Teen

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Moon Night (TV-14)

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Moon Night (TV-14)

EPISODE 1

This Disney+ Mini TV Series follows Steven Grant and Mark Spector, two alters of a man struggling with disassociative identity disorder as they are trust into a mystery involving ancient egyptian demigods. As Steven falls asleep one night, he wakes up in the Alps where he witnesses a cult meeting. Unbeknownst to him, he has in his possession a mysterious item that they are looking for. Catch the impressive sound direction in the following scenes; there is an explosive energy to the car chase escape scene that will push your subwoofers and surround speakers to the limit, immersing you in a 360° surround bubble. Hear the voices in Grant's head all around you as you are introduced to his alter ego Mark who has a completely opposite personality. The most notable example of amazing sound composition comes at the end of the episode when the Moon Knight makes his introduction. Moon Knight is a show you will not want to miss if you are looking for something to watch with excellent surround sound.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Stranger Things (TV-14)

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Stranger Things (TV-14)

SEASON 4 EPISODE 1 (00:00 - 09:40)

The 4th Season of this critically acclaimed Netflix original series once again shows us how much attention to detail is placed into the audio mastering for the show's opening scenes. Feel the spaciousness of the soundstage with your surround system as you are taken across the neighborhood on a bike ride for newspaper delivery. The amount of detail that can be heard from surround speakers is astonishing; from the the intricacies of the bike pedaling and the wheel hitting the road, to the drop of the newspapers on the doorstep of homes, to the dogs barking in the background. The deep rumble of the subwoofer will shake your living room as you are taken back in time to a secret factory where a horrible and deadly experiment has gone wrong. Experience a disturbing sense of immersion as you see and hear the dreadful and tragic events that took place over 50 years ago. The combination of gorgeous visual direction and hyperdetailed, immersive sound mixing is hard to beat when experienced with a dedicated surround system that can handle the deep lows, the excellent mids, and the airy and haunting highs. Note: This scene is not for the faint-hearted due to blood, gore and graphic/disturbing imagery.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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CODA (PG-13)

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CODA (PG-13)

This is a charming and heartwarming family film about young teenager Ruby, a CODA(Child of deaf adults), pursuing her singing dreams. Coda uses subtlety and contrast to create an immersive sound atmosphere and an engaging story that is best experienced with a surround system. As they communicate through sign language, the small vocalizations and sounds from the performers are captured through tweeters and drivers, providing conversation texture and intimacy. A home theater setup does this film's excellent sound design justice by showcasing the amount of detail in the mix. Get precise audio separation and detail out of the environmental soundstage with dedicated surround speakers. With a powerful center channel and subwoofer(s), experience the airy highs, haunting musical tracks, elaborate vocals, and warm and smooth bass all at once when you hear Ruby perform on stage for her family. This is a film with an amazing story, amazing visuals, and even better sound design.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Cruella (PG-13)

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Cruella (PG-13)

Watch the sequence of events that turned a young, talented fashion designer into a notorious, dangerous criminal. Featuring Cruella's younger days before turning to the dark side, the movie plot is unique and potentially, one of Disney's best live-action film. The unpredictable story plot and rich display of on-screen colors keeps the movie interesting, all while well-balanced, life-like Dolby Atmos height and surround effects fill your room.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Jaws (PG)

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Jaws (PG)

The summer movie sensation of 1975 gets a makeover. Results: An evolution of soundtrack that will immerse you deeper into this horror/thriller classic. Boy, are we glad that this makeover only enhances the essence of the original instead of adding unnecessary guns to the already perfect sound score. With your surround speakers dutifully carrying out the intricacies of the added subtle effects to put you right in the danger zone. The interesting use of overhead channels to sink you underwater is definitely uncommon and one of our favorites. No need for a punch in the chest to feel every explosion and destruction that spreads evenly from your subwoofer(s).

