Oh, one more thing the sign on the doors the letterheads typeface is still there and new Empire typeface just doesn’t fit. It looks robotic and they even took down the gold brass typeface that stood above Empire 1 I think Empire 2 had similar typeface, I never cared for Empire 2 or 3, just as I don’t care for the new Empire screens only Empire 1 I won’t pay to watch a film on wimpy sound system even thou its JBL and I’m a fan of JBL. If I’m going to travel 120 miles its for Empire 1.
Also I think its Empire I forget which number its on the far left and side up a few stairs, and wow you can hear the lows from Empire 1 fitter badly into that no bigger to swing cat around auditorium. I bet its get a lot of complaints from customs paying to watch a film in silly sized room that is about the size of fair decent home cinema.
I think Empire got a little big for their shoes and it should be knocked down and used as store room because its not suitable as cinema, I think its Empire 9?
You know I still can’t aspect the new look of the front it looks cheap and bland kinder reminds me of coffee and I hate coffee. The colour of the panel that now sits on the front.
The look of the late 80’s was jazzy full of sparkle colour and chactutre that draws you towards the Empire away from the Odeon LS if you get my meaning. LOL It was like a magnetic THX force pulling you towards it.
Today it just looks naff! I’ve taken so many pictures myself of the new look, which they had cheap digital cameras around in the late 80’s to bring back home some Empire memories. The late 90’s look was like thumbs down as well.
Cinema is about glitz and style just as much as important on the outside as on the inside. I guess the like to wait and see the reactions of people going in first timers or do they even care to notice that?
It’s a shame the old curtains have gone in Empire 1 as that was style second to none and now its just cheap simple curtains that pull back, not upwards then outwards as they used to.
I was chatting to guy that runs company that outfits cinema seating nice chap. I mentioned the Empire and its rocker seats as I have just brought a set not the same as the Empire as he said that type is no longer available and that, the company went bust years ago, many years ago
I can’t recall if he said the name of the seating was called (broccoli seating)?
Wow what a sheer waste and shame and shame on Empire cinemas UK.
Yeah that’s pretty much how I vaguely recall see it. It had fabric for the amazing sonic acoustics of stillness it was like no other, propose made THX certified screen.
I’m pretty sure the surrounds was placed behind the fabric as they’re no sign of them when I saw Arachnophobia.
I can picture the crappy wall paint on the concrete I guess Empire cinemas are now into crappy cheap fast digital waste of time cinema with fake 3D.
I’m wondering about the stolen “Return of the Jedi†70mm prin. Is this still an ongoing investigation?
Now was the pyrite version of “Return of the Jedi†scored from the stolen 70mm print or 35mm?
The only way to tell is to look at any still existing VHS/Beta tape and look for que dots.
(Circularly) for 70mm
(Oval shaped) for 35mm prints
Que dots appear around every 15 to 20 minutes depending on each reel length.
Also any privately brought new/second hand 70mm projects in the past 10 years leading up to the theft at gunpoint in 1983, or any stolen 70mm projectors for this persons needs to make dodgy pyrite copies.
Chances are the print today would be so far, gone faded colour magnetic stripe would be fragile if not flaked away by now, due to poor storage.
Was there also a similar case in the UK of stolen “Return of the Jedi†print as I remember reading on huge poster at video library around 1983, and the theft in the US wouldn’t concern the UK.
So was the simultaneous coordinated theft by two parties working on different sides?
I’m, sure the FBI would like to catch these people? Maybe they are STAR WARS nuts or just pair of serious pyrites that wouldn’t care about shooting someone.
Well I’m going up for the Dolby digital cinema 2D experience of 2012 at the Empire Leicester Square. 3D films aren’t have a huge impact on me I mean I found myself looking around when Sid was off-screen on the rear surrounds while he tortured Toys in his back yard.
I was at the Empire this Friday for Toy Story Dolby 3D via Empire’s still impressive JBL 56KW THX sound system.
The show was flawless in picture and sound 10/10!
The only issue with 3D glasses is (peripheral vision) so I can see the frame on the sides of my eyes and it was annoying because it’s in the way of the onscreen action.
