As a filmmakerwho has traveled with a stereo 35mm print of a feature film...
I am constantly shocked by the wide difference that one print can sound in
theatres world wide.  The best it ever sounded was in Turin Italy and that
was a simple  dolby house with the standard  Cat 22 card.  I have played that
same print on a Dolby SR THX system (with the settings properly set for non
digital) and it did not sound as good.  The same print ran in Berlin at the
Filmplast and the surrounds were too hot for the center.  Nevertheless, it
sounded much better than in LA... but not as good as the Walter Reade in
NYC....
 
So, I think it is really the basic theatre itself.  They will attempt to
"tune" the hall with pink noise etc. to sound as good as it can...
but the room itself matters the most... no matter how good the speakers  or
the processors etc.  It all comes back to the theatre itself.
 
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