Q  I just bought a Sony DVP-NS 900 ($330 a real bargain!!) and was surprised that I couldn't notice a difference in either audio (CD and SACD) or video between this one and my old DVP-NS 300. I am now considering returning the 900, but I'm hesitating. At the time I have it connected to a Sony STR-DE485 receiver and Infinity Alpha 40 speakers with normal (very low budget) cables. So my question is: where do you think the weakest link is and do you think that I would notice a difference between the 900 and the 300 if I bought a new receiver or maybe just buying new cables?

A At this level, you would not notice a difference. You would have to go to a $1,000 model, or perhaps a different brand, such as the Panasonic and Denon players to see a video difference (no chroma bug). Also, if you connect a budget player and a high-performance player to your receiver using digital cables, the receiver has the DAC for both cases, and it would very likely sound the same. Buying a new receiver might sound better with the 300 than the old receiver does with the 900, if you use a digital cable.

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Q I would like to run speaker wire, component video, composite video, and audio interconnects all in one tight bundle through a 15 foot plastic conduit. Will there likely be any cross interference between these cables, causing audio or video signals to be degraded?

A You can run the the video and audio interconnects together, because they are very low voltage (1 volt), but run the speaker wires in a separate conduit. They are higher voltage (30 volts) and could cause some crosstalk.

Theoretically, it would be better to separate the high level from the low level, the analog audio from the video and digital audio, and any data away from everything else. But, for 15 feet, you can get away with murder, so long as the audio cables are well shielded. The only thing I'd really get nervous about is power. But, if you've got the option to run separate conduits, it's certainly a safe bet to keep the cable types apart. I wouldn't worry too much though about crosstalk between low level audio and high-level audio, because if the speaker wire IS creating crosstalk, which shielding on the low level cable would protect from anyway, the only thing relevant would be the signal that you were converting to the speaker level, most likely, in which case crosstalk with itself wouldn't be. If it were to couple so effectively so as to actually create a feedback loop with enough total gain in the loop to freak out, now that would be a problem. An easy solution is to make sure to ground the shield.

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Q I am looking to upgrade to a progressive scan DVD player and I've done my research on a number of brands (Pioneer, Sony, and Panasonic). I thought I knew all the answers until I came across your site and the chroma upsampling error. I have my sights set on three changer models: Pioneer Elite DV-C36, Sony DVP-NC655P, or Panasonic DVD-CP67K. Your website does not show any of these models having the chroma bug but, you did say most of the Sonys had it and also you gave an Elite player a bad review. So, I would like to know if you could give me a little insight on these particular models and how they fair against each other?

A The Panasonic line does not have the bug, so the CP67K would be the safest bet at this point.

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Q My in-laws are not ready for 5.1 channel sound. We want to bring them into the DVD age without the impact and complexity of a home theater in a box. In other words, we want to buy them one of the VHS/DVD combo boxes so they may slowly ease their way into DVDs. Can you recommend any of these low tech combo units?

A I would suggest something like the Panasonic PV-D4742 DVD/Hi-Fi VCR Combo which sells for about $250.

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Q First off, you have a great site. I generally love your reviews, especially how in-depth technically you get with most players. In general, I also like your answers you give to your many readers. I do, however, have to question a response I see popping up in a majority of your answers about DVD players.

I'm very curious about why you are such a big proponent of DVD-Audio. I haven't been able to find an article on your site where you compare both formats. Understandably, sound quality is a very hard factor to compare. The only way I can actually think of comparing the formats is to make two recordings using either PCM (DVD-Audio) or DSD (SACD) and compare their sound. This also becomes highly impractical as it is impossible to achieve for most end users.

What I would like to see from your site would be a reason why you support DVD-A in many of your Q&A responses. Does it have to do with the quantity of titles available on one format? Does it have to do with the pricing of players? Does it come from personal listening experience of titles in both formats from different labels? A truer listening experience of SACD is to listen to a recording that was either recorded using DSD from the start or a recording that was transferred to SACD using the original analog masters. If these factors aren't present, you lose some of the potential capability of the format.

As you can probably tell from this letter, I'm more in favor of SACDs. I feel DSD gives a wider, more spacious, and deeper representation of a recorded instrument than PCM. Of course, this is my opinion. Until universal player prices enter the range of the common consumer, I don't believe most users will truly hear the uppermost capability of their audio systems.

A Universal players are just now coming out, although some of them may be re-badged Pioneer players. The problem is getting a disc that has been recorded in both DVD-A and SACD formats to begin with. If it is SACD and remixed for PCM DVD-A, that is not a fair comparison. If it is recorded in PCM for DVD-A and remixed for SACD, that is not fair either. Some of us here at Secrets like SACD and others prefer DVD-A. To me, they are so close in quality, that I don't care which format the disc is in, as long as my player can handle it.

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Q I am currently in the market for a HDTV monitor, specifically the Toshiba 42HDX82. One of my requirements is that the TV is able to display at 720p.  I have seen some that are advertised as accepting 720p input. Does that mean they alter the signal and display it at another resolution? Also, is this what the 42HDX82 does, or does it actually display 720p?

A Well, that is a marketing issue which is fuzzy in its interpretation. However, let me put it this way. If I were selling a TV that actually displays 720p, I would state it that way, instead of just saying that it accepts a 720p input.

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Q We are buying a 57" big screen TV, and don't want to spend that much on a sound system. I have seen surround in a box systems in the range of $200 - 500 and assume that since you get what you pay for, these will be inadequate. However, is it possible to put together a good system with components that cost approximately $1,000 for speakers, $300-500 for the receiver?

A I would suggest getting a set of Klipsch speakers, because that brand has high sensitivity and will work nicely with inexpensive receivers.

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Q What is your opinion on the use of electrostatic speakers in a home theater environment? I have heard some negative opinions. I like the Martin Logan Ascents. Do you have to get electrostatics for the center and rears to get a good match with these speakers? I have noticed even in the Martin Logan line - that some of the speakers are 6 ohm while others are 4 ohm. Do the impedances of the speakers need to match? Any advice on a good five-channel amp that would push five electrostats?

A I love the idea of ESLs for home theater, but they are more difficult to place in the room than conventional speakers. For the center, even another ESL will have problems because it is on its side and not nearly as big as the mains. However, the ESL would be the best to use in the center anyway. The impedance match is not critical. You will need a big amplifier, though, such as a Theta Dreadnaught or Cinepro 3k6.

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