IMAX Enhanced explains: How to get cinema quality on your TV

1. What is IMAX Enhanced?

2. What requirements must televisions meet?

3. Set up and use IMAX Enhanced

4. The advantages: 4K resolution, image size and multi-channel sound

5. Which TVs have IMAX Enhanced?

6. Soundbars, receivers and streaming partners

7. Is it worth getting IMAX Enhanced models?

The cinema-goers among you should already be familiar with the term IMAX. No wonder, after all, there are now the well-known IMAX cinemas in many large cities in Germany, such as Berlin, Düsseldorf or Hamburg. IMAX Enhanced should now bring the picture quality and soundscape that you experience there to your home on the television.

What is IMAX Enhanced?

Unlike Dolby Atmos or HDR10, IMAX Enhanced does not have its own image or audio technology. Rather, it is a seal of quality with which smart TVs, among other things, can be awarded. In order to receive this seal, however, the devices must meet high standards in terms of image and sound.

IMAX is not just a name for specific cinemas, but refers to the IMAX cinema system. This cinema system enables the production and presentation of films with particularly high picture and sound quality. On the official website

IMAX Enhanced is based on these standards for image and sound quality and is intended to make it possible to watch immersive films at home. In order to be awarded the IMAX Enhanced seal, a device must meet various technical requirements.

What requirements must televisions meet?

The manufacturers do not publish the exact requirements, but televisions are subjected to many certification tests and checked against certain standards in order to be awarded the seal. A high image resolution, high contrast and a wide color spectrum are important. When it comes to audio output, attention is primarily paid to the DTS:X multi-channel system.

Ultimately, smart TVs earn the IMAX Enhanced seal by being able to reproduce the IMAX cinematic experience (with minor drawbacks) in the home. Since the requirements are very strict, there are only a handful of televisions that have earned the seal. These are usually more expensive devices.

Set up and use IMAX Enhanced

However, an IMAX Enhanced certified TV is not enough for you to enjoy the full IMAX cinema experience at home. Similar to Dolby Atmos and HDR10, the advantages only come into play here if the content being viewed has also been optimized for IMAX Enhanced. Currently, this content is mainly about films.

These films are optimized for certification and are provided with metadata (background data), among other things. From these, a correspondingly certified television can in turn extract information for optimal picture and sound output. The TV jumps into IMAX Enhanced mode to create that cinematic feel. So you should experience films exactly as the filmmakers intended them for cinema screenings.

For IMAX Enhanced quality, a correspondingly certified playback device (television, Blu-ray player, etc.) and a compatible medium (film, streaming content) must always be used.

The advantages: 4K resolution, image size and multi-channel sound

When it comes to the advantages of IMAX Enhanced, developers often refer to it as premium sound or sound that meets the highest demands. But what picture and sound improvements can you actually expect when watching an IMAX Enhanced movie on your IMAX Enhanced TV?

Among other things, you get a resolution of 4K (UHD) and an extended image section. In terms of sound, you are offered the distinctive sound of IMAX using the DTS:X standard. Similar to Dolby Atmos, the multi-channel sound system produces atmospheric 3D surround sound, as you know it from the cinema.

Of course, you can also watch content that is not itself optimized for IMAX Enhanced standards on IMAX Enhanced certified TVs. Conversely, you can also watch IMAX Enhanced compatible movies on regular TVs. In both cases, however, you will not benefit from all the advantages of IMAX Enhanced mode.

Which TVs have IMAX Enhanced?

Although IMAX Enhanced is still quite new, some TV manufacturers already offer Smart TVs that have been certified accordingly. These include, for example, TCL, Sony or Hisense. As mentioned, these devices are usually still quite expensive and are especially worthwhile for film fans. According to the manufacturers, the following devices are compatible, among others:

• Hisense U8G
• Hisense U7G
• Sony BraviaZ9J
• Sony Bravia X95J
• Sony Bravia X90J
• Sony Bravia A90J
• Sony Bravia A80J
• Sony XR-Z9J Series
• TCL X925 Pro Mini LED 8K TV
• TCL Mini LED 4K C935
• TCL Mini LED TV C835

Soundbars, receivers and streaming partners

In addition to televisions, a number of other devices have also been awarded the IMAX Enhanced seal. This includes projectors, loudspeakers, soundbars and AV receivers that are connected to the television and thus optionally take over the sound or picture improvements according to IMAX Enhanced standards.

Streaming services in the test: Netflix, Disney +, Amazon and Co. in comparison

When it comes to streaming services, the number of providers offering IMAX Enhanced content is currently still small. The best-known streaming partner is probably Disney+, but Bravia Core, Rakuten TV, Tencent Video and IQiyi also offer compatible content. However, the last two are Chinese streaming services, which should be of little interest to German customers.

Over a hundred compatible content

When it comes to films, the selection is much larger. No wonder, considering the IMAX system has its roots in cinema. Listing all the films here would go beyond the scope, so we’ll focus on a few highlights here.

• Avengers Endgame
• Captain Marvel
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• The Equalizer 2
• Ghostbusters
• Jumanji
• Spider-Man Far From Home
• Venom
• Transformers Age of Extincion
• Top Gun
• Star Trek Into Darkness

Is it worth getting IMAX Enhanced models?

Due to the still quite high prices, we can only unreservedly recommend buying a television with IMAX Enhanced certification to absolute film fans. If you only sit in front of the screen occasionally, you can also get by with a significantly cheaper television that “only” offers 4K image quality and HDR10 support.

If you are not quite sure, you can also first use a non-certified television and later retrofit it with an IMAX Enhanced-compatible sound system and projector. If you want to browse a little for good TV deals, we recommend you take a look at our current TV deals.