Author Topic: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up  (Read 46144 times)

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Offline vircor

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #30 on: Jul 09, 2004 at 08:01 AM »
Una sa lahat salamat po sa recommendations nyo. Ma-audition nga mga yan.    ;D
Pansin ko sa nirecommend nyo, leaning more towards visual aspect ng HES.
Medyo curious lang po ako kung ano mas importante yung sounds ba o yung visual?


Both.

The reason why I'm recommending the biggest screen size possible you can  afford (and a widescreen at that) is that it is always much easier and practical to upgrade the audio part of your system. It is more thrilling to watch on big screen than on smaller screen, it is as close as you can get to movie theater. Also, you don't wan't to pair your a/v compo system with matching floorstanding sepakers on those small screen tv (do you?).  Anyway, if you opt for smaller screen, why not? It is your decision that always matters.


Life is like a ten-speed bicycle, most of us have gears we never use.[/size]

Offline vircor

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #31 on: Jul 09, 2004 at 08:03 AM »
Kuwento muna ako: “A Tale of Two Speakers”

Last Sunday, me and my family visited our relatives (my father’s side) in Bulacan, which I haven’t seen since my wedding five years ago (how time flies!). Siyempre, kumustahan, kuwentuhan, etc. Tapos, lumipat kami dun sa isa ko pang tiyahin (daming kamag-anak e) na elder sister of my great father, kuwento uli, kumustahan, kainan, but merong bagay na nakakuha ng atensiyon ko. Habang nagkakatawanan medyo inispat-isapatan ko, nilapitan ko. Tama ba itong nakikita ng mga mata ko? A pair of loudspeakers? Natatandaan ko to, ito yung pares noon sa compo system nila na Kenwood a, tama ito nga yun tanda ko dahil ito yung audio system nila when I was still in college. At naaalikabukan lang, may nakapatong pa na flower vase! Aba teka nga at kokomprontahin ko si Tita, it is cruelty to a fine peace of av hardware.

Offline vircor

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #32 on: Jul 09, 2004 at 11:24 PM »
To continue the story, naiuwi ko yung loudspeaker nung hapong iyon,  ibinigay naman ni tita n g buong puso. Yung compo system sira na kaya ipinamigay na lang daw. Medyo mabigat ha, buti na lang may arkilado akong revo noon.  :D

So what’s the connection? ??? Heto na nga, pagdating ng bahay (rented apartment) at medyo makapagpahinga (at tulog na ang mga kids), ininspeksyon ko yung 2 speaker, I’m crossing my fingers na sana buo pa kaya kinuha ko yung analog multitester ko, tsek ko muna baka shorted masira pa receiver ko. Kinuha ko yung reading sa speaker terminals, parehong ok yung reading! Teka, magandang senyales to a. Pinunasan ko yung baffle ng MC cleaner saka nilinis ko yung cover, aba parang bago na uli!  ;D

Then, kinuha ko yung receiver ko na nakakahon pa dahil itinago ko muna. Yamaha RX-V440 na nabili ko last Christmas pa (P15,000) as a gift to myself after receiving my 13th month pay na unfortunately ay hindi ko pa nagagamit talaga dahil no budget for speakers pa. Biruin mo, magla-lapse na yung warranty hindi ko pa nagagamit. Kahit madami-dami na rin akong na-audition at na-canvass na speakers e hindi pa rin ako makabili, dami kasing gastusin, I have to replace my computer’s video card, tuition pa ng kinder-1 ko ng panganay, and others pa. Baka sakalin na ko ni misis kapag bumili ako ng speakers at this point in time. Anyway fully tested naman iyong receiver ko for one week dahil ipinagamit ko muna sa friend ko na may HT setup at ok naman ang performance.

After carefully unpacking the receiver, ipinuwesto ko sya sa a/v rack ko then connected the analog out of my nextbase dvd player to the receivers analog input (wala pa akong digital connector). Stereo lang muna dahil ang aim ko naman ay malaman lang kung tumutunog yung speakers. Nung ikokonek ko na yung speaker saka ko naalala na wala nga pala akong speaker wires! Hagilap ako ngayon sa toolbox ko kaya lang wala na pala akong extra wires, kaya ginawa ko na lang ginamit ko muna yung extension wire na gamit for washing machine. (hehehe… lagot kay misis nito). :-*

After some moments of tinkering with the connections and other stuff, it’s time to power things up so pinindot ko na yung power switche starting from the AVR (automatic voltage regulator), then dvd player, tv, and finally the receiver. All volume controls were at their minimum, then I played the acoustic collection pdisc. I gradually turn-up the volume of the dvd player up to 30% then gradual din yung pag turn ko sa volume ng receiver. Gwala! I have audio! Buo pa yung dalawang loudspeaker na by the way ay 3-way bookshelf with 3/4 inch dome tweeter, 3 inch mid driver and 8 inch woofer. Bass reflex yung encolsure na makapal judging from knocking the sides and by lifting the loudspeaker which weighs maybe around 5-8 kilos each, with dimensions of (WxHxD) 12 x 24 x 10 inches (typical na baffle dimension noon na wide and shallow, unlike ngayon na narrow but deep).

And guess what? The sound emanating from the speakers were clean and crisp, not too bright and with enough deep bass. I tried tinkering with the setup menu of the receivers (of which is plenty, typical of Yamaha) and set the main speakers to ‘LARGE’ and with subwoofer set to ‘OFF’ , while the center and surround channels were set to ‘SMALL’. In this way, bass handling will be directed to the two ‘Front’ speakers, which will result in more bass reproduction since I’m only using two speakers and I’m confident that they can handle bass decently kasi narinig ko na tumunog ito noon at maganda ang sound even at higher volume level. I tried positioning the speakers to get a better soundstage, hindi ko na pinakialaman yung DSP mode ng receiver kasi analog connection naman gamit ko, then played the “Whenever, Wherever, Whatever” and “I’ll Be” tracks on the cd. Sound reproduction was fine, male voices were not too thin, ngongo, nor too chesty and the bass was not boomy either. Sound was also clean, I can even hear yung pagkaskas dun sa gitara kapag lilipat ng key, natural din yung sound with minimal coloration (almost close as ‘live’ guitar playing, I know kasi naggigitara din ako). Maybe it helped na tahimik na yung environment at that time (past eleven na yata yun) kaya even in around 20% volume of the receiver e malakas na yung sound. Medyo inantok nga ako sa pakikinig kasi enveloping yung sound (bukod sa pagod na rin ako) saka nakapikit ako habang nakikinig. After some more listening to other tracks (rock, new wave, disco, nursery rhyme) medyo nagligpit lang ako ng konti, at natulog na ko.

