Q  In the latest Q&A you stated that multi-format players will output video in the native format of the DVD (i.e., PAL DVD = PAL signal). I own a JVC XV-SA600BK unit and can confirm that regardless of the DVD format, the output is NTSC (i.e., PAL DVD = NTSC signal). This is stated on page 4 of the manual, and I have also tested this on my home TV.  I cannot comment on the other DVD players you listed.

A That is good to know. I was just repeating what a website that sells those players said about those players. Frankly, I would have thought that multi-format players would output both DVD formats in whatever format you choose.

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Q Since I've been looking to upgrade my current television, I read with great interest, your Guide to Buying Televisions. After reading it and thinking about it though, I was somewhat dismayed at some of the advice you gave readers. I've been looking at buying a HDTV display. My budget is somewhat restricted, but since I only needed a mid-sized display, and since my setup is in a relatively small room, I could afford some of the lower end HDTV displays. I narrowed it down to either a 30" 16:9 or 32" 4:3 unit. In the article you state that a buyer should bypass any of the 4:3 units and go directly to a 16:9 display. I analyzed my viewing habits and came to the following conclusion:  I spend a large part of my viewing watching 4:3 material from broadcast/cable, and a relatively small portion watching movies from DVD/LD which are 99% 16:9. After crunching the numbers I figured that on a 30" 16:9 widescreen display I would actually only be getting about 29" due to the aspect ratio differences between the 16:9 display and the format of many movies (2.35:1).

When viewing 4:3 material I would be watching everything in a 24" window. Since I don't like any of the solutions like stretching etc, I would lose the rest of the screen. Using a 32" 4:3 HDTV display which falls in the same price range (but which I can usually get more features) I would end up watching 16:9 material in about a 29" window but I would get 4:3 material delivered in a full 32" as opposed to the 30" widescreen's anemic 24". So in the end I would lose about an inch watching 16:9 material on a 32" 4:3 display but gain 8" when watching 4:3 material.

So, I can only come to one conclusion, for people who watch a good portion of 4:3 material, a 4:3 display is a better choice. After all, even if I were to have a large space, say 10', shouldn't I opt to go with the biggest display I can afford? If you fill a 10' space with a 16:9 projector, your 4:3 material would still be smaller than if you were using a 4:3 display. Either solution makes me deal with black bars in some situation. Using a 16:9 display you have black bars using all 4:3 material and still have bars using widescreen stuff (albeit smaller ones). Using a 4:3 display you have to deal with bars using 16:9 material but not 4:3 material. If I were dealing with a much larger display, it might not matter to me that 4:3 images would be viewed in a smaller area, but at the sizes I have to deal with, it makes a huge difference.

A This is all very true, but there is an additional problem. When showing widescreen movies on a 4:3 screen, the DVD player has to letterbox the signal, thus downconverting it. This invariably throws away some picture resolution. The exception to this is if the DVD player can be set to output in full anamorphic widescreen, and the TV adjusts its scan area so that all the information is shown, in widescreen, and in the proper aspect ratio. You will have to check with the dealer to see if the 4:3 TV you are contemplating does this.

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Q Pioneer has a new DVD-A & SACD combo player out for well under $200. The catch, however, is that it converts the SACD's DSD signal to PCM. Granted, I'm no audiophile, but I do dig multi-channel music and there are a few SACD titles I have my eye on. What's the deal with the conversion? Will there be a significant difference in quality?

A Conversion of SACD signals to PCM before being decoded is more common than we think. However, in the $200 player, there will probably be more of an audio quality issue with the output stage rather than SACD-PCM conversion. It is quite likely that a higher quality CD player, playing 16/44.1 standard CDs, could sound better than the $200 combo player, playing SACDs. Of course, standard CDs are not multi-channel, so there is that factor to consider.

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Q I currently have the Monster Reference PowerCenter HTS 3500 MKII and now would like to buy a voltage regulator I'm thinking of the Furman AR-1215. In what sequence should I plug them in to my wall outlet? Should the AR-1215 plug into the wall and then the HTS 3500 plugs into the AR-1215 or should it be the other way around?

