[pompeydean]

Whenever I upgrade my equipment or when someone comes round who hasn't seen what I've got, I always like to show off the amazing sound experience that I get from my home cinema setup.

I guess I'm not the only one, so wondered what movies / scenes you use when demonstrating (showing off!!) your system.

I had been using die hard 4.0 - about 17 mins in - as it combined some mad gunfire ending in a big explosion, but I'm up for suggestions!

Without wanting to step on the toes of the 'best subwoofer moment' thread in the subwoofer section, I wanted to see what movies / scenes demonstrate the whole spectrum of the home cinema - good quality sound travelling around all channels, not just pure LFE moments.

So what do you use?

[tvmcp]

Many different parts of Tron Legacy.

I also like the scene in Star Trek when the car drives up to the bar in the desert and then you get he step up of sound in the first part of the building, and then when you enter the main bar.

[BlueWizard]

In another discussion people have told me the opening battle scene at the beginning of "Saving Private Ryan" is pretty intense.

I suppose the battle scene from "Lord of the Rings" would be pretty good.

Personally, partly because of my limited collection of DVDs, I always use the Ministry of Magic Dumbledore/Voldemort Battle scene near the end of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".

If you want beautiful color and grand sound, try the closing credits of "Spiderwick Chronicles". Nothing explodes, but again beautiful color and grand full symphony sound. Impressive on DVD, and it should be stunning on BluRay.

There is another similar thread, though a bit old. If I can find it, I'll post a link.

Steve/bluewizard

[pompeydean]

Originally Posted by BlueWizard

There is another similar thread, though a bit old. If I can find it, I'll post a link.

Steve/bluewizard

Nice one, I did have a search around but couldn't find any....

[jspaceman]

3 that I used for demoing when I upgraded recently, both were the Blu-Ray versions/HD audio:

The Dark Knight:
The underground chase scene is pretty good for gun fire, explosions and surround effects. There's a particular moment in it I love where a series of bullet impact sounds go back past your left, round the back and then go forward on the right hand side.

Also the opening scene in the bank not only looks great, but on a good setup sounds crystal clear from breaking glass through to gun shots echoing around the marble bank interior. Personally I have the added benefit that if you want you hear what they mean in reviews about the expansive sound of the more expensive Yamaha AVRs (which was what I settled on), on my system the inside of the bank really sounds as huge as it looks.

Inception:
The scene I used was when they first go under with the target - pouring rain, gun shots from all directions, and an unexpected train collision.

For longer demos, pretty much the whole of the last 30-40 minutes has a lot to love in the sound department too.

[Jase]

The opening scene in Iron Man usually gets an outing as a demo. Plenty of gunfire, explosions and rockets with great surround steering (back to front diagonals, left/right pans etc). The whole movie is pretty good to be honest.

Couple of other good ones on DVD were The Haunting (DTS-ES Discrete), U-571 (depthcharge scene) and Open Range for crazy gunshots.

Another disc worth a demo is Linkin Park - Reanimation on DVD Audio. Has pans around the room, surround sweeps, figure 8 effects, diagonal pans, front centre to rear surround fades, the lot. Bonkers!

[pompeydean]

Originally Posted by jspaceman

The Dark Knight:
The underground chase scene is pretty good for gun fire, explosions and surround effects. There's a particular moment in it I love where a series of bullet impact sounds go back past your left, round the back and then go forward on the right hand side.

I'll give this a go, sounds promising!

Originally Posted by Jase

The opening scene in Iron Man usually gets an outing as a demo. Plenty of gunfire, explosions and rockets with great surround steering (back to front diagonals, left/right pans etc). The whole movie is pretty good to be honest.

And iron man is right up my alley so this is another contender for my new demo movie!

[Ugg10]

For rear effects try the opening of Gladiator - arrows going every where and caterpults flying.

For LFE - WALLE when the spacehip lands and also the first monster attack in Cloverfield.

[gregster10217]

One that I like is the scene in The Matrix where Neo and Trinity walk into the lobby of the building armed to the hilt and all hell breaks loose. Great sound effects from the gun shots, ricochet etc.

[famouscookster]

I like the scene in transformers 3 where shockwave rips through the building and all round It and bringing it down. actually sounded like its was wrapping round my wall at one stage it's a brilliant scene. I usually end up watching the rest of film from there after.

[djnickm]

I recommend anyone serious on deming there equipment for shear thrill factors purchase some dolby true hd and dts ma hd demo discs.

I have a good collection. All containing between 10-20 movie clips and music clips. Ranging from 5.1 to 7.1 upto 192/24.

Good movie segments that I use..... X men last stand, Night at the museum, twilight saga, eragon, hurt locker, super 8. Jarrasic park.

[TheBlueFalcon]

Fight Club. So much to mention. The mid-air collision is probably the best to show off, but there's the car crash, trashing the coffee shop, the end scene plus Where is My Mind - to name a few.

Just watch the whole movie!!

The Matrix was pretty good, but I don't see (hear) how it beat Fight Club for best sound in 1999.

[pompeydean]

Originally Posted by djnickm

I recommend anyone serious on deming there equipment for shear thrill factors purchase some dolby true hd and dts ma hd demo discs.