Maybe they can improve on it in the future. Or maybe 3D contact-lenses that way there won’t be any distraction.
Other than that it was flawless.
The SPL db at front and centre hit 115db at times a bit less than usual 120dbc. I later learned that chief projectionist on site that day said (fader was at 6) so rather than 7 as there was (only a few) in for the first 12:30pm show.
I said (I could take it at 7) LOL
I guess the fader went to mark 7 during the later part of the day.
I have nearly 150 pictures of the day and that will take nearly a few days to upload on that slow photobucket site now which has gotten real slow since the new software.
Still there is an alternative! Link to Lansing Heritage Forums where I’ve been covering it cinema with my own and some secondary research pictures of the Empire.
The Empire Leicester Square London a JBL installation! View link
Now that saves me at least 150 or so pictures to upload. The pictures have been loaded directly onto the site for quicker view and I still have at least 20 more to upload.
Also pictures of screens 6, 7, 8 and 9 I took a few of 5 and 6 last year.
VUE West End is due for new makeover this is the word.
This (Friday October 2nd 2009) just gone I was chatting to a chap who works for VUE in and (outside mostly) and word is starting around early 2010 VUE is going to get a brand new spanking makeover.
They’d been looking for archival pictures that date back to the 1930’s but can’t find any? I’ve only found ones on the internet that only go as far back as 1950’s.
Does anyone here have pictures dating as far back too 1930’s?
Thanks
Also VUE has just had its THX updated as well as Dolby tightening up the sound in all its screens.
Regrettably enough I only saw Alien at late night showing at the once called Cannon cinema Westover road Bournemouth screen 2 which is not an okay cinema for front stereo LCR. The surrounds are, okay not totally impressive but at least they surround you!
I believe it was monaural print as that is what one of the projectionists said to me. It was type A NR it even had the original X certificate rating on the BBFC opening.
The print was a bit worn but playable.
Too bad they couldn’t get hold of 70mm print and show it in screen 1 upstairs as that is fitted with Dolby CP200. Thou at the time the sound system upstairs was only okay it was the old huge speakers from the 60’s with wings on them?
Other than that I was pleased to have seen Alien in scope rather than poorly treated TV/Video presentation of P&S.
“Mama Mia” should have played at the Empire in 56KW JBL THX sound system not this fleapit infested dump with lousy front stereo spread. Dull lifeless surrounds and sub bass that sounds like it belongs back in the 1920’s alongside Al Jolson.
The over priced tickets £13.50 is criminal as well to sit in those disgusting seats! Leopard skin, please.
I’d soon spend £13.50 at the Empire many times over Odeon!
I find the outside of the cinema just damn right ugly looking with that bright in your face orange logo that is so unappealing no worse undesirable.
For god sakes please change it back to Warner Bros the Warner shield logo looked the part, its if they VUE has robbed from the poor and need to change their name.
I agree with that statement it’s a real shambles now! I think VUE has lost its THX licence for one of its two THX screens so they only have one THX screen now, not that it presents threat to Empire screen 1. Empire would just smile and VUE would tremble at the knees and fall to Empire’s feet begging for mercy.
Last film I’ve seen at the VUE was Wolverine in Dolby SR-D THX. And VUE has slyly sneaked in Martin Audio loudspeakers THX certified but I’m not a Martin Audio fan I’m a JBL fan have been for 20 years now.
The film before that was Maverick in THX Dolby SR.
I prefer the way it sounded before I was projectionist and even thou I had interest in this sound art-form many years before coming a projectionist and even some projectionists don’t care about the sound some like the image some like the sound some like both that is the way of it.
But I should complain about the years before, since the cinema wasn’t keeping up with the state of technological advances in cinema sound presentation.
Films like
Star Wars Dolby stereo
The Empire Strikes Back Dolby stereo
Return of the Jedi Dolby stereo
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Dolby stereo
Platoon Dolby stereo
Aliens Dolby stereo
Die Hard Dolby stereo
Die Hard 2 Dolby stereo
Predator Dolby stereo
Cocoon the return Dolby stereo
Who Framed Roger Rabbit Dolby stereo
Romancing the Stone Dolby stereo
The Final Countdown Dolby stereo
Apocalypse Now Dolby stereo
Bullets on Broadway, not that it matters since (Woody Allen) mostly has his films recorded in monaural sound!
