Topic: Home Theater 101: A Guide To Setting Up

[vircor]

DIY Guide to Home Entertainment System

Home theater is one of the most exciting developments in the history of consumer electronics. Enjoying great movies, television shows and sporting events is an activity that brings family and friends together. Watching a movie or concert on a good home theater system will quicken your pulse, tug on your heartstrings and raise goosebumps on your skin.

Unfortunately, the very words “home theater” seem to intimidate people. Too many movie lovers believe they’ll need a second mortgage to afford all the hardware, or a pilot’s license to install and operate it. It doesn’t have to be that way. Sure, there’s no shortage of expensive, complex gear; but for less than the cost of a week’s vacation you can own a fine system that will provide your entire family with years of pleasure.

Mga bro, para sa ating lahat ito. Na-inspire ako sa mga nababasa ko dito sa pinoy dvd kaya naisipan ko na mag-introduce ng topic na ito bilang one-stop reference to take the mystery and confusion out of home theater. I’m encouraging everyone to share their expertise, experiences, questions and comments para mas maging helpful ang forum nating ito. The goal is to widen our knowledge regarding home theater especially those who are new in this or are beginning to appreciate the increasing popularity, availability and affordability and would like to broaden their knowledge and setup their own home entertainment system. We will not be particular with specific brands but will once in a while mention equipment model for reference (major brands and minor brands). Minsan ay magpo-post din tayo ng reviews regarding certain equipment. Our topics will cover but will not be limited to the following:
-   What is home theater?
-   Integrated Systems (HtiBs)
-   Component Systems (Separates)
-   Surround Formats
-   The Equipment / Choosing
-   Selecting Loudspeaker Types
-   System Setup
-   Specific Hookup Recommendations For Each Loudspeaker Types
-   Speaker Placement
-   Processor Configuration and Bass Management
-   Optimizing The Sound of Your Room
-   How To Read DVD Label

PS:
Mga bro, I’m not an expert and is not pretending to be an expert regarding home entertainment system and everybody’s help is welcome.
 

[vircor]

What is Home Theater?

If you're currently watching movies on your television, congratulations! You're already enjoying home theater! You see, home theater is nothing more than the marriage of sight and sound, a blending of audio and video. Of course, by comparison to the local cinema, your television's small screen and dinky speaker will deliver a grossly inferior experience. The goal of home theater system is to bridge this quality gap; by employing a surround sound processor, amplifier and appropriate speakers, your system will approach-and in some ways surpass-the sound and image of a good commercial theater.

Bits and Pieces-What You Need?
The essential parts of a home theater system are a display device and an audio/video source. Sound complicated? Relax. Those are just fancy terms for a television (display) and VCR or DVD player (sources). Add a receiver and speakers, and you're done! Since the subject of video could fill a book of its own, we'll focus our discussion on audio gear.

Components or Systems - What's Best for You?
There are two ways to get a home theater audio system, separate components or all-in-one integrated systems. Here's a brief comparison to help you choose what's best for you.

Integrated Systems
These all-in-one systems are often called "home theater in a box" or home theater "shelf systems." Like their names imply most, if not all, of the audio components you need for home theater are included in the package: speakers, preamp/processor, amplification and sometimes sources such as radio, CD player and even DVD player.
 
Advantages - This type of system is very easy to choose and buy. Just listen to the various models on display, compare features and price and buy the one that's best for you. These systems are usually very easy to hook up and use. They are generally offered by some of the biggest brand names in the business. Some of them are very inexpensive for the amount of product you get.
 
Disadvantages - There are very, very few integrated systems on the market that provides truly excellent, high performance sound. Most have limited capacity for adding sources and upgrading.

Separate Components
This type of system includes a preamp/processor, amplifiers (or receiver), speakers and whatever source components you may like such as CD player, DVD player, VCR, etc. Each component is chosen separately and often come from different manufacturers.

Advantages - This type of system offers tremendous flexibility, choice and performance. You can mix and match components from various manufacturers to get the best of each category and exactly meet you unique needs. This approach also allows you to add or upgrade one component at a time to build toward your ultimate system goal.

Disadvantages - Component systems are expensive, harder to choose, set up and use than integrated systems.

[vircor]

Convenience or performance, which would you choose? You're thinking about home theater. To get a real movie theater experience in your living room, a DVD player and your dinky TV speakers just aren't gonna cut it. You need a home theater audio system. There are two ways to get a home theater audio system: "all-in-one" systems, or separate components (DVD player, multichannel receiver, etc.). Here's a quick comparison to help you choose what's best for you.

INTEGRATED SYSTEMS (HTiBs)
All-in-one, single-brand systems are often called "Home-Theater-in-a-Box" systems ("HTiB"). Like the term implies, HTiBs include most, if not all, of the audio components you'd need for home theater in one box: small speakers, a preamplifier/processor and amplification (usually in a single receiver unit) and sometimes sources such as radio, CD player and even DVD player.