I’m not saying na perfect yung set-up ko since I’ve only tested it palang sa music, but all in all, I can say na agad that I’ve found a nice complement to my receiver, of which ay naaalikabukan lang na speaker dati. Sometimes, talagang you’ll find treasure in garbage or in the most unlikely places. At minsan lang talaga, you just have to use your resourcefulness to achieve something. Siguro next project ko for my ht ay  mag-design ako ng stand for my speakers, then ipagawa ko dun sa gawaan ng bintana para hindi masyadong mahal.

P.S.: Meron na ba tayong thread dito about DIY speaker project? As I’ve said, very limited kasi internet time ko dahil prepaid yung phone line sa bahay kaya mas madalas na nagre-rent na lang ako, or minsan konek ko yung  phone line sa office, hati pa ang internet time sa computer, music, ht, and others.

Haaay life...  so many things to do, so little time.  :(

Offline karate kid

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #33 on: Jul 10, 2004 at 11:27 AM »
vircor

Sir, thank you po sa answers to my inquiries. this thread is really helpful to a newbie like me who doesn't have the time and the know how to look for resoucers regarding Home Entertainment System. very accomodating po kayo and fully explained and comprehensive yung mga posts nyo but at the same time ay not intimadating at saka pinoy na pinoy.  I'm compiling the posts in this thread to be printed later on para meron akong maging manual for this new interest of mine.

i'm waiting for your posts about surround formats and others. btw, nice story!  :D

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #34 on: Jul 10, 2004 at 01:24 PM »
Here's a quick rundown of the different surround formats:

Surround Sound Decoding

Right off the bat, let's discuss a receiver's surround sound decoding functions.  Surround sound is encoded in the source material and must be decoded into their separate channels to drive separate loudspeakers.  The current de facto standard for surround sound is 5.1-channel (Dolby Digital and optionally DTS).  6.1-channel formats are available but few movies and DVDs are encoded with these extended surround sound formats.  A receiver should come with decoding for the following surround sound formats, as an absolute minimum:


Dolby Surround Pro-Logic: This surround sound format is used in Hi-Fi VHS and analog TV broadcasts dating back to 1987.  It matrixes (folds in) the center channel information into the left and right main channels.  The surround channel signal is mono (1-channel) and is bandwidth limited, with only frequencies between 100 Hz and 7,000 Hz.  The surround sound channel is also encoded into the main left and right channels.


Dolby Digital: The de facto surround sound standard for all DVD-Video soundtracks and digital TV (HDTV) soundtracks.  This flexible surround sound encoding algorithm allows up to 5.1 channels of a surround sound soundtrack to be discretely (independently) encoded.  This provides better localization of sounds anywhere in the five loudspeaker locations.  Read more about Dolby Digital here.


DTS Digital Surround (DTS): A competing surround sound format to Dolby Digital that can also support up to 5.1 channels of audio.  DTS uses higher data rates to encode the same soundtrack information.  Some home theater enthusiasts believe that DTS soundtracks sounds better than that of Dolby Digital.  Unfortunately, however, DTS is an optional soundtrack and is found on few DVD-Video titles.  Read more about DTS here.

"5.1-channel ready" receivers. This type of A/V receiver does not have built-in decoding for any of the 5.1-channel surround sound formats such as Dolby Digital or DTS.  Instead, this type of receiver provides 5.1-channel analog input jacks and depends on the other component (e.g., DVD player or separate decoder) to perform the decoding for Dolby Digital and DTS.

State-of-the-art receivers will include decoding for one or more of the following, in addition to the list above:


THX Surround EX or Dolby Digital EX: A relatively new Extended Surround "6.1"-channel format that is based on Dolby Digital.  The addition of one or two back surround speakers allow complete 360° of envelopment.  The back surround audio channel is matrix encoded into the left and right surround channels, and is therefore not a true discrete 6.1-channel audio format.  Few movies are produced and consequently few DVD-Video titles are released with this new surround sound format.  Read more about THX Surround EX or Dolby Digital EX here.


DTS-ES Matrix: Another relatively new Extended Surround "6.1"-channel format that is based on DTS.  DTS-ES Matrix is similar to Dolby Digital EX in that the back surround audio channel is matrix encoded into the left and right surround channels, and is therefore not a true discrete 6.1-channel audio format.  Very few DVD-Video titles are released with DTS-ES Matrix surround sound option.  Read more about DTS-ES Matrix here.


DTS-ES Discrete 6.1: This DTS-based Extended Surround format is a true discrete 6.1-channel format, with a discretely encoded (not matrix encoded) back surround channel.  This provides the ability to precisely place surround sound effects behind the audience.  Unfortunately, only a handful of DVD-Video titles are released with DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 surround sound option.  Read more about DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 here.


Dolby Pro Logic II  (DPL II): As its name implies, DPL II is the newer version of the original Dolby Surround Pro Logic.  In Movie mode, it provides better decoding of legacy Dolby Surround Pro Logic with its advanced digital signal processing and steering logic.  Decoded surround channels are discrete and are full frequency (20 Hz to 20 KHz).  In Music mode, DPL II works with any ordinary stereo audio source, converting 2-channel audio programs into 5.1-channel surround sound for a compelling multi-channel audio experience.  This is a great feature that allows you to enjoy stereo sources in the glory of 5.1-channel surround sound.


Dolby Headphone: This powerful digital signal processing algorithm simulates the acoustic soundscape of a 5.1-channel home theater surround sound loudspeaker system through the use of an ordinary pair of stereo headphone.  If the receiver has this feature, all you need is any ordinary set of headphones to enjoy Dolby Headphone (no special headphone required).  Read more about Dolby Headphone here.