The Black Hole Dolby stereo
The Spy Who Loved Me mono
Moonraker Dolby stereo
The Living Daylights Dolby stereo
Licence to Kill Dolby stereo
Octopussy Dolby stereo
The Man with the Golden Gun mono
Live and Let Die Dolby stereo
For your Eyes Only…or maybe for your ears only? Dolby stereo
A View to a Kill Dolby stereo
Hamburger Hill Dolby stereo
The Cat from Outer Space LOL mono
Tron Dolby stereo
The Abyss
Lawrence of Arabia Dolby stereo with SR cards in what is now called screen 6 with Dolby CP500 and fully installed JBL sound system.
Arachnophobia screen 6. it was then a friend I drove to High Wycombe CIC/UCI for the THX experience. He said it was voted something like 6th best THX screen in the world. he was right I was hearing if not feeling first hand lower bass octave to octave coverage and clear mid range to high range sounds without effort or strain.
It was almost better than the Empire Leicester Square if not on par since it was Bell Theatre Services that installed the purpose built JBL sound system.
Opening was just bass to sub bass weight heavy that would make most cinemas seem like a Vitaphone sound system. The lows mostly played within the 30Hz to 80Hz region when comparing the (DVD/Dolby 4.1) on a frequency spectrum real time analyzer or (Spectrumlab).
Well maybe Odeon Bournemouth has pulled its socks up finely but the rapped decline in presentation was on fast falling level from early/mid 1990’s which ran though right up till 2005, nearly 10 years or just over of poor presentation.
Would you believe if I told you that Odeon screen 1 placed Hi-Fi bookshelf speakers in the tight corners off the auditorium around mid 1990’s I think 1995?
These where typical speakers you’d buy a cheap store like, Dixons! They incorporated I think 6/5 bass mid and soft dome tweeter.
No wonder the surrounds sounded so poorly for several years. Several years of me paying these crocked crocks.
They even messed up the EQ on the stage channels where all you could hear is centre with left and right many db below Dolby reference guidelines. It had to be at least 20db or 25 db too low impossible to hear?
This occurred around mid 1990’s where many years before that the screen channels (unaware that I was of the time, that the stage channels where some 35 plus years old).
Some of the films I saw with poor presentation in screen 1 in no order at all because I have other things to do right now.
Screen1 poor EQ levels!
Star Wars A New Hope
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Return of the Jedi
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Crimson Tide
8mm
Titanic
Just about all these films that spans several years and that’s money I want back! The centre was imitating far too much sound as if they are trying to mimic a poorman’s THX sound system!?
That’s mostly the ones with the rubbish EQ I have no idea what Donkey did the EQ on the Dolby CP50 but I’m pretty sure I’ve bubbled into once while walking down Westover road and I have no respect for someone that rushes their work, or maybe he was going though a devoice LOL I don’t care I was paying good money and hearing lousy sound for many years.
Screen1 poor bass and more!
The Matrix sounded fairly good on the open was this playing in Dolby SR-D or Dolby SR? I knew they had installed a Dolby CP500 at the time, or where they waiting to play Dolby SR-D on Star Wars?
It sounded so good that is what SR role is. Its the best possible analogue sound around over, type A.
I was wrong this showed its full true colours towards the end where Neo jumps out of the way of passing subway train, Agent Smith is pancake! Just as Neo back-flips stage-front-right sounded like it was going to bottom out with a few seconds of very loud audible distortion!
I mostly sit front and centre (used to sit front and centre at this fleapit hole). This has nothing to do with hearing poor or good sound quality. I can sit back row middle row sweet spot or front and centre at the Empire Leicester Square screen1, and be totally impressed, now then!
Entrapment this sounded good nothing to complain or bitch about too much.
Star Wars episode 1 The Phantom Menace (god what a terrible film it was!) audible distortion and sheer lack of bass. No the force was not strong with this one.
