September 25, 2001

Editor,

I have a rather simple question. What is the advantage of Dolby Digital 5.1 over standard Dolby? My receiver will accommodate both Dolby and Dolby 5.1; in purchasing new speakers, do I need to be sure to buy speakers that will support Dolby 5.1? Is there a difference in connections? Will any standard home-theater package work? Any info you can offer would be appreciated!

Although there is more dynamic range in a Dolby Digital soundtrack, and it is vastly different from a recording/sound-design standpoint, the actual playback with respect to speakers and amplifiers is the same. The difference is simply in the encoding/decoding, not in the speaker system used as long as you have a 5.1 array. For the .1 LFE channel, you do need a that subwoofer accurately reproduces bass. The advantage (and therefore increased quality) of Dolby Digital, as opposed to Dolby Surround, is that each channel is discretely recorded. Think of the difference as similar to going from mono to stereo, and you'll have the right idea....Jeff Fritz

September 23, 2001

Editor,

I want to purchase an A/V receiver for DTS, Dolby Surround 5.1 and get a ProAc center-channel speaker. I will use the ProAc Response 1.5s for front channels and my dad's Castle Chesters for the rear. For two-channel listening, I will hook up my C-J equipment. A Simaudio Moon/YBA2 combo will handle the front left and right using the A/V receiver's preamp outs.

Now, is there a decent receiver out there that will keep me happy? I don't want to buy separates yet (i.e., Bryston 9B and preamp, or Simaudio Moon), but I need a receiver that comes close to separates. Any suggestions? Wiill there be a huge improvement in a 5.1 receiver over using my dad's older Yamaha Dolby surround processor with the current setup I have? Thanks for any advice.

Your idea to use an A/V receiver as a preamp/processor is a cost-effective one. Much of the performance of a far more expensive standalone processor is available by doing this. Make sure the model you are looking at has pre-outs for all channels, as some only have the front two channels, and you'll be fine. Beyond this, don't pay too much for power you won't use. Much of the difference in the cost of various receivers has to do with the number of channels and amount of power. With a 5.1 system you will have the luxury of calibrating the center channel for proper vocal reproduction, which is exactly what you need for balanced sound. This is something you don't have available to you now. So, yes, 5.1 will be a huge improvement....Jeff Fritz

September 22, 2001

Editor,

I am in the market for a new five-channel home-theater amp. Presently, I own an Adcom GFA-6000, but it was designed to complement the older analog Pro Logic format rather than the current digital one. I am looking for an upgrade somewhere in the $1000-$1500 range. I'm looking for a model that performs reasonably well in both five-channel and two-channel modes and would give me a lot more dimension and depth than I am currently getting. Could you please suggest a few models to me that might fit into this criteria? Any help you can share with me on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

You have several good options available to you. You could purchase a new multichannel amplifier such as the Outlaw Model 750, which currently retails for $1099. This would be an upgrade over your current Adcom. The other option would be to add a two-channel amp to supplement the Adcom. It would be used for your front two channels, while the Adcom would be relegated to the rest. This would allow a little more headroom from the Adcom as well, which would improve things further. Options in that price range are numerous. I would look at Adcom's big stereo amps, or B&K for example....Jeff Fritz

September 21, 2001

Editor,

I enjoyed reading your review of the Denon AVR-5800. It appears to be an outstanding receiver that will hopefully take care of all my A/V needs. I am concerned, however, that it does not have Dolby Pro Logic II. Will any of the other modes accomplish what Dolby Pro Logic II is designed to do?

Ray Davis

The bad news is that no mode in the older units is completely interchangeable with Dolby Pro Logic II. The closest would be DTS Neo:6. The great news is that Denon announced at CEDIA an upgrade for Dolby Pro Logic II was available for the AVR-5800. The units currently (or soon) shipping should have this feature. Ask your dealer about the availability, or even an older unit that could be upgraded for you....Jeff Fritz

September 6, 2001

To Doug Blackburn,

OK, so I have the dedicated room now (14'W x 20.5'L x 92"H) with a Mitsubishi 73" Diamond Series TV built in to the wall at the end of the room, Denon AVR-5800 receiver, Pioneer Elite 300-disc DVD changer, RCA DTC-100 DirecTV HDTV satellite system, Paradigm Mini Monitors and CC-350 across the front, Atlantic Technology System 20 In-wall side surrounds and Boston Acoustics in-ceilings for the rear-center pair, one Velodyne sub for the front and one NHT sub for the rear, and a Crestron controlling it all. I currently have a white drop ceiling in the room in which the builder installed six can lights (three of them pointed at end of the room where the TV is, these I promptly took the bulbs out of). I am thinking of painting the ceiling tiles black instead of white to reduce light reflections, but I don't want the room to seem "short" since I already have a 92" ceiling height, which cannot be raised due to all the hard ducting located above. Any suggestions? I also plan to remove the aforementioned can lights and replace them with wall sconces. Got any good sources for cool sconces?

Joe Sanford

Well, we're short on interior-decorating advice, long on video and audio advice. If you go black on the ceiling, you may as well do the walls too -- those reflections will be just as noticeable. With the set you are using, you want the room absolutely as dark as possible so you can run the tubes at the lowest possible contrast (white level) setting to maximize tube life. And they are ALWAYS set it WAY too high at the factory, so the first thing you need to do is turn the contrast control down, then make it even darker. You should use the AVIA or Video Essentials setup disc to help you set the display for max picture quality with the lowest possible contrast and color settings. This will ensure that you get the most viewing hours out of your set.

There's nothing I can tell you about interior decor effects of making the room black. You can always use cool subdued lighting and never let people see the room when it is well-lit. In subdued lighting, they may not even be able to detect or be aware of the ceiling.

You could try companies that specialize in home-theater accessories -- companies that make seating and other items for upscale home theaters. You can also use the Internet search engines; search for "wall sconce" or "contemporary wall sconce" or "art deco wall sconce" and see what pops up. The CEDIA website may also have links to companies that provide home-theater decor items -- or links to places that will get you where you want to go. www.hometheaterinteriors.com has some awesome-looking sconces (and some cheesy ones) if the prices don't freak you out, some of them are quite cool-looking and offer interesting patterns of light on the walls. Some even have color lighting effects.

This place has some of the same items as hometheaterinteriors.com, maybe the prices are better: www.electroshops.com/consumers/sconce-designer.htm....Doug Blackburn

September 4, 2001

Editor,

I'm in the process of finalizing my home-theater system. So far I have an Outlaw 1050 receiver, a set of JMlab Cobalt 806es in the front and the JMlab Chorus 700 as the center channel. For a sub I have the HSU VTF-2. I may switch out the center channel with the Cobalt CC, but haven't decided on that yet.

Now I need a set of rear-channel speakers. My listening room size is 13' x 17' with the actual room 16' x 28'. I don't have a rear wall immediately behind me, so the speakers will have to be mounted on the wall. I'm considering the NHT SuperOne XU. Are there others I should consider in that price range?

Dwight Handon

Although the NHT speakers are of very high quality, in this case you would be best served by having JMlab speakers in the rear too. The tonal characteristics would closer match your front speakers, which would become quite noticeable on pans from front to back/back to front and with any type of musical score whether within a movie's soundtrack or a concert DVD (not to mention multichannel SACD or DVD-A). Don't underestimate the importance of timbre-matched speakers all around....Jeff Fritz

September 