I am not going there as I have repeatedly said (a formal mark and certification). But we could. I can certainly see having specifications that are required to get the excellent rating.
That’s a business decision.
I miss the old THX standard where you knew all the products were 3.2 ohm stable and they were reliable. This is one of the best publicly available documents on what THX certification really means
THX is almost a quarter century old, and its Consumer Branch has been around since 1990, yet people still do not have a proper understanding of THX. Maybe that's THX's fault, maybe it's ours (the press) . . .
hometheaterhifi.com
THX product starts with the manufacturer purchasing the expensive and confidential THX Design Manual for the product in question. THX products are designed to be THX products. The manufacturer knows what they have to do from square one. Once they have a working sample, it is sent to THX where it is tested, for a fee, and either checks out and a license granted, or it is sent back with a report on what needs to be addressed. THX tells us that they have yet to receive a product which got everything 100% right on the first try.
Licensees then pay a small per-unit license fee for the manufactured product.
THX had the benefit of its affiliation with Lucasfilm and of course, the amazing opening trailer.
The question is if, in the world of new hi-fi, where companies like Schiit and Topping outperform classic brands like PS Audio or Mark Levinson there is value in having a ASR-type certification.
THX licensing has dried up, and maybe it’s because their standards ended up being too lax? Or the perception changed?
Maybe there’s a way for you to work with Razer to recreate a modern THX Stereo program, using their funds as an investment to revitalize the power and value of THX certification…
We can look at MQA’s attempt to standardize a digital filter and all sorts of digital filters that exist today. Maybe the sharp roll off becomes the new THX Stereo specification so you can have consistency.
The old THX standard gain was 29 dB for the amp.
Knowing what we know now, does it make sense to change it so that the THX Stereo spec is a lower gain for the amp but higher pre-out voltage?
Working with THX might give you the startup funds and branding that makes it viable for equipment manufacturers and I have to imagine that THX would appreciate a revitalization of that licensing stream.