Q&A # 174 - April 20, 2000

Staff

Q I very much enjoyed your article, "The Misunderstood 0.1 LFE Channel in 5.1 Digital Surround Sound"! I do still have one question though. Should the center channel bass information be redirected to the sub, or should it be left strictly with the center channel speaker? Generally speaking, is there much bass information in the center channel? I have a Paradigm LCR-350 for my center channel and a Paradigm PW-2200 sub.

A Yes, there is a great deal of bass information in the center channel, be it Dolby Pro Logic or Dolby Digital. Mostly due to the relatively smaller size, very few center speakers can usefully voice the bottom octaves. The LCR-350 is an excellent speaker (I've used the CC-350 for several years), but it is no exception in this regard. So redirecting, or at very least copying, its bass to your PW-2200 is recommended. Right now, the crossover frequency in receiver bass management is too high (90 Hz or so), because everything above about 50 Hz can be localized as to its direction. When processors and receivers offer selectable crossovers down to about 35 Hz, it will be much more useful.

Q You guys tell it like it is with your movie reviews, but the other DVD movie review websites out there seem to be just catering to the studios to get free DVDs. I want to start my own DVD movie review site, and I need some help. I want to capture freeze frame screen shots using a DVD ROM drive in my computer, but the DVD player software can't do that for some reason. I have seen some screen shots in your contest pages. How do you capture them?

A We have had a lot of questions about this since we started using screen shots in the contest. I use a Toshiba SD-M1201 DVD drive with SCSI connections (about $150) and PowerDVD 2.55 software ($50, available from CyberLink http://www.cyberlink.com.tw/english/index.asp). This software lets you grab a screenshot. A lot of DVD player software won't let you grab the screenshot due to chromakey problems, and in fact, there is a FAQ sheet out there that answers the question, "Why can't I grab a screenshot?" It is that universal a problem. But PowerDVD works for that purpose. Your video card will have to be compatible with DVD movie playing, which means having TNT2 or other such chips on board. Check with the software manufacturer about screenshot capture capability before you buy it.

Q I recently damaged the screen on my Phillips Magnavox 8P6044C102 rear projection television. I am in need of a replacement screen. I saw an article in a home theater magazine where they did a screen swap on a projection television and installed a new "better" screen for around $1,000. I was wondering if there are any companies that sell after market rear projection television screens. I was also wondering if all screens for various model televisions are different, or does one screen work for all televisions of the same brand?

A The aftermarket screen you read about is probably a Da-Lite or Stewart 0 gain screen. Those screens will give you an evenly uniform picture no matter where you are seated. There is a down-side though. You cannot watch TV with ambient light because it will wash out the picture. Your best bet is to get a replacement screen from Magnavox for your TV.

Q I have a Toshiba SD-2109 DVD player with enhanced black capability. When using Video Essentials to set black level, should the black level be set in normal mode for calibration and then switch to enhanced black for playback, or should the black level be set with enhanced black activated for calibration?

A The black level should be set in the mode you plan on watching the DVD movies.

Q I have an excellent pair of speakers, which I have realized that are the wrong set for what I listen to. I bought used PROAC Response-3s, fell in love quickly, and fell out of love shortly after that. When I listen to jazz or classical, they are great speakers! Unfortunately, I listen to loud (rock) music more often, and I am finding they can't develop a full enough low end that I want for much of my music. Can you offer me some advice on an appropriate replacement that offers the great, tight sound I love from the Proacs with more presence in the low frequencies? The town I live in has no audio rooms with quality equipment, and I am at a loss trying to find the right speaker (Response 4s would be nice, but my budget won't allow it). After selling the R3s, I figure I'll have $3-4 K to work with. I don't expect easy answers, of course, but I am hoping that you have suggestions that I'm looking for?

A Actually, the solution is easy. Tall slim speakers can have a great sound, but they often lack in the bass because the slimness prevents the incorporation of a large bass driver. I have this same problem with my Monitor Audio Studio 20SEs. To remedy this, I use a single Sunfire Subwoofer behind the couch. I connect it by using Y adapters out of the preamp, with one set of legs going to the sub and the other set going to the power amplifiers. I set the subwoofer crossover to about 40 Hz which is close to the limits of the Monitor Audios. That way, I have the advantages of the slim design in the main speakers, but the lowest octave (20 Hz - 40 Hz) is also there, being delivered by the subwoofer. If you really like to crank the sound, then get the largest subwoofer you can afford, at least a 12" (such as Sunfire Signature or Velodyne HGS-12), but maybe even a 15" or 18" version. You will only need one subwoofer, as everything below 50 Hz is non-directional.

Q I recently acquired a Sony VPH 1020Q projector. It works very well indeed, and I can't complain about the price (free!), but I have one question. It was previously installed hanging from a ceiling mount. I'm trying to set it up on a table at home and of course the image is upside down. Is there any way to "flip" the image so that it's right side up, aside from rigging a mount to set it fan side down on the table?

A While I do not have direct experience with that model, most front projectors do have the ability to flip the image based on ceiling or floor mount and reverse the image based on front or rear screen application. Your best bet is to call Sony and obtain their service or instruction manual.

Q Approximately two years ago, my brother and I bought 27 inch televisions. He bought a low end RCA, and I bought a high end Panasonic. The picture quality of both sets I thought was quite good based on VHS tape. I bought my set to play DVDs as I had purchased a Marantz DVD player. I decided to have my set calibrated which improved picture quality considerably. I just gave my brother a DVD player for XMAS and brought over my copy of Video Essentials to tweak up his set (I won't say calibrate). I was horrified at what I saw. The picture on his set was horribly red all over. I was completely unable to change the hue using the color and tint controls. Upon enquiring what happened to his TV, his younger son said that the TV changed when he started playing video games on it. Is it the case that playing video games can damage a TV's color fidelity and render it uncorrectable? Your response will determine whether or not he buys a new set at the present time or not.

A Playing video games on a TV can burn an image into the screen if the contrast is set too high (with the default contrast settings on a TV, they are ALL to high!) Watching MSNBC, Home Shopping, or just the news can also burn little logos as well. I doubt the red is from playing video games. I have a Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 that I play all the time. Chances are the color decoder in the TV is poor, and setting the color using color bars and a blue filter just point this out. The DVD Avia actually contains some test patterns that will allow you to tell if there is red push and how much. Probably time for a new TV. Make sure you test it out at the store for color and other adjustments.

Q My home theatre system is comprised of an Onkyo TX-DS747 tuner and Polk Audio PSW50 subwoofer which is connected to the subwoofer pre-out on the TX-DS747. I notice that when listening to the radio, the subwoofer tends to respond with small thudding sounds in time with a person's voice on the radio. If however I am watching VHS or DVD, this thudding sound is not present when people talk. What makes the radio station different ? Has it got something to do with dynamic range? Please explain. And one more question, please. What do manufacturers of audio equipment mean when they say that a speaker terminal has a FIVE way binding post. I assume this is referring to the standard banana plug socket. I don't know where the FIVE comes into it though.

A Radio station male disc jockeys tend to put their mouths right up next to the microphone. This enhances the depth of their voices, and deep bass is impressive. It can also make them boomy, which is the thudding you are experiencing. Five-way binding posts will accept (1) banana plugs, (2) spade lugs around the post, (3) bare wire wrap around the post, (4) bare wire or spades through a hole in the post, and (5) pins though the hole in the post.

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