Not insignificant
October 28, 2003
Hello Wes,
In comparing the E100HS to a VCR as opposed to a PVR, you
said, "The difference in ease-of-use is insignificant..." TiVo provides so much
more than just recording shows by title -- e.g., category, keyword, actor,
director -- there really is no comparison. The E100HS sounds like the DishPlayer interface
search by title and manual recordings.
For the most part, I have very little idea what time and
what channel the shows I like come on. I never watch anything live, unless it is HD. I
don't think your comment does the TiVo software justice. Just my two cents.
Steve
Perhaps you're right. I do love my TiVo and, like you, I
don't even think about the interface because it's so intuitive. However, as I said in my
review, that don't come for free -- it's a function of paying a monthly fee for the EPG
(electronic program guide) and that extra double-sawbuck each month is what buys you all
that convenience. Some people don't want to pay that monthly fee -- and others have
legitimate privacy concerns over the way the company markets the usage data to outside
sources.
I have my own misgivings about both of these issues, but
have managed to quell them out of appreciation of the convenience factor, which, as you
say, is considerable. People who decide differently might very well prefer a DVD recorder
like the E100HS which does not report back to the home office or charge a convenience tax.
I could quibble and say that, absent the EPG, the two are
more functionally similar than not, but it's a judgment call I already made -- and you
called me on it. You're right, TiVo is extremely convenient, and I tend to get more
quality viewing time out of it than I would out of the DVD recorder for a similar amount
of effort....Wes Phillips
Cable query
October 23, 2003
Hi Wes,
I was just reading your review of the
Magnepans with great interest. I was wondering which speaker cables you were using.
I'm currently using a double run of AudioQuest AudioTruth Argent+, but I'm toying with the
idea of replacing them with something else. I don't know how the AQs stack up to other
cables though. (If memory serves I believe the Argent got an excellent review by Bob
Harley in Stereophile.) Any experience with AQ versus other cable brands? Your
input would be greatly appreciated.
Hasse
I used Shunyata Research Lyra primarily. I really like
AudioQuest cables a lot. I have used them over the years and have always found them
well-constructed and designed. I'm not up on the current AQ product lineup, but that's
only because life is short and there are so many cables out there -- even those of us who
do this for a living can't listen to everything.
Cable choice can be a highly subjective area, of course.
You may find it very expensive to improve upon the sound of your Argent -- or you might
just be ready for a change. It's certainly worth doing some listening tests to find
out....Wes Phillips
Room size for Maggies
October 21, 2003
Hi Wes,
When you reviewed the
Magnepan MG3.6/Rs, how big was your room?
I love Maggies, especially the 3.6es, but my room is 18'
8" x 11' 8 1/2". Do you think this would be too small?
Ken
No, I think that would be a great room for the MG3.6/Rs.
It might be a challenge to get the speakers off the wall enough to open up, and have some
room behind your listening position to prevent the rear-wall reflections from messing up
the direct sound, and fit some furniture into the room at the same time -- but heck, man,
we audiophiles are made of stern stuff. We don't got to have no steenkin' furniture.
All joking aside, I think the Maggies could work in your
room if its not too filled with big stuff. Besides audiophiles need furniture, too -- it
can make for really good room treatment....Wes Phillips
More bass
October 16, 2003
Hi Wes,
Keep up the good work. I enjoy your reviews a lot.
One question about low-frequency sound. I have a Sony
multichannel SACD player connected to a Harman/Kardon AVR 8000 receiver via its six
analog-pass-through inputs. I then connect the LFE output from the Sony to the LFE input
of the H/K and then from the receiver's subwoofer output to the sub. I have set the
processor to large speakers plus active subwoofer, but I hear nearly nothing from the sub
(and I've checked all the connections).
Can you advise me on this?
Tim
There's a lot less low-bass information than most people
think -- which is why most people set their subwoofers too loud. On the other hand,
personal choice is exactly that -- personal. People are entitled to the sound they want
(and have paid for).
You can probably set the subwoofer crossover and/or level
in a custom setup menu on the Sony. If your owner's manual doesn't tell you how, check
Sony's website for more info....Wes Phillips
Foresee any issues?
October 13, 2003
Hi Wes,
I just ordered my TAG McLaren AV32 with the dual processor.
This will connect with a Sunfire Cinema Grand five-channel amp, Sunfire True Subwoofer
Signature, Dynaudio Audience 70 front speakers, Dynaudio back speakers, and Pioneer Elite
710 (64" widescreen). Do you see any problems with hooking these products together,
and do you have any suggestions for improvements? I also have a Pioneer RP91
progressive-scan DVD player. Thanks.
Bob
No, I certainly don't foresee any problems with connecting
those products together (other than that you'll never want to do anything but watch movies
-- not the worst problem to have).
