Q&A # 145 - October 26, 1999

Staff

Q I'm choosing my first home theater receiver, and I was wondering how many functions can a Yamaha RX-V995 remote control learn? Is it the same for the RX-V2095?

A The remote control for the RX-V995 will learn basic functions for 5 of the inputs. This does not include the phono input, the Tuner (included as Yamaha receiver function by default), the CD input, or the Tape/MD input. Those inputs will output Yamaha codes if you happen to have the same brand. There is however, an extra "input" that actually serves no switching function, but can store IR commands in that section. I use it to hold my CD transport commands. For each input that can learn functions, the user can assign IR commands to a set of functions. For VCR1 and VCR2, there is a Rec/Pause, A/B, Dir A, DirB, and basic transport functions (Fwd, Rew, Stop, & Play). For the DVD/LD and fake input, you can use Stop, Disc, Search Back, Search Forward, and four basic transport functions which include Skip Fwd, Skip Back, Play, and Pause/Stop. The TV/DBS and V-Aux inputs only get preset-, preset+, and a toggle^ key, all of which are considered transport functions. I mention transport functions, because when you close the cover of the remote to hide most of the buttons, there remains a TV power, VCR Power, and a discrete Receiver power on and off, in addition to the receiver volume up, down, and mute. Above this are the inputs and effect toggle on/off. Of course, one can put any IR command on any button so long as the code is within the capture bandwidth of the remote, but those codes captured under the basic transport buttons can be accessed through a single set of transport buttons that remain exposed while the door has been closed, which operate the IR commands of the last input selected on the remote. I thought that kind of nice since it lowers button clutter. The RX-V2095 works similarly, though I don't know if it has more programmable inputs. They're both great receivers, but if it comes down to the number of learnable functions, you can always get a dedicated learning remote with a lot more space, so perhaps ask the dealer to throw one in, such as an SL-9000.

Q A few weeks ago you replied to a question about a noise coming from my JVC 884 DD amplifier when connected to a digital source, which is my CD player (Technics, 1 bit MASH technology, 4DAC). One of your sentences intrigued me: you said that I should use my DAC in the CD player instead of the (newer?) one in the JVC amplifier. How can it be that a DAC in this level of quality of CD player is better than a 'latest' technology, 24(?) bits DAC in the JVC ? Where is the problem if this 'modern' DAC can't perform better than the one I bought in 1991?

A If it were just the DAC chip involved, then it probably would not be an issue, but the chips are connected to all kinds of circuitry, and that is where your problem lies, I think. However, not all DAC chips are equal. There are different grades (quality) of chips. Even within the designation of 16 bit chips, 20 bit chips, and 24 bit chips, there are different grades from the same chip manufacturer. Lastly, there is a clock timing problem that can arise between transports and outboard DACs. So, taking these things into account, you might very well get better results using your 1991 player.

Q Can you please tell me where to locate a site that has a listing for DVD movies with the Pan & Scan (4:3) version? I do not have a "widescreen" TV nor am I planning on buying one anytime soon. I do have over 100 titles now, but I live overseas and I'm having a hard time finding "Pan & Scan" titles.

A Stores such as Ken Crane's (http://www.kencranes.com) list such DVDs as LTX/NON/DD, which means that the DVD has the widescreen version (LTX) and the P&S (NON) version on the disc.

Q When watching programs other than movies, I hear and understand voices well. However, as soon as I put in a rented movie tape, the voices become muffled, and I can hardly understand much of the dialog. What's wrong with my setup?

A I assume you are using a Pro Logic decoder with the movies. Tape uses a stereo soundtrack, and Pro Logic takes the in-phase signals in the stereo tracks to create the center channel where the voices are. If the playback heads are even just a little out of alignment, the phase relationships between the two tracks will change and give the decoder a problem. You can try using a phantom center channel setting in your receiver, in which the center will be distributed between the two front channels.

Q I'm buying a new power amp, and I keep seeing the following figures in the "Frequency Response" column: 20 Hz - 20 kHz + 0.2dB , 10 Hz - 20 kHz +1dB, 15 Hz - 100 kHz (+0.5,-3dB) etc. So, what does it mean?

A These figures tell you how flat the response is in the audible spectrum, and an idea of how the response rolls off below and above the audible spectrum. If it were down 3 dB at 30 kHz, this would indicate the presence of phase shift in the upper regions of the audible spectrum, but since it is down 3 dB at 100 kHz, the phase shift is minimal. If you look back at some of our receiver reviews, you will see that the better ones are down 3 dB at higher and higher frequencies, even though they are all pretty flat within the audible bands (20 Hz - 20 kHz).

Q What do you recommend to shield audio visual wiring from household AC power wire interference?

A Most cables have a shield, but I would suggest keeping them as far away from power cords as possible. If they have to be nearby, run them crosswise rather than parallel to the power cords.

Q I have a Toshiba SD-9000 DVD player and several of the Chesky 96/24 super audio discs. As you say, the sound of the 96/24 disks is superlative using the analog outputs of the DVD player. My question is why bother with DVD Audio when a perfectly good format exists that does not necessitate a new player? The attraction of multi-channel is not that great considering how most multi-channel recordings are mixed. If multi-channel is desired, then DTS discs do a fine job. So who cares about DVD Audio?

A Keep in mind that 96/24 is a form of DVD audio, since the format is on DVD-type discs. However, your point is well taken, and the new formats are the manufacturers' way of keeping the bucks flowing. When it was just CDs and LPs, there wasn't much they could do, but now with the huge amount of space on DVDs, the possibilities are almost unlimited. Multi-channel DVDs are the next step up from the two-channel 96/24 discs out there now, although 5.1 will be in the format of 48/24 to start with. DTS does a fine job, but it uses a considerable amount of compression as does Dolby Digital. The new 5.1 DVD Audio will be better than current CDs since they are not compressed. Dolby and DTS could be developing non-compressed versions of their algorithms for all we know. I think that players with upgradable hardware cards and downloadable software will become more popular because there is no stopping the multitude of formats that will continue to be developed.

Q In the last Q&A, someone was building a system for their mp3s and Home Theater. I too am planning a system similar to this with the addition of a home network for several mp3 'servers'. The video card I will be using has S-Video in and out. I plan on having a computer in my component cabinet without a monitor (its output would be the TV). In addition to mp3s, I would like to use the DVD drive for movies and would like to simply surf using a very ergonomic wireless keyboard/mouse combo. I am considering the Sound Blaster Live sound card to use with receiver/amps (if possible). I enjoyed your perspective on mp3s and wondered if you could offer some insight into the possibility of using a PC in the home theater. Does a video card and a sound card have a place as HT components? If my ideas are even possible, what would be the limitations? Thanks for being such a great source of info.

A Yes, computers definitely have a place in home theater. We are developing such a system now, and will be describing it as soon as it is finished. It will use simple connections, and everything will be controlled by the computer, including DVD player, monitor, screens, etc. Lots of people are already using the PCs in their home theaters, and it will become more important over the next couple of years. Although SCSI is still the fastest way of transporting digital data (80 megabytes per second or 640 megabits per second), the second version of USB will handle about 400 megabits per second, so it is catching up to very usable speeds. IEEE1394 and USB are still battling it out, but either one of them should probably work very well in the PC/Home Theater system. Some of the PC video cards out there already do a very nice job of line doubling for DVD movie watching (computer monitors have multi-scan capability, unlike consumer TVs) and they are only a hundred dollars or so, compared to the much more expensive line doubling circuits for consumer television. We will get around to discussing the optimization of PC video for watching DVDs soon.

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