IMAX Enhanced: what is it? what can we expect from it?
Home theatres are becoming more and more popular recently as they allow you to enjoy the video experience and all the audio perks of a cinema at your own home. Until now, the most popular home theatre standards were HDR10+ and, of course, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Following them, IMAX has announced its own new home theatre standard, the IMAX Enhanced, which will bring its users most powerful audio experience of them all, as well as high-quality ultra HD movie theatre experience.
IMAX is already well known for concentrating on showing the details even on the big screen and delivering amazing picture quality. But, to go a step further from what we are used from them, they have partnered with DTS for their newest IMAX Enhanced standard that will stand behind both high audio and video standard of movies. The new home theatre standard will be supported only on devices that are decided on by both IMAX and DTS as high quality.
The process of incorporating the new IMAX Enhanced will take some time as, besides the movies that must reach certain criteria to gain the title, you must also own the certain home theatre setup standard including TV, projector, A/V receiver, sound system etc. in order to fully enjoy the experience. But, nevertheless, we should shine a light on what some of the compatible devices will be. From September, partnerships with Sony Electronics, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Sound United, which includes both Denon and Marantz, will start offering compatible IMAX Enhanced equipment which will have an “IMAX Mode”.
So far, the first thing we will see regarding the audio devices is the free firmware update on selected, most recently released Marantz and Denon receivers. There are also the two new Denon receivers coming that will have the certificate and even the IMAX Enhanced logo on the devices. In addition to these, Sound United will provide compatible sound bars as well, through its sub-brands. Regarding the TV setup that you can count on, Sony has also announced three OLED TVs (A1, A8F, and A9F) and two latest LCD TVs (Z9F and X900F) that will hold the IMAX Enhanced certification, as well as a range of projectors. Finally, some of the biggest movies will be optimized regarding the sound and picture even though it is still not known what exactly the requirements will be.
What is expected from IMAX Enhanced is better, brighter and bolder image and what IMAX and DTS called “immersive sound” which might as well mean that it will be similar to Dolby Atmos system that uses specifically placed speaker around the room to create 360 degrees sound experience. Other home theatre standards have already paved the way for the IMAX Enhanced by introducing the world to how amazing home theatre can be if you invest in it. As the whole standard is new, there are yet a lot of compatible devices that will be coming our way, so stay tuned to Samma3a Tech to find out more about them and their release dates.
Read also: Elipson releases the new Infinite home cinema speakers
