From: mjv8557@eafs000.ca.boeing.com (Mark J. Vandiver)
Subject: Re: Home Theater HELP
Organization: be41t
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:09:11 GMT

cl400@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Timothy Grall) writes:


>I am buying a new house soon and I'd like to step up to a larger
>TV and a decent stereo receiver.  My questions are numerous as
>I'm thinking of setting up (some sort of) a home theater system.
>I have a CD player, 2 speakers, tape deck, and EQ.  What I need
>is a new receiver, TV, VCR, and extra speakers.  Considering
>the receiver, would Dolby surround be a good choice?  I've seen
>some with DSP (digital signal processing), but don't know the
>real advantages of this.  Concerning the VCR, what are the 
>advantages of a HI-FI VCR, and would it be needed with a 
>surround receiver?  As for the TV, would it need to be capable
>of stereo sound internally, or could it just require A/V jacks?
>Finally for speakers, my 15-inch are in good shape, so if I
>went with a Dolby surround setup, I assume I would just need
>two more and then one extra one.
I do not know what price range you are hoping to stay within,
but I have had a Surround Home theater System for about a year 
now and Love it!

First, Definately get Dolby Surround! Most TV shows and almost
all movies are encoded in Surround. Makes a world of difference!
DSP is also a wonderful option, It provides a full, surround
effect for other sources that do not contain Dolby encoding.
Once you get used to Dolby surround you won't want to listen to
anything without the rear channels, they sound flat and 2 dimensional.
Yamaha has a DSP/Surround unit with 7 channels instead of the
normal 5, 15 Other DSP options for use without Surround encoding,
Internal Amps, A/V Switching, Dubbing capability, all for the unbelievable
1500.oo! WOW! I know that sounds like a lot, but try to do all that
with separates for that price and get equal quality!

Definately get Hi Fi VCRs, if not SUper VHS VCR. Why? Because
the Dolby Surround is on the Hi Fi track. No Hi Fi, no surround
q
B
for recorded material. Super VHS although in  the 80> 
800.oo range is also well worth th eextra money. I get
better tape on slow speed (6hr per tape) in super than I
get in fast speed (2hr per tape) in just Hi Fi. Tape quality
does make a difference, bu not as much as super. I can see
vertical scratches in the original film material when recorded
in SUper rather than the Horizontal scan lines so prevelant
in normal VHS recordings. Also a Laser Disc is another wonderful
investment! I rent discs, copy them on super, and they look 
better than tapes I rent from the rental store! No copyguard
either!

The TV tuner should be capable of Stereo, but the cabinet does not   
need stereo speakers. Since I have not seen any like this, get
a stereo TV. Stereo is required for Surround encoding. Also,
the TV must have RCA jacks out of the tuner section, and RCA
jacks into the Monitor section for Home THeater System to work
optimumly. RCA out from the tuner is a definate must, while
inputs are secondary. This allows everything ( TV, VCR, LD, etc)
to be routed through the A/V switcher in the Surround reciever
so all on screen displays and functions are available all the 
time.

Speakers, If the Yamaha is used, You'll not only need 2 more speakers,
but 5! 3 is al least a minimum, and if the TV's internal speaker can be used
for the center channel, 2 are needed. The back channels can be
a good quality bookshelf speaker, I use Boston Acoustics A60's
firing forward. The Center channel, if not the TV's should either
be sheilded, so as not to ruin the TV when in close proximity,
or a fair distance away from the TV. This should be centered
between the Front Main speakers. The Front Main Speakers should
be equadistant from either side of the TV, while being placed
optimumly for room acuotics, (equa distant from side walls, rrear
walls, etc) The other channel that Yamaha provides with the A1000
model is a front surround effect channel. These speakers can also be
a set of bookshelf speakers, mounted to the outside, and rear of the 
front Main speakers. These channels optimize side to side movement
of on screen action, and provide a more full, and realistic environment
for listening. The main thing to keep in mind for these speakers is
that you want them to be of nearly the same sound characteristics
as your main speakers. Some units provide a equalizer inside to tweak
the surround to more closely reflect the sound of the mains. This is
most usefull! the Yamaha DSP A 1000 has this option for the center
channel. There are of course otehr Surround A/V switcher preamps,
most of which are in the 800-1000.00 range, but none with these options.
And I personally liked the sound the best. Dennon sucked! the controls
were not well thought out and the sound was tinny, no user definabilty.
Sony was better, video quality fair, sound was flat, no sparkle, Surround
still was not as definable as I would like, no DSP save for simple time delay.
ACK! Carver sounded better but the well thought out controls NOT!!!
I could not believe it! The input source was selectable by remote, but
the surround mode was not! Excuse me? If I am going to switch inputs
remotely, and some inputs are dolby encoded or not, I should not have to get up
and turn on/off the Dolby circuitry! STUPID STUPID STUPID!!! No DSP
otehr than time delay. Pioneer has a unit that rates, only 5 chanels
only a few DSP's, not as many amps or as much power as the Yamaha,
and 1200.oo! Get the Yamaha! Best unit for the money!

D
D
D
D
wall etc) The other channel the Yamaha provides is a fron surround
I>I would appreciate any help or suggestions you might have for
>me, or recommendations of what good equipment is currently
>available for an affordable home theater system.
Newsgroups: rec.audio,rec.video