HTiB Advantages
Easy to choose and buy. Just listen to the various models on display, compare features and price, and buy the one that's best for you. Bingo bango, you got home theater.
Compatibility. There's never a doubt whether the individual parts of the system match each other. These systems are built to work together.
Easy to hook up. They come with all the cables you need (albeit it really cheap ones). Wires, connectors and jacks are usually color coded, with foolproof pre-attached connectors. Kahit baguhan ka o walang experience sa set-up madali mo itong magagawa.
Easy to use. You probably won't even have to read a manual to make it work. Pagkatapos mong ikonek wirings, just plug and play.
Compact size. HTiB systems are usually very small and come with cute little teeny-weeny speakers.
Security. They are generally offered by some of the biggest brand names in the business; Sony, Panasonic, JVC etc and so on. You know these guys. Siyempre nandyan din ang Nextbase, Extreme, Kebao, Promac and others (which offers fairly decent warranty especially kung sa established appliance store mo mabibili – SM Appliance/Western/Abenson/etc.)
Japorms. Some of them do look really cool. (Siyempre ung iba mapagkakamalan mo pang major brand if not for the logo).
Inexpensive. They can be stunningly cheap, they can go for as low as 7,000 pesos complete with all the connectors, remote and batteries, manual and others all in one box. Di ko lang alam kung may kasamang bubble gum. =)

HTiB Disadvantages
Limited growth potential. Most HTiBs have a limited number of inputs and other connection facilities kasi tipikal sa mga ito na iisa ang input, mahihirapan ka kung gusto mo ring ikonek ung vcr, tv, cd changer or another source para lumabas din ung audio output sa speakers ng HT mo.
Prone to early obsolescence. Built-in sources (like a DVD player built into a receiver unit) are just not a good idea. People who purchased HTiB systems with built-in DVD players just a year or two ago have experienced the painful limitations of built-in sources when better performance progressive scan DVD players came out shortly thereafter. Lalo na kung madalas mong gagamitin ang dvd player mo to watch pdiscs mas madali masisira. Well, your whole system becomes just a cool-looking doorstop. Pero magagamit mo pa naman ung speakers kung powered.
Limited upgrade path. HTiBs don't grow with your needs. Let's say you move into a bigger house and need a more robust subwoofer to fill the room with bass impact. Sorry. With an HTiB system, you can't upgrade the subwoofer... or the speakers... or the DVD player... or the receiver. And those convenient wires they give you, with the unique connectors? Just wait till you try and get longer wires...
Cheap materials and poor construction. There's a real good reason why HTiB systems are so inexpensive compared with component systems. Of course for every rule there’s an exception, may mga minor (I don’t wanna call it generic) brands that do perform well and sometimes much better pa kesa sa known brands but I think it’s unfair to compare them.
Poor sound quality. With very (VERY) few exceptions, HTiBs perform poorly. They simply don't come even remotely close to the performance of movie theater systems or decent component systems. Typical HTiB shortcomings include lack of deep bass, inability to play at a lifelike volume, lack of clarity and detail. Maririnig mo na ang pagkakaiba pag nilakasan ang volume, kulang na sa power at medyo distorted na.
Weak speaker pedigree. Most HTiBs are made by companies that are not very good at designing loudspeakers. Walk into the sound room where the "better" audio components are displayed. See any Sony, Onkyo or Panasonic SPEAKERS there? No, and for good reason. Better speakers, ones that are capable of really thrilling, lifelike sound quality, come from companies that have dedicated their lives to building loudspeakers.
Cheap speakers. Beyond their questionable parentage, the speakers included in HTiB systems are generally low quality affairs. Most of the time, you can't even take the grille off to check the quantity and quality of the speaker parts. If you could, you would find paper cones with foam surrounds; more akin to what you'd find in cheap, cheesy computer speakers and OEM car stereos than what is typical in decent home audio speakers. Kadalasan pa ay iisang driver lang ang nakakabit sa mga satellites kaya kulang sa detail at linis ung tunog.

HTiB systems are a good choice for:
1. People with limited budgets.
2. Secondary rooms and homes.
3. Small rooms (under 200 sq. feet).
4. Systems with small screen TVs (under 30").
5. Considerate apartment dwellers with sound-sensitive neighbors.
6. People who don't watch big explosive shoot-em-up action/adventure movies.
7. People using this system only for movie and TV viewing.
8. People who are uncomfortable with hooking up "high-tech" devices.
9. People who have no intention of adding to, or upgrading, the system next year

[vircor]

COMPONENT SYSTEMS
A home theater system made up of separately-purchased "components" would include (for instance) a multi-channel Dolby Digital receiver (or preamp/processor with separate amplifiers), a set of speakers and whatever source components you choose, such as CD player, DVD player, VCR, etc. Each component would be chosen separately, and they often originate from different manufacturers (halo-halo).

Component System Advantages
Flexibility. Component systems offer tremendous flexibility and choice. You can mix and match components from various manufacturers to get the best product in each category and exactly meet your unique needs for style, size, and performance.

Style choice. You can choose from a wider range of speaker types (floorstanding, bookshelf, compact, etc.), styles and colors or finish choices when you build a component system than you could with pre-packaged HTiB systems. If you were looking for a brushed aluminum receiver (looks cool!) to combine with Cherry wood finish floorstanding speakers (match your furniture), you'll be able to get that combo with components. You'd be out of luck with HTiB.

Extreme upgradeablity. Add or upgrade one component at a time as you build toward your ultimate system goal. Use as many connectors or as much speaker wire as your little heart desires, without being stuck with a finite amount of cheap speaker wire or having to find some obscure connector type.
Greater functionality. Most component receivers have multi-room or multi-zone functions, allowing you to connect speakers in other rooms of the house. And usually, that's just the beginning.

