Home Theater Systems
01-28-2009, 02:09 PM
#61
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Originally Posted by jcool10181' post='777992' date='Jan 26 2009, 05:21 PM
Wow what a tastefully done setup! I love your tube amp and speakers!!! Where can i get a hold of those kind of equipment?
Thanks man
The speakers are hard to come by, only a few dealers have them. Check vandersteen.com to find a dealer in socal. Im sure there are a few.
Also the ASL gear is hard to come by. My local dealer back in norcal had them and vandersteens. Its a perfect match.
01-30-2009, 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by MiamiPhill' post='778014' date='Jan 26 2009, 09:05 PM
Is there a difference between a PS3 and a dedicated BluRay player, and which output is better, the optical out or the HDMI.
For the PS3 to deliver maximum audio performance, you need a receiver that can decode the new audio formats from bitstream on the HDMI. If your receiver has HDMI but cannot decode the new formats, then you still will not get the higher quality audio using a PS3. What the PS3 is missing that other players can do in terms of audio:
-it cannot decode the new formats and output them as PCM on HDMI (this would permit full functionality on HDMI with a receiver that cannot decode the new formats)
-it cannot decode the new formats and output them as PCM on analog connections (this would permit very old pre-procs/receivers to work with the new formats)
The new formats include:
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby TrueHD
DTS-HD
DTS-HD MA
01-30-2009, 11:26 AM
#63
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Originally Posted by UUronL' post='781301' date='Jan 30 2009, 02:52 PM
For the PS3 to deliver maximum audio performance, you need a receiver that can decode the new audio formats from bitstream on the HDMI. If your receiver has HDMI but cannot decode the new formats, then you still will not get the higher quality audio using a PS3. What the PS3 is missing that other players can do in terms of audio:
-it cannot decode the new formats and output them as PCM on HDMI (this would permit full functionality on HDMI with a receiver that cannot decode the new formats)
-it cannot decode the new formats and output them as PCM on analog connections (this would permit very old pre-procs/receivers to work with the new formats)
The new formats include:
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby TrueHD
DTS-HD
DTS-HD MA
-it cannot decode the new formats and output them as PCM on HDMI (this would permit full functionality on HDMI with a receiver that cannot decode the new formats)
-it cannot decode the new formats and output them as PCM on analog connections (this would permit very old pre-procs/receivers to work with the new formats)
The new formats include:
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby TrueHD
DTS-HD
DTS-HD MA
01-30-2009, 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by MiamiPhill' post='781328' date='Jan 30 2009, 03:26 PM
Woa wait a minute, you mean my old Yamaha 2090 (gathering dust in the closet) with it's 5 chan. discrete analog input can see new life with a dedicated BR player. ??
Yes. Just make sure it's one of the ones below. In fact, the upcoming Vizio I mentioned is slated to cost about $200.
Panasonic DMP-BD55K
Sony BDP-S550
Sony BDP-S5000ES
Vizio VBR100
02-17-2009, 06:54 AM
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What movie do you pop in to impress the boys.?......for me, Saving Private Ryan
02-17-2009, 08:07 PM
#66
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Originally Posted by MiamiPhill' post='794836' date='Feb 17 2009, 10:54 AM
What movie do you pop in to impress the boys.?......for me, Saving Private Ryan
Master & Commander is flat out off the hook for audio; Saving Private Ryan (standard dvd) is excellent also but I would like to hear the uncompressed audio on Blu-ray when it is available
02-18-2009, 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by MiamiPhill' post='794836' date='Feb 17 2009, 07:54 AM
What movie do you pop in to impress the boys.?......for me, Saving Private Ryan
U571, specifically the depth charge scene. Look at how much info there is down below 20hz!
07-23-2009, 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by UUronL' post='777037' date='Jan 25 2009, 04:57 PM
As fun as it is talking gear, let's talk setup. The RadioShack SPL meter is possibly the best $35 you'll spend on your home theater. Also pick up a 5.1/7.1 calibration disc.
It's also high time to make sure you have support for the new audio formats - Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. These are the lossless compression formats. Linear PCM should be supported by most systems and is also lossless. If you're not running BluRay, get it - and make sure you can use the new audio formats with your current system. If you don't have a new receiver, chances are you'll need to interconnect using 5.1 or 7.1 analog RCA cables. There are a couple of players that will decode these formats and output them via 7.1 analog. That's how I do it, and it's a huge difference in sound - the new formats are incredible.
The currently available players that output via analog 7.1 are:
Panasonic DMP-BD55K
Sony BDP-S550
Sony BDP-S5000ES
Vizio VBR100
It's also high time to make sure you have support for the new audio formats - Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. These are the lossless compression formats. Linear PCM should be supported by most systems and is also lossless. If you're not running BluRay, get it - and make sure you can use the new audio formats with your current system. If you don't have a new receiver, chances are you'll need to interconnect using 5.1 or 7.1 analog RCA cables. There are a couple of players that will decode these formats and output them via 7.1 analog. That's how I do it, and it's a huge difference in sound - the new formats are incredible.
The currently available players that output via analog 7.1 are:
Panasonic DMP-BD55K
Sony BDP-S550
Sony BDP-S5000ES
Vizio VBR100
the sound is outstanding even coming from crappy old speakers that have spent years in the garage. You can view Netflix & listen to Pandora Radio on this BluRay player also.....very cool. 
07-25-2009, 05:14 AM
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I just upgraded my BluRay last month - now my Panny Bluray is in the bedroom.
I bought an Oppo BDP-83. It got rave reviews from Secrets of HomeTheater and HiFi. When I originally went to Bluray, I had given up SACD. Now, this player does it all. You can even plug USB drives into it and it will work as a media player and play stuff off of the drives! Also, I have never heard better sound come from my home theater - even from regular CD. The video quality has improved as well. Amazing what a couple of years will do.
I bought an Oppo BDP-83. It got rave reviews from Secrets of HomeTheater and HiFi. When I originally went to Bluray, I had given up SACD. Now, this player does it all. You can even plug USB drives into it and it will work as a media player and play stuff off of the drives! Also, I have never heard better sound come from my home theater - even from regular CD. The video quality has improved as well. Amazing what a couple of years will do.
07-25-2009, 05:18 AM
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Originally Posted by MiamiPhill' post='794836' date='Feb 17 2009, 11:54 AM
What movie do you pop in to impress the boys.?......for me, Saving Private Ryan