House on Haunted Hill stage channels right was buzzing with audible distortion during the electric shock sequence.
The World is Not Enough sounded okay on the opening the rest was just dull and boring lacked bondbastic low end!
The Lord of the Rings part 1 I was bored with the Rings because the sound was unimpressive and wasn’t keeping my attention focused for the nearly 3 hours of listening to wet paint drying! Where’s the sodden bass in this film!!!!!
Star Wars episode 2 Attack of the Clones (can it possible get any worse than this!) audible distortion and sheer lack of bass. No the force was not strong with this one.
Bad Boys II sound was incredible dull and lifeless on stage channels left/right
Raiders of the Lost Ark again stage left and right channels was dull since one of the projectionists showed me behind the screen, thinking I, wouldn’t know what to look for?
To my horror I saw the stage left and right HF horns JBL 2360A laying on the floor pointing upwards to just about anywhere?? it was as if someone like Daren Payne chief projectionist on the site was too lazy to see that the HF horns are placed back in the correct location and tested.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom sound was incredible dull and lifeless on stage channels left/right
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade sound was incredible dull and lifeless on stage channels left/right
I’d have to look for the tickets that I’ve mostly kept but that’s roughly a good guess off the top of my head and I have good sense for the sound when it comes to films.
Did I find myself participating in the Dolby stereo experience?
I’ve lived in Bournemouth all my life and I’m telling you it’s the it’s the truth. I used to be projectionist for UCI and Warner village. I know what to look for and listen for.
This cinema site hasn’t or won’t even grab my attention not if they don’t have the original JBL THX specification set-up which was 10/10. I mean I thought alien Earth encounters installed it from another world because it was out of this world.
I don’t care what you think about THX we’ve all been to the site we’ve all read the white papers on the whole capper and as far as I’m concerned it’s the only thing that would get my on coach to travel from Bournemouth to High Wycombe. But! Not if they don’t have THX that is on par with the original because that was untouchable.
Oh, as to big and loud its mostly 100dba peaks that is too toppy or bright sounding! The bass is many db below and when I does try to push anywhere near 100dbc it starts cracking up! LMAO
I’ve monitored the sound pressure level in this cinema many times.
I almost laughed when I saw The Matrix when they had the Dolby CP and a third of the rest installed around 1999. When Neo did a back flip to avoid getting hit by train the sound system distorted so badly in the low range which is between 20Hz to 40Hz that is a rough target on the frequency. Screen channel right if I’m not too mistaken.
Big and loud what you mean hardly any real bass much less any sub bass which they don’t have behind the screen and you got poorly ripped off, because I’ve seen what they have behind the screen and its at least nearly 50 years old or shy under 50 years that is.
Volt or Altec I don’t care which but its not JBL LOL well the HF horns are JBL 2360A the cabs are loaded with maybe JBL 2226 15â€.
The cabs put out poor bass that may sound better in small cinema but not that cinema its not up to the demands of today’s cinematic digital soundtracks.
Surrounds are JBL 8330 in the poorest location why they should be on the sidewalls, now that is sheer Odeon laziness!
No subs, did I already mention that. It disgusts me. They have the nerve to charge what is it nearly £8.00? Daylight robbery!
If I was you! Hold on to your tickets and demand your money back plus extra for Odeon fibbing about saying their screen 1 is full digital, not even by half. Flipping cheek they have!
Projection was spot I like it and the atmosphere as well.
Doubt I’d be travelling to London for at least few months as Empire cleaned me out that day. God damn bank changes! LOL Where was you sitting Howard?
I’ve just read that Empire 1 installed Dolby 3D this May 26th so looks like its smarting up tenfold making cinema still the original medium. View link
Oh, one more thing the sign on the doors the letterheads typeface is still there and new Empire typeface just doesn’t fit. It looks robotic and they even took down the gold brass typeface that stood above Empire 1 I think Empire 2 had similar typeface, I never cared for Empire 2 or 3, just as I don’t care for the new Empire screens only Empire 1 I won’t pay to watch a film on wimpy sound system even thou its JBL and I’m a fan of JBL. If I’m going to travel 120 miles its for Empire 1.
