Audio Video News

THX has a new trick up its sleeve. In addition to Blackbird, that is.

THX Loudness Plus recognizes that the "reference level" that works in the theater environment may be too loud at home, at least for some listeners. When at-home listeners lower the volume, they lose perception of bass, surround effects, and ambient sounds.

The new circuit incorporates THX Multi-Channel Spectrum Balancing to adjust frequency response and thus "counter the perceptual loss of low and high frequency sounds." THX Dynamic Ambience Preservation "preserves the spatial detail that is lost when listening below Reference Level. It automatically shapes the output on surround channels to maintain the perceived balance in the original mix."

Stereo receivers started featuring a loudness control in the 1970s, but typically it was a just a simple on/off bass and treble boost.

THX Loudness Plus will be featured on THX Ultra2 Plus and THX Select2 Plus receivers.