What is THX ™ certification, and what standards are necessary for a theater which wishes to obtain it?
THX ™ is neither more nor less than a set of standards developed by George Lucas and his cohorts, designed to ensure that the sound and picture which were heard and seen in the mixing studio/screening room are similarly reproduced in the theatrical setting. The theory behind this is that a movie will look and sound best when the audience hears and sees exactly what the director and sound mixers saw. Most of the standards relate to the proper positioning of the loud- speakers, screen brightness, presence or absence of sound-absorbing material (e.g. seat coverings) in the auditorium, and such. The standards are different for auditoria of differing sizes. A theater which wishes to advertise its THX ™ certification must not only meet these standards, but also pay a yearly fee to Lucasfilm. THX ™ theaters receive promo- tional materials and trailers to promote their establishment.