Lowered obsolescence. For you "commitment-phobes," building a component home theater system means you're not married to any one source-technology. Change sources and formats anytime as technology advances. Components mean never having to say you're sorry. Kapag nasira ung dvd player mo, mas madali makakakuha ng kapalit at much better technology pero ung other compo mo nandun pa rin.

Better materials and better build quality. Lift, touch, feel. You will notice the difference, as each manufacturer puts their all into their particular product. Lalong-lalo na sa mga major brands, makikita mo ung kalidad pagpindot mo pa lang sa buttons or pag-eject pa lang ng disc tray. Ung power rating din ng amps mas sigurado ka na yun ung idedeliver na power sa loudspeaker mo.(Sana walang violent reactions sa comment kong ito  Meron ding ok sa mga minor brands component system kaya lang mas mahirap nga lang makahanap pero maraming threads dito sa pinoydvd tungkol sa mga ito na makakatulong sa atin.

High performance. This is The Big Reason to build your system using components. Systems put together with complementary component parts sound a lot better than all-in-one systems. Many sound as good as, or better than, the surround sound system in your local cinema, to say nothing of your local concert hall. Even a small component system will deliver the kind of sound that raises goose bumps on your arms; sound that gets your heart pounding and puts you on the edge of your seat, iyung tipong mapapalundag ka pag bumulaga si JasonX. For realistic musical reproduction, and real movie theater thrills, "Once you go components you never go back."

Component System Disadvantages
More difficult to choose. Component systems are harder to choose than integrated systems. Kasi nga sa dami ng choices, and it's often difficult to know what component works best with what. The flip side is that it can be more fun and ultimately more satisfying to choose a system that is customized for your needs rather than settling for a cookie-cutter HTiB system. Saka maraming reference kang makukuha tungkol sa iba’t ibang component, kung gusto mo e mag-invest ka sa single brand ng iyong compo system or halo-halo.

More difficult to set up. In order to give you the ability to optimize the electronics for the speakers and to optimize the system for your room, there are set-up controls and adjustments that may be complex and confusing. Instruction manuals can be difficult to understand. Fear not, mortal! Isa yang reason na yan kaya ko naisipan na magsimula ng ganitong topic dahil alam kong maraming pinoy jan na tutulong sa atin.

More difficult to use. You may wind up with several remote controls on your coffee table. Siyempre mas marami ka na kasing pipindutin pero may solusyon jan dahil halos lahat naman ng compo ngayon ay universal remote na ang gamit that can control up to six or more equipment.

More expensive. There are HTiB systems that sell for well under P8,000. Pero kung compo ang bibilin mo ay baka dvd player pa lang yang halagang yan. Pwede kang mag-invest ng 30T-50T for a decent compo system, 50T-90T for a really good system, and 100T and up for a blow your mind system (major brands). But of course you may spend less especially kung minor brands ang ise-setup mo (or kung may alam ka na mababa ang price na swak sa budget natin) kasi ang point ko dito e iba pa rin ang HT experience mo kung compo system ang gamit mo against HTiB.

Component Systems are a good choice for:
1. Larger rooms (over 200 sq. feet).
2. Primary entertainment rooms.
3. Systems with large screen TVs (30" and over).
4. People who watch a lot of action/adventure movies.
5. People who enjoy making their own choices.
6. People using their system for realistic music reproduction as well as movie and TV viewing.
7. People who are comfortable with hooking up "high-tech" devices.
8. People interested in tailoring a system for their own unique needs.
9. People who are looking for truly spine-tingling, gut-rumbling, tick-off-the-neighbors performance.

[vircor]

Next time po uli, ubos na time ko. TY

 

[vircor]

Sherbourn PT-7000 Preamplifier and 7/2100 Amplifier

Fast Facts
PT-7000 Preamplifier
§   Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES 6.1 channel decoding
§   Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6 processing for 5.1/6.1 channel playback from 2 or matrixed 4-channel sources.
§   Cirrus Extra Surround post processing for 6.1/7.1 channel playback from stereo or 5.1 channel sources.
§   Compatible with 96-khz/24-bit PCM stereo recordings
§   DSP crossover frequency individually selectable for L/R front, center, and surround channels.
§   Analog bypass for straight-through stereo playback.
§   2 HDTV-compatible component-video inputs, 2 outputs.
§   5 A/V inputs, 2 outputs all with S-video.
§   S-video, composite-video cross conversion.
§   4 optical, 2 coaxial digital inputs; 1 each optical and coaxial outputs.
§   Multi-channel analog audio input (6 channel) with full analog bass management (80-Hz fixed subwoofer crossover).
§   4 stereo audio-only inputs; 1 record output.
§   8 preamp outputs.
§   AM/FM tuner with 32 presets.
§   8-component preprogrammed/learning system remote.
§   Zone-2 audio-only line-level analog stereo output with independent source selection and volume control.
§   Dual-zone IR-repeater inputs, 12 volt trigger outputs.
§   17¾ x 5¼ x 16 inches (WxHxD); 25 pounds.

7/2100 Amplifier
§   200W x 7, each channel driven into 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with less than 0.05% THD. (300W into 4 ohms)
§   Seven fully independent modules.
§   RCA and balanced XLR inputs, multiway binding–post outputs.
§   Channels 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6 bridgeable for higher power.
§   Manual, auto signal-sensing, or 12-volt trigger turn-on.
§   17¾ x 7 x 18½ inches (WxHxD); 115 pounds.

