THX, the company behind the high-fidelity audio/visual reproduction standard for movie theaters and consumer products, has released a new iOS application today called THX tune-up.
The app is built to help consumers calibrate, or ‘get the most out of,’ their HDTVs and home theater setups. And with the Super Bowl less than a week away, its timing couldn’t be better…
The app can be connected to your TV using one of two methods. The first, and most convenient for Apple TV owners, is through AirPlay Mirroring. And you can also use an HDMI adapter.
Here’s more on how tune-up works from the App Store description:
“THX tune-up features custom video test patterns, carefully selected photos and tutorials to help you adjust and confirm the best picture settings on your display based on your room lighting. Using special test sounds, THX tune-up also lets you check your external speakers to make sure they are working in phase and are connected properly for 2-channel stereo or 5.1 surround sound systems.”
More simply put, the app checks your TV’s aspect ratio, brightness, contrast, color and tint. And on the audio side, it checks your speaker phase and speaker assignment to ensure sound is crisp.
Tune-up comes with some nice extras as well. It allows you to play THX-certified trailers over your newly-tuned TV and surround sound system, as well as THX’s “Deep Note” you hear in cinemas.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m anxious to. I don’t consider myself an audiophile by any means, but I have a little 5.1 surround sound system setup in my living room, and I enjoy toying around with it.
If you want to check it out for yourself, you can find THX tune-up in the App Store. The good news is, it’s free for now. But it will return to its normal price of $1.99 in a week.
Have you tried THX’s new app yet? Thoughts?