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Interstellar (PG-13)

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Interstellar (PG-13)

"Interstellar" is a controversial pick - space movies are often mixed to emphasize music and out-of-this-world sound effects. But here, the opening silently leads into sounds of wind and thunder, creating a dreamy and relaxing atmosphere, yet with an ominous presence hinting at what was to come. With the soundtrack leading your emotions, atmosphere and prescience, all while creating space-inspired imagery in your mind, one will definitely rise into a whirlwind of emotion through the sound of haunting violins. All that, and the movie was just getting started. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the incredible audio scores!

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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XMEN: First class (PG-13)

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XMEN: First class (PG-13)

This movie is the latest installment of the blockbuster cult series, holding a wide front soundstage with aggressive surround channels and exciting effects, bringing a hugely enjoyable sound design that compliments all the action and delivers a dynamic and visceral audio experience. Clear dialogue takes priority within the mix, and the memorable score is used to emphasize scenes and drive the narrative forward making the movie soundtrack excellent!

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn (R)

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Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn (R)

The Colorful, manic, psychotic world in Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey brings swirling vocals, glitter-filled bean bag shotgun shells, a roller-skate chase sequence, and more! Hear Harleys' breathing up close through your surround speakers. with lots of gunshots that will show off the sheer power authority that your subwoofers can create in your living room. With its funhouse vibes, This movie is the perfect escape from the brown and grey reality.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Chronicle (PG-13)

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Chronicle (PG-13)

What starts out as fun and games quickly becomes dangerous as three high school students develop uncanny telekinetic powers beyond their understanding. Throughout this movie, you can hear loud heart-thumping bass from your subwoofer(s), which can be very authoritative and wall-rattling. One will definitely feel like being in the middle of a war zone when your surround speakers generate a wide and expansive soundstage with well-prioritized vocals and flawless terrific clarity during the pandemonium!

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Doom Patrol (TV-MA)

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Doom Patrol (TV-MA)

The ‘Doom Patrol’ features a wide variety of queer superheroes - our first hint at its fantastic sound mix with a large variety. Action sequences and kinetic moments are given the appropriate power in the mix with a forceful showing in the low-end sounds. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels. The spatial awareness of the track is pretty insane at times, with panning techniques used to great effect. The music also perfectly sets the tone for the story, creating a nicely enveloping sound that draws you further into the show.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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The Dark Knight (PG-13)

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The Dark Knight (PG-13)

The Dark Knight brings a greatly scored masterpiece coming from Hans Zimmer, with the movie winning an Oscar for "Best Achievement in Sound Editing". Hear the crackling gun sounds in their harsh and raw form firing past your living room space through your surround sound system, and be immersed in the bright and abrasive visuals. With the roar of the Batmobile (literally) and music delivered from the movie bringing the on-screen action to life, "The Dark Knight" is a must-listen on your sound system.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Justice League (PG-13)

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Justice League (PG-13)

An epic movie remake made just for DC Fans, this movie contains the full vision that Zack Synder had for Justice League. With the entire movie done to Synder's taste, this remake is sure to pound your house down with superhero wooshes that fly past your surround channels, dramatic music and intense all-out battles. The weekends are the best time to sit back and enjoy the epic soundscape from this 4 hour long filled with non-stop action superhero adventure!

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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12 Strong (R)

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12 Strong (R)

As the weight and loss the US suffered on 9/11 ripples through the hearts of our special forces, watch as they fight against the terrorists responsible with blood, sweat and a whole lot of aerial explosives despite the odds. The sound of Rockets, Bullets and bombs seemingly whistle out from the movie scene towards your couch with height and startling directionality. Combined, these sound effects are powerful enough to virtually transport every listener to the deadly war zone, and the impact from each explosion can be clearly felt punching through your subwoofers. Can our special forces survive, conquer the mission, and make it home for Christmas? Only the show can tell.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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1917 (R)

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1917 (R)

With crazy editing done to make it look like a one-shot period film, the soundtrack that accompanies this is just as insane. It creates an impressive surround bubble through strategically placing sounds around you that explode to leave a lingering trail that draws you deeper into the movies as the story heightens. Overhead sounds from aircraft are delivered with direction precision. Bass impact races to fill your sweetspot from the bombastic bomb detonations that bring the battlefront to life.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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47 Ronin (PG-13)

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47 Ronin (PG-13)

Inspired by Japanese folklore, this diamond in the dark definitely deserves a place on your Blu-ray mantle. Embracing true Japanese spirit, it showcases a variety of tactfully programmed surround sound effects that will give your surround speakers a run for their money. Every mystical transformation provides excellent directionality that lingers long enough for you to discern the discrete separation of each channel. Background dialogues in crowd heavy scenes are realistically rendered while the thunderous thumps from the beasts flood the floor of your soundstage with warm resounding bass.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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2012 (PG-13)

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2012 (PG-13)

With an apocalypse-based storyline, fans of big-screen spectacle, this is definitely your cup of tea (or bucket of popcorn). Courtesy from your surround speakers and subwoofer(s), every disaster you can possibly imagine is accurately brought into your living room. Word-perfect dialogues flow through your center channels with no signs of strain amidst the demolition-heavy ambient sounds. Collapsing building, sinking roads and explosions give your subwoofer(s) a run for their money in rendering every realistic bass treble. With so much bang going on, the convincing visual effects remain strictly in synchronization with the sounds, creating a lifelike experience of what an actual apocalypse could possibly feel like.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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The 5th Wave (PG-13)