DTS Neo:6: Similar to Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS Neo:6 decodes Dolby Surround Pro Logic matrix-encoded stereo source into 5.1-channel or 6.1-channel.  DTS Neo:6 can synthesize the back surround channel from 5.1-channel sources.  In DTS Neo:6 Music mode, 2-channel audio programs are converted into 5.1-channel or 6.1-channel surround sound for a compelling multi-channel audio experience.


THX Ultra2 Cinema mode and MusicMode: In Cinema mode, THX Ultra2 converts Dolby Surround Pro Logic matrix-encoded stereo and 5.1-channel soundtracks into 7.1-channel soundtracks.  In MusicMode, 2-channel audio programs are converted into 7.1-channel surround sound for a compelling multi-channel audio experience.

For a home theater receiver, Dolby Digital and DTS decoding are must-haves.
Then consider Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6,
followed by THX Surround EX (or equivalently
Dolby Digital EX) and DTS-ES surround sound decoding.

TY

Offline karate kid

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #35 on: Jul 14, 2004 at 05:36 PM »
mga sir, ano po ba yung 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1? :)

Offline vircor

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #36 on: Jul 14, 2004 at 05:41 PM »
mga sir, ano po ba yung 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1? :)

Kung pag-uusapan ang soundtrack (movies & DVDs), 5.1 means that the soundtracks are recorded with five main channels: left, center, right, left surround, and right surround, plus a low-frequency effects (LFE) bass channel. Ganon din sa 6.1-channel encoded soundtrack na nadagdagan naman ng rear surround (or rear center) channel, either matrix (galing sa left and right surround ung information) or discrete. Wala pang movie or DVD na encoded ung soundtrack into 7.1-channel (at least sa pagkakaalam ko). Ang 5.1 pa rin ang standard sa movie or DVD, bihira pa ang 6.1.

With respect to playback, the terms 5.1, 6.1, and even 7.1 mean that there are five, six, or even seven main speakers, plus a subwoofer, in the playback system. The difference is in the number of surround speakers: two in a 5.1 system, three in a 6.1 system, and four in a 7.1 system.
Obviously, a 5.1-channel soundtrack can be played on a 5.1-speaker system. But it is not always understood that it can also be played on a 6.1- or a 7.1-speaker system. To do this, the two surround signals on the 5.1 soundtrack are spread across the three or four surround speakers. This distribution can be accomplished by a Dolby Digital EX decoder, a THX Surround EX decoder, or other proprietary methods provided in home theater equipment by various manufacturers.

Ano ba ibig sabihin ng mga ito? The delivery format and the speaker configuration are independent, and it is the decoder's job to bridge them effectively. Puwede tayong gumamit ng 5.1 (or more) speaker setup for playback of sources with stereo, for example, soundtrack by using matrix surround decoder gaya ng Dolby Pro Logic II. Ganun din naman na pwede nating gamitan ng 2 speaker setup lang for playback of sources, particularly DVDs, kung saan yung soundtrack ay encoded in 5.1 Dolby Digital, 5.1 DTS, Dolby Surround, etc.

Tama po ba mga sir? ::) ;D

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #37 on: Jul 14, 2004 at 05:59 PM »
Samples of A/V Receivers: (5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 channels)


Promac AV-S6002AF ‘5.1-Channel Ready’ Receiver




Onkyo TX-DS777 5.1-Channel AV Receiver
(Dolby Digital / DTS / Dolby Pro-Logic / 170W x 5 @ 6 ohms)




Sherwood RD-6108 5.1-Channel AV Receiver
(Dolby Digital / DTS / Dolby Pro-Logic II / 100W x 5 @ 6 ohms)




Yamaha RX-V440 6.1-Channel AV Receiver
(Dolby Digital / Dolby Digital-EX / DTS Digital Surround / DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 / DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 / Dolby Pro Logic / Dolby Pro-Logic II Music & Movies / DTS Neo:6 Music & Cinema / 65W x 6 @ 8 ohms, 20–20,000 Hz, 0.06% THD)




Denon AVR-5803 7.1-Channel AV Receiver
(Dolby Digital PLIIx, HDCD DECODERS and DENON LINK III Added! • THX Ultra2 Certified • THX Surround EX; DTS Extended Surround Discrete 6.1; DTS ES Matrix 6.1; DTS Neo:6 Cinema & Neo:6 Music Matrix Decoding; Dolby Digital EX; Dolby Pro Logic II; Dolby Headphone; DTS • Ultra2 7.1 Cinema and Music modes  • Lucasfilm Home THX Cinema 4.0, 5.1 and 6.1ES post-processing • DVD-Audio decoding with Adjustable Digital Bass Management, Delay, Channel Levels and Tone Controls • 170W x 7 @ 8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, <.05%THD)







Offline vircor

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #38 on: Jul 16, 2004 at 04:37 PM »
DVD Player Buying Guides:

Choose a DVD player that has the following characteristics:
1. Easy and intuitive to operate - especially the remote, para di mahuli na nood ka porno ;D ;D
2. Free from tracking and electromechanical problems – dala ka sample discs of different type (DVD, DVD-R, Audio CD, CD-R with MP3, CD with JPEG files) test first if the player can read those discs. Also try to open and close the disc tray around ten times (ingat lang baka magalit tindera ;D ) and look if minsan bumabara ba yung tray or masyado maingay.
3. Excellent video performance– Pay close attention to how colors are produced and how black is black on the screen. Is the picture lacking in detail and clarity? Or is it too edgy (high contrast)?
4. Excellent audio performance – Clarity and richness of the sound is the name of the game. Pakinggan din kung ok ba reproduction ng Dolby Digital or DTS sound – baka halo-halo yung audio. (halo-halo sarap nun! ;D )
5. Has at least the minimum features you require – Ano ba gusto mo, me karaoke function with pitch control and mic? Or are you looking for a player which can read almost all format. Kelangan ba me dts decoder o happy ka na sa Dolby Digital? Any which way, settle for the one that fits your needs and
5. Falls within your budget and performance expectations – Bahala ka na kung gusto mo ng major brands or minor brands (generics).
6. Reliability – a good service center will be nice to give you some peace of mind.