High Points (PT-7000 & 7/2100)
§   Huge seven-channel power output.
§   Excellent surround performance.
§   Full bass management on multichannel analog input.
§   Refreshingly simple-to-use design and controls.

Low Points (PT-7000 & 7/2100)
§   Expensive
§   No headphone jack or front-panel A/V input.


“…No one who chooses the Sherbourn PT-7000 preamp and 7/2100 amp combo is likely to be disappointed on the basis of fundamental performance. This duo does a super job of providing serious home theater audio, without fuss or funfare. The components aren’t exactly bargain priced, but they aren’t priced extravagantly either. And for that money, you get a kind of artillery-piece solidity that’s quietly reassuring.”

[av_phile1]

Any idea how much the sherbourn AV preamp is?

[ras1842]

Ibinohos na lahat ni Vicor yong idea about the subject.  However, dapat sana isinama kaagad yong price nang sherbourn amp para kumpleto yong evaluation natin.  thanks.

[vircor]

Sensya na mga bro, very limited internet time ko- as in very limited, kaya buhos ko lahat pwede i-post.

PT-7000 Preamp/Processor = $1,500

7/2100 amplifier = $2,850

[av_phile1]

About the same price as a ROTEL RSP 1068 processor/preamp

You forgot to mention that the 7/2100 power amp has TWO detachable power cords.

Seems nobody ever noticed it weighs 115 lbs!!!!   

The Yamaha Z9 only wieghs 67 lbs, the heaviest AV reciever on earth. 

It will take two people to lift this amp, unless you're Arnold. About the same weight as the Aragon 8008X5.   

And you forgot to say the amp uses SEVEN independent power supplies!!!!  It's a monoblock design, 7 of them.

[vircor]

Ka-price range nya din Denon AVR-5803, Yamaha RX-V2400 and Integra RDC-7.

[av_phile1]

But it's unfair to compare separates with receivers. Not even the Z9 can touch somthing like this in terms of amplification power.

[vircor]

It's unfair nga naman to compare separates from receivers. Anyway, it's always your choice that matters. siguro mas maganda i-compare natin ang PT-7000 with Outlaw Audio 950 Preamp at $800. Parehong pareho ang specs, magkaiba lang ang fascia.

[vircor]

[karate kid]

Ano po ba mas maganda, separates or receiver? Ano po ba ang mga dapat tingnan sa equipment bago bilhin?

[vircor]

Medyo mahirap mag-post ng pics, mauubos na time ko, aahhh... help!

[vircor]

Meron ngang 7 identical, independent channel modules and Sherbourn 7/2100 Amp each with its own toroidal power transformer, capacitors and heat sink. It has two power cords to draw more current from the ac outlet. Me advantage din naman po ung around 52kg weigth ng amp na ito. at least hindi sya basta mananakaw. 
Kelangan nga lamang na medyo matibay ang av rack mo.

[vircor]

Nga pala, meron din ang outlaw audio na 7ch amp x 200 watts, ito yung Model 770 na around $1700 ung price and available only thru online sale. Almost the same spec din siya ng Sherbourn 7/2100 amp.

[Philander]

Medyo mahirap mag-post ng pics, mauubos na time ko, aahhh... help!

Refer here:
http://www.pinoydvd.com/board/index.php?topic=10013.0


upload your pics here:
http://groups.msn.com/PinoyDVD/shoebox.msnw

[vircor]

sir philander, thanks for the info!

Ano po ba mas maganda, separates or receiver? Ano po ba ang mga dapat tingnan sa equipment bago bilhin?

A/V Receiver Buying Guide: (Also for Preamp/Amp)

Ok, paano nga ba pumili ng a/v receiver? First, heto muna ang mga considerations before looking for the right receiver for you bago ka tumingin sa actual specs nito. (Ito muna ang madalas kong ipaintindi sa customer ko kung magpapagawa ng computer na I think applicable din sa HT)

Budget.  Dapat mo munang i-consider yung budget mo, how much would you want to spend on this particular hardware? Ilang percent ba ng total budget mo for your Home Entertainment System ang ilalaan dito? To help you decide, you must remember that you’re a/v receiver will be the heart of your system – all other equipment (display, speakers, dvd player, tape deck, etc.) will be connected to this, so investing a modest amount of money should be considered pero hindi naman iyung tipong magagalit si misis.
Purpose/Application. Next for your to consider is how will you actually use you’re a/v receiver. Will it be purely for movie or music or both? Certain brands of a/v receivers particularly shine on movies while others on music. Choose a receiver that will give the best balance of movie and music performance.
Room Size. You also have to consider the size of the room, baka naman nasa 100 sq ft lang ang floor area ng room mo e gagamitan mo ng 200W per channel amp/receiver- it would be very impractical (but if budget is no problem to you, go on), a 50W to 75W per channel power is more than enough for this room size.
Future Plans. Sa pagpili ng a/v receiver, para ka ring namimili ng motherboard ng computer. Meron ka bang mga plano to upgrade or to move into a bigger size room ang HT system mo? Kailangan meron kahit konting allowance for upgrading halimbawa e magdadagdag ka ng cd-changer for your music needs aside from your existing dvd player, dapat mong i-consider yung number ng input and output.
Personal Needs/Taste: In choosing your equipment, kahit ano pa yan, it is important na iyung personal choice mo ang masusunod, huwag kang magpadala basta-basta sa mga sales pitch. Lagi mong isipin na mas magiging contented ka kung yung gusto mo ang masusunod and later on para wala ka ring sisihin.

