iPad vs Home Theater

[seadragon]

Okay, not exactly a fair comparison... or is it?

It seems to me that more and more people are using an iPad (or even an iPhone) as a movie watching device. And the impression I get is that it's more of the younger generation doing so. I'm almost 50 and I come from the "old school" large screen and surround sound system in my basement era.

It could be argued that a 12.9 inch iPad viewed a few inches from the eyes is just as immersive as sitting 10 feet from a 75 inch TV. But for me, the experience is not as satisfying. I like having the space of the room and most importantly the surround sound aspect of enjoying a movie. I'm also a bit old school in that I still enjoy watching Blu-Ray discs more than streaming content for both picture and sound quality.

I do use my iPad to watch movies only when on an airplane and it comes in really handy for this.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you still maintain a home theater system or do you use your iPad for enjoying movies? Is there a shift happening?

 

[jetlitheone]

Okay, not exactly a fair comparison... or is it?

It seems to me that more and more people are using an iPad (or even an iPhone) as a movie watching device. And the impression I get is that it's more of the younger generation doing so. I'm almost 50 and I come from the "old school" large screen and surround sound system in my basement era.

It could be argued that a 12.9 inch iPad viewed a few inches from the eyes is just as immersive as sitting 10 feet from a 75 inch TV. But for me, the experience is not as satisfying. I like having the space of the room and most importantly the surround sound aspect of enjoying a movie. I'm also a bit old school in that I still enjoy watching Blu-Ray discs more than streaming content for both picture and sound quality.

I do use my iPad to watch movies only when on an airplane and it comes in really handy for this.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you still maintain a home theater system or do you use your iPad for enjoying movies? Is there a shift happening?

No shift at all. Have a fully fledged home theatre with Dolby atoms and such so yeah no replacing that yet.

 

[44267547]

Okay, not exactly a fair comparison... or is it?

It seems to me that more and more people are using an iPad (or even an iPhone) as a movie watching device. And the impression I get is that it's more of the younger generation doing so. I'm almost 50 and I come from the "old school" large screen and surround sound system in my basement era.

It could be argued that a 12.9 inch iPad viewed a few inches from the eyes is just as immersive as sitting 10 feet from a 75 inch TV. But for me, the experience is not as satisfying. I like having the space of the room and most importantly the surround sound aspect of enjoying a movie. I'm also a bit old school in that I still enjoy watching Blu-Ray discs more than streaming content for both picture and sound quality.

I do use my iPad to watch movies only when on an airplane and it comes in really handy for this.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you still maintain a home theater system or do you use your iPad for enjoying movies? Is there a shift happening?

I absolutely enjoy the convenience of having an iPad to watch media/movies at my convenience anywhere in my house and not be tethered to one room and I can be in multiple positions to do so for comfortability.

And the new iPad Pros have astounding screen quality and the quad speakers are superb.

That said, I have a theater room with a 4K TV and a twin JBL surround sound system That an iPad would never be able to compete with or shift me away from that experience. One offers me complete convenience for portability/mobility and the theater room offers an immersive experience with sound and picture. They both have their advantages and differences. But their is no comparison to either.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Agree with the above posts. Full on Home Theatre is the only way to reproduce a cinematic experience. Have the basement with the 110" projector screen, Atmos system, etc.

iPad, or iMac for that matter is never going to change that one! However, for TV shows on the commuter train, or a much better option than the in seat displays of a long international flight, the iPad is a much better option than most other mobile devices.

Never understood how peeps can watch a feature length films or even a full 45/60 min TV episode on a phone. After the novelty of "I'm watching Lord of the Rings on my phone!" wears off after 5 min, its just not awesome anymore. Short YouTube clips, podcasts, and the like are great on the phone, but for me at iPad sized screen is needed for mobile video consumption.

Nothing will replace a 100+" screen and decent surround sound system for feature length film viewing anytime soon though.

My kids still get all goggly-eyed and jaw-droppy seeing a film like Ice Age or Incredibles down in the home theatre as opposed to their iPads. That tells its own story

 

[movieator]

Watching movies on a big screen, be it at home or in a theater, should be gospel.

So unless I'm at work, with my iPad next to my laptop and I have something on as background, or travelling, that's always the way to go.

 

[garyleecn]

It depends on the movie.
I don't mind watching something like "up in the air" on my iPad,
But for movies like "transformers", or "avengers", I'd definitely want to watch them on a decent home theater, or even a theater

 

[seadragon]

It depends on the movie.
I don't mind watching something like "up in the air" on my iPad,
But for movies like "transformers", or "avengers", I'd definitely want to watch them on a decent home theater, or even a theater

That's a good point. I know I sure don't need to see Sausage Party on my home theatre system. Then again, I really don't need to see Sausage Party at all!

 

[spiderman0616]

I think it's generational for sure. My kids can be sitting in the same room with our full blown surround sound setup and large TV, and they'll choose to watch YouTube or whatever else on an iPad instead. Same with games. I have a PS4 with PSVR all set up, and they'd rather game on the iPad or iPod Touch. They just don't seem to care about the TV at all unless we're watching a movie or show as a family.

If I'm super tired I'll watch stuff on my iPad in bed at night, but if I have the energy at the end of the day to stay up awhile, I will always choose the big TV.

 

[AidenL]

I agree fully, we have a dedicated theatre, Atmos kit and projector.

65" Oled in the living room, but still only ever watch movies in the theatre.

 

[sunapple]

I'm surprise by how many people have a dedicated home theatre setup. Anyway, to create an immersive iPad movie watching experience I imagine using a mounting arm and headphones as opposed to propping up the Smart Cover on a table? It could be comfortable I guess, but I've never managed to get that with my old iPads. And they're to heavy to hold for so long.

 

[mwhals]

There is no way the current iPad can compete with my surround sound and big screen TV.

 

[macduke]

My wife and I always watch movies on our living room TV, but will sometimes watch an episode or two of a show we're bingeing on Netflix on the iPad in bed together before falling asleep. Been doing this since 2010. That being said, I've kept my iPad more up to date than my home theatre. I've got an LG 42" 1080p TV with a Vizio 5.1 system that is currently only setup as a 3.1 because I don't have a good spot for the little wired surround speakers in the living room of my new house. We're thinking about removing the TV from the living room altogether and finishing the rest of our basement to have a small theatre room off of an office area that I desperately need, perhaps in the next few years. Then we'll spend more family time without the TV upstairs and have a nicer, dedicated, wired up room for movie time. The problem is that space is under the baby's room so I need to figure out some sound proofing insulation.

 

[red41]

My wife watches 90% of her content on her ipad. She doesn't care about resolution, sound or spectacle. She will sit on our couch in front of our 70 inch television watching Netflix on her ipad.

 

[seadragon]

My wife watches 90% of her content on her ipad. She doesn't care about resolution, sound or spectacle. She will sit on our couch in front of our 70 inch television watching Netflix on her ipad.

LOL. My wife does the EXACT same thing. She watches shows on her iPad Air while there is a 60 inch tv in front of her powered off. I ask her occasionally why she doesn't watch on the large TV and she just says "I dunno". Haha!