March 31, 2002
Hi Wes,
I enjoy reading all your knowledge on audio and home
theater. I'm actually an audiophile (bad disease) at heart, but I have some home-theater
questions I hope you can help me with.
(1) When calibrating the video settings for the DVD input (Video
Essentials and AVIA) on my Mitsubishi TV, is it better to use the DVD player
to drive the settings of color, brightness, sharpness, etc. or the TV's settings? What
I've been doing is setting the DVD player at the nominal settings and using the TV to make
up the difference in meeting (getting close, because of the red overdrive) the setup-disc
requirements.
(2) My TV has a Video or Film setting in the video menu. I
have it set for Video on TV (DISH) and Film for the DVDs. Is this the preferred setting?
Also, any other suggestions on a power-management strategy would be appreciated.
Thank you, Wes, for your time in responding to my questions
and your enthusiasm and knowledge for us "audiophile nuts."
P.S.: I'm not married and can afford this hobby --
bad thing?
Allan Meger
Hi Allan:
Taking your last question first, I don't know. I
like being married, even if I do have to sneak home with my latest DVD purchases (and not
just the ones with all those XXXes on the cover). But let me ask you a question, just so
an ol' married guy can live vicariously: Is a cool home-theater rig a chick magnet or a
total babe repeller? I mean, I know what I'm doing on Saturday nights -- watching my
latest film purchases with my sweetie. Does it work for you too?
When using Video Essentials, start with
the DVD settings on flat and adjust the monitor, just like you've been doing. I'm no
expert on this, but that's what Tom Norton did when he adjusted my system with Stereophile
Guide to Home Theater's test instruments.
As for #2, that sounds right to me. Have you ever
changed the setting and compared? It might be worth it just for giggles. As for power
management, get yourself a really good power conditioner or, if you can afford it, a
balanced-power regenerator. You won't believe the difference in picture quality!...Wes Phillips
March 24, 2002
Hi Wes,
I could use some advice on DVD players. My primary interest
was, and is, obtaining the best picture on a budget. I am using a Mitsubishi CS27503 as
the display and have no immediate plans for an upgrade to HDTV, so progressive scan is
more superfluous than practical -- or so I am lead to believe. The Sony DVP NS900V looks
like a well-built piece of hardware, though it's on the outer edge of my budget. Having
been out of the market for a while, my knowledge about DVDs and who is doing what is
really pretty limited. I would appreciate any advice you have.
Dan Roberts
Hi Dan:
It sounds to me like you've got it covered. If you don't
plan on changing to HD (or to any new monitor) in the foreseeable future, don't pay for
video features you won't be able to use. The Sony does look (on paper) like a great unit.
Why not use it as your benchmark, since its readily available -- if a salesman wants to
sell you another unit, have him demo it against the Sony -- if the picture and/or sound
isn't better, stay with the Sony. If the salesman's choice is demonstrably better for the
same money (or less), go with it....Wes Phillips
March 22, 2002
Dear Mr. Phillips,
I have enjoyed reading your reviews over the last few
years. I am attempting to set up my own home-theater system. My current budget is about
$4000-$5000. The equipment that I need to purchase is an A/V receiver (should I think
about separates?), a CD or CD/DVD player, wall-hung front speakers, a center-channel
speaker, and a separate power amp to control four sets of speakers in separate rooms. I
have had the house wired with Air Controller so that different sources could be utilized
simultaneously. Despite multiple trips to the local Good Guys and Circuit City, I found
their "expertise" sorely lacking. I live in a relatively small town with no
independent or high-end stereo shops. I need some recommendations on the above-mentioned
equipment. Thanks for your consideration of my dilemma.
Mark J Zarzycki
Hi Mark:
Since you've had the house prewired, I assume you
have someone you've worked with. Unless you feel that person unqualified, I'd stick with
him (or her) and use him to guide you to some appropriate products. With a $4000-$5000
budget, you could go with separates, or at least, a preamp/processor and separate power
amp. Work with your installer on the multi-room aspects of the system. It sounds as though
you've already wired speaker wire from a central location to the rooms, so a few
multichannel power amps is probably your best choice. Personally, I like keeping the amps
close to the speakers, so I really like products like Parasound's Zamp -- some amps that
can be hidden near the speakers, allowing interconnects to carry line-level signals over
long runs....Wes Phillips
March 17, 2002
Wes,
I really enjoyed your review of the
Thiel PowerPoints. I'm having PowerPoints installed next week and have a couple of
questions. First, did you notice any discontinuity in the sound and imaging between the
floor-mounted sub and the ceiling-mounted speakers? At what height does the image
"project" from the ceiling mount? I demo'd the PowerPoints on the floor, and
thought they projected an image three-to-four feet above the floor -- I'm assuming the
ceiling mount will be about the same (except they will project down, not up). I'll be
using a Velodyne F-1000 sub and will set the variable X-over at 75-80Hz as you did in your
setup. I will be sitting about 12-13 feet from the PowerPoints, and they will be about
seven feet apart, flanking a 92" diagonal screen.
Corey Joekel
Hi Corey:
I achieved flawlessly continuous sound between the Thiels
and the PSW850 in my room. I think the room is the huge variable here -- you may need to
set your crossover differently (or move your sub around quite a bit) to do the same, but
it is certainly possible to do it.
I had no problem with the image height and, I suspect, few
people will as long as they actually sit within the speakers' field of focus....Wes
Phillips
March 16, 2002
Hi Wes,
I read your movie reviews and like what you said about Traffic.
It was one of my favorite movies last year. I am wondering if you have seen any of Steven
Soderbergh's other movies and if so what you think the best is. I collect films, and he is
one of my favorite directors.
Bob Mueller
Hi Bob
I think a strong case could be made for Traffic being
his best, although I enjoyed both Erin Brockovitch and Ocean's Eleven. I was
never a fan of Sex, Lies, and Videotape, although I did like the world he created
for Kafka -- probably more than the film itself....Wes Phillips
March 5, 2002
Hi Wes,
How important is the LFE channel? If my main speakers
produce plenty of bass for me, why do I need to add a subwoofer?
Rufus Faison
Hi Rufus:
The LFE channel is a discrete channel of information,
just like the left and right front, except that it is solely recorded for low-frequency
effects such as explosions, foot stomps, and other such rumblings. If you have proper bass
management in your system (programmable through your receiver/processor's setup menu),
turning "off" the subwoofer and setting your mains to "large" will
route this information to your main left and right speakers. Although a dedicated
subwoofer is generally the best way to reproduce low bass, if your speakers are providing
all the depth and impact you need, a subwoofer is not necessary to hear the LFE
channel....Wes Phillips
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