From: dna@ampex.com (David Altekruse)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Yamaha E1000 vs Sony TA-E2000ESD
Keywords: Dolby prologic
Date: 21 Jan 93 23:23:42 GMT
Organization: Ampex Corporation, Redwood City CA

Yves Cheneval writes:
 
>To answer these questions, I'm looking for someone who has tried the two
>units [Yamaha A1000 and Sony TAE2000ESD], and know them well. 

Like you, I poured over the specs.  I talked with friends and other video
engineers here at Ampex who have one or the other of these units.  I spent 
a few hours comparing both units in the store.  I've had the TAE2000ESD 
for about three months now.

>1) Is the Sony [TAE2000ESD] really able to mix dsp and prologic ?

    Yes.

>2) Is the Sony decoding of Pro-logic is a) worse b) same c) better than Yam?

    The specifications on the two units show greater separation between
    channels on the Sony TAE2000ESD.  The TAE2000ESD handles all Pro-Logic 
    functions in the digital domain.  The Yamaha A/E1000 uses digital
    circuitry for logic steering but the signal is kept in the analog domain.
    Opinion seems to be mixed about which actually sounds better, however.

>4) Are the two extra channels in Yam worth it ? Are they missing on the Sony ?

    The front effect channels is unique to the Yamaha A1000 and E1000.  
    Opinion is also mixed as to whether it is "worth it".  I couldn't
    tell it made a big improvement in the store but most of the people 
    here on rec.video who have A1000's with the front effect speakers 
    feel it is a valuable addition.  (I have 6 foot tall bipolar Magnepan
    MG-III front speakers and I seriously doubt the Yamaha front effect
    channel would add much or even be desirable with this type of speaker.) 

>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.

>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 realize there are more options than just these two units but if the
decision ends up between the Yamaha A1000 and the Sony TAE2000ESD with
the purchase of additional front, center, and rear amplifiers, I think 
the Yamaha is clearly a better bargain **IF** the Yamaha amps are a good 
match with your front and center speakers.  This is especially true in 
the U.S. because Yamaha's are significantly discounted at many places
whereas the Sony ES line is rarely discounted.  

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.
Besides, the Yamaha has a more user-friendly remote control. 

- David Altekruse, dna@ampex.com
Newsgroups: rec.video