Also I think its Empire I forget which number its on the far left and side up a few stairs, and wow you can hear the lows from Empire 1 fitter badly into that no bigger to swing cat around auditorium. I bet its get a lot of complaints from customs paying to watch a film in silly sized room that is about the size of fair decent home cinema.
I think Empire got a little big for their shoes and it should be knocked down and used as store room because its not suitable as cinema, I think its Empire 9?
@MarkDHite
You know I still can’t aspect the new look of the front it looks cheap and bland kinder reminds me of coffee and I hate coffee. The colour of the panel that now sits on the front.
The look of the late 80’s was jazzy full of sparkle colour and chactutre that draws you towards the Empire away from the Odeon LS if you get my meaning. LOL It was like a magnetic THX force pulling you towards it.
Today it just looks naff! I’ve taken so many pictures myself of the new look, which they had cheap digital cameras around in the late 80’s to bring back home some Empire memories. The late 90’s look was like thumbs down as well.
Cinema is about glitz and style just as much as important on the outside as on the inside. I guess the like to wait and see the reactions of people going in first timers or do they even care to notice that?
It’s a shame the old curtains have gone in Empire 1 as that was style second to none and now its just cheap simple curtains that pull back, not upwards then outwards as they used to.
I was chatting to guy that runs company that outfits cinema seating nice chap. I mentioned the Empire and its rocker seats as I have just brought a set not the same as the Empire as he said that type is no longer available and that, the company went bust years ago, many years ago
I can’t recall if he said the name of the seating was called (broccoli seating)?
Anyone, anyone know if that’s the right name?
Cheesebrush
Wow what a sheer waste and shame and shame on Empire cinemas UK.
Yeah that’s pretty much how I vaguely recall see it. It had fabric for the amazing sonic acoustics of stillness it was like no other, propose made THX certified screen.
I’m pretty sure the surrounds was placed behind the fabric as they’re no sign of them when I saw Arachnophobia.
I can picture the crappy wall paint on the concrete I guess Empire cinemas are now into crappy cheap fast digital waste of time cinema with fake 3D.
“JAWS” is pure and simple shark classic film that doesn’t loss its bite even after 35 years.
Saw it in its original monaural form at ABC screen1 Bournemouth somewhere around January 1976.
I’m wondering about the stolen “Return of the Jedi†70mm prin. Is this still an ongoing investigation?
Now was the pyrite version of “Return of the Jedi†scored from the stolen 70mm print or 35mm?
The only way to tell is to look at any still existing VHS/Beta tape and look for que dots.
(Circularly) for 70mm
(Oval shaped) for 35mm prints
Que dots appear around every 15 to 20 minutes depending on each reel length.
Also any privately brought new/second hand 70mm projects in the past 10 years leading up to the theft at gunpoint in 1983, or any stolen 70mm projectors for this persons needs to make dodgy pyrite copies.
Chances are the print today would be so far, gone faded colour magnetic stripe would be fragile if not flaked away by now, due to poor storage.
Was there also a similar case in the UK of stolen “Return of the Jedi†print as I remember reading on huge poster at video library around 1983, and the theft in the US wouldn’t concern the UK.
So was the simultaneous coordinated theft by two parties working on different sides?
I’m, sure the FBI would like to catch these people? Maybe they are STAR WARS nuts or just pair of serious pyrites that wouldn’t care about shooting someone.
cinemamad
Wow is that so incredible. Are there any rare pictures of this before the cinema was refitted out?
Well I’m going up for the Dolby digital cinema 2D experience of 2012 at the Empire Leicester Square. 3D films aren’t have a huge impact on me I mean I found myself looking around when Sid was off-screen on the rear surrounds while he tortured Toys in his back yard.
Word is there will be a tenth 10th Empire screen coming soon! WOW at least ten is round number LOL.
I was at the Empire this Friday for Toy Story Dolby 3D via Empire’s still impressive JBL 56KW THX sound system.
The show was flawless in picture and sound 10/10!
The only issue with 3D glasses is (peripheral vision) so I can see the frame on the sides of my eyes and it was annoying because it’s in the way of the onscreen action.