Whatever brand you chose for your DVD player, ENJOY! ;D

Offline vircor

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #39 on: Jul 16, 2004 at 04:39 PM »
Here's an additional info:

Quote
1) Multiregion- So that Title choices are not limited.
2) Internal PAL/NTSC converter- let me also answer here the question you posted in the Pioneer thread...NTSC and PAL/SECAM are broadcast signals that are being transmitted to your Television set in order that an image be produced. They have different names since they differ in the Image frame  per time difference(not sure which is which one is 4.5 other is 5...to the techies help  ) anyway...since they differ...Television(or a VHS/VCD/DVD player) with a PAL format cannot interpret finely an NTSC broadcast and vice versa...hence the picture quality will be distorted to become either black and white with wavy and annoying lines.
Now an Internal converter is a first among DVD players...in fact some DVD players have Internal converters that translate a PAL signal to a NTSC even in specifically made NTSC Televisions, hence you wont need any Multisytem TVs in order to enjoy titles coming from countries like the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia whose main signals are of the PAL format.
3) Autovolt-this is self explanatory
4) With 5.1 audio output- this is an analog output...it's better to have one available just in case you'll try to go cheap and utilized those utilitarian amplifiers being sold in Raon(really temptingly cheap)
5) Dolby Digital 5.1 and better if DTS decoder is included- The reason explains #4...since I believe that if you have an on board decoder for DD 5.1 and DTS...one should utilize the specified analog out(if you do not have the digital amps and decided to utilized the Utilitarian type of amplifiers) and not revert back to the usual 2 channel stereo.(if not why the heck did you choose the DTS track   )
6) with S-Video out- for clarity ,component out is just a bonus since you'll be needing a TV with a component inputs too,,,hence an added expense.

Lastly, try to forget about the 96/24 audio capabilty, SACD,DVD Audio and the progressive scan( again to answer your question...briefly...it works so hard to remove lines, inasmuch that the picture quality becomes film like...that's progressive scan..but is it really that good??? check out your computer monitor..no lines right..that's progressive...however...TV's are interlaced hence you'll need a Digital TV which costs around PHp 89,000 cheapest to really appreciate this) since your primary objective is to first experience the far out qualities of the DVD player and the above mentioned capabilities are for those who have hobbies other than just enjoying the full capabilities of the DVD player.....since if you'll really be fair about it...it's really a lot and to fully appreciate it and make the most of your purchase.. I believe.. you should have a dedicated player.

Quoted from Alfie

Offline vircor

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #40 on: Jul 21, 2004 at 10:47 AM »
TO continue...

Additional info regarding DTS.

When shopping for dvd player and you want dts decoding capability, you should carefully look at the logo/badge (usually) imprinted on the player's front panel because there are two types:

1.) DTS Digital Surround - this signifies that the player can read and decode dts encoded soundtrack on discs with dts sound format because it has built-in/internal dts decoder. Ibig sabihin, mayroong sound na lumalabas thru the 6 RCA connectors (analog) kung saan puwedeng ikonek yung active speaker system at mae-enjoy mo agad ang dts quality sound instantly. To make sure na may ganitong capability ang player, carry with you a good dvd disc with dts soundtrack (aside from the mandatory Dolby Digital ) and have it tested.

2.) DTS Digital Out - this signifies naman that the player can read dts encoded soundtrack but cannot decode/process it on its own so it must pass thru the a/v receiver with DTS decoding capability via digital connection (optical or coaxial) to enjoy dts quality sound output. Wala kang makukuhang output by using the analog out of the player and in the process you cannot immediately enjoy dts quality sound.

Tama po ba mga pinagsasasabi ko mga sir?  ::) Any (violent) reactions?  ;D

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #41 on: Jul 21, 2004 at 10:47 AM »
Now, here's a list of some of the popular dvd players here in Pinoy DVD:
1.) NextBase - 785, 783, 9000 series
2.) Skyworth - 2650, 3250
3.) Extreme 6500a
4.) Kebao - 8089, 6089, 3089
5.) Philips - 642, 733K, 727K, 626K etc.
6.) Pioneer - 575K, 566k, 656A and many others

You may check the threads on Generic or Branded DVD Players for more info.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #42 on: Jul 24, 2004 at 01:09 PM »
Tanong po mga sir, may plano kasi kami ng father ko to setup na our own ht system. We currently have an LG 29" tv and Skyworth DVD-3250, ano po kaya ang magandang i-match na receiver and speakers para dito? Saka paano po ba malalaman yung akmang power rating nung receiver na kakailanganin for this setup?

Nakumbinse ko po kasi father ko to go for ht setup using receiver, kaso budget pa lamang namin ngayon ay 30T. Ano po ba ang mabibili namin sa amount na ito at ano po ang mga unang dapat bilhin?

Tenkyu po.  :)

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #43 on: Jul 24, 2004 at 01:57 PM »
How much amplification do you need?
 
The amount of power you need will depend on a number of factors.  The most important factors are your loudspeaker's sensitivity, the size of your room, and how much headroom you want in your system.

Loudspeaker Sensitivity. 
A loudspeaker's sensitivity is a measure of how much sound the loudspeaker puts out for a given amount of power input from a receiver.  Usually, it is expressed in terms of decibels (dB) sound pressure level (SPL) per 1 Watt of amplifier power measured at 1 meter from the speaker.  Different loudspeaker designs will have different sensitivities. Frequently, it is understood that sensitivity is measure with 1 Watt of power input at 1 meter, so sensitivity is usually expressed as just "dB".  In other words, sensitivity equals efficiency for the higher the number the louder the sound output will be given the same power input to the loudspeaker.

Halimbawa, merong 2 loudspeaker na may sensitivity na 90 dB at yung isa ay 87 dB parehong 8 ohms at meron ka namang receiver/amplifier rated 50W per channel into 8 ohms. Yung lakas nung sound na manggagaling sa 90 dB loudspeaker ay mas malakas kaysa dun sa 87 dB at the same volume level. Now, para mai-drive mo yung 87 dB loudspeaker na kasinglakas nung 90 dB, kailangan mo ng 100W na amplification (doble agad). This is why loudspeaker sensitivity is an important consideration when determining the power required from a receiver.

