demo scenes
Think of a demo scene as like a test drive for your home cinema. When you’re buying a high-performance automobile, after all, you want to push it to its limits at least once. A good demo scene does the same for your theater in just minutes, revealing how deeply and loudly the bass can play and how expansive and dynamic the soundfield can be.
Last Night in Soho
(Chapter 5) The transition from the waking modern world to the swinging Soho of the main character’s dreams is accompanied by a shift from largely stereo mixing to an enveloping explosion of holographic music and ambient-audio world-building that draws you deeper into the screen and into the world of the film, displacing whatever room you’ll quickly forget you’re sitting in.
Avengers: Endgame
(Chapter 16) What makes the HDR presentation of Endgame work so well is that it genuinely enhances the passion and poignancy of scenes like this one. The portals Doctor Strange opens aren’t merely razzle-dazzle circles floating in the darkness as they would be in an HD presentation—they’re blinding rips in the spacetime continuum. And the sun hanging over the horizon isn’t just a yellow-white spot on your screen—it’s a stunning light source that pierces the darkness of the battlefield, and indeed of your room.
It (2017)
(Chapter 1) Though the weather may be frightful, the imagery here is absolutely delightful, thanks largely to the blend of inky shadows and striking highlights caused by projectiles of rain bombarding the slick neighborhood blacktop. The visuals are matched by an equally engrossing Dolby Atmos sound mix, which fills the room not only with the sound of falling rain and splashing puddles but also Benjamin Wallfisch’s fantastical score.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
(Chapter 15) This Atmos remix is something special because it adds space and air around each hard-hitting sound effect, giving the energetic mix plenty of room to breathe without robbing it of any energy. Do be careful with this scene, which has been known to send amps into clipping and destroy speakers as a result. But if your home cinema is up to the task, it’s one hell of a fun ride in Atmos.
rich’s picks
AcousticSmart founder Richard Charschan offers up six of his favorite home theater demos—three from movies and three from concert performances—ranging from the mayhem of Vietnam to the Eagles in their prime to an acoustic set with Seal.
The Patriot
In the scene called “Birth of a Ghost” on the Kaleidescape download, hearing people in the woods calling out from the back left and rear channels, screaming the word “Re-load” puts you in the middle of the action. It’s one of the best 5.1-channel surround sound demos I’ve ever heard.
Apocalypse Now
The famous opening scene, with The Doors’ “The End,” puts the listener in the center of the action with the 360-degree sound of helicopters flying around the room.
Help
On “I Need You” on the amazing remastered Blu-ray disc, the drums, bass, and acoustic and electric guitars sound like they’re floating in your room. This track is very impressive when you have your theater calibrated at its best.
Seal: Live at the Point
Only available on DVD, this disc has one of the best DTS mixes you’ll ever hear. The live performance is great but the real treat is Seal doing an acoustic set with his band in Church Studios London. The studio mix of the acoustic guitars is startling and very exciting to listen to.
Eagles Live at the Capital Centre 1977
This concert performance is my favorite hidden music demo. Only available as an extra disc if you purchase History of the Eagles on Blu-ray, it features the original band lineup during the peak of their career in an incredible, totally remastered mix. Check out ”New Kid in Town,” where you feel like you’re right in the audience. “One of These Nights” and “Take It to the Limit,” featuring Randy Meisner on bass and vocals, are both stunners.
Loggins & Messina Live at the Santa Barbara Bowl
Another amazing DTS mix. The acoustic guitars and other instruments are all first-rate. Check out “Watching the River Run,” “Angry Eyes,” and “Vahevela.” The entire disc is incredible.
© Home Theaterology Inc. 2024
