January 31, 2003
Subject: Video connections
Dear Wes,
First of all, thanks for the informative site. I'm new to
home theater, so you've probably been asked this hundreds of times. In comparing S-video,
composite video, and component video, which of the three will give me the best picture
quality and audio? Or is one better for audio and another better for video.
Thanks,
Ron Torres
First off, video connections are just that -- video
connections. They don't carry any audio signal.
The best of the three is definitely component video
(which splits the signal into three component elements -- picture plus two variations of
color transfer), which offers more accurate signal transfer than either standard composite
or S-video connections.
S-video also splits the signal, but it sums the two
color transfer signals into a combined one. It can offer better images than
composite, but only if the source's comb filter is better than the monitor's -- in many
cases S-video does not offer a better picture, even though it has the potential to do so.
Best of all is progressive scan, which paints the complete
image at twice the rate of one that's interlaced. However, both component video and
progressive scan output require television monitors that accommodate these input
options....Wes Phillips
January 27, 2003
Subject: Power
Wes,
I hope that you can help. I've got a home theater question.
We are currently finishing our basement into a home theater -- the space is long and
narrow (40' x 12'). Half of it will be devoted to the theater, the rear half will be a
bar/pool-table area. Cost is important, so we've been looking at a
home-theater-in-a-box-type systems, but I'm concerned that we won't get enough
"power." I am assuming "power," as you refer to it, means
"watts?" In your opinion, is a 550W-600W system adequate for the space (such as
a Sony DAV-C990 Dream System or a Kenwood DVT-605)?
Traci
First off, who told you the DVT-605 is a 550W 600W system?
True, it's a five-channel amp and puts out 100Wpc. However, the thing is, an amplifier
that puts out 100W is a 100W amplifier, whether it has one channel or six channels, so
anyone who calls a six-channel amplifier that puts out 100W per channel a 600W amp is
trying to trick you (or doesn't know what they are doing, if we wish to assume no malice).
Having a little experience with Sony products, I'd guess
the DAV-C990 is probably quite good -- and it's not Sony's fault it was misrepresented,
but I wouldn't buy it from Best Buy if that's how they are selling it.
Your room is very big, but it's narrow and you'll only be
using one end of it for HT, so 100W is probably enough power (and I would set the
surrounds up behind the seats, but not all the way down at the far end of the room).
I recently reviewed a
home-theater-in-a-box from Kenwood/Boston Acoustics called the Unity system. I thought
it was very impressive -- you might try it as well....Wes Phillips
January 23, 2003
Subject: Biamping for home theater
Hello Wes,
I am busy assembling a home-theater system that plays all
formats. Due to space restrictions I can only accommodate a 5.1 setup. Lately I've been
seeing 7.1 amplifiers or receivers, and I was thinking that it is a waste if you couldn't
use all seven channels of amplification.
How can I configure, if at all possible, a 5.1 system that
uses the remaining two channels for biamping the front left and right speakers? I am
currently looking at two options: Pioneer VSX-43TX or Marantz SR8200. Can it be done?
Jack Tol
Most 7.1 receivers are not set up so you can assign which
signal goes to any specific channel -- they are intended to be used in seven-channel
surround systems, after all. Of course, with separates, say a processor/preamp and a
seven-channel amplifier, you can assign the channels however you wish -- including
biamping the LF and RF speakers.
Flexibility is one of the big reasons people buy separates,
of course....Wes Phillips
January 21, 2003
Subject: Amp clipping?
Hi Wes,
I recently purchased a Musical Fidelity A3 amp to drive a
pair of Definitive Technology BP2000 speakers. I have noticed that the speakers start to
clip at around half volume, and I feel I need more watts. My system also incorporates TV,
VCR, etc. I am in the process of upgrading to DVD and possibly an A/V receiver with more
watts than the A3, but I am unsure about getting a receiver or biamping with the A3. I
know the receivers would give a better surround sound, but would the quality of sound be
as good? What are your suggestions ?
Regards,
Colin
If everything's as you present it, something is seriously
wrong somewhere in that system -- the Def-Tech 2000s have a built-in 500W amp for driving
their 15" woofers, so all the A3 is driving is four 6.5" midrange drivers and a
pair of 1" tweeters, which, totaled together, are rated at 91dB/W/m. The A3 should be
plenty powerful enough for that.
I note, however, you say "half volume." What,
precisely do you mean by that? Do you mean at a setting halfway between the softest and
the loudest level at which you listen -- or do you mean at 12 o'clock on your loudness
control? If you mean the former, you've got a problem; if you mean the latter, that's not
"half volume" at all, but pretty loud, usually -- possibly as loud as 110dB or
more.
Of course, everything is somewhat dependent upon the size
of your listening room. If yours is the size of a basketball court, it might not be all
that loud, but asking a single pair of speakers to fill a room that size is perhaps not
the ideal way to go.
