From: gregr@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Gregory S Rogers)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Yamaha E1000 vs Sony TA-E2000ESD
Keywords: Dolby prologic
Date: 23 Jan 93 21:46:34 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.


>>6) According to the Sony doc, there are more parameters on the sony than on
>>   the yam. Are they useful or only toys ???

    >My opinion is that the equalization (available on all L-R, Center, and
    >rear channels) is very valuable.  Many of the ambience (reverb) parameters
    >are rather subtle and probably give you more control that you really
    >need.  So far I've not even played with the compression/expansion
    >parameters.

I think that most of the Sony parameters are very useful but they take a lot
of experimenting to figure out what you like and don't like.  In addition
they aren't simply additive effects.  You don't increase one parameter until 
you like it, then increase another till you like that one.  After you change
one you will probably go back and change another previously set. This isn't
an equipment flaw in the sense that the controls are interactive.  It is simply
the fact the the effects are integrated by your brain.  If you don't like
many tedious hours of experimenting and adjusting parameters to tailor
the effect, then the Sony is probably overkill for you.  On the otherhand if
you are the type of person that wants control over every aspect of the sound
that you can possibly get you hands on, this is heaven.


>>7) If I'm buying the sony, all inputs will go throughout it. Is there a 
>>   possibility to bypass all settings? I have seen the source direct
>>   switch, but it seems that analog sources are going through the ad-da
>>   circuits. So what does exactly the source direct switch ????
    
    >All DSP settings (Pro-Logic, ambience, equalization, compression/
    >expansion) are by-passed in the "Source Direct" mode.  As you state,
    >analog signals still go through A/D->D/A, however.  (Don't ask me
    >why Sony does it that way, though.)

I believe that you are both incorrect.  In the bypass mode the analog signals
go through the input level control then directly to the master volume control.
They do NOT get converted through the A/D->D/A in this path as you suggest.
This can be seen in the Sony block diagram on page 52 of the manual.  Its the
line from the center tap of the input level control to the switch connected 
to the top of the motorized ganged master volume control.  

This topology can be simply demonstrated.  Play a CD, using the ANALOG output
of the CD player into the (obviously) ANALOG input of the TA2000.  Now turn the
volume control down to a fairly low level.  (I don't want to hurt your
speakers.)  Now WITHOUT the bypass switch on, turn the input level control, NOT
the VOLUME control, all the way to max. During louder portions of the CD the
OVERload indicator on the TA2000 will light up and the sound will be awful.
Clicks, pops, distortion etc as the A/D convertor is overloaded.  Now press
the bypass switch and notice the sound is now fine.  The OVERload indicator
will still light because the signal still goes to the A/D but since the
signal from the TA2000 bypasses the A/D it sounds fine. The A/D and obviously
D/A are bypassed by the switch.  This is the desired design topology. (When 
using digital input signals the signals are routed through the D/A in the 
bypass mode, which of course they must to get an analog output.)


>On the other hand, the Sony is probably the higher-end way to go since you 
>can select the best amps for your particular speakers and because of the 
>additional features and flexibility of the Sony TAE2000ESD.  But if you 
>don't already have good front amps and the Yamaha's amps are good enough
>for you, if the ability to split audio and video sources in both the line 
>and record outputs isn't important to you, if you have well matched speakers 
>and don't need the ability to equalize all the channels, if you are not the
>type of person who likes to tweak knobs and parameters, and and if the digital
>input/outputs aren't of interest to you, then I'd go with the Yamaha.


Yes, I agree with this assessment. In otherwords if you are really serious
and willing to invest the time and energy to adjust the beast, get the Sony.  
And although you can just use the settings that Sony preprograms for you,
I wouldn't waste my money if that's all I was going to do.  But don't
under estimate the time required to set the Sony up if you wish to take
advantage of all it can do.  Equalizing front, rear, and center channels alone
done properly took me several days of work even with calibrated
microphones, real-time analyzers (or spectrum analyzers), and sources. 

Also one other note, the Sony is poor in providing the signals for the 
subwoofers.  You were planning to use subwoofers weren't you.? Otherwise,
perhaps you should reconsider your goals.  Anyway, the amplifier you use for 
your subwoofers must have a separate volume control to adjust the level of the 
subwoofers with respect to the front channels.  The Sony does not provide a 
separate level control for the subwoofers. Nor does it provide a selectable 
cross over frequency adjustment or slope controls for the crossover.  In my
case I don't care about any of this because I have separate crossovers for
my subwoofers in the rest of my audio system.  But if you don't already
have subwoofers in your two channel audio system this may be important to you.

Greg Rogers