Q&A # 142 - October 7, 1999

Staff

Q I just read your favorable review on the SC-1/AVs, and must say they sound like an extremely good bargain. I am currently using Von Schweikert 4.5s as mains and do not have anything for surrounds or a center. I had spoken with a few different dealers regarding options for my present speakers since I like them so much, but most of them advised it was much better to go with the same manufacturer for "continuity" in a home theater setup. Unfortunately, this omits VSR. Although I could probably find something used, I am not crazy about that since they are no longer in business. One dealer on the Internet adamantly referred me to the Dunlavys. Of course, we all know that dealers promote what they sell, so it was refreshing to read a review from an "unbiased" reviewer! My questions concern the room placement of the speakers: how room sensitive are they, especially when you listened to them in 2 channel music? If you can share any more info about them besides what you put in your article, I would appreciate it. I would also like to know if you have had the opportunity to listen/evaluate any speaker from the HalesDesignGroup? If so, what were your impressions? Also, any possibility of you reviewing the new 5 channel amp from EAD in the near future?

A The Dunlavys are indeed a bargain. They are extremely neutral, so if your VSRs are also neutral, you should have no problem integrating into your existing system. All speakers are room-sensitive to some degree. The speakers produce the initial movement of air, and the room shape, as well as its contents, will affect what you hear. Just remember to include a good subwoofer, and you will be fine. As to the other equipment you mentioned, we are working on getting all kinds of stuff for review. I wish we had more writers.

Q I really love your site! It's the best HT site on the internet!!! I'm having a problem playing DVDs. I have a Toshiba (10 years old) 28" TV, Sony DVP-S3000, and Sony TA-VA80ES (equivalent to US STR-DA80ES minus the tuner). The brightness on my TV is always up and down. When I decrease the brightness, the problem seems less obvious. I have tried connections with S-Video and Composite Video. It's more obvious with S-Video. Do you think it's my TV? Or should I get a Macrovision Remover? Please HELP! By the way, I'm from Malaysia.

A That sounds like Macrovision. If you can, try your DVD player on a second TV and also try a second DVD player on your TV. Are you routing your DVD through your VCR or Sony processor? If you are, try running directly to the TV. It is very rare that a TV has a problem with Macrovision. It is usually the VCR that is affected. People often run their DVD through their VCR and have this problem. A Macrovison remover may fix this, if it is indeed a Macrovision problem.

Q I have a Kenwood UD-90 stereo system capable of Pro Logic. With the advent of DVD players, I decided to buy a DVD-ROM player for my PC. I will also buy a Sound Blaster Live sound card. I know that card supports Dolby AC-3. I am quite comfortable with my stereo system, and am not considering a change at the moment. Will I be able to hear Dolby Digital Surround Sound with my system when I play DVDs from my PC?

A You should be able to. I am not sure if the Kenwood accepts digital, analog, or both. If it only accepts analog inputs, you will nned to use the analog out of your SoundBlaster Live into the Kenwood. If it accepts digital then you can use that. Be sure to tell the DVD decoder that you want it to downconvert 5.1 to 2 channel Dolby Digital.

Q I live in Australia. I want to be able to play an NTSC video tape on my television set. I also want to be able to record off my television set or camcorder onto an NTSC tape so that I can send them to my daughter in America. Would you be able to tell me what I need to achieve this result, please?

A You will need a multisource VCR (NTSC and PAL) to do this. This should be easy to locate in Europe, but you do not find them very much in the US. They should also be available in Australia.

Q I have problem with using component video inputs in my rear projection TV. The picture looks fine in bright scenes, but in the dark scenes, picture quality is poor. I can see too much blue and not enough details. When I compare DVD in pause with S-VHS input - picture in S-VHS, it looks great. I'm using a Toshiba 2108 DVD player, Monster Video Cables (component and S-VHS), and a Toshiba TP61H95 rear projection TV.

A Component input and S-Video input will require different video settings. Did you calibrate your video using S-Video or Component (using either Avia or Video Essentials)? Toshiba does not do a great job at converting component back to RGB. You will find you need to bring the color control down a little bit. The blue problem might actually may be the result of poor gray scale. Have you had your TV's gray scale calibrated by an ISF technician? Manufacturers will make the TV more blue (raise the gray scale) to offer perceived brightness on the show room floor. Also, you will want to make sure your DVD player is set for normal black level and not enhanced. I only suggest this because you have a Toshiba TV and they only have one memory. If you set it with the black level on normal, then all sources will be good.

Q I own a Sony SA-VA 15 Home Theater Active Speaker System. The manual says I can connect an active center speaker to the system. Which speaker manufacturers make active center channel speakers?

A An active speaker is one with the power amplifier built-into the enclosure, or on the back of the enclosure. A powered subwoofer is an active speaker, but there are also bookshelf speakers that are active, such as made by Paradigm. However, you do not have to use an active speaker. Just plug the output of your system into a power amplifier that is connected to the center channel speaker. On the other hand, if you are dealing with just one output from your system, that is, the line-level output that is to go to the center speaker, then an active speaker is in order, since most power amplifiers have more than one channel.

Q I have a Pioneer VSX-456 Pro Logic Receiver. I was wondering if you might know what class the amplifier is on this particular unit.

A Mass market receivers tend to be Class A/B, with bias just barely into Class A, meaning that 99% of the time, it will be running in Class B, and only 1% in Class A.

Q I am about to make my first home theater purchase. I have looked at a number of manufacturers of receivers and DVD players, and as the units get more expensive, they include both DD and DTS decoding. It seems that if I buy a top quality receiver and DVD player, I will end up with redundant features, as I only need the decoding in one or the other. Would it be better to spend the money to get the decoding in the DVD player and buy a less expensive receiver, without the decoding, or vise-versa? Could I get by with just an older receiver that has just Pro Logic and 5.1 inputs and use the DVD player with DD and DTS in it to feed the unit? Would the sound from this setup be as good as one of the later receivers with the DD/DTS decoding built-in?

A Just about every new DVD player has DD and DTS. Both can be output as a digital bitstream, but only DD is output as 5.1 analog. The more expensive players have 5.1 analog out as you say, but also other features such as component video. Adding the 5.1 analog out is not an expensive feature, so you should base your decision on other things, such as multi-disc capability, component video, etc. I would suggest getting a receiver than has DD and DTS, because, as I said, the players only output DTS as a digital bitstream, which requires the DTS decoding in a receiver. Also, the DSP soundfields in receivers do not function when using the 5.1 analog inputs.

� Copyright 1999 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity
Return to Q&A Index.