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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Johnny English Strikes Again (PG-13)

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Johnny English Strikes Again (PG-13)

With Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr Bean) starring in the Johnny English Series, expect comical action fused together with quirky secret agent tactics. The roar of a classic American muscle car will waken your front channels, and the sounds and atmosphere of agent-style missions that go comically wrong will surround your listening area, all while crystal clear dialogue gives added expectation towards the unpredictable things Agent Johnny might do next.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Night on Earth (TV-PG)

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Night on Earth (TV-PG)

EPISODE: MOONLIT PLAINS (28:45 - 33:39)

The cover of darkness works like a double-edged sword. In this pilot episode – Moonlit Plains, watch how a lioness takes advantage of her prey’s poor vision in the cover of darkness, before being ambushed by a clan of hungry hyenas. In the background, you will hear all the subtle details of a night in the African Savanna, overflowing with the chirps of crickets and animal movements, while in the thick of things, you will feel the intensity driven by deep, loud animal grunts and growls that will put your center channel and subwoofers to the test. Followed by high-pitched hyena laughter from all directions for a thrilling surround sound experience.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13)

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Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13)

With a heavyweight star-studded cast, this Jumanji sequel definitely holds its sound effects weight. The start of every new challenge is marked by a fast resounding drumbeat that creates a tight correlation between the on-screen information to throw you into the action. The sequences unapologetically barge into your living room with a range of lifelike ambient effects that will give your surround speakers a run for their money. Comedic dialogues are keenly and cleanly reproduced to keep you in the “game”. Coupled with the surreal visual effects, this is definitely a movie that is perfect to bask in the glory of your full home theater.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Kong: Skull Island (PG-13)

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Kong: Skull Island (PG-13)

A nod to the classic King Kong of 1933, Kong: Skull Island is definitely demo worthy when you want to showcase the wrath of your subwoofer(s). It builds every tension on-screen with stomps and explosions that fills the ground, no matter how big or small. While aircraft are predictable in a movie with building-sized primate, we are still surprised by how it manages to make us feel like we are in one, especially during the opening sequence when 2 of them are engaging in dogfight mid-air. Lines are never lost in translation even with multiple activities taking place in various audio channels. Every detail is beautifully captured by the surround speakers, even if it is just a spider crawling overhead you.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Lost in Space (TV-PG)

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Lost in Space (TV-PG)

SEASON 1 EPISODE 1 (01:18 - 06:00)

An excellent scene to test how clean as well as complete your surround sound system can sound. Pay attention to the crystal-clear dialog at the start, followed by a distinct beep coming from the left of you. Then, notice the subtle change in the crew’s voices as soon as they put on their space helmets. Next, there would be a very sudden loud, shocking crash that intensifies everything. Look out for the space debris that whiz past your ears.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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Pacific Rim (PG-13)

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Pacific Rim (PG-13)

Fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion will either hate or love this movie but, there is no denying that it features some of the best robot surround sounds. The clarity of the mechanical whirring and every creak shines though, regardless if it is merely programmed to be a background mood enhancement or designed to be the leader of your center channels’ show. With building-sized robots, of course, there will be larger-than-life battles that will test your subwoofer(s) ability to reproduce every ground-shaking fall and explosion accurately.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Ready Player One (PG-13)

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Ready Player One (PG-13)

A community favorite, this movie is no stranger to surround movie buffs! It features EVERYTHING a surround sound fan can ever ask for – plus, a healthy dose of nostalgia that firms this film as a classic surround sounds movie go-to! The VR car racing scene that Wade competes in literally had us bopping our heads to the “Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Hate Myself for Loving You “whilst, marveling at the whirring vehicle transformation from the surround speakers. Background revving is noticeable clear in their respective distances and as the cityscape transforms, your surround speakers will highlight all the motions while your subwoofer(s) will play complement in the final thump, before the gun fires from top-down to signify the start of the race. Motors speeding and revving will drift around you and cause literal goosebumps. Listen up for the familiar clinking sounds of coins collection from arcade games and feel King Kong’s wrath filling your floor with warm undistorted bass

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Red Notice (PG-13)

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Red Notice (PG-13)

Armed with a star studded cast, featuring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds, this Netflix movie became the most watched film on Netflix during its debut weekend, and for good reason! The movie's huge production budget translated into fast-paced, yet entertaining action on screen that makes great use of your surround speakers, as a tussle ensures in the fight to claim ownership of a priceless bejeweled art piece.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Spider-Man: Homecoming (PG-13)