Note: For an 8-ohm loudspeaker, power input of 1 Watt corresponds to 2.83 Volts.  But some loudspeaker manufacturers specify their 4-ohm loudspeaker's sensitivity with a 2.83 Volt signal, which corresponds to 2 Watts of amplification power.  This gives a false impression that their 4-ohm loudspeaker is more sensitive than it really is.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #44 on: Jul 24, 2004 at 02:05 PM »
Size of Your Room.
Gaya nga doon sa una ko nang nai-post, dapat isa sa mga consideration na dapat tingnan ay yung size of the room, larger rooms will require more amplification.  For your guidance on determining the minimum amount of amplification needed, use the table below. Kung masyado ng malaki ang room size mo or gusto mo ng malakas na amplification, i-consider mo ang pagbili ng separate preamp and amp kasi separate amplifier can have power ratings of 200 Watts and above (all channels into 8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz). Ang pinakamalakas na receiver to date (sa pagkakaalam ko) ay yung Denon AVR-5803 with 170 Watts tapos yung Onkyo TX-DS989.

                  Guideline for Minimum Receiver Power Amplification
                     (minimum recommended power, in Watts per channel) (v1.0)


Loudspeaker                                      Room Size
  Sensitivity                  Small                        Medium                      Large
    [dB]           (less than 2,000 cu. ft.)   (between 2,000     (larger than 3,000 cu. ft.)
                                                               and 3,000 cu. ft.)

   
      85                           96                            128                           192
      86                           76                            101                           152
      87                           60                              81                           121
      88                           48                              64                             96
      89                           38                              51                             76
      90                           30                              40                             61
      91                           24                              32                             48
      92                           19                              25                             38


Note 1: To get the volume of your room, simply multiply the length, width and height of the room. V=L x W x H

Note 2: This table is based on the Home THX Program's recommendation of achieving a peak sound pressure level (SPL) of 105 dB, which can be achieved with 64 Watts into a loudspeaker sensitivity of 88 dB.  Typical listening levels are usually in the range of 80 to 90 dB SPL.

Note 3: If your array of loudspeakers varies in terms of sensitivity, use the lowest sensitivity number from the front, center, or right loudspeakers.  The sensitivity of the surround sound loudspeakers are secondary when it comes to figuring the minimum power amplification.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #45 on: Jul 24, 2004 at 02:07 PM »
Headroom.
Tandaan mo na yung nasa table ay yung minimum lamang at kadalasan ay kailangan mo ng mas mataas na power rating para may allowance ka in case you move your home theater to a larger room or simply to have what is called headroom.  Headroom is the power reserve that is above and beyond what you normally need in steady-state that allows your system to respond to very brief loud passages.  This is particularly important if you're a big fan of action movies with lots of explosions.  So yes, buy the most powerful receiver or amplifier you can afford.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #46 on: Jul 24, 2004 at 02:14 PM »

Nakumbinse ko po kasi father ko to go for ht setup using receiver, kaso budget pa lamang namin ngayon ay 30T. Ano po ba ang mabibili namin sa amount na ito at ano po ang mga unang dapat bilhin?

Tenkyu po.  :)

Now, this budget is almost enough depende kung anong equipment ang bibilhin mo especially the receiver. Kung gusto mo na agad na makumpleto setup mo or you’re not particular with the features of branded receivers mo I would suggest going for the Sakura and Dai-Ichi combination dahil maganda naman ang feedback ng members dito just check the Sakura thread.

Kung branded naman, after considering the amplification you needed for your room based on the table i've provided, tingnan mo naman yung mga features na gusto mo sa isang receiver (like 6.1 ba or 5.1, and others)
and try to scout for speakers at the stores I've mentioned in the previous posts in this thread. Malamang receiver and a pair of front speakers pa lang abutin budget mo but do try to scout firsts and balance your budget and options.

Enjoy! :D :D

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #47 on: Aug 05, 2004 at 05:05 PM »
Loudspeakers[

Loudspeakers have the toughest job in the home entertainment system. While source, processing and amplifier components like players, receivers and amps simply have electrical signals with which to contend, speakers are transducers-devices which convert electrical energy (the audio signal supplied by the amp) into mechanical energy (the music and sounds we hear). A good speaker will accurately do this job; reproducing sounds precisely as they were recorded, and efficiently; squeezing the most volume from the least power. What's more, there's no single way to build a fine loudspeaker. Unlike amps, pre-amps and processors, which all employ the same basic circuits but differ in terms of features and construction quality, the diversity of speaker designs is nearly as limitless as the speaker designer's imagination.

All loudspeakers make sound by moving air. Your amplifier powers the speaker's drivers-woofers for bass, tweeters for treble, and midrange for everything in between-which vibrate at frequencies and volumes to match the original recording. Since they all work the same, why don't all speakers look the same? Because everyone's needs are different. Do you want to make your home theater the focal point of your living room, or do you believe that speakers should be heard and not seen? Are thunderous bass and life-like volumes important, or is softer better? No matter: there's a perfect speaker for your room, budget and listening taste, once you know how to find it.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #48 on: Aug 05, 2004 at 05:06 PM »
Loudspeaker systems:
Two-way systems: 2-way systems consist of a woofer(s) and a tweeter to reproduce the audible frequency spectrum. In 2 way systems it in not recommend to buy a system with a woofer larger than 7". Anything larger, in most cases, will not faithfully reproduce the midrange frequencies with realism, clarity and detail since a large driver (8" or greater) is designed primarily to produce bass frequencies below 200 Hz and is to slow to resonate frequencies with authority in the midrange band (200Hz - 4 KHz). There are many high quality 2 way systems employing 6 1/2" woofers or smaller that would sound outstanding throughout the entire frequency spectrum when properly mated with a quality powered subwoofer.
Monitor Audio Bronze Series B1

Two & half way system: 2 1/2 way systems have recently entered the hi-fi market of loudspeaker design. This design employs 2 bass/mid-bass drivers usually identical in design and size and a tweeter. Usually the bottom woofer is crossed over to produce bass frequencies below 200Hz and the top woofer is crossed over to produce midrange frequencies between 200Hz - 4 KHz. The interesting thing about this design is that although the two woofers are crossed over at different frequencies, they acoustically couple to constructively interfere and enhance overall system bass response.
Monitor Audio Bronze Series B4