Where do you get them, do I just search online?
Also you're right about super 8, especially for LFE during the train crash!

[djnickm]

Hi,

I purchased mine from a popular auction site. Sometimes there will be a few available. There are some on there now, but I think the £40 asking price is a little high.

And yes that train crash in super 8 will really get your Sub and room shaking.

[pistolpete1]

Originally Posted by famouscookster

I like the scene in transformers 3 where shockwave rips through the building and all round It and bringing it down. actually sounded like its was wrapping round my wall at one stage it's a brilliant scene. I usually end up watching the rest of film from there after.

Just watched this film......wow great sound throughout. Definitely a real test for your sub!!!!

[pompeydean]

Originally Posted by pistolpete1

Just watched this film......wow great sound throughout. Definitely a real test for your sub!!!!

As djnickm said above, watch super 8 on blu ray, at reference volume it'll give your sub a proper workout! (the film itself isn't amazing, but the LFE put a big smile on my face!)

[TheBlueFalcon]

Thinking back to the demo scenes I used to use when I was in the trade....

Swordfish - definitely the explosion scene, but more for the dynamics and streering than just the trouser flapping LFE. There is also the car chase scene, with plenty of gunfire and a nice climax!!

House of Flying Daggers - the "drum & beans" scene, which is a great one at reference level on a system that can handle it. This is particularly great for upper bass, mid-range and some very detailed top end.

Either of them, on the wrong system, can sound pretty nasty - but on a good system can be very impressive indeed.

There were others, but more for bass than anything.

[jason1wood]

I'm taking a note of all these for when I get my new (secondhand) sub, hope these blow my old, Harman sub out the water.

Going to give Fight Club a before and after go. Looking forward to it.

I must admit, Transformers 3 has been my best to date for all round sound examples.

For specific subwoofer and LFE movie moments please refer to this thread.

Best Movies Subwoofer Moment ? Part 2

[jason1wood]

Thanks recruit, just what I needed.

[famouscookster]

Originally Posted by TheBlueFalcon

Thinking back to the demo scenes I used to use when I was in the trade....

Swordfish - definitely the explosion scene, but more for the dynamics and streering than just the trouser flapping LFE. There is also the car chase scene, with plenty of gunfire and a nice climax!!

House of Flying Daggers - the "drum & beans" scene, which is a great one at reference level on a system that can handle it. This is particularly great for upper bass, mid-range and some very detailed top end.

Either of them, on the wrong system, can sound pretty nasty - but on a good system can be very impressive indeed.

There were others, but more for bass than anything.

I just bought swordfish in hd for 86p new it's a class film can't wait to try it out

[Toonaroond]

Can't remember the exact scene, but there's a part in "Master and Commander" when initially the only sounds are the ship creaking and sea spray and then all hell breaks loose with cannons and explosions, flying splinters and the lot. it might be the fog bank scene (?) - will have to dig that one out again!!

[kez]

Originally Posted by gregster10217

One that I like is the scene in The Matrix where Neo and Trinity walk into the lobby of the building armed to the hilt and all hell breaks loose. Great sound effects from the gun shots, ricochet etc.

That's what I use. Chapter 29

[barongimpy]

The chase sequence at the beginning of Casino Royale impresses me every time.

[redboy1]

I normaly use the sequence out of War Of The Worlds when the lightening is crashing down to earth and shortly after that the alien ship rises out the ground. Gives me tingles at times.

Also Terminator Salvation when the Massive robot is trying to get them. Not long after that the two A-10's come in firing misiles, Great action scene.

[Wilseus]

Originally Posted by redboy1

Also Terminator Salvation when the Massive robot is trying to get them.

I'd have to agree with that, it's the most impressive scene I have experienced on my system. In fact my Mono+ makes me feel slightly peculiar in parts of that scene, as though the lights in the room are flickering even though they are not!

[audioenthusiast]

I heard a demo by Arcam of their top AVR a few years back, can't remember what the speakers were but it certainly wasn't their own set.

They used the scene from the Incredibles where the two children are running away through the jungle from the men in the flying spinning discs.
It was good equipment in a well set up room, but that was the best I've heard for really being able to pinpoint objects moving around you. The flying discs move around a lot and you really get a sense of spatiality.

A lot of the suggestions above seem to be mainly based on showing off your subwoofer. This will do everything else!

[meduk1]

When I demo'd my speakers the guys used a scene from BladeRunner - towards the end when they're fighting on the rooftop to show off the system. Really good rear affects with a storm happening, and some incredible detail in the sound.

I watched the full film the other week and was really impressed throughout, detail, soundtrack, effects all great.

[Jase]

Just mentioning Transformers 3 again but rather than the film itself check out the very beginning as the Transformer noise pans right around the room.

[MI55ION]

Originally Posted by Jase

Just mentioning Transformers 3 again but rather than the film itself check out the very beginning as the Transformer noise pans right around the room.

Thats one of my reference scenes although i use transformers 2. Great for surrounds and its one of those rare scenes that at reference level aggrovates the mighty SVS sub just a little.

Films that come to mind recently are The Book of Eli, the gun fight in town is just jaw dropping. For high sound quality and ridiculously low sub bass from start to finish of the film I suggest people try the little known Saawariya on Blu ray.