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Question for you audiophiles....
Freejack
Jake the Not-so-Wise
in Zocalo v2.0
After trying to watch Lord of Rings on the old console tv with a single speaker (ouch!), its time to buy a surround sound system. Any recommendations for a sound newbie on how to get started. Ohh and one more thing, this has to be on the cheap side of things (I know, I know cheap and electronics do not go together).
I was looking at the surround sound packages, where you get an amp, two small front channel, two small rear channel, a center and a base speaker. I've found systems from Kenwood and Sony that seem to reasonably priced (around $300). I realize this is no $10,000 theater system, but is it going to give good surround sound?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
BTW another newbie question: Is Dolby DTS the same as Dolby 5.1?
Jake
I was looking at the surround sound packages, where you get an amp, two small front channel, two small rear channel, a center and a base speaker. I've found systems from Kenwood and Sony that seem to reasonably priced (around $300). I realize this is no $10,000 theater system, but is it going to give good surround sound?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
BTW another newbie question: Is Dolby DTS the same as Dolby 5.1?
Jake
Comments
[url="http://www.sonystyle.com/home/item.jsp?hierc=9686x9811x9813&catid=&itemid=37651"]http://www.sonystyle.com/home/item.jsp?hierc=9686x9811x9813&catid=&itemid=37651[/url]
It's probably the same (or very similar) model that you're looking at. I'm rather pleased with it, myself. Sure, it's not going to shake the place down, but I couldn't get away with that anyway (in an apartment). Even though the speakers are small, they put out a good sound. It does DTS, Dolby Digital, and Pro Logic II (what the Gamecube uses for surround sound).
I use it mainly for DVDs and the Gamecube, and it sounds quite nice. One thing that looks like it may become an annoyance is the (relatively) small number of inputs. It doesn't have any S-Video plugs at all, which is a little annoying, but not the end of the world. The main thing that seems to be an issue is the lone optical input. Currently, it's being used by the DVD player, but we're looking into adding a CD changer to the system. The unfortunate thing is that most of the changers that we're looking at have the red/white RCA plugs, and an optical connection, but no digital coaxial (which is still free on the receiver). So right now I'd kill for an extra optical plug on it.
As far as Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS go, there is definitely a difference, although I'm not entirely sure as to what it is. I know that they're utilize 5.1 sound, and are both digital formats. All I do know when I watch Pitch Black, the DTS track does sound better than the DD5.1 track.
Either way, DTS decoding appears to be a standard nowadays, so you won't really have to worry about not ending up with it.
Oh, and a good place to do some research is [url="http://www.hometheaterforum.com."]www.hometheaterforum.com.[/url] The people there are really helpful, but their preferences tend towards the higher end.
Anyway I'm also wondering if these recievers could support bigger speakers. If you look for the recievers alone, they are $199 to $299, so for only $100 you get the six speakers. It doesn't look like a bad deal, plus the speakers would be easy to upgrade later (self-powered base box comes to mind).
Jake
For example:
Sony 600 watt system: .09% THD @ 8 ohms
Kenwood 600 watt system: .7% THD @ 8 ohms
Will I be able to tell a difference?
Jake
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Failing that, maybe someone could point you to a 7.1 system. Think it has like 5 front speakers and 2 rear (+ sub). It's one of the options for the WinXP speaker setups, so it must exist!
Sheesh, that just seems a little excessive. I mean, is it really necessary to have a speaker between the front corners and the center?
buy you speakers.
That's what good sounds is about. If the magnets, windings and the cone are crap, no matter how good, or multichanneled or digital your signal is, what comes out to meet your ears will be shit.
Concentrate A) on your main speakers, the old left and right stereo jobbies which do the lions share of the work.
B) Fill out your sound with centre channel, bass and rears...
C) then buy your reciver/player/etc
and don't be fooled by all the hoohah.... buy excellent quality speakers and then buy your other stuff... stuff that changes every three goddamn months. Have a look at the history of everything electronic and musical out there. The only thing that have remained virtually unchanged are the speakers and perhaps the old straight power amps and pre-amps to a degree. Theres not much to them technically speaking, and thats why they haven't changed lots.
If you want the absolute best 'bang for your buck' you cant do better than :
[url="http://www.vaf.com.au"]http://www.vaf.com.au[/url]
They sell kits which are simple to put together and the sound they produce is beyond belief... they can sound like $2000 studio monitor/reference grade speakers.
My strongest reccomendation is for the DC-X speakers, I bought a 'drivers only' kit to power my speakers and even though I'm no super audiophile... I can't really pick the differnce between them and the $4000 ones.