Maybe they can improve on it in the future. Or maybe 3D contact-lenses that way there won’t be any distraction.
Other than that it was flawless.
The SPL db at front and centre hit 115db at times a bit less than usual 120dbc. I later learned that chief projectionist on site that day said (fader was at 6) so rather than 7 as there was (only a few) in for the first 12:30pm show.
I said (I could take it at 7) LOL
I guess the fader went to mark 7 during the later part of the day.
I have nearly 150 pictures of the day and that will take nearly a few days to upload on that slow photobucket site now which has gotten real slow since the new software.
Still there is an alternative! Link to Lansing Heritage Forums where I’ve been covering it cinema with my own and some secondary research pictures of the Empire.
The Empire Leicester Square London a JBL installation!
View link
Now that saves me at least 150 or so pictures to upload. The pictures have been loaded directly onto the site for quicker view and I still have at least 20 more to upload.
Also pictures of screens 6, 7, 8 and 9 I took a few of 5 and 6 last year.
^^Oh, wow that was when cars could drive down the square till what sometime around the 1980’s?
VUE West End is due for new makeover this is the word.
This (Friday October 2nd 2009) just gone I was chatting to a chap who works for VUE in and (outside mostly) and word is starting around early 2010 VUE is going to get a brand new spanking makeover.
They’d been looking for archival pictures that date back to the 1930’s but can’t find any? I’ve only found ones on the internet that only go as far back as 1950’s.
Does anyone here have pictures dating as far back too 1930’s?
Thanks
Also VUE has just had its THX updated as well as Dolby tightening up the sound in all its screens.
Year was around 1986 I think.
Regrettably enough I only saw Alien at late night showing at the once called Cannon cinema Westover road Bournemouth screen 2 which is not an okay cinema for front stereo LCR. The surrounds are, okay not totally impressive but at least they surround you!
I believe it was monaural print as that is what one of the projectionists said to me. It was type A NR it even had the original X certificate rating on the BBFC opening.
The print was a bit worn but playable.
Too bad they couldn’t get hold of 70mm print and show it in screen 1 upstairs as that is fitted with Dolby CP200. Thou at the time the sound system upstairs was only okay it was the old huge speakers from the 60’s with wings on them?
Other than that I was pleased to have seen Alien in scope rather than poorly treated TV/Video presentation of P&S.
EMPIRE RULES becuase its the best looking and best sounding cineam around with JBL 56KW THX sound system, now then!
“Mama Mia” should have played at the Empire in 56KW JBL THX sound system not this fleapit infested dump with lousy front stereo spread. Dull lifeless surrounds and sub bass that sounds like it belongs back in the 1920’s alongside Al Jolson.
The over priced tickets £13.50 is criminal as well to sit in those disgusting seats! Leopard skin, please.
I’d soon spend £13.50 at the Empire many times over Odeon!
Lost
I find the outside of the cinema just damn right ugly looking with that bright in your face orange logo that is so unappealing no worse undesirable.
For god sakes please change it back to Warner Bros the Warner shield logo looked the part, its if they VUE has robbed from the poor and need to change their name.
Seth
I agree with that statement it’s a real shambles now! I think VUE has lost its THX licence for one of its two THX screens so they only have one THX screen now, not that it presents threat to Empire screen 1. Empire would just smile and VUE would tremble at the knees and fall to Empire’s feet begging for mercy.
Last film I’ve seen at the VUE was Wolverine in Dolby SR-D THX. And VUE has slyly sneaked in Martin Audio loudspeakers THX certified but I’m not a Martin Audio fan I’m a JBL fan have been for 20 years now.
The film before that was Maverick in THX Dolby SR.
I prefer the way it sounded before I was projectionist and even thou I had interest in this sound art-form many years before coming a projectionist and even some projectionists don’t care about the sound some like the image some like the sound some like both that is the way of it.
But I should complain about the years before, since the cinema wasn’t keeping up with the state of technological advances in cinema sound presentation.
