Q&

Q&A - #1 - February 24, 1997
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Q I feel that DVD brings a whole new potential to the audio and video market. I also feel that it could certainly change the electronic scene for the consumer drastically. Should DVD become a favorite, it has the potential to replace every audio/video player on the market today. If it fails to catch on with the consumer, it has the potential to financially devastate an entire industry. The question I had in mind was the differentiation among all the DVD players. There has been only one review and that happens to be in Video magazine about 3 or 4 issues back. They compared the picture and sound quality to the Pioneer LD CLD-D703 which has been replaced by the 704. They described the colors with more rendition and hue as oppose to the LD, but you can't consider that a direct comparison if a person is trying to distinguish between other DVD models. I would like to know your opinion about which model stands-out from the pack, like Toshiba, Samsung, Pioneer, Denon, Onkyo, etc. Even though a lot of players haven't been released yet and it is hard to judge that decision now, but basing your knowledge on the manufacturers, which would be your DVD player?

A None of the DVD players have been released for sale here in the U.S., although some stores have been giving demos and taking orders for players, which will arrive to be picked up by the purchasers in March. DVD movies will be released then too (see News Flash, February 24, 1997). Even if they are extremely successful, VCRs will still be popular, because DVD players can't record, at least for now. It is likely that DVD will replace laserdiscs, if the image quality is good, but it is primarily aimed at the mass market consumer who rents videos. DVDs will be much less expensive to manufacture than VHS tapes and laserdiscs, and should not deteriorate after constant rental, as tapes do. The industry is protecting itself by releasing the players and movies in a few cities at first, to gauge how they should gear up for mass production. As to the choice of players, I would select one that has component video output if you really want the best image, although there are not many TVs now that have component video inputs. Not all of the initial DVD players have component video outputs. Also, some of the players may decode the digital stream more accurately than others. That is something we will be determining as soon as we get some of the players. For now, I would just wait until all the first models are on the shelves to check them out.

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Q I would love to use the optical digital output on my Sony DSS and CD player and of course future DVD player, but I have no inputs on my Yamaha 2090 receiver. 1) Can I upgrade my Yamaha receiver with digital inputs so that I can send the signal right to the Pro-Logic processor?? 2) If I could, would I hear any audible improvements to Pro-Logic surround sound considering the DAC in the Sony AD-2 DSS is probably as cheesy as they come. Any info GREATLY appreciated

A In order to have outboard digital surround sound, you need to have a set of discrete 5.1 inputs on your receiver. When DSS starts transmitting AC-3, you can connect the digital output from the DSS directly to any receiver that has AC-3 decoding built in. If the receiver does not have AC-3 built in, then it must have the set of 5.1 discrete inputs. In that case, the AC-3 output from the DSS receiver would be connected to the digital input of an AC-3 decoder (some of which decode two channel digital from DSS), and the analog outputs (5.1) of the outboard AC-3 decoder then connected to the 5.1 inputs on the receiver. Some of the Yamaha receivers have AC-3 built in, some have no built in AC-3 but have 5.1 inputs, and some don't have built in AC-3 or any 5.1 inputs. Receivers with no AC-3 built in, and no 5.1 inputs, cannot be upgraded.

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Q Can my Mits 40-805 TV be upgraded to component video inputs? When a repairman visited a while ago and opened the rear cover, the input jacks were all just cards plugged into a main board, like in a computer. Again, like in computers, can one of those composite/S-video input cards be replaced with a component input card? Would love to upgrade so is it possible???

A Since laserdisc players can be upgraded to output AC-3, I imagine that there will be ways to upgrade TVs to handle component video input. Some of our other readers will probably want to comment here on the difficulty or ease with which this might be done. We will post comments on this later.

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Q Hi - I have a Sherwood RV6030r receiver, a Philips FR940 receiver, a Mitsubishi HSU550 VCR, a Mitsubishi 26EX1 stereo TV, and 5 speakers: 1 center, 2 mains, and 2 rear. I'm interested in finding out what wiring connections I should make to use both receivers. I read in the owners manual for the Sherwood how I can use another receiver to drive the mains or the rears. But since I'm not very knowledgeable about wiring connections, I don't understand how to do it. I do understand the basic connections as explained in the owners' manuals though. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

A In order to use both receivers, both of them will need to have "pre-out" and "pre-in" jacks. The pre-outs are jacks which supply the signal after it has passed through the preamplifier section, but before it goes to the power amp section. Pre-in jacks feed the power amplifier in the receiver. If both your receivers have these, then connect the pre-outs of one receiver to a "Y" connector (Radio Shack has them; you need two, and each connector has one RCA plug and two RCA jacks). Connect one leg of the Y connector back to the pre-ins of the same receiver, and the other leg of the Y connector to the pre-ins of the other receiver. Connect the speaker outputs of one receiver to your front main left/right speakers, and the speaker outputs of the other receiver to the rear speakers. This will not give you true surround sound, but it will still sound pretty good. You won't be able to use your center channel speaker until you get a surround sound receiver. Also, try this as a possibility: Connect the rear speakers reversed, that is right to left and left to right, and reverse the polarity on the rear speaker terminal wire connections as well. This will give you stereo no matter where you sit in the room, and some ambience as a result of the rear being out of phase with the front.