Q&A # 220 - February 25, 2001

Staff

Q I have a continuing problem with the remote control for my Denon 610 receiver. The remote control stops working. I changed the batteries, so that is not it. I took it to the dealer and they fixed it, but it stopped working again. What could be wrong?

A If you haven't already, unplug the receiver for a few hours, and plug it back in. IR commands are simply low-speed data on a carrier frequency, usually at about 40 kHz, but can often be as much as ten times that, most of which doesn't matter in terms of your question.

However, that IR receiver (in the front panel of the receiver) is a photo diode which, translating the light signal into electrical pulses, must then feed a processor to interpret the commands. Most IR receivers implemented by major companies are pretty reliable when not in direct sunlight, or close to noisy devices like plasma displays, but it's worth a try.

Also try to verify that the remote is working as well. You can try to take it to a dealer who has other Denon equipment, and see if the common functions like volume work. Manufacturers usually recycle the same IR codes between models, even if those IR codes sometimes perform different functions, or may or may not use specific codes.

You can also look for the IR receiver. Sometimes it will have a label on the face, or be a rather obvious window. If it's actually in the LCD display window, you can shine a flashlight into the window and look for a piece that looks like a tiny light bulb, and apparently serves no other function. I've never seen one actually go bad, but if it's loose, and you can somehow pull the chassis apart and maybe check the solder, at least it's an educational project. Just be sure to have left the receiver unplugged for a day or so, because if you start sticking your fingers into electronics, it could be not so pleasant a lesson.

Q Will a SACD player have any effect on my older CDs which are pre-SACD?

A New CD players, DVD players, and SACD players, will have the modern PCM DACs that are capable of 24/96 decoding, and with DVD-A players, 24/192 decoding. This could very well improve on the sound you get from your old CD collection, but it is not because of DVD-A or SACD capability per se.

Q I own a Panasonic TV/VCR/DVDcombo which was working fine until recently. A couple of days ago it started having problems. The DVD player will load but not read, or it will read for a while and then announces that the disc is scratched or the wrong format. I have tried all my other DVD's and it gives the same message for all of them. I doubt that all my DVDs got scratched from one day to the next. I cleaned them all with a commercial solution and the player with a lens cleaner CD. However it is still doing the same thing. Reading the troubleshooting manual I think it may need an alignment, but the guy in the store said it needs a whole new board! What is the problem and how do I keep from getting ripped off?

A It could be the board, but I suspect this is a mechanical problem, such as misalignment as you mentioned. The transport could have gone bad too. So, you should take it in for repair. However, tell them you want a quotation on repair first, or failing that, tell them that repairs are not to exceed, say, $75, without getting your permission first. If they say that it is going to cost something like $200, then just get yourself a new DVD player in the $180 range. There are several out there that are nice, such as the Toshiba SD-1600 that we just reviewed.

Q I own 4 JBL HLS 610 speakers, bookshelf type, 150 watts, for my sound system. I have the equipment all set up in my loft on top of the living room, but my wife doesn't like the external wiring to the speakers on the stands and would like me to wire everything internally to the walls (which shouldn't be too hard referring to my profession). It will also require installing speaker brackets on the walls or ceiling to hold the speakers instead of the stands.

I did find some Vintage Point brackets at Best Buy. They are universal, but require mounting holes (1 or 2 holes configuration) on the back of the speakers.

My question would be to know if I can screw the back of my speakers to the brackets without deteriorating the sound quality or the speaker itself? Or should I simply return the brackets and get a different kind that would not require any physical "damage"?

A Many speakers come with brackets already installed, and they simply do what you are asking about, namely, screwing the brackets to the back of the speakers. If you want to do this, take the binding post mounting off the back and insert your fingers to make sure that there is nothing in the way where the screws might come through the back panel on the enclosure You might even reach up in there and push some small bolts through holes drilled and aligned for your brackets, to give you a stronger bracket mount than just screws. This should not affect the sound, as long as the bracket is mounted tightly, to avoid rattling. However, you might want to shop around and see if there are other brackets that will fit your speakers without having to drill holes in them.

Q Will I get into trouble with my current speakers if I purchase a Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature rated at 400w per channel? My current speakers all have lower max wattages. What would you suggest? Or would I have to invest in other speakers?

A You can never have too much power. Only not enough power. If your speakers are rated at, say, 100 watts each, they will likely take transients at higher levels than that, meaning very short bursts, such as at the leading edge of cymbal crashes or machine gun fire. Just listen to your system at humane levels, and you will be fine. It is likely the volume control will have to be at a lower level than with a lower power amplifier. However, the Cinema Grand Signature is such a good amplifier, you may find yourself buying new and better speakers later on just to get the most out of the Sunfire's capability for great sound, rather than any power handling capability in new speakers.

Q On certain DVs (X-men, T2 Ultimate edition, Gladiator) my rear speakers will distort during intense action sequences. I have a sub hooked up to these speakers, the crossover is set to handle the bass, and I have them set to large. I have tried everything, and no matter what on specific scenes in these DVDs they will always distort even at low volumes. I have calibrated my system using a sound meter and the Avia guide to home theater, and all of my speakers are set to 75 dB. Why are my rear speakers distorting on these DVDs?

A Depending on your receiver, it may be using ICs for the rear channel amplifiers, and ICs just don't have any real capability to handle low frequencies. If your rear speakers are 4 Ohms, that will make it even worse. So, I would suggest using the bass management in your receiver to set the rear speakers to "Small". That will limit them to about 80 Hz and above, which should clear up your problem.

Q Can you PLEASE tell me how to copy video cassettes using two VCRs and and a television. I am so frustrated!!

A If you are copying an entire video cassette, the best way is to connect the two audio output jacks and one video output jack from one VCR (VCR 1) to the two audio input jacks and video input jack on the second VCR (VCR 2). Rewind the original all the way in the first VCR, and put a fresh blank video tape in the second VCR. Make sure the write-protect tab in the second VCR is not on the "Protect" position, and that it is the same length tape as the original tape in VCR 1. Press "Play" on VCR 1, and "Record" on VCR 2. After about 5 minutes, stop the tapes and rewind them both to the beginning. Connect the two audio output jacks and one video output jack from VCR 2 to your TV and play back the tape in VCR 2 to check that the recording process is working properly. If you are copying a tape that has copy protection, the copied image will be very jittery and unwatchable. If that is the case, you can't copy the tape. Otherwise, if all is working, rewind the copied tape to the beginning, press "Play" on VCR 1 and "Record" on VCR 2, and go have lunch while the tape is being copied. You can also do the entire process by connecting the two audio output jacks and one video output jack from VCR 1 to the inputs on your TV, and the two audio output jacks and one video output jack on your TV to the two audio input jacks and one video input jack on VCR 2, but this will give you a lower quality recording due to all the extra circuits in the signal path. 

Q I have a question about buying a DVD player. I'm standing in the middle of a choice between Sony's DVP-S7700 and Pioneer's DV737. I want good quality both on the DVD side but also very much on the music side (CD). Here in Denmark the price is the same for the DVD players, about $900 (US) region free.
 
A From your message, it is obvious you are very concerned about the CD performance. Because of Sony's reputation with their past DVD players having dual lasers that perform well with CDs, I would suggest the S7700.

� Copyright 2001 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity
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