Lets Show Off That New Surround System

So you have a new immersive sound system and you want to show your family & friends why you invested in your home theater / private cinema.

It's natural to want to share your passion with others. But what to share so that they get the full experience?

First, let's talk quickly about,

Reproducing sound in our homes...

Mono. Stereo. Surround sound. Immersive Sound. We've come a long way in how we enjoy reproduced audio in our homes. I remember listening to my grandparent's big console radio (most likely some Admiral model) with a mono speaker in my youth. I remember getting my first stereo system in my room (complete with turntable, 8-track, AM/FM) as a teenager. I remember installing my first surround sound system (back when the rear speakers were mono and there was no dedicated LFE channel) with my young family. Each step in my journey was full of amazement & awe at what I heard...and enjoyed.

Today, immersive sound brings us as close as we've ever been able to get to "being there" within the comfort of our homes. Decoding technologies from companies like Dolby and DTS (and, yes, even Auro3D) within our A/V equipment can steer sound to the appropriate location in our room with amazing realism.

The viewing options you already use, whether streaming services like Netflix, Apple, Prime Video, etc., or if you still enjoy having the physical discs, or for the ultimate, use a product like Kaleidescape, include these immersive sound encoding technologies.

Hopefully, you own an ACURUS immersive processor, but regardless of what you use, we often find ourselves introducing (okay, you can use the term 'showing off' if you desire) immersive sound to our family and friends.

But what to use?

I find people often ask what to use as a great demo. I like to discover material that's not always full of action and explosions. Great immersive audio is often quiet, intimate scenes. Yet, those action movies are fun, too.

For your consideration, here are some recommendations for you to use to truly discover how great immersive sound is:

??MASTER & COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD?opening scene. Just into the opening cannon salvo (from 0:01:50 through 0:09:55) ~Listen to the ship as it moves through the wind & water.

? (Video game)?CALL OF DUTY - MODERN WARFARE...Local play, RUST ~Listen to how to action around you, is truly around you.

??BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY?The Live Aid concert scene, Radio Gaga segment ~Listen to how you move from being on-stage to being part of the crowd as the camera moves through the scene.

??RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE?opening credits

??JOHN WICK 3...the Continental assault preparation scene (from 1:31:04 through 1:33:31) [Note: there is no gun-fire in this] ~Listen to how the space expands & contracts based upon if you're in the Safe Room or the Lobby.

??BLADE RUNNER 2049...opening scene (from 0:02:15 through 0:04:00)

??STAR WARS ROGUE ONE...facility diversion attack (from 1:32:54 through 1:34:53)

??ARRIVAL...helo ride to landing site (from 0:14:15 through 0:19:23) ~If you've ever flown in a helicopter, you'll notice how realistic this scene is, including how it sounds speaking through the intercom system.

??THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDER... the opening scene of Episode 1 (from 0:01:48 through 0:10:00)

??REAR WINDOW?(recommend 0:13:55 through 0:17:57)

??DUNE?(2021) - The first "use the voice" scene at the breakfast table (from 3:43 through 5:23) ~Listen to how the sound seems to disappear just before Paul speaks. And when he does speak "the voice", the attack of the sound.

For full videos demo material, I recommend:

- If you can find a great version of this:?Pink Floyd's COMFORTABLY NUMB - Live at Pompeii 2016?(9 minutes 3 seconds in duration) ~In the words of Ronnie Van Zant, "Turn it up!"

- (Netflix)?GABRIEL "FLUFFY" IGLESIAS: ONE SHOW FITS ALL ~incredibly humorous, and it's like you're in the audience at the show.

Let me conclude with this, for clarity: The best demo material will always be something you're intimately familiar with. Something you've experienced in the best theater, concert hall, sporting event, or accurately calibrated private cinema. Demo something you're passionate about because that's typically what you're going to be watching and listening to. That's the most fun!

Is there a demo scene not listed you find to be a great immersive sound demonstration? Please share it in the comments.

Until next time...

I’m passionate about movies, music, and smart home tech. If you are too, follow my posts ???#MoviesAndMusic???

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