Ok, next tym na uli. galit na boss ko! 

[JaYBeEL]

Hello po, may itatanong lang... Magsesetup po ho ako ng home theater system. Base sa mga nabasa ko pong mga thread e mukhang ok kung naka a/v receiver. Pero paano po malalaman na ung DTS, Dolby digital o kung ano mang surround sound naproduce ng isang home theater system ay kapareho din dun sa studio na gumawa ng pelikula? Censya na baguhan lang po.      

[vircor]

Hello po, may itatanong lang... Magsesetup po ho ako ng home theater system. Base sa mga nabasa ko pong mga thread e mukhang ok kung naka a/v receiver. Pero paano po malalaman na ung DTS, Dolby digital o kung ano mang surround sound naproduce ng isang home theater system ay kapareho din dun sa studio na gumawa ng pelikula? Censya na baguhan lang po.      

Let me share my opinion/answer to your question in two parts. First regarding sa Dolby Digital or dts sound format, what I can say is almost always your dvd player (regardless of brand) can faithfully decode the soundtrack encoded in Dolby Digital and/or dts format of  the dvd-video you’re playing thru its built in Dolby Digital and/or dts decoder.

Now, the second part is regarding sound reproduction. Dito nagkakaroon ng differences because of the many different ways we choose a/v equipment, setting them up, the way they behave and other factors that affect sound reproduction. Because after decoding, dumadaan pa yan sa postprocessing, then amplification and then sound is created through the speakers. In my point of view, even an HTiB system can decently let you experience the sound of the movie as the filmmaker would want it to present (though maybe not as good as with compo system). But what the heck, why worry too much? Different people hear sounds differently kasi lahat tayo e iba-iba ang sound perception. Nobody can claim that they have the perfect ht system, not even the true-blue audiophiles, sound engineers, etc. etc. Also, films undergo post-production on different studios with different setup and calibration. Besides, baka hindi mo naman magustuhan yung sound reproduction na gustong i-present ng filmmaker di ba?

But if you want some guarantee, try acquiring THX certified a/v equipment but with added cost. THX is much like of a third party quality control system that puts a/v equipment under the process of testing. To achieve THX Certification, home theatre products must meet or exceed the performance requirements under "normal" playback functions set by THX. Aside from the receiver/processor/amp, you may also opt for THX certified speakers for your HT system. Though, be reminded that this doesn’t mean that non-THX equipment are of lesser quality or will perform poorly than THX-certified products because that’s not the case; THX certification is a promise that the manufacturer produces products that collaborates with THX mandated specifications.  (I will post more about THX some other time or maybe meron ng threads dito.)

On final note, the only real way for you to know that the sound reproduced by your HT system is the same as what the filmmaker intended it to be is by the filmmaker himself (and you have the same hardware and setup as the studio where the film is processed and produced, same environment, and same room acoustics, etc.). Saka sabi ko nga, don’t worry too much about that thought, enjoy your movies and music because that’s what home entertainment is all about. In the long run naman, maise-setup mo rin ang HT system mo to your own flavor-don’t expect it to be done overnight, it’s a continuing process so acquire a lot of patience. Be happy with whatever HT system you have, enjoy it, give it time to deliver it’s optimum performance, and if in the end you’re not happy with it-dispose it and give it to me.  Remember, always trust your ears!

 

[JaYBeEL]

Thank you, sir. Pero di kaya ng budget ko yung equipment ng isang film studio.  .
Yung sound reproduction na as close as possible pero within the budget.
Eto po yung considerations ko ng Home entertainment system.
Based on sa ginawa nyong A/V receiver buying guide.

1. Budget - 150k to 170k for TV, dvd player, A/V receiver, speakers and cables.
2. Application - movies, music at karaoke.
3. Room size -  approx. 18 ft by 14  ft

Ano po yung ma recommend nyo?

Salamat po.

[vircor]

Pahabol tungkol dun sa Sherbourn PT-7000 Preamp heto po ung photo: 


Front


Rear

[vircor]

Pahabol pa rin about Sherbourn 7/2100 amp:


Rear View (Plain lang ang front so no need to post)

[vircor]

Thank you, sir. Pero di kaya ng budget ko yung equipment ng isang film studio.  .
Yung sound reproduction na as close as possible pero within the budget.
Eto po yung considerations ko ng Home entertainment system.
Based on sa ginawa nyong A/V receiver buying guide.

1. Budget - 150k to 170k for TV, dvd player, A/V receiver, speakers and cables.
2. Application - movies, music at karaoke.
3. Room size -  approx. 18 ft by 14  ft

Ano po yung ma recommend nyo?

Salamat po.

