How to Find the Best Seat
in Any Movie Theater
By Seth Porges Oct. 21, 2016
By Seth Porges Oct. 21, 2016
There’s a reason we wait in line outside the theater for big movie
releases: because where you sit matters. A prime, central location will
not only ensure the most direct view and best surround experience, it
will also save your neck and keep you out of the path of mid-movie
bathroomgoers. But what’s the best spot to plant your flag when those
doors swing open?
About two thirds of the way back, as close to the center as possible.
This
may sound a bit vague, but it’s based on how engineers typically
calibrate a theater’s sound system. According to Steve Martz, director
of global technology at audio company THX,
technicians will take microphone measurements at several locations
throughout the theater. “These measurements are averaged together in
order to better evaluate what each person hears when they are watching a
movie,” he says.
This
bundle of microphones includes a “primary microphone” that is used to
set playback levels, speaker timing, and other parameters that require a
single location for measurements and calibration. To get the best
possible sound, you want to sit as close as possible to where this mic
is positioned: About two-thirds of the way back, in the center of the
row. “THX designs every seat to be a good seat, but most people would do
well to sit near the primary microphone position,” Martz notes. “And
then spread out to other areas as the cinema gets full.”
The
best way to fan out to other areas:
Snag a seat near the center of a
row in order to maintain audio and visual symmetry, and then move
forward toward the screen rather than back to the nosebleeds. “Moving in
this direction increases your horizontal viewing angle,” explains
Martz. “It essentially increases your peripheral vision.”
Recent developments make this less of a concern than it was in the past,
particularly if you’re in a theater that has been upgraded with new
sound technology. Martz says
THX specifically designs its speakers and
layouts so that sound is delivered to each seat evenly, and keeps its
theaters regularly tuned by on-site engineers.
IMAX theaters take it a
step further, with permanent microphones that automatically calibrate
the theater’s sound on a daily basis, as well as laser-aligned
loudspeakers that are precisely placed in order to distribute equal
volume to almost every seat. “In good theaters, no matter the size or
seating configuration, moviegoers should enjoy a good presentation,”
Martz says.
Of
course, most theaters, especially older ones that haven’t been
refurbished in a while, don’t have one of these sophisticated audio
setups — meaning the sprint for the sweet spot is as important as ever.
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