Thirteen outstanding musical films to optimize and assess your home theater's surround sound
In the realm of entertainment, musical movies offer a unique opportunity to test the capabilities of a surround sound system. From classic films to modern masterpieces, there is a plethora of options to choose from. Here are some highly-rated musical movies that are perfect for testing your system's performance.
First on the list is Interstella 5555 (2003), a musical movie that plays Daft Punk's second album, Discovery, from start to finish. Praised for its low end heft, rhythmic precision, and dynamics, this film is an excellent choice for testing a surround sound system's ability to handle complex soundscapes and layered music.
For a more immersive experience, consider films with Dolby Atmos soundtracks. Rocketman (2019), a biopic of Elton John, boasts an incredible Dolby Atmos mix, providing a "dome of sound" experience. The Greatest Showman (2017) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), both featuring extravagant collections of songs, also offer Dolby Atmos mixes that test a system's sense of power, loudness, and organization.
For those who prefer a blend of classic and modern songs, Moulin Rouge (2001) and Chicago (2002) are excellent choices. Known for their vibrant and energetic musical numbers, these films offer a dynamic audio experience, challenging a system's ability to handle complex soundscapes and layered music.
A Star is Born (1954) and Whiplash (2014) are two classics that offer a different kind of challenge. While A Star is Born features powerful vocal performances by Judy Garland, Whiplash revolves around big band type of sound, featuring an interesting assortment of original jazz pieces and classical jazz standards.
In the realm of biopics, Better Man (2024), a biopic about Robbie Williams, portrayed as a CGI ape, and A Complete Unknown (2024), a musical movie starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, are two intriguing options. While Better Man has received mixed reviews, Chalamet's performances of the music are praised.
Finally, Wicked (2024), a musical movie adaptation of the Broadway production, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), with an iconic soundtrack by Danny Elfman, offer a unique blend of music and storytelling that tests a system's precision, dynamics, and ability to express detail.
The A Star Is Born (2018) soundtrack, robust and emotionally resonant, is another great choice. Featuring works such as Shallow, I'll Never Love Again, and Always Remember Us This Way, this soundtrack offers a test of a system's ability to handle vocal subtlety and higher frequencies.
Whether you prefer classics or modern masterpieces, these musical movies provide a comprehensive guide for testing your surround sound system's capabilities. So, grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and prepare for an immersive audio journey!
- Interstella 5555, a movie playing Daft Punk's Discovery album, is renowned for its complex soundscapes and layered music, making it an excellent choice for showing a surround sound system's prowess.
- Rocketman, with its immersive Dolby Atmos mix, offers a "dome of sound" experience, ideal for reviewing a system's sense of power, loudness, and organization.
- Moulin Rouge and Chicago, with their vibrant musical numbers, provide a dynamic audio preview, challenging systems to handle complex soundscapes and layered music.
- A Star is Born (1954) and Whiplash offer a different kind of review, showcasing powerful vocal performances and big band sounds, testing a system's ability to handle various sounds.
- The upcoming biopics Better Man and A Complete Unknown present intriguing options, with the latter's Timothée Chalamet's performances of the music receiving critical acclaim.
- Wicked and The Nightmare Before Christmas, with their unique blend of music and storytelling, offer a test of precision, dynamics, and ability to express detail.
- The A Star Is Born (2018) soundtrack, known for its vocal subtlety and higher frequencies, is another deal for testing a system's performance in handling delicate sounds.
- These musical movies serve as a comprehensive guide for those looking to buy a new surround sound system, offering an immersive entertainment experience through streaming music, movies-and-tv, and amplifiers.