Since medyo malaki naman budget mo, I would suggest the following:
1. Toshiba 51SW9UC 51" Projection TV (Get the biggest screen size as much as you can)
     *High Definition compatible
     *SD/Smart Media Card Slot
     *3-D Y/C Separator (NTSC
     *Double Window
     *D-Terminal
     *DVD Component Video Input
     *RGB Signal Input
     *SRS WOW Sound System                                     
     *Price=P125,000
2. TEAC AG-D7900 A/V Receiver with 5.1 Speakers
     *Output Power (Surround Mode):
           Front: 60W + 60W (RMS, 8 Ohms, 0.9% THD) 
           Center:  60W (RMS, 8 Ohms, 0.9% THD)
           Rear: 60W + 60W (RMS, 8 Ohms, 0.9% THD)
     *Built-in Dolby Digital & dts decoders
     *Ultra Wide Bandwidth
     *24-bit / 96 kHz D/A Converters
     *Quartz PLL Tuner with 30 presets (AM/FM)
     *Sound Modes: dts, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby 3 Stereo, Hall, Theater, Stadium, Disco, Stereo
     *Night Mode — Dynamic Range Compression
     *Sleep Timer (10 - 90 min.)
     *Front Panel Headphone Output
     *Digital inputs: Optical — 2, Coaxial — 1
     *Digital outputs: Optical — 1
     *Subwoofer pre-amp output
     *Video: 3 inputs, 2 outputs
     *Audio: 5 inputs, 2 outputs
     *Binding Post Speaker Terminals
     *TEAC "UR" Unified Remote Control
     *2 TEAC LSB500 floor-standing main speakers
     *1 TEAC LSC50 center-channel speaker
     *2 TEAC LSS50 surround speakers
     *1 TEAC TSW100 120 Watts powered sub with 10" driver
     *Price = P29,000
3. TCL TDE-F70P DVD Player for P6,500  (or get any dvd player you may want.
4. Cables pwede ka na gumawa niyan, or madali na mamili kung audio cable. Kung video cables, get the    professional grade.

You may also opt for the Yamaha rx-v440 (6.1) for P14,000 or Denon AVR-1604 (6.1) for P19,500.

You may audition the above products at Listening in Style, EDSA Shari-La Mall and SM Appliance.

[vircor]

Ano po ba mas maganda, separates or receiver? Ano po ba ang mga dapat tingnan sa equipment bago bilhin?

A/V Receiver Buying Tips: (continuation)

Ngayon kung desidido ka nang bumili ng a/v receiver, here are what to look for:

Good Power Supply
Weight does matter! Good linear power supplies are heavy and costly. Forget power numbers for a moment. First take a glance at the receiver you are interested in. Look inside it if you can. Observe the power supply section. A good 5 channel receiver should have a power supply capacitance of at least 30,000uF (microfarad) with a large and heavy transformer. The heatsinks should be moderately thick and occupy a great deal of real-estate, housing at least 2 discrete output devices per channel with smaller biasing devices to help maintain class AB operation. Now open up that spec sheet again and look for numbers such as Damping Factor, Dynamic Power in 8/4/2 ohm loads, Power for all channel driven at full bandwidth (20Hz to 20KHz) with THD < 0.1%. These numbers are a starting point in judging the quality of the power supply and amp section.
A good example is the Sherbourn 7/2100 Amp I’ve mentioned some week ago na sabi ni sir av phile1 e medyo mabigat yata at may two power cords but there’s a reason behind this. The 7/2100A weighs an astounding 115 pounds (52 kilos) and features the world’s first seven mono block, seven toroidal transformer amplifier. This brute will output a massive 2.1 kW (on 4 ohms) and comes with two power cords to ensure that you can pull all of the needed power from two outlets, which eliminates the need to install a special 20-amp circuit. It uses fifty-six bi-polar Mosfet transistors and has an over 150,000 microfarad capacitance. It has power requirements of 2x 230V with 7.5A.
Yung lesser sibling, 5/5210 Amp, ay same specs but only with 5-channels, a heatsink measuring over 500 square inches for fan-free cooling, two 10,000 microfarad capacitors, a hefty 400 VA toroidal transformer, and weighs around 85 lbs (38.6 kg). It has power requirements of 2x 230V with 6A.

Build Quality
Quality of construction and workmanship play a vital role in creating an excellent receiver. A receiver built with bad parts is a bad receiver. Take note of the connectors on the backplane. Are they flimsy? Do the speaker terminals accommodate 12 gauge wire? How do the controls on the front feel? Are they well laid out? If you plan on spending an amount of money on a receiver, ask yourself this question: Is the front door panel (if there is one) metal or cheap flimsy plastic? If not, it makes you wonder what else they skimped on internally. Touch and feel the knobs, buttons and chassis, meron bang rough edges? maganit pindutin o pihitin? unresponsive ba mga buttons? Sa mga ganitong paraan, masusukat mo kung maayos ba ang pagkakagawa nung equipment and we’re not talking of style or porma nung product kundi yung amount of detail na ibinigay.

Sound Matters Most !
Before deciding on a receiver you plan on buying based on the specifications you have read, take some time to listen to the product thoroughly. Many mid to low priced receivers packed with features, nice lights and cool face plates suffer from a common problem, terrible preamp/processor sections. Ang tanong, paano mo malalaman kung maganda ba ang preamp section ng receiver (or ng isang preamp connected to an amp)? Maganda na i-audition mo yung equipment sa isang quiet room (or sound room kung possible). Switch the receiver onto a 5 channel mode with no source running. Turn the volume control up about half way and balance all channels using the test tone. Tapos ay pakinggan mong mabuti kung may anumang sound na nagmumula sa speakers at kung may marinig kang sound, nangangahulugan na yung receiver (or preamp) has a noisy preamp section. In a seated position midway between all speakers, listen for excessive background noise. Usually the rear channels are most obvious. If you can clearly hear hissing or white noise from any speaker while seated, than avoid this receiver as it will annoy you in the long run when playing 5 channel sources. If the receiver passed the noise test, move on to quality of the DAC's and ADC's. You should compare the fidelity of sound of the internal DAC's with that of the CD/DVD player you are using in your system. When switching from analog to digital inputs on the receiver, you should notice similar or better fidelity. If you don't this may imply the DAC's in the receiver are not as good as the ones in your CD/DVD player. This may present a problem to those who enjoy listening to DSP modes or want to really reproduce excellent 5 channel DD/DTS surround. If the DAC's in the receiver are weak than you may have to rely on the DAC's in the CD player while listening to music in DSP modes. Doing this would involve a D/A conversion from your CD player to a A/D conversion in your DSP processor and finally a D/A conversion before the signal gets amplified. This process will manipulate the source 3 times as opposed to one. This should be avoided if possible as it will result in loss of fidelity.

