Scott Wilkinson

Ask S&V
VCR Blues
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 21, 2011
My home-theater system consists of a Sony STR-DB940 A/V receiver with 5.1 speaker setup, Sony KDL-52HX909 LED/LCD TV, Dish Network HDTV receiver, and Sony SLV-N71 Hi-Fi VCR. I have the VCR connected to the TV via composite video and L/R analog audio cables and the TV's audio output connected to the AVR via optical cabling (MD/DAT input). I have the Dish receiver's video connected to the TV via HDMI and its audio connected to the A/V receiver via optical (SAT/TV input). All of this worked great for about nine months until a few weeks ago.

The AVR's SAT/TV input works fine, but when I use the MD/DAT input for watching the TV or VCR, the sound only comes out of the left-front speaker. When I record something via the VCR's line in, the playback has the same audio problem. But when I play a tape recorded over a year ago, the sound does not have the audio problem.

Tony Santana

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
NAD T 747 vs. Onkyo TX-NR709
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 19, 2011
I am looking for a new A/V receiver, and I am seriously considering the NAD T 747 and the Onkyo TX-NR709. It will be used about 75 percent for movies and 25 percent for music. The features I'm looking for include at least 5.1 (if not 7.1), auto room calibration/set-up (such as Audyssey), the ability to decode all the new lossless formats found on Blu-rays, the ability to make movie dialog easier to hear when listening at low volume levels, and pre-out jacks so that I have the option of hooking up a separate amplifier to it in the future.

John Dixon

Continue Reading >
Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 83: Philip Clements
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 18, 2011
Philip Clements, inventor of the H-PAS (Hybrid Pressure Acceleration System) speaker-loading technology used in his own speakers as well as models from Atlantic Technology, explains how H-PAS combines bass-reflex, acoustic-suspension, and transmission-line techniques to offer many advantages, including extended bass response, lower distortion, and greater dynamic range.

Run Time: 56:20

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
GoldenEar vs. Morel
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 17, 2011
The reviews of the GoldenEar SuperCinema 3 (seen in the lower portion of the image above) and Morel SoundSpot Music Theatre 2 Ultra speaker systems came out at roughly the same time. The Morels appear to have better performance and build quality according to their ratings, and yet they are not considered as good a value despite being in essentially the same price category. Do the Morels really sound better, or is their sound measured against how tiny they are?

Stephen Trask

Continue Reading >
Vote
Can Ultra-Premium Flat Panels Succeed?
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 14, 2011
Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Soundbar in the Center
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 14, 2011
I have the opportunity to update my home theater audio system and have decided on the Marantz SR7005 AVR. My room is small, and when I remodeled 10 years ago, I installed four Paradigm in-wall speakers and a large center-channel speaker for my 5.1 system. It occurs to me that if I replace the center channel with a 3-channel soundbar, I could use my existing in-wall speakers for the surround and have a full 7.1 system.

What do you think of this approach? Paradigm makes a 3-channel soundbar, the Millenia 20 Trio (shown above). I like my Paradigm speakers, but I thought that looking at other brands might be a good thing to do.

Byron Servies

Continue Reading >
The Big Picture
BYO3DG—Bring Your Own 3D Glasses
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 13, 2011
When you go to your local cineplex to catch a 3D movie, you are provided with glasses that isolate the left and right images for the corresponding eyes. I always assumed that the theater bought these glasses, resulting in higher ticket prices and an admonition to toss them into a bin on the way out so they can be reused. But Sony Pictures' announcement two weeks ago that, in May 2012, it will stop providing theaters with RealD glasses—which are used in the majority of commercial 3D presentations—belied that assumption.
Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
AVR and Two Subwoofers
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 12, 2011
I want to hook up two Velodyne Impact 10 subwoofers to my Integra DTR-6.5 AVR. Do I need three signal splitters? Will I lose some signal using that many splitters? Should I use the Zone 2 sub output?

Mario B.

Continue Reading >
Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 82: Derek Smith
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 11, 2011
SpectraCal co-founder and CTO Derek Smith talks about the evolution of CalMan, SpectraCal's video-calibration software intended for enthusiasts, the process of calibration, automated calibration, the new eeColor image processor that adjusts a display's color for different amounts of room light, 3D calibration, 4K, expanded color gamuts, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:00:54

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Coby Soundbar vs. TV Speakers
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 10, 2011
Would you recommend using the Coby CSMP88 soundbar instead of the TV speakers in my LG plasma?

Nick Andrade

Continue Reading >

Pages

X