[JoshK]

I am so freaking tired of movies where you have to turn up the volume so loud you pratically knock things off shelves and yet you still cannot hardly make out what the actors are saying.  I've noticed this trend for years and it only seems to get worse and worse, especially in the big block busters.

What the deal?  Is loudness a substitute for sound quality or wow factor?

I watched Public Enemies on DVD (bluray was out) and this was a model offender.  Went to see Sherlock Holmes in Olympia Washington over the holidays and that was the same deal. 

Everytime I've watched movies over at family or friends places, I've heard the same complaint about not being able to understand the dialogue yet the sound effects are deafening.   This can't be just me.

[Tyson]

Agreed, it's almost like they are using crappy equipment to do the recording of the dialog.

[JoshK]

With all these fancy media formats and hi tech receivers in every household, you'd think they could come up with a way to making the dialogue and the sound effects on seperate layers or tracks to be turned up or down independently.  There could just be a reference point for the purests. 

I would happily leave purism behind for "I get the point" level of sound effects with clear dialogue.

[satfrat]

Guess I'll have to disagree, I like the additional volume myself as it helps me get more involved with the movie plus big screen = big sound imho. Also, the fact that I spent 35 years in a 85db machine shop is probably a factor for me. I will admit that in the beginning, the sound does overpower but I quickly adapt to it,,, just like work. 
 
Cheers,
Robin

[low.pfile]

With all these fancy media formats and hi tech receivers in every household, you'd think they could come up with a way to making the dialogue and the sound effects on seperate layers or tracks to be turned up or down independently.  There could just be a reference point for the purests. 

I would happily leave purism behind for "I get the point" level of sound effects with clear dialogue.

Josh, I am with you! The biggest contributing factor to a bad experience I have with movies, in a theater, is the sound. I just came back from SherlockHolmes(It wasn't that bad since the action scenes were not constant). But overall, either it's a really poor sound system(pure garbage) or if it's decent, it's way too loud.

At home, my Denon AV receiver allows  level setting for the individual 5 or 7 channels. Therefore, since the main dialog is nearly all in the center channel, it's very simple to turn up just the center (relative to the others ) or turn down the levels in the others. Running a straight 2 speaker setup may not allow this, depending on your amp/receiver/processor. At home, I never get knocked out of seat by surprise, for which I am very happy--that's why my movie theater visits are not common for me...only do it socially. And I view very few Action movies anyway. But I still have seen/heard the blatant offenders.