Three way systems: 3 way systems employ a woofer(s) crossed over to produce bass frequencies, a midrange driver crossed over to produce mid frequencies and a tweeter crossed over to produce high frequencies. This type of system, if implemented correctly, can achieve full frequency response at very high fidelity with little or no need for an added powered subwoofer. However, it is recommended to purchase a quality 2 way bookshelf system over a cheaply designed 3 way system in the same price range as it will almost always offer better performance with only a possible sacrifice in bass response. If bass response becomes an issue with the bookshelf speakers, one can always add on a powered subwoofer when finances permit.
Monitor Audio Gold Reference GR60

Woofers: Woofers are usually between 6 1/2" and 15" and are designed to produce frequencies from 20 - 500 Hz.
Midranges: Midrange drivers are usually between 2 1/2" - 6 1/2" in diameter and designed to reproduce frequencies between 200Hz and 4 KHz.
Tweeters: Tweeters are usually between 1/2" to 1" and are designed to reproduce frequencies between 2 KHz to above 20 KHz

Additional sources:
Loudspeaker Buying Guides
Avoiding Speaker Gimmicks

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #49 on: Aug 05, 2004 at 05:08 PM »
Selecting Your Front/Stereo Speakers:
In addition to playing music, the left and right "main" channels of a soundtrack carry most of a motion picture's special effects and orchestral score. In order to excel at these tasks, the stereo pair must encompass wide frequency and broad volume swings (dynamic range), reproduce subtle recorded details, and be able to create a convincing "sound-stage" (the impression of three dimensions). When choosing main channel loudspeakers, play a handful of music and movie selections you know well. Listen to a solo vocalist. Does the "image" of that performer seem to float at the center of the soundstage (good), or can you trace the singer to the speakers (bad)? Next, try an acoustic guitar, violin or cello. You should hear natural, detailed string tone, as well as the resonance of the instrument's wooden body. Finish with an action flick. Are the effects-gunshots, explosions, etc-clearly reproduced, or do they become hard, flat and generally unpleasant as the volume increases? A good pair of loudspeakers should never sound "fatiguing."
Although listening is the ultimate test of a loudspeaker, there are other clues to quality. Rap your knuckles on the sides of the cabinet: a hollow thud indicates a poorly made enclosure that will probably degrade the sound. The weight of a speaker will give you a clue as to the materials and construction quality. The best speakers offer 5-way binding posts that offer the best possible connection with any type of cable.

Types:

Floor-standing Speakers
Floor-standing or "tower" loudspeakers are audio's equivalent of a big-block V-8 engine. Thanks to their large enclosures and increased size or number of drivers, floor-standers move enormous quantities of air, enabling them to have greater dynamic range (to play louder and cleaner) and produce deeper bass than other designs.

Acoustic Energy Aegis EVO3

Advantages - Extremely wide frequency response and dynamic range make floor-standers the choice where performance is the primary purchasing criteria. And while they tend to be large, many current models feature slender cabinets with small footprints, minimizing placement difficulties and visual impact. Also, since most of the world's best loudspeakers are towers, their manufacturers often lavish better parts or build quality on these "flagship" products.
Disadvantages - When space is at a premium, such as in a small apartment or smartly decorated room, towers simply might not fit. What's more, the prodigious output capabilities of such speakers mean that placement can be more critical-floor-standers should be located 2-3 feet from nearby walls for best performance. Finally, beware of "bargains": large cabinets are expensive to build. Unusually low pricing is often the result of construction shortcuts.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #50 on: Aug 05, 2004 at 05:08 PM »
Powered Towers
A new and increasingly popular approach to loudspeaker design, "powered towers" are floor-standing speakers with the powered subwoofers built right in.

Polk Audio LSi25


Advantages - Powered towers offer the ultimate in dynamic range and frequency response. For 5.1 channel digital systems, the chore of selecting and placing the sub-woofer disappears. Also, since the sub-woofer and main speaker drivers are designed together, they can be optimized with each other for better performance and better "blending." There is no sense of discontinuity between midrange and bass as there often is with separate main/sub-woofer speaker systems. While not cheap, powered towers are often less expensive than purchasing separate speakers and subwoofers of comparable quality.
Disadvantages - Just make sure you have AC outlets near each speaker position. In very large rooms or those that have bass "suck-out" problems powered towers may need to be augmented with a separate subwoofer.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #51 on: Aug 05, 2004 at 05:09 PM »
Bookshelf Speakers
With their compact cabinets, bookshelf speakers work where towers won't. Actually, the name "bookshelf" is unfortunate, since most such designs perform best when placed upon rigid stands, rather than tucked inside pieces of furniture. These speakers are not only more placement-friendly but, since small enclosures are more rigid, they produce less sonically degrading "box resonance" than all but the best towers.

Yamaha NS-333


 Advantages - Usually modest in price as well as size, bookshelf speakers fit rooms and budgets that cannot accommodate a pair of towers. The small, solid cabinets are both versatile-able to excel in bookcases, atop shelves or hung on walls-and feature excellent midrange clarity. Caution: Many speakers use air tunnels or "ports" to improve efficiency and bass output. If you plan to place your speakers against a wall or inside a cabinet, choose a model whose port is located on the front panel, with the drivers.
Disadvantages - Reduced cabinet volume and driver surface area limit the dynamic and bass frequency range of bookshelf speakers, and can also compromise power handling and efficiency. Fortunately, the addition of a subwoofer can overcome these problems.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #52 on: Aug 05, 2004 at 05:10 PM »
Subwoofer/Satellite Systems
When even the smallest bookshelf speakers are too visible to fit your lifestyle, a sub-woofer/satellite (sub/sat) system is the answer. By combining palm-sized satellites with a subwoofer designed specifically to work with them, sub/sat systems have become one of the most popular categories in home audio.