A I would suggest plugging the voltage regulator into the wall and the 3500 into the voltage regulator, as this will give you regulated voltage at all output sockets on the 3500. Otherwise, you would have to plug the voltage regulator into just one socket on the 3500, and not all sockets are necessarily on the same filters. Sometimes there are sockets for sources components and others for power amplifiers.

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Q It is my understanding that the threshold of human hearing means that for me to hear something at 25 Hz with the perception that it is at the same volume as something at 120 Hz, the sonic information at 25 Hz would have to be played much louder.

I have several subwoofers. So I have the capacity to cross them over so that they graduate to higher dB levels as the frequency drops.

If so, how should I do this? For example, should one sub play from 15 to 40 Hz while another plays from 15 to 60 Hz?

A Hearing is more complicated than this. Here is a graph of human hearing threshold at different frequencies. Notice that at 20 Hz, the threshold is about 75 dB, while at 50 Hz, it is about 45 dB.

However, this next graph shows that the discrimination changes as the loudness varies. In other words, as the loudness increases, the low frequencies will sound more like the higher ones in relative loudness. At low volume, the low frequencies will sound much lower in loudness, so you get progressive loss of perceived bass as the volume decreases. This is why some receivers have a "Loudness" control that boosts the bass when the volume is low.

Computer controlled subwoofers are just starting to appear. Hopefully, at some point, they can be programmed to change the EQ with volume differences in the signal. In the meantime, don't be concerned about this, as most bass in movies is added during post production and is digitally generated anyway. Just set the volume until it feels good. That is what home theater is about. (The graphs shown above are from the following Hyperphysics Laboratory - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/earcrv.html.)

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Q Could you please give me your insight and/or knowledge on the quality of the Sonance 5150 Cinema five-channel Amp? I have the opportunity to pick one up for about $500. Is this a good multi-channel amp? Is this a good manufacturer with a good reputation? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I really don't make any purchases without your opinion. I'm also looking at an ATI 1505 five-channel amp, but the price is about $800. The same is true for a Sunfire Signature Grand II five-channel Amp ($800).

A It appears you know how to search out good deals. Of all three amplifiers, however, I would choose the ATI 1505. They build amplifiers for a lot of companies, and I like their Class A/B operation. Although it is rated at 150 watts per channel, which is less than some other amps, it has a huge power supply, which usually means lots of headroom when transient peaks occur.

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Q I am thinking of buying the Dynaudio Audience 82 speakers that you reviewed recently. Dynaudio speakers are known to be power hungry. Within my budget I can go for powerful amplifier like NAD 218thx (+ NAD C160 ) or for an integrated unit like the Primare A30.1 . What would be a better match ? Primare is supposed to be a very high quality amplifier (as per reviews ) but lower power than NADs. Will Dynaudio Audience series speaker exploit the full potential of this amplifier ? In the same price range I can buy an NAD pre-power which will supply the abundant power that the Dynaudios are known to require. Also is the jump in quality from NADs to Primare worth the loss of power?

A The Dynaudios are 4 Ohms impedance and 87 dB sensitivity. Any problem here will more likely be a result of the lower impedance rather than lower sensitivity. I would go with the NAD. Bigger is definitely better with 4 Ohm speakers, and the 218 is a fine product.

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Q I am confused as to what HD selection I should set my STB and HDTV. Currently, I have both set to 1080i. Is this correct and why would I select either 480p or 720p? I have the Sony Grand Wega KF-60XBR800 and the Samsung SIR- TS160. I receive my HD broadcasts via DirecTV.

A The output settings on the STB (Satellite Set Top Box) are for the display that you use. Specifically, plasma, LCD flat panel, and digital projector resolutions may limit their input to a particular setting, usually 720p, but some smaller displays might only accept 480p. If you use the wrong output setting, the display might just show an error message. For your setup, it sounds like 1080i is the correct setting.

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