I have a review of the latest TAG McLaren AV32R EX coming
up later this month....Wes Phillips
No theater bypass
October 8, 2003
Hi Wes,
When I first got into this, I was very much into music, so
I spent a fortune (for me) on my stereo system. I have a Musical Fidelity CD and A3.2
integrated amp and a set of Totem Sttaf speakers. I then decided to spend some more to get
into home theater and bought the Pioneer Elite VSX-43TX receiver and the Totem Mite T
surrounds and center-channel. (No subwoofer yet).
I have it set up right now so that my receiver, which has
preamp outputs, outputs front left and right signals to my MF integrated amp, and then my
receiver drives the rest of the speakers. Unfortunately, my amp does not have a bypass, so
I end up having to manually adjust both volumes. This is not a big deal to me, but I find
that on my amp, I have to set the volume level to about 11:00. Loud (extremely loud) music
volume is usually around 9:00 with this amp.
Is this normal? I would have thought that the preamp output
from my receiver would require the same amplification as my other inputs. Why do I have to
set my amp at such a high volume to get reasonable volume levels? Could this be an issue?
(My biggest fear is that one day my wife will switch to CD on my amp and press play
without resetting the volume levels, which will get me kicked out of my condo. I also end
up using my receiver at around -10dB, which I'd think is quite loud. I remember listening
to my receiver at -25dB at the shop and had quite a lot volume to it. Is this is a
problem, and if so, is it my amp or my receiver? Is there any other way to resolve this
other than having two sets of speaker cables that I then have to plug in and out?
Tim
There have been a few products that have attempted to
address this problem over the years (Carver manufactured one, for example), but all of the
ones I heard did so much sonic damage to the signal that you'd be better off just using
the Pioneer and skipping the Musical Fidelity. Obviously, however, you prefer the sound of
the MF for your two-channel attentive listening.
I agree that your current solution, which seems to work
well enough sonically, is awkward -- if it were me, I wouldn't be as worried about my wife
breaking my lease as I would be about my blowing up the speakers when I forgot to turn the
volume down (and I would, I would).
I think your best bet may well be using two sets of speaker
cables. Just mark them clearly and use bananas to make switching cables as easy as
possible....Wes Phillips
Shallow speakers needed
October 6, 2003
Wes,
I am putting together a home theater in the family room of
a new home, which measures 20'W x 22'D x 22'H. My speaker needs are for high output, good
resolution, detail, and not exceeding $12,000 for a 5.1 setup. They and the media wall are
in a walkway, so the speakers must have a shallow footprint and be front ported (since
they will be placed almost up against the wall). I recently purchased the Krell HTS 7.1
and Theater Amplifier Standard combo to drive the system. What speaker recommendations can
you make?
George
That's a stumper given your budget and the high quality
of your gear.
Given your space considerations, however, I might look to
the heavens -- which is to say, the Thiel PowerPoints.
These take up no floor space and no wall space, making them ideal for tough rooms. They do
need power, but you've got grunt to spare....Wes Phillips
Hook-up question
October 2, 2003
I just bought a Phillips 32" HDTV flat-screen monitor
(32PT830H) and a Phillips DVD video digital surround system (MX3950D). I have a Pace
DC55OP digital HDTV box. When the cable company came out and hooked it all up, they just
hooked the digital box to the TV and said I needed to do the rest. I went through all the
setup, but it still seems like I have to go through a lot of remote-swapping to watch
DVDs, TV, or HDTV. Is this really how it's supposed to work? Obviously, I'm new to the
whole thing. I'm going from a 19" TV with basic cable to this system!
It also seems like the HD channels are much quieter than
the other channels. Is there a "standard" way to hook up these devices so that I
don't have to keep switching remotes? Thanks for any help you may have to offer.
Jay
Yeah, a simplified connection -- heck, why think small,
a standardized connection scheme -- sure would be nice. In fact, on September 10, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a set of cable compatibility rules that
bring "plug and play" one step closer to reality.
Starting as soon as 2004, new HDTV sets will be outfitted
with a "CableCard" slot that lets viewers receive programming -- even HD and
premium programming -- without a set-top box (STB). First, a few digital broadcast
copy-protection issues need to be resolved, but eventually CableCards will accommodate
digital video recorders (DVRs) and DVD-RAM recorders. The cards will also accept a variety
of digital interfaces, such as IEEE-1394 with DTCP, DVI, HDMI, and HD component-video
connections.
You may be saying, "Yeah, but how does that help
me?" Obviously, it doesn't -- except that cable companies will need to offer some
kind of easier, more accommodating interface for early-adopters, who have been the most
vocal proponents of HDTV or risk a tsunami of outrage from them. I'm not saying that cable
companies are known for their incredible sensitivity to their customers' wishes, but I
suspect they will work this one out.
Eventually.
In the meantime, consider a programmable, multifunction
unified remote control.
All the best....Wes Phillips
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