Films like
Star Wars Dolby stereo
The Empire Strikes Back Dolby stereo
Return of the Jedi Dolby stereo
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Dolby stereo
Platoon Dolby stereo
Aliens Dolby stereo
Die Hard Dolby stereo
Die Hard 2 Dolby stereo
Predator Dolby stereo
Cocoon the return Dolby stereo
Who Framed Roger Rabbit Dolby stereo
Romancing the Stone Dolby stereo
The Final Countdown Dolby stereo
Apocalypse Now Dolby stereo
Bullets on Broadway, not that it matters since (Woody Allen) mostly has his films recorded in monaural sound!
The Black Hole Dolby stereo
The Spy Who Loved Me mono
Moonraker Dolby stereo
The Living Daylights Dolby stereo
Licence to Kill Dolby stereo
Octopussy Dolby stereo
The Man with the Golden Gun mono
Live and Let Die Dolby stereo
For your Eyes Only…or maybe for your ears only? Dolby stereo
A View to a Kill Dolby stereo
Hamburger Hill Dolby stereo
The Cat from Outer Space LOL mono
Tron Dolby stereo
The Abyss
Lawrence of Arabia Dolby stereo with SR cards in what is now called screen 6 with Dolby CP500 and fully installed JBL sound system.
Arachnophobia screen 6. it was then a friend I drove to High Wycombe CIC/UCI for the THX experience. He said it was voted something like 6th best THX screen in the world. he was right I was hearing if not feeling first hand lower bass octave to octave coverage and clear mid range to high range sounds without effort or strain.
It was almost better than the Empire Leicester Square if not on par since it was Bell Theatre Services that installed the purpose built JBL sound system.
Opening was just bass to sub bass weight heavy that would make most cinemas seem like a Vitaphone sound system. The lows mostly played within the 30Hz to 80Hz region when comparing the (DVD/Dolby 4.1) on a frequency spectrum real time analyzer or (Spectrumlab).
Well maybe Odeon Bournemouth has pulled its socks up finely but the rapped decline in presentation was on fast falling level from early/mid 1990’s which ran though right up till 2005, nearly 10 years or just over of poor presentation.
Would you believe if I told you that Odeon screen 1 placed Hi-Fi bookshelf speakers in the tight corners off the auditorium around mid 1990’s I think 1995?
These where typical speakers you’d buy a cheap store like, Dixons! They incorporated I think 6/5 bass mid and soft dome tweeter.
No wonder the surrounds sounded so poorly for several years. Several years of me paying these crocked crocks.
They even messed up the EQ on the stage channels where all you could hear is centre with left and right many db below Dolby reference guidelines. It had to be at least 20db or 25 db too low impossible to hear?
This occurred around mid 1990’s where many years before that the screen channels (unaware that I was of the time, that the stage channels where some 35 plus years old).
Some of the films I saw with poor presentation in screen 1 in no order at all because I have other things to do right now.
Screen1 poor EQ levels!
Star Wars A New Hope
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Return of the Jedi
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Crimson Tide
8mm
Titanic
Just about all these films that spans several years and that’s money I want back! The centre was imitating far too much sound as if they are trying to mimic a poorman’s THX sound system!?
That’s mostly the ones with the rubbish EQ I have no idea what Donkey did the EQ on the Dolby CP50 but I’m pretty sure I’ve bubbled into once while walking down Westover road and I have no respect for someone that rushes their work, or maybe he was going though a devoice LOL I don’t care I was paying good money and hearing lousy sound for many years.
Screen1 poor bass and more!
The Matrix sounded fairly good on the open was this playing in Dolby SR-D or Dolby SR? I knew they had installed a Dolby CP500 at the time, or where they waiting to play Dolby SR-D on Star Wars?
It sounded so good that is what SR role is. Its the best possible analogue sound around over, type A.
I was wrong this showed its full true colours towards the end where Neo jumps out of the way of passing subway train, Agent Smith is pancake! Just as Neo back-flips stage-front-right sounded like it was going to bottom out with a few seconds of very loud audible distortion!
I mostly sit front and centre (used to sit front and centre at this fleapit hole). This has nothing to do with hearing poor or good sound quality. I can sit back row middle row sweet spot or front and centre at the Empire Leicester Square screen1, and be totally impressed, now then!