[vircor]

A/V Receiver Buying Tips: (continuation)

Sound Fidelity
Alright, so the receiver passed the noise test, what next? The amplifiers. In order for the receiver to be a winner, it has to deliver quality power for your speakers in the room size you are in and listening levels you are accustomed too. Pick speakers in the showroom as close to the ones you own or plan on buying. Put on a bass heavy CD. Listen to the bass notes for strain, boominess and lack of impact. If the receiver shares these characteristics, it is attributed to a weak power supply. This will be a problem for those with large tower speakers who demand bass output without the use of a powered subwoofer. Next listen to the midrange and high frequency spectrum. The midrange should have good balance throughout the 200Hz - 4KHz bandwidth free from excessive boosting or attenuation within the frequency spectrum. The high frequency spectrum above 4 KHz should sound airy, natural and not overly bright. Receivers which tend to sound bright must be carefully mated with speakers with a subtle nature in the high frequency spectrum.


Surround Sound Performance
Surround sound performance is a very critical issue that you must pay careful attention to. Listen to all of the surround formats available on the receiver (IE.DPL,DD,DTS) and verify there is no center channel bleed over into the other surround channels. You can accomplish this by listening to a movie with the center channel speaker on and the other speakers off. Familiarize yourself with the voices that are emanating from the center speaker. Now disconnect the center channel and reconnect the front speakers. Listen for bleed over of the voices to the main speakers. Next turn on all 5 channels and listen to a particular movie passage. Pay attention to how the sounds shift from one speaker to the next. Listen to this passage repeatedly until its familiarity is burned in your head. Compare its sound characteristic with the different receivers using the same speaker set-up to determine which receiver decodes the information best.

Necessary Features
Aside from quality amplifiers and power supplies, features are one of the most important concerns when purchasing a receiver. You want the receiver you choose to purchase not only to sound good but to provide you with the features you need/desire. It is always better if you can buy a receiver with many A/V inputs and outputs both analog and digital, and plenty of s-video / component video switching. Does the receiver have the ability to differentiate between composite video and s-video? If it doesn't, you will have to get behind the receiver to flip a switch every time you go from a composite video source to an s-video one in order to utilize on screen display menus. Are the onscreen displays (if this feature exists on the model you choose) intuitive? If not, you will be scratching your head often when attempting to optimize the performance of the system. Is the remote control complete with all function keys necessary to properly operate your system? And, is it easy to operate? If not, you will be investing in a multi-brand remote after many frustrating hours.

Ayaan, ... hirap magtype! Use this only as guidelines, pero maaaring me iba pa. Anyway, when you are scouting for receivers, pili ka ng 3 topc choices according to your budget, needs, taste; then lista mo specs and other info. Be realistic, huwag ka maglista ng way out of your budget because sabi ni ganito e maganda. Try to remember na may mga cheaper alternatives na pwedeng pagpiliian at malay mo, baka swak iyon sa panlasa mo.

until next time po! ubos na naman time ko!..... 

next topic: surround formats

[vircor]

Thank you, sir. Pero di kaya ng budget ko yung equipment ng isang film studio.  .
Yung sound reproduction na as close as possible pero within the budget.
Eto po yung considerations ko ng Home entertainment system.
Based on sa ginawa nyong A/V receiver buying guide.

1. Budget - 150k to 170k for TV, dvd player, A/V receiver, speakers and cables.
2. Application - movies, music at karaoke.
3. Room size -  approx. 18 ft by 14  ft

Ano po yung ma recommend nyo?

Salamat po.

HT Setup 2:

1. Hitachi C47-WD5000 Widescreen Projection TV (Price = P 110,000)

KEY FEATURES:
• Full Multi System
• 200 Program Preset
• Digital Comb Filter
• Memory Card Slot Available (requires PC card Adapter)
• Progressive Scan/Virtual HD/100Hz (525i/p, 635i/p, 750p, 1125i)
• HD Through Mode
• Teletext
• Front Panel Lighting
• Magic Focus III (Auto Digital Convergence)
• Contrast Ultrashield

2. Pioneer 566K DVD Player

Video Features
• 54MHz (progressive)/10-bit D/A converter
• PureCinema Progressive Scan (for NTSC)
• Twin-Wave Laser pickup (DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW*/SVCD/VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW)
• PhotoViewer (JPEG playback**)
• DVD-RW Playback (Video Recording Format)
• Component video output
PAL/NTSC Dual System with PAL-NTSC Video Converter
Audio Features
• 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter
• Dolby Virtual
• MP3 playback [Glossary]
• Optical and coaxial digital out
• (DTS /Dolby Digital /MPEG Audio/ Linear PCM)
• Dynamic range control
• Digital out on/off
• Karoke functions with Mic Echo and Digital Key Control

