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Video Processing, LED Backlighting, Big Plasma
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 11, 2009  | 
Two For One
I have a Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD plasma with a Denon DVD-3800BDCI Blu-ray player, and I have two questions. First, should I set the Denon to output 1080p/24 manually or just leave it set to Auto? Second, a friend is encouraging me to get the DVDO Edge because, he says, its processing is probably better than either the Pioneer or Denon. Do you think this is true, or is my current gear sufficient?
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CES 2016Ask S&V
ViewSonic Streams the Light
Al Griffin  |  Jan 08, 2016  | 
CES isn’t much a platform for launching video projectors (that’s why there’s CEDIA), but one company not typically known for home A/V products did use the show to introduce a pair of models designed for home theater, rather than classroom, use.
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Welcome!
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 23, 2009  | 
Welcome to our new feature, "Ask Home Theater." Each week, I'll answer several reader questions here, and you'll have an opportunity to chime in with your comments and additions. I hope to build a real community with lively discussion, so don't be shy! Send your questions to me at scott.wilkinson@sorc.com, and please add your two cents to any answer I give. I look forward to hearing from you!
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What Amps Should I Use for a 5.1.4 Atmos Setup?
Al Griffin  |  Oct 06, 2016  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I’m running a 5.1.4 Atmos setup and am looking to upgrade the amplification because I feel that my current 9-channel receiver lacks sufficient “oomph.”...What configuration would work best for a 9 channel setup? —Dean Ellingson

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Speaker SetupAsk S&V
What Are the Benefits of Bi-Wiring Vs. Bi-Amping?
Al Griffin  |  Jan 23, 2020  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I just bought Polk Audio Monitor 40 Series II speakers and want to know how to install them using bi-wiring. Do I connect two separate wires from the positive and negative outputs on the receiver and run them to the separate positive and negative input sets on the speaker? What benefits will that provide? —Kris Green, via email

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What Are the Benefits of Line-Source Speakers?
Al Griffin  |  Dec 12, 2017  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I am building a dedicated 15 x 10 x 28-foot (WxHxD) home theater with two rows of seating and a bar for the third row. I plan to buy new speakers and am interested in the advantages, if any, of line-source over regular point-source designs. I’ve heard that line-source speakers create a larger stereo sweet spot. Is that the case? —Lorne Charles / via e-mail

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What Are the Best Options for Streaming High-Res Audio?
Al Griffin  |  Jan 19, 2017  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I recently bought a Marantz 7702mkII preamp-processor and am wondering about the best options for streaming high-res FLAC and other lossless files from my computer. The Marantz wants me to use my Windows Media Player library when setting up a media server connection. However, it’s my understanding that WMP can’t play FLAC files without additional transcoding, and even then it can’t handle files with 24bit/192kHz resolution. Do you have any recommendations for getting the best-quality playback from my high-res audio downloads? —Trey M. Turner

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What Are the Requirements for Dolby Atmos Sound?
Al Griffin  |  Apr 19, 2022  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Sony XR-90J TV that supports 4K/HDR and Dolby Atmos. Here’s my question: For a fully Atmos-compatible system, do I also need a receiver, Ultra HD Blu-ray player, and HDMI cables specifically designed to support Atmos? —Rayfield Coston, via email

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What Are the Tech Specs for Blu-ray 3D?
Al Griffin  |  Feb 22, 2018  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Are movies on Blu-ray 3D disc delivered in 1080p/24 resolution — the same as regular Blu-ray? If not, what is the resolution for Blu-ray 3D, and does the format use a different, lower-quality form of video compression? —Gilles Gontrand

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What Are Those Splotches On My TV’s Screen?
Al Griffin  |  Dec 19, 2013  | 
Q I just bought a Sharp HDTV from Best Buy. When watching a dark scene from the TV series Grimm that I recorded with my DirecTV DVR, horrible black splotches suddenly appeared on the screen. Is this problem fixable?—Darryl Cameron via email
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What Can I Do to Overcome Spotty Streaming?
Al Griffin  |  Mar 15, 2018  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q The idea of physical media going away bothers me because video streaming quality still seems so spotty. Even my wife — I’ll call her a home theater appreciator, if not an enthusiast — noticed how bad the last season of Game of Thrones looked when we streamed it on HBO Now. To be fair, that’s not the case with all streaming services. For example, Stranger Things looked great on Netflix in 4K. With both examples, however, you will most certainly get the definitive experience by watching the show on disc. Here’s my question: Which of the video streaming services currently offers the best possible AV quality? Are there any advances on the horizon? —Jason Acosta / via e-mail

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What Can I Do When Movie Dialogue Gets “Lost”?
Al Griffin  |  Nov 25, 2014  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I plan to buy a KEF R300 surround speaker system and an Anthem MRX 310 AV receiver and use the system almost exclusively for watching movies. I’m getting older, and movie dialogue sometimes gets lost. (My wife says I don’t listen sometimes, but that is another subject.) What are your thoughts and recommendations here? —Michael Wood / via e-mail

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What Computer Volume Settings Provide the Best Sound?
Al Griffin  |  Mar 22, 2018  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q What software and computer control panel volume settings deliver the best sound when playing music using apps like iTunes and sending the digital output to a DAC? —John de Perczel

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What Do I Need to Watch Movies in Dolby Vision?
Al Griffin  |  Sep 21, 2017  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I am buying an LG OLED TV that supports the Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) format. Will my Denon receiver support Dolby Vision as well? What other things will I need to make Dolby Vision work? —Dave Poulson

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What Does a DAC Do?
Al Griffin  |  Jan 19, 2015  | 
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a fairly large collection of CDs, all of which have been ripped to lossless WMA format. I’ve come across plenty of discussion of DACs while researching music servers, but I’m confused about why I would need one since I can already listen to digital music files, either through my computer speakers or headphones. Doesn’t that mean what I’m hearing is already in analog form? If so, what need is there to convert it to anything else? —Bill Begg / via e-mail

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