Entrapment this sounded good nothing to complain or bitch about too much.
Star Wars episode 1 The Phantom Menace (god what a terrible film it was!) audible distortion and sheer lack of bass. No the force was not strong with this one.
House on Haunted Hill stage channels right was buzzing with audible distortion during the electric shock sequence.
The World is Not Enough sounded okay on the opening the rest was just dull and boring lacked bondbastic low end!
The Lord of the Rings part 1 I was bored with the Rings because the sound was unimpressive and wasn’t keeping my attention focused for the nearly 3 hours of listening to wet paint drying! Where’s the sodden bass in this film!!!!!
Star Wars episode 2 Attack of the Clones (can it possible get any worse than this!) audible distortion and sheer lack of bass. No the force was not strong with this one.
Bad Boys II sound was incredible dull and lifeless on stage channels left/right
Raiders of the Lost Ark again stage left and right channels was dull since one of the projectionists showed me behind the screen, thinking I, wouldn’t know what to look for?
To my horror I saw the stage left and right HF horns JBL 2360A laying on the floor pointing upwards to just about anywhere?? it was as if someone like Daren Payne chief projectionist on the site was too lazy to see that the HF horns are placed back in the correct location and tested.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom sound was incredible dull and lifeless on stage channels left/right
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade sound was incredible dull and lifeless on stage channels left/right
I’d have to look for the tickets that I’ve mostly kept but that’s roughly a good guess off the top of my head and I have good sense for the sound when it comes to films.
Did I find myself participating in the Dolby stereo experience?
Jeff
I’ve lived in Bournemouth all my life and I’m telling you it’s the it’s the truth. I used to be projectionist for UCI and Warner village. I know what to look for and listen for.
This cinema site hasn’t or won’t even grab my attention not if they don’t have the original JBL THX specification set-up which was 10/10. I mean I thought alien Earth encounters installed it from another world because it was out of this world.
I don’t care what you think about THX we’ve all been to the site we’ve all read the white papers on the whole capper and as far as I’m concerned it’s the only thing that would get my on coach to travel from Bournemouth to High Wycombe. But! Not if they don’t have THX that is on par with the original because that was untouchable.
Oh, as to big and loud its mostly 100dba peaks that is too toppy or bright sounding! The bass is many db below and when I does try to push anywhere near 100dbc it starts cracking up! LMAO
I’ve monitored the sound pressure level in this cinema many times.
I almost laughed when I saw The Matrix when they had the Dolby CP and a third of the rest installed around 1999. When Neo did a back flip to avoid getting hit by train the sound system distorted so badly in the low range which is between 20Hz to 40Hz that is a rough target on the frequency. Screen channel right if I’m not too mistaken.
Jeff
Big and loud what you mean hardly any real bass much less any sub bass which they don’t have behind the screen and you got poorly ripped off, because I’ve seen what they have behind the screen and its at least nearly 50 years old or shy under 50 years that is.
Volt or Altec I don’t care which but its not JBL LOL well the HF horns are JBL 2360A the cabs are loaded with maybe JBL 2226 15â€.
The cabs put out poor bass that may sound better in small cinema but not that cinema its not up to the demands of today’s cinematic digital soundtracks.
Surrounds are JBL 8330 in the poorest location why they should be on the sidewalls, now that is sheer Odeon laziness!
No subs, did I already mention that. It disgusts me. They have the nerve to charge what is it nearly £8.00? Daylight robbery!
If I was you! Hold on to your tickets and demand your money back plus extra for Odeon fibbing about saying their screen 1 is full digital, not even by half. Flipping cheek they have!
(Empire 3) They’ve divided screen up is that what they’ve done because that that was 70 plus seat cinema.
Projection was spot I like it and the atmosphere as well.
Doubt I’d be travelling to London for at least few months as Empire cleaned me out that day. God damn bank changes! LOL Where was you sitting Howard?
I’ve just read that Empire 1 installed Dolby 3D this May 26th so looks like its smarting up tenfold making cinema still the original medium.
View link