The real question, of course, is does the system play loud
enough for you to comfortably enjoy music in your room (and does it sound good)? If so,
what's the problem? If not, that's a different matter.
Keep in mind also that loudness is a logarithmic function
and that a 250Wpc amplifier only buys you a 10dB increase in loudness. However, if
everything is functioning as it ought and you still think the loudness level is
decidedly lacking, a much larger amplifier might be what you need -- it just seems
extremely unlikely....Wes Phillips
January 14, 2003
Subject: Projectors and light
Hi Wes,
I'm very new to home theater and plan on turning my
basement into a home-theater/media/entertainment room. I will be able to control some of
the lighting, but I don't want the room to be dark because it will be a multipurpose room.
Do you have any advice on a type of projector that I should use? I heard that the Sanyo
XP2IN may be a good choice. I don't have a huge budget, but I want to include a Stewart
GrayHawk screen. Please advise.
Dexter
I can't find a spec sheet on the Sanyo XP2IN, so I
really don't know anything about it, but Sanyo's projector line looks interesting. If the
XP2IN throws a good picture and it fits your budget, why not? Sanyo is pretty heavily into
the industrial show/mobile office world of video projection technology (as are most of the
companies that actually make the things), since the home-theater market for projectors is
teeny in comparison.
I'm a little confused by your statement, "I
will be able to control some of the lighting, but I don't want the room to be dark because
it will be a multipurpose room." While you're using the projector, you'll need
to keep the room fairly dark -- or design task lighting so specific there's little, if
any, spillover. Any light that strikes the screen will wash out color and contrast.
There may be occasions when you feel like watching
a little TV while the kids play with their Legos somewhere else in the room and you may
feel that the washed out picture is preferable to shutting yourself off from your family
(yea dad!). That's probably why you shouldn't give your current TV the heave-ho --
projector bulbs are expensive and many viewers don't want to burn 'em out watching under
less-than-optimal conditions. Even a computer-sized monitor would fill in the gaps.
BTW, as much as I personally love projectors, they
aren't always the best choice. For families with young children who want to watch TV when
you're not around, a projector system can be complex and intimidating (for you, if not for
the kids). A rear-projection TV (RPTV) may be far more practical. They have come a long
way from the big, old, blurry shadow-boxes of the early '90s -- and, if you're not ready
to commit to an HDTV-ready model, they can be cheap, too.
Of course, even multipurpose rooms need light
control, so whatever you end up with, you'll need to contrive blackout curtains, shades,
or shutters for the room's windows -- and you'll want them to be easy to use. Believe it
or not, there are remote-controlled devices that can raise and lower all three (especially
handy for those clerestory windows 10' off the floor)....Wes Phillips
January 4, 2003
Subject: System upgrades
Wes,
I e-mailed you back in October about the Mirage OMNISAT
speakers, and I took your advice. I was at the store today and became unimpressed with the
8" and the 10" subwoofers that come with the OMNISATs. The 8" is priced at
$299 and the 10" at $499. When I heard the Mirage speakers with a Boston Acoustics
sub, I was a bit more impressed. I'm almost to my question. I've noticed that there are a
few subwoofers that you like a lot, including those by Polk. Is there a subwoofer in this
price range that is going to make my neighbors think I have giant dinosaurs running around
my basement?
Second question: Dollar for dollar (should be credit for
credit) how would you rank these receivers: Denon, Yamaha, Sony, JVC, and Kenwood? I want
to spend around $500 for one. I have a Sony STR-DE825, but it doesn't have DTS. I bought
it three years ago. Is it worth upgrading to a newer receiver?
Phil Aiken
You know, I reviewed a Boston Acoustics HT speaker system
once for The Stereophile Guide to Home Theater and I was extremely impressed with
their subwoofer, too. It was small but mighty. But I'm really besotted with the Polk
PSW650 I've made my current reference. Polk also makes a PSW450 for $529, which looks very
good, too. It sports a 12" driver and a 150W amp. Actually, Polk's website has a cool feature
these days -- you can input your room dimensions and it will suggest a subwoofer to match.
Hey -- it's free (and fun), so why not?
As to ranking the receivers, it's important to remember
that all of the brands you have mentioned make good products. However, that doesn't mean
there are no differences among them -- there are, even though they may be quite small.
Different brands tend to offer different interpretations of what things sound like and
each offers different features, some of which you may want.
Of the brands you mentioned, I am least familiar
with Kenwood's receivers. However, I recently reviewed a Kenwood Sovereign DVD-A player
and thought it was very good -- far better than the format upon which it worked its magic.
Is a new receiver worth its cost? Probably -- these days
you not only get DTS, as you mention, but also a lot more in the way of user-convenience
features and high-quality connection options, not to mention the cheering trend of making
A/V receivers more powerful in all five (or seven) channels....Wes Phillips
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