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The 5th Wave (PG-13)

Sci-fi dystopian enthusiasts, this is for you. In this adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller, you will notice an active mix of dynamic range that tickles your surround system throughout the movie. The interesting bit is that, at each wave, a featured dynamic will command your soundscape. It lays itself as a bed for the next star ambient effect to layer on top, creating an almost tactile depth of sound. The cherry right on top is the overhead sound elements that pressurize and that ticks the experiential box as the intensity builds. Clean bass impacts from your subwoofer(s) command presence through resonating across your floor to further engage you in the on-screen visual.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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6 Underground (R)

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6 Underground (R)

00:00 - 20:00

The movie starts off with an impressive overhead listening experience with the sound of an aircraft circling above you. It then challenges your surround speakers’ ability to output an extensive range of demanding frequencies in a high-speed chase involving sports cars, motorcycles, and choppers coming from all directions. The varying loudness of each vehicle’s sound effects gives you a realistic perception of how near or far they are to you, making you feel like you are in the center of the action. At the same time, the dialog from the back remains clear as day, while bullets naturally whiz by you, and every crash is felt in your chest. The scene cleverly uses a sports car’s swerve to round off your surround experience. PS. Remember to catch your breath during the chase.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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A Good Day to Die Hard (R)

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A Good Day to Die Hard (R)

A good day to enjoy reliable surround effects is when you put this disc on. The film uses ear simulating surround effects through your discrete speakers to enhance the color of the action on-screen. Shootouts are perfectly layered within each bullet providing more than head-turning moments but spatial depth, making it almost believable that you are on set. Bass, as expected, aggressively takes control and will engulf you from bottom up, creating a full experience with the utmost clarity regardless of channels.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Air Force One (R)

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Air Force One (R)

“Pulse-pounding, glued to your screen, at the edge of your seat …” are just some of the terms that will come to mind when Air Force One is mentioned. The demanding impact from the shots and missiles is faithfully reproduced by your surround speakers. Every spent bullet casing is clearly channeled. With the use of a full orchestral for the soundtrack, it ignites the patriotism straight from the heart to fully engulf you into the mission. The surround sound star of this is when a big Boeing 747 swoops overhead of you. It sends rumbles throughout your soundscape as though you are at a real-life runway seeing planes take off.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Akira (R)

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Akira (R)

You do not mess with the Godfather of all sci-fi films. With a compelling storyline that still amazes today, you can only imagine what sort of surround sound surprise you are in for. Right from the start, you will enjoy the impressive directionality and crispness of the motorcycle chase scene. Low-frequency notes are depicted with accuracy that is perfectly pressured. Rhythmic pounds collide into your soundstage with everything else nicely placed into the other channels to tease. The real meat is when explosions hit. Bass comes in with a punch and it hits hard. Collapsing building pulsates your seat and rumbles the walls but remains at a comfortable equilibrium for you to lust for more.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Altered Carbon (TV-MA)

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Altered Carbon (TV-MA)

SEASON 1 EPISODE 8 (1:53 – 7:00)

Easily one of our favorite scenes to put your surround speakers’ range to the test! It features a dynamic change of sound frequencies – from an eerie siren ringing sound in the silent background to a sudden exchange of firearms. We love how the static sounds enter subtly to set the atmosphere. The echoing whispers that follow flow ever so fluidly from one ear to the next. As the scene intensifies and shifts into an exchange of firearms, the constant eerie siren rings become more prominent without taking attention away from the powerful bullets breaking through the concrete walls in the foreground. Notice how the shrapnel lands at the precise locations of the camera’s pan. An electric grenade moves overhead so swiftly and after its electrifying blast, the scene closes off with the familiar eerie siren sound.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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American Sniper (R)

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American Sniper (R)

1:45:57 – 1:47:05

Brace yourself for this scene because you will literally feel like you have been transported into the warzone itself! It is one of our favorites, filled with adrenaline-pumping gunfire and chest-thumping explosions. If you are using our dual subwoofers, you will not only feel the impact but also realize how balanced and evenly-distributed the bass is. With our discrete channel configuration and 2-way rear surround speakers, you will hear gunfire coming from all directions. Prepare to dodge a bullet!

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Angel Has Fallen (R)

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Angel Has Fallen (R)

Without a doubt, this movie is one of the most reliable when it comes to realizing the potential of your surround system. It utilizes a very neat and tidy storyline to spring up surreal sound effects that engulf you into the plot. Other than thoughtfully placed atmospheric sounds, this movie surprises with numerous discrete channel audio that rotates your soundstage to put you right in the action especially during the drone attack at the lake. With at least 2 subwoofer(s), you will notice that every heart-pounding explosion pressurizes your room to release wall-shaking rumbles. Dialogues are bright and Morgan Freeman never sounded better.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Angry Birds 2 (PG)

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Angry Birds 2 (PG)

Following on its successful prequel, this movie will put the “fun” in surround sounds with slinging birds! Within the first 7 minutes, your surround system receives accurate directionality with the birds flying across your screen. Your ears will follow the realistic motion sounds of various objects and birds being flung in mid-air. “Order in Chaos” best describes the sounds produced as the feud between the Birds and the Piggys escalates. No frequency is muddled out and every one of them is coherently heard. Coordination between the impacts of your subwoofer(s) and surround speakers are top-notch, resulting in a room-filling bubble that encapsulates you. Safe to say, this will put a smile on your kids’ faces while putting a grin on yours when your wife gives her nod of approval on your surround sound system investment during Sunday Family Time.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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