Klipsch Cinema 10 system


Advantages - The big advantages here are size, placement flexibility and cosmetics. The satellites can be placed just about anywhere, on a shelf, on the wall, in a cabinet or on a table. Most are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and are hard to spot when placed alongside books and bric-a-brac. Some of this genre are very handsomely styled so that even when they are seen, they complement rather than detract from the look of the room. The subwoofer section can be placed out of sight - in a corner, behind furniture or under a table. Sub/sats also have certain performance advantages over more traditional designs. The slender front baffles cannot interfere with the drivers' dispersion, so imaging is absolutely first rate. The best of the genre produce a wide, deep soundstage that is in some ways superior to larger speakers. The subwoofer cabinet can be placed where bass performance is best (near wall or corner), so bass response is often awe-some. Most folks are agog when they hear such loud bass apparently coming from two tiny speakers.
Disadvantages - Those little satellites cannot reproduce bass of their own, making it tough to achieve a seamless blend between satellite and sub. There is often a "hole" or weak response in the lower midrange area (bottom range of a male voice) where the satellite's response leaves off and the subwoofer takes over. When evaluating sub/sat systems listen closely to male voices, if they sound "thin" the system suffers from this midrange suck-out problem. These systems' small drivers and enclosures compromise dynamic range and power handling. If you have a very large room to fill with sound, a sub/sat system may not be right for you. The other issue is bass response. Some of the so-called "subwoofers" in these systems don't reproduce the truly deep bass with authority. As always, listen before you buy and trust your ears.

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #53 on: Aug 05, 2004 at 05:11 PM »
In-Wall Speakers
For environments where box-type (tower or bookshelf) loudspeakers are unacceptable, in-wall speakers flush-mount in holes cut into the sheet-rock of your walls. Most models feature paintable grilles so you can disguise them, enabling them to virtually disappear.

Dai-Ichi PDR Series


Advantages - Since they consume no floor or bookshelf space and can be easily concealed, in-walls work when and where other speakers will not. If you plan to expand your system throughout your home, in-walls are a wonderful way to bring sound to additional rooms. They are also useful as rear surround speakers when the room configuration makes it impossible to properly place box speakers.
Disadvantages - In-walls cannot deliver the dynamic range and bass response of an equivalently priced box-type loudspeaker, and are less capable of great stereo imaging. Performance is inconsistent due to differences in-wall construction quality. Unless you are a do-it-yourselfer, professional installation will add to the cost of the system.


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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #54 on: Aug 07, 2004 at 12:20 PM »
Selecting Your Center Speaker
   As visual images move across the screen, their sonic images move with them. If the three front speakers are not well matched, the character of the sound will change as the sound moves from speaker to speaker. A fighter jet may sound more like a single engine plane as it passes through the center speaker. Its purpose is to keep sound anchored to the on-screen action, a good center channel speaker is crucial for a well-balanced home theater system.


Over 50% of a typical film's soundtrack is reproduced by the center speaker

How to choose your center speaker:
1.) Choose a center speaker that have the same sonic signature as your main speakers and one that uses identical drivers and tweeters as your front models. It should possess a similar timbre or tonal quality with the rest of your main speakers. The better your left and right speakers, the better the center needs to be to get life-like imaging.
2.) The next thing to look for is a center speaker that can keep up with your main left and right speakers. This means your center speaker should be about the same efficiency rating and be capable of playing as loud and handling about the same power as your main speakers. If your main speakers are somewhat large, you'll probably want a larger center speaker.
3.) It is advisable and much easier to choose your center speaker from the same manufacturer on the same model/series as your main speakers. Most manufacturers offer center channel speakers that are designed to blend perfectly with their other products, so you probably should stick to a single brand of speaker when assembling your system.

Monitor Audio Bronze Center

   Deep bass response is not necessary in a center channel speaker. Both Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby Digital allow you to re-direct the bass information from the center channel to the front left and right or subwoofer channels (see you receiver or processor instructions for details on how to do this). If the center speaker has flat response to at least 80Hz, you're OK. If it goes lower than 80Hz, that's better.

You can find additional info here: Home Theater Speakers Basics

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #55 on: Aug 07, 2004 at 12:22 PM »
Selecting Your Surround Speakers

Monitor Audio GRfx

1. Choose a location and a look. Surround speakers should be placed behind or to the sides of your listening position, two to three feet above a seated listener's head. Choose a location and style of speaker that fits the decor of the room. Decide whether you want to floor, stand or wall mount the speakers.

2. Investigate mounting options. If you've chosen on-wall mounting (most people do), find out whether the speakers you're considering have a means of wall mounting. Is a mounting bracket included at no charge? If not, are they available? At what price? Is the wall mount hardware obtrusive and/or ugly? Will the wall mount method make the speaker stick out far from the wall? Another option for surround speakers are flush-mount in-wall speakers. They offer very high performance and are completely unobtrusive.

3. Choose a performance level. In the early days of home theater, people believed that the performance of the surround speakers was unimportant. While it's true that Dolby Pro Logic decoding systems the rear channel contains little bass below 100Hz and no treble above 7kHz, that still leaves the most critical part of the audio bandwidth - the midrange. The human ear is most sensitive to coloration and errors in the midrange, so it makes little sense to use a speaker with poor sounding midrange. Remember, a crummy speaker is a crummy speaker, no matter what channel it's used for. The weakest speaker in the system sets the performance limits for the system as a whole.

4. Choose a surround speaker that's in the same league of performance as your front speakers. How good the surround speakers need to be ultimately depends on the type of surround processor you have or plan to have and what style of speaker fits the available space and meets your decorating needs.

5. Choose a "polar pattern". In shopping for surround speakers, you will undoubtedly hear a lot of talk about polar or dispersion patterns (dipolar or bipolar) - the pattern in which the loudspeaker distributes sound throughout the room.

6. Get a good demonstration. After reading all of the above, you're probably still not decided on which model to buy. The final judge should be the sound. Insist on two demonstrations before you buy. Listen to the surround speakers in a surround sound system. Also ask the salesperson to hook up the surround speakers to receive front channel information. Compare the sound of the models you are deciding between. Don't worry about ultra low bass performance, listen for natural midrange, smooth, detailed highs and an overall pleasing balance.

GLOSSARY

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #56 on: Aug 07, 2004 at 12:31 PM »
What is Dipole and Bipole and how are they different?

Dipole and Bipole refer to speakers that have drivers on opposite baffles. To put it crudely, they squirt sound out of both ends. If not done properly, dipolar or bipolar speakers may also exhibit frequency response problems due to phase cancellations (particularly true with narrow baffle designs).