3. Receiver


Denon AVR-1604 Receiver (Price = P 19,500)
• Dolby Digital, including Surround Ex decoding
• Dolby Pro Logic II decoding with Cinema and Music Modes
• DTS ES Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1 decoding
• DTS Neo:6 Cinema & Music Surround decoding
• Analog Devices Melody 32-bit Fixed Point DSP processor
• 6 Channels equal power amplifier section
• 75 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, <.08%THD)
• 110 watts per channel (6 ohms, 1 kHz, <.7%THD)
• Banana Plug Speaker Connections all channels (Except Speaker B)
• Subwoofer Pre-out, with Variable Hi/Low-pass Cross-over points(80/100/120/150Hz)
• 24 bit, 96 kHz high resolution DACs on all eight channels
• Real 24 bit, 96 kHz Digital Interface Receiver
• 2 sets component video inputs(30MHz), compatible with progressive DVD, DTV
• 4 sets composite with 3 "S" video inputs
• 5.1 external wide bandwidth (100 kHz) input for future multi-channel formats (such as DVD-Audio)
• 5/6 Channel Stereo
• Personal Memory Plus
• 4 assignable digital inputs (3 Optical, 1 Coaxial)
• Optical digital output
• Front Panel A/V Inputs, with Optical Digital
• Front Panel Speaker A/B Selector
• 9 analog inputs including built-in AM/FM tuner
• Remote I/O Ports 
• Glow in the dark main function keys
• Dimensions: 17.1"w x 5.8"h x 16.4"d

OR

Yamaha RX-V640 Receiver (Price = P 19,920)
• High power 6-channel discrete amplifier configuration (85W x 6 RMS)
• Digital ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology)
• High Current Amplification for high sound quality
• Easy setup and operation
• Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, and DTS Neo:6 
• Powerful 32-bit Yamaha LSI (YSS-938) for CINEMA DSP processing
• 24 surround programs (44 variations) with SILENT CINEMA and Night Listening mode
• Extensive input capability including 4 optical/1 coaxial digital, 5 S-video, 5 A/V and 2 audio inputs
Click this link for detailed info:
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/pdfs/moreinfo/rxv640.pdf

3. Speakers:


Yamaha NS-7390 Floor-standing speakers (Price = P 9,250/pair)
• 3-Way bass-reflex design
• 6” cone woofer, 4” cone midrange driver, 3/4" balanced dome tweeter
• Magnetic shielding
• Frequency response: 38-20,000 Hz
• Impedance: 8 ohms
• Input power (Max/Nominal): 220W / 60W
• Sensitivity: 86 dB / 2.83 V/m
• Gold-plated banana plug compatible speaker terminals
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 210 x 870 x 265 mm
• Weight: 10.2 kg or 22.5 lbs


Yamaha NS- P70 (Price = P 8,750)
Center Speaker
 2-Way Acoustic Suspension Design
 Dual 10cm (4”) Cone Woofer and 2.2cm (7/8”) Dome Tweeter
 Magnetic Shielding
 Frequency Response: 70–30,000 Hz
 Impedance: 6 ohms
 Input Power (Max/Nominal): 180 W/60 W
 Sensitivity: 91 dB/2.83V/m
 Crossover Frequency: 5 kHz
 2-Way Binding Post Speaker Terminal (Banana-Plug Compatible;except European models)
 Dimensions (W x H x D): 465 X 135 X 174 mm; 17-1/8” x 5-5/16” x 6-7/8”
 Weight: 3.5 kg; 7.7 lbs.

3 Rear (Rear Left, Rear Right and Rear Effect) Speakers
 2-Way Acoustic Suspension Design
 10cm (4”) Cone Woofer and 2.2cm (7/8”) Dome Tweeter
 Magnetic Shielding
 Frequency Response: 80–30,000 Hz
 Impedance: 6 ohms
 Input Power (Max/Nominal): 150 W/50 W
 Sensitivity: 90 dB/2.83 V/m
 Crossover Frequency: 5 kHz
 2-Way Binding Post Speaker Terminal (Banana-Plug Compatible;except European models)
 Dimensions (W x H x D): 150 x 265 x 156 mm; 5-7/8” x 10-7/16” x6-1/8”/unit
 Weight: 2.3 kg; 5.1 lbs./unit



Yamaha YST-SW215 Powered Sub (Price = P 11,500)
QD-Bass (Quatre Dispersion Bass) technology
Advanced YST (Yamaha Active Servo Technology)
150W dynamic power
BASS (Bass Action Selector System)
20cm (8") multi-range driver with magnetic shielding
30–200Hz low frequency reproduction
Auto Standby with Sensitivity Selector(HIGH, LOW and OFF)
Low (0.5W) standby power consumption
Click this link for detailed info:    
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/pdfs/moreinfo/ystsw315215npb.pdf

You may audition the above hardware at Listening Room, 3/F SM Megamall Bldg. B.
You may also visit the Dai-Ichi showroom at the 5th level of SM Megamall for a wider range of loudspeakers.
*Include in your purchase items such as power conditioner/surge protector.

[JaYBeEL]

Una sa lahat salamat po sa recommendations nyo. Ma-audition nga mga yan.   
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?