@farmerman,
Some Entertainment systems have a parametric equalizer where you can contour the movie sound so it makes for a more natural sound to your listening; however, when you contour for your ears, your wife might run out of the room.
Also, sometimes certain movies (DVD or Blu-Ray) have too much dynamic range of volume..so the quiet dialogue gets lost so that you need to make it louder to hear the whispers... but then when the loud noises come, they raise you right out of your seat.