In a Dipolar speaker, the two sets of speakers are out-of-phase with each other, while the drivers are one side are pushing, the opposite side is pulling. The result is that there is a "null" or a dead zone of sound in the area along the 90 degree axis of the speaker (see illustration below). Why is that good? When properly set up, a pair of dipole speakers used as surround speakers will provide a very open, enveloping rear effects soundstage without allowing you to pinpoint the location of the speakers themselves. That's a good thing. But for all this to work properly, the speakers need to be positioned "in-line" with the listening position as shown on the illustration below. If you are sitting out of the null area, the effect is ruined. What if you can't or don't want to place your surround speakers and listening position as required? That's where bipoles come in handy.

In a Bipolar speaker, the two sets of drivers are in-phase with one another - both sides push air at the same time. The result is greater sound output where the dipolar speaker's null would be. Theoretically, a bipolar speaker approaches a 360° soundfield - it squirts sound all around the room. That's a good thing if you need to position your surround speakers behind your listening position or anywhere outside of the null area. Some people prefer the greater localization of bipolar speakers when used in digital discrete (Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS) systems.


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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #57 on: Aug 17, 2004 at 03:17 PM »

Choosing Your Subwoofer

There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a powered subwoofer for your system.

1.) Select a location for your subwoofer and measure the space to see what fits.
2.) The better your front "main" speakers the better the subwoofer needs to be. If you have floor-standing speakers that already have good bass, select a subwoofer that is tuned to a very low frequency (25Hz below at -3dB) so that it produces bass that your main speakers can't reproduce efficiently.
3.) Size of room is also a factor - the bigger the room you want to fill, the better the subwoofer you'll need.
4.) If possible, listen with the front speakers you own or are intending to get. Does the subwoofer add a deep bass foundation or just boom? Listen with music as well as movie sources. Is the subwoofer "tight" and well defined with music or does it just add a vague rumble? Trust your ears.

Although the popularity of home theater has brought powered subwoofers into the limelight, they need to perform well when playing music. In many ways music is a tougher test of the performance of a subwoofer than any movie soundtrack. While there are many subs which can reproduce the loud, vague rumble of a rocket engine, only a very few can do that and convey all the depth and musicality of a plucked string bass. Before you buy any subwoofer, listen to it with music and movies. But the best advice of all: ignore the numbers and listen before you buy. Many people get hung up on "inches and watts," assuming that the larger the driver's diameter and the higher the power amp rating, the better the subwoofer. This is simply not so. Bigger doesn't necessarily make better. There are pros and cons with regards to driver size of the sub, choose the one that fits your current (and maybe planned future) setup.

Additional Infos in the following links:1.) How To Choose Subwoofers
2.) Subwoofer Discussions
3.) High-end Subwoofers
4.) url=http://www.pinoydvd.com/board/index.php?topic=1612.380]Budget Subwoofers[/url]

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #58 on: Aug 17, 2004 at 03:19 PM »
Choosing Your Subwoofer

There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a powered subwoofer for your system.

1.) Select a location for your subwoofer and measure the space to see what fits.
2.) The better your front "main" speakers the better the subwoofer needs to be. If you have floor-standing speakers that already have good bass, select a subwoofer that is tuned to a very low frequency (25Hz below at -3dB) so that it produces bass that your main speakers can't reproduce efficiently.
3.) Size of room is also a factor - the bigger the room you want to fill, the better the subwoofer you'll need.
4.) If possible, listen with the front speakers you own or are intending to get. Does the subwoofer add a deep bass foundation or just boom? Listen with music as well as movie sources. Is the subwoofer "tight" and well defined with music or does it just add a vague rumble? Trust your ears.

Although the popularity of home theater has brought powered subwoofers into the limelight, they need to perform well when playing music. In many ways music is a tougher test of the performance of a subwoofer than any movie soundtrack. While there are many subs which can reproduce the loud, vague rumble of a rocket engine, only a very few can do that and convey all the depth and musicality of a plucked string bass. Before you buy any subwoofer, listen to it with music and movies. But the best advice of all: ignore the numbers and listen before you buy. Many people get hung up on "inches and watts," assuming that the larger the driver's diameter and the higher the power amp rating, the better the subwoofer. This is simply not so. Bigger doesn't necessarily make better. There are pros and cons with regards to driver size of the sub, choose the one that fits your current (and maybe planned future) setup.

Additional Infos in the following links:

1.) How To Choose Subwoofers
2.) Subwoofer Discussions
3.) High-end Subwoofers
4.) Budget Subwoofers

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Re: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up
« Reply #59 on: Aug 17, 2004 at 03:20 PM »
Subwoofer Software Suggestions

1.) Stereophile Test CD #1 ($6.95+shipping from stereophile.com click on "recordings") and listen for warble tones. 

2.) Avia Guide To Home Theater calibration DVD Audio and Video test tones and set up aids. 

3.) Patricia Barber Café Blue CD Blue Note cuts 1,8,9. Listen for tight musical bass with no "boominess," good "plucky" acoustic bass. 

4.) Mighty Sam McClain  "Give It Up To Love" CD Use the Audioquest XRCD version for best sound quality, cut 1. Good deep male vocal and bottom end, excels in the low mid-range. 

5.) Diana Krall  "All For You" CD cuts  1 & 7. Natural acoustic piano and vocals, well-recorded and up-tempo. 

Below are quoted from sir av_phile1:

(1)  The exploding depth charges in the movie U-571 comes to mind.  They're quite deep.   Have heard them as well and quite convincing in my set-up.  Also the canon shots in  Master and Commander.

(2)  The Eagle's Hell Freezes Over live concert in DTS have some deep and powerfull bass lines.

(3)   The stampeding herd of buffalos(?) in  Lion King has some pretty earth shaking bass.

(4)   The pod races in Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace are said to contain frequencies down to 10Hz!!!

(5)   Any DTS sampler I suppose.

(6)   A test CD with a sweep of LF from 100hz down to 10Hz.   Alternatively, the THX section in some THX-certified DVDs have a low freq sweep in the audio test section  to test the integration between mains and sub.