commercials. Just like TV. Lord, I wish I could mute the commercials at theaters as well.

Does anyone else think on how sad the industry has become, that we watch commercials at the movies nowadays? sigh....

At any rate, we have a developing problem 'round where I live. All of the theaters, except for maybe 2 independents, are owned by one of the big companies. So, we always try to see movies at the independents, to try and support them against the shit behemoths down the street. (and it works out nicely for us, considering these places cost abou 75 cents less). Problem is, their soundsystems, which were fine, are now wearing down, the last two movies i've seen, it wasn't loud ENOUGH. Not that we couldn't hear the lines or the music, but i think there is a point to the loudness at which it envelopes you into the story, if it's too low, you're able to detach yourself from it, and it's not so entertaining. So, now we're just a bit lost, we want to help them, but we also want as much bang for our buck as we can get.

the louder the better for me...:D

(those commercials drive me crazy too!!!)

As far as volume goes, there is actually a reference set by the director. This is what the whole THX certified thing was/is about. There are a ton of variables, like power of amplifiers, efficiency of speakers, radiation patterns, and all can change the sound produced in a way that the director did not intend. In a system that is THX certified (whether in the home or the theater) setting the volume at 0 db ensures that you will be hearing the sound at the level that the director intended it to be heard. Of course, these systems cost much more than the run-of-the-mill, and getting and keeping them certified is a pain in the ass for theater owners. The beauty of a THX system is in the fact that you can have clarity in dialogue without excessive volume. Unfortunately, theater owners are not as into displaying their certifications today as they were several years ago.

Throw hot, buttered popcorn at the ass bags.

Speaking of commericals, did anyone else ever experience that commerical where a black girl on the screen says like 'What are you?' and people (hired by the ad company) in the audience answer back while the chick on screen 'watches' them. I can't remember the product (always the sign of a bad commercial), but I wanted to catch it again, so I could shout out my own contributions. But if I hear it a 3rd time, I'd start hunting the participants down for a beating...

Sound during the movie is fine IMO. I wonder if I will still think that when I'm older and use a hearing aid.
As for commercials at the movies. Yeah, not good...but if it's a must, at least don't show the same one's each time. I'm not sure if it's the same for all theaters/

the commercials, yes, are always too loud... fucking commercials...

but at leat here in Seattle, I'm usually dissapointed in the volume of the theatere.. far too often it's WAY too quiet, especially during action movies where every little sound needs to be heard distinctly ;) ...
at the IMAX showing of Matrix 2 & 3 it was WAY too quiet, imho... I could of easily used another 5dB *grin.. considering the quality of the system, I was rather let down

This reminds me of that Simpsons clip where the THX logo is displayed on the screen at the movies and the bass is blowing people's head off etc, and yet Grandpa Simpson yells "turn it up! turn it uuuuuuup!"

I personally always thought that the volume was way too high, but then I have a sensitive hearing and no one I've been to the movies with has complained about it.

I don't mind the volume that much, I get used to it after a while, but what I do mind are the arseholes who just have to bring whiny little kids to see movies that no one under 13 years old could even enjoy. Then the kids/babies start crying in the middle of it and I just feel like if I wanted to listen to this shit I could babysit for a friend or something, and wouldn't have to pay a dime for that pleasure either.

WHAT?

We went to see Matrix Reloaded in the IMAX here in North Carolina. While the picture quality was unprecedented, the sound left something to be desired. The actual quality of the sound was the best I had ever heard, but <b>they didn't have it turned up loud enough.</b>It was a huge let down - seeing those horn-loaded, football stadium-sized speakers, and then it being no louder than a regular movie theater. They seriously needed to crank it up. LOUD.

Thanks GOD I'm deaf. I find that when I hear annoying sounds like my step brother squealing or some of the scene in movies too loud, I can simply turn off my hearing aids...


Ain't technology GREAT!?

I think that the theaters should rent out those Bose noise-cancelling headphones, so people can have the movie as loud as they want, and can shut out the noisy bastards around them.

I hear that, that is an excellent idea. I know I would spend the extra 50 cents or a buck for that.

V.

My mom wears ear plugs! she says she hears all the dialogue just fine but it's lessened to non-painful levels.

I don't think the noise-cancelling headphones would work too well. They're great at removing constant sounds (droning airplanes comes to mind) but a conversation next to you would come through just fine.

Well, I saw House of Sand and Fog last night at the Loews at 68th and Broadway. The previews and commercials were so loud that people were yelling complaints. Finally some lady went and asked the manager if they would turn it down. If they did I couldn't tell.

If it's too loud, consider investing a few bucks in a pair of concert earplugs. They're made to let in all frequencies of sound, at a reduced volume, to make it more tolerable. Or you can do what I do at concerts and wad up cotton balls and shove them in until they hit your eardrums.