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Spider-Man: Homecoming (PG-13)

Loaded with a ton of in-air action, the whole movie swings in at full force with superb coordination between what is on-screen and what is translated through your surround system. With discrete surround speakers, you will be able to discern every motion, no matter the distance. Every mechanical whirring impresses with clarity through the surround channel. Finishing off with a bang, the final encounter with The Vulture will utilize every known channel to send all objects’ sounds (from the explosion) to its respective position, filling your soundstage with not only just in-air atmospheric debris but also, resounding rich rumbles from the ground. This will definitely satisfy your craving for spatial surround effects.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG)

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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG)

Hailed as the “Greatest Spidey Movie of Them All” by Rolling Stone, the surround sounds is just as reflective of its stunning visual. It gave us hair-raising and ting-a-ling sensations at the movie peaks and with every build-up, footsteps, and echoes that are lucidly produced by your surround speakers. If you have overhead or up-firing speakers, prepare to dodge the webs that are shot in the air, towards you and feel Spider-Man swinging past you. Not leaving music lovers behind, the soundtracks that accompany this movie will have your feet unknowingly tapping to the thumping rhythmic beats from your subwoofer(s).

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Squid Games (NC16)

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Squid Games (NC16)

Netflix takes Korean dramas to new levels with this original. Hundreds of people are forced into playing a twisted series of games for survival. The winner walks away with a huge cash prize - but everyone else dies with each round. Murderous gunshots are fired within the first round of games, and the sound of bloodspills and blood-curdling shrieks will echo through every speaker channel, evoking chills down your spine.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker (PG-13)

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Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker (PG-13)

This delivers exemplary surround audio in J.J. Abrams’s attempt to conclude decades worth of the Star Wars universe. Apart from the signature sound effects that we love from their plasma-powered lightsabers, this movie serves up an additional challenge for your surround system through Rey’s and Kylo Ren’s high energy lightsaber battle in the midst of a howling thunderstorm. Environmental sounds and sparks from the clashing lightsabers are clearly transmitted through the surround speakers, turning your living room into the battle scene. Leaving no channels idle, the thunderous thuds made by both are noticeable through your subwoofer(s) even with huge crashing waves stealing the spotlight.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Stranger Things (TV-14)

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Stranger Things (TV-14)

SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 (00:00 - 05:00)

This scene has everything and will put your sound system to the ultimate test. At the start, the intense music, workers walking intently with fast, heavy footsteps and echo create a spacious soundscape, making you feel like you are in the middle of an immense basement compound with the anxiety that something devastating is about to happen. As the reactor powers up, you will hear a cacophony of ear-splitting screeches, static, electric shocks and metallic clanks that gradually build up to an epic explosion, pushing all speakers and subwoofers in your sound system to overdrive. Watch this at your own risk.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Top Gun (PG)

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Top Gun (PG)

A definite must-watch not only because this movie helped launch Tom Cruise’s career (pun intended), but also because it hinges its whole storyline on heroic aviation action. With the restored version of this, tuned to take full advantage of the capabilities of today’s sound technologies, you are definitely going to feel and hear the MiG-28s fighter jets soar and roar above you. Spoiler Alert: "Danger Zone" withstands the test of time and will certainly have you moving your tushies, as the jets take-offs from the runway.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

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Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

Proving once again that oversized robots are exemplary in displaying a variety of surround effects, Dark of The Mood, is both a treat to the eyes and ears. Clarity in dialogues is perhaps best shown when Bumblebee speaks. The varying change of frequencies in pitch and tone from the numerous radio channels never fails to surprise us. Every effect - from the overhead aircraft to the robot bugs crawling, takes its rightful channel positions to fully absorb you into the action. The epic fight between the Autobots and Decepticons will utilize every audio channel available to produce dazzling ambient details that round every destruction. With massive explosions that are not afraid to show its might through your subwoofer(s), we ask that you keep an eye on the frames on your wall.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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