Bass management
August 12, 2003
Hi Wes,
If some SACDs and DVD-As do not have information for 5.1
channels, how must I connect the subwoofer to have good low bass?
Claudio
Ask me a hard one, why don't you? Bass management is a
big issue right now, especially, but not exclusively, for DVD-A. An increasing number of
A/V receivers and processors allow you to set the bass-delivery parameters for the
different surround formats, but since there seems to be no firm standard within disc types
(again, especially, but not exclusively, with DVD-A), you don't end up being able to
ensure good low bass with every disc.
Will this change? I sure hope so, because it sure puts
a crimp in my enjoyment of certain recordings. But at the moment there's no satisfying
answer to your question....Wes Phillips
Mo' bass
August 8, 2003
Hi Wes,
I have an Energy eXL-S8 subwoofer and a Denon DVD-800 DVD
player, which has subwoofer out. My Denon DVD-800 is connected to the Denon AVR-1801
receiver, via Monster Cable's PLW100 FO-10 LightWave 100 fiber optic cable.
I am thinking of connecting both my Denon DVD-800 and Denon
AVR-1801 receiver to my subwoofer. Please tell me if this idea might damage my subwoofer.
I want to take an interconnect from the receiver's pre-out and another interconnect from
the subwoofer out of the DVD player and connect both cables to the female ends of a
Y-adapter cable. Will this fry my sub?
Why am I doing this? Well, the DVD-800 has a BASS PLUS
function to boost the output to the subwoofer. Why don't I just connect RCA cable from the
DVD-800 only? Well, I have other audio sources. But it all comes down to the same question
again. Will this fry my sub?
Leo
No, it won't fry your subwoofer.
Personally, I think it's a pointless exercise -- and
expensive, to boot -- but I'm not a bass-head. And it will drop the input impedance your
subwoofer sees, which could change the sound drastically -- perhaps even limit its bass
extension.
If I wanted more bass, I'd just turn up the volume of
the subwoofer, which would give me control over the amount of boom, rather than trust the
DVD player's built-in bass boast. That would give all of my sources mo' bass.
Not that mo' means betta', but that's another subject
entirely....Wes Phillips
Mirage models
August 1, 2003
Hi Wes,
I went to a dealer (Tweeters) last night and the salesman
convinced me to buy the Mirage OM-9 with the OM-2 center-channel and the OMNISAT
surrounds. I am trying to set up a 5.1 system to be driven with a Denon AVR-3802. I
compared the Mirage to some Boston Acoustics and decided I liked the Mirage better. I have
not purchased yet, but I will soon.
Today I went to the Mirage website and learned all about
the new OMNI line of speakers. I remember that the OMNI 250 and OMNI 260 were also in the
sound room, but the salesman never turned them on and never discussed them. He was saying
that the OM-9 is the best speaker in my price range. I remember that the OMNI 250 and OMNI
260 were both less expensive than the OM-9.
Is the OM-9 a better speaker than the OMNI 260 or OMNI 250?
My concern is that the salesman was attempting to dump some old inventory -- speakers that
are being replaced with the newer stuff. You should know that my main interest is good
music, and surround-sound home theater is secondary.
Paul
That's a good question and there's no way to know for
sure whether the salesman was deliberately steering you towards equipment he needed to
move or if he was just overworked and not up on the newer Mirage models. (I realize it
sounds unlikely, but having a job really cuts into the amount of time you can spend
surfing audio websites, so salesmen sometimes really are the last ones to know when new
models come out.)
Why not give the guy (or the store) the benefit of the
doubt? Go back and ask to compare the models you are interested in. If you prefer the
newer, less-expensive Mirages, no harm done. If you prefer the older models, ask if they
are willing to discount the discontinued models -- they probably will, since most stores
need floor space more than merchandise that is past its "sell by" date.
I haven't done this comparison myself, so I can't tell
you which I prefer -- besides, we might have different priorities. But I do like Mirage
loudspeakers, so I expect you'll come out OK either way.
Note to audio salesmen Please don't write and tell me
how hard arranging comparisons like this makes your lives. It's called customer service,
and, if you don't offer it, there's nothing that separates your merchandise from the stuff
they sell down the road at Wal-Mart, except that you charge more for it. What's that you
say, your stuff sounds better? Well, the only way your customers will know that is if you
prove it to them. If you don't, people can be forgiven for assuming it all comes down to
price and buying accordingly....Wes Phillips
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