From: cheneval@lamisun6.epfl.ch (Yves Cheneval)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Yamaha E1000 vs Sony TA-E2000ESD
Keywords: Dolby prologic
Date: 21 Jan 93 17:12:48 GMT
Organization: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne


I'm considering buying a prologic equipment. I'm sure this subject has
already been talked, but anyway I didn't find anything on the net, except
a response from D. Altekruse about the snoy TA-E2000ESD:

I own a medium quality amplifier, and I would like to upgrade step by step
my equipment. The goal is to have a very good amplifier, but also to have
a good Prologic equipment. It means that:
1) I want to be able to use only my 2 main speakers when listening to a CD,
   with a sound path as short as possible. (I don't want to go through
   a full prologic decoder BEFORE going to my main amp, etc...)
2) I want also to use the prologic equipment at its very best, giving me
   the fewest quality loss in the surround and other speakers. 

3) I'm trying to minimize cost, but I`m ready to pay a good price,
   if you can HEAR the difference.
   
So, looking at the specs of integrated prologic amp, such as
the Yam A1000 or Kenwood 8500, I didn't find anything good, because the
preamp are not good enough.
So I tried decoder-only or decoder-plus-surround-channels-amplifier
equipment. I WANT to be able to use DSP and Prologic AT THE SAME TIME.
According to mags and people, it seems that Yamaha is the leader in
"comprehensive prologic decoding including DSP action".

A solution was then to buy the E1000, using my old amplifier for main channels. 
When money is available, I would buy another hi-quality amplifier with a good
preamplifier and a lot of digital input capability.
(my current amplifier has only 4 audio (analog, of course) inputs). 
And I found the Sony TA-E2000ESD, an all-digital preamplifier with lot of
digital inputs, analog and video inputs. By reading the docs, I found that:
1) the sony can handle only 5 channels, compared to 7 in the yam. The two
   additional channels in the yam are for the front effects speakers.
2) It seems that the sony has the capability to mix DSPs and prologic (in the
   theater and live programs), but it is not very clear...
3) Because it is only a preamplifier, I need to buy at the same time an
   extra amp to drive the surround and front channels....

So, my questions are:
1) Is the Sony really able to mix dsp and prologic ?
2) Is the Sony decoding of Pro-logic is a) worse b) same c) better than Yam?
3) Is the Yam able to STORE personal settings, and if yes, how many of them?
4) Are the two extra channels in Yam worth it ? Are they missing on the Sony ?
5) Is it worth to buy the sony, considering you have to buy an amplifier for
   surround and center channels ???
6) According to the Sony doc, there are more parameters on the sony than on
   the yam. Are they useful or only toys ???
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 ????
   
   
To answer these questions, I'm looking for someone who has tried the two
units, and know them well. Here in Switzerland, I wasn't able to find anyone
knowing the answers, because prologic decoding is only beginning here. 
And if you want to know the luck you have, let me tell you the prices of
these equipment in Switzerland:
Yam A-1000: 1340 US $
Yam E-1000: 1070 US $
Sony TA2000: 1171 US $

What do you think ? I'm sure someone in US could make a fortune by selling
equipment using Europe standard (220 V 50 Hz) with US prices.... 

Thanks a lot for the answerers... 

Yves Cheneval (cheneval@lamisun.epfl.ch)