Please note also that the prices are in AU dollars.... thats roughly 55c US, so halve the prices if you are a US citizen.
buy a PS2 if you dont have one yet.... it carries one of Sonys top DVD players in its innards and you basically get the games side of things for effectively nothing...
as far as the whole surround sound deal goes.... most of it is bollocks, your ear cant discern seven different speaker locations... and only the middle to high frequency sound will give you any sense of direction anyways... your eye/brain simply cant process the high frequency stuff fast enough to work out whichof your ears the sound is closest to... therefore it sounds like its coming from everywhere... and the bass signal.... basically bleeds out everywhere and you feel it more than hear it.
buy th crappiest surround sound amp out there... patch it through a 'real' ampifier to your "mains".... and run lower grade on your surrounds...
Go BIG ASS stereo....
then play with the floaty bits around the edges if you must....
a good set of stereo speakers like the DC-X will fill your lounge room and the rest of your house...
I set mine up in a six car garage for a party... my mate is a DJ, he brought a trailer full of audio shite to set up.... he listened to my speakers and a 1970's $20USD Pawn shop Amplifier and a CD walkman....
he just shrugged, got out just his mixing desk and his turntables, his vinyl and plugged in...
leaving 2500W of worth of PA stuff worth over $5000, in his trailer.
and oh yeah.. DC-X will go distortion free to 200W RMS.... not peak signal some of the time.... all the time constant 200W....
While I'm happy to admit I'm biased towards VAF stuff for alot of reasons... I simply dont know of anything out there that works as well for the same price. Be my guest and try finding something with its price/performance stats. There are good speakers out there, and they'll probably be pretty close performance wise... and five hundred bucks dearer. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
It seems that South Australia breeds good sound people and products... one, if not the best power amp in the world is built here... the Halcro. Look it up if you like... its worth the GNP of a small country but it is unmatched.
If the DC-X are too expensive, try the DC-7's or even smaller VAF stuff.... in fact... if you but say some DC-7's first up... they will make A grade surround speakers later, if you upgrade.
Allthough more than a little outside your budget... the LFE woofers are the ducks guts...
it generates very lazy bass.... not lazy as in the 'tightness' of the signal... its as tight as it comes... I'm saying its lazy because it goes THROUGH you... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]
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(me ? passionate ? nah... perish the thought.. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img] )
I already have a PS2, hence the need for a sound system (ever notice how electronics breeds its own set of demands).
Jake
[b]Get 6.1! That's what Dolby Digital EX is, if memory serves. Think about it...7 channels! It can't be that far off, because a. There's an EX track on the Episode I DVD, and b. I would be using it right now because my sound card supports it, but unfortunately my speakers don't.
Failing that, maybe someone could point you to a 7.1 system. Think it has like 5 front speakers and 2 rear (+ sub). It's one of the options for the WinXP speaker setups, so it must exist![/b][/quote]
Just remember, that Dolby Digital EX is not true 6.1. All it is, is the standard 5.1 channels with a compressed datastream for the 6th channel, it works in much the same way that Dolby Pro Logic does, with pro logic there are only 2 actual channels, and the surround data is comressed into those streams and fed to the rear speakers, while this does sound better than non surround, its nothing like true 5.1 surround.
7.1 is the same idea. the next true advance will be Dolby Digital 8.1 (which if i remember is available, but its UBER expenvice) 8.1 will be true individual channels for Frong Right/Center/Left Rear Right/Center/Left, Middle Right/Left.
As for current systems, Yeah you can get EX, but don't spend a lot extra just to get it. I got my Dolby Digital 5.1 system (a JVC) for $400 over a year ago, was the Reciever, 5 speakers and the Subwoofer.
it knocks photos off the wall when Gandalf pounds his staff on the Bridge of Khazad-dum.
[img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
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..And so it Begins
http://www.firefoot.com
Zah-ha-dum/Khazad-hum
whos been a naughty JMS then... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
There are *TONS* of references between them. :P
*this thread has officially changed course after having completed its primary objective*
[b]Man...you really are slow. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/tongue.gif[/img]
There are *TONS* of references between them. :P
*this thread has officially changed course after having completed its primary objective*[/b][/quote]
I was just about to say that, There are many many Nods to tolkien throughout the series.
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[url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Never eat anything bigger than your own head.[/url]
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
Cost: $379
Sound: Awesome!
LOTR is a movie where the sound system makes a hugh difference in the experience. Kudos to the sound team.
Now all I need to do is get the speakers placed and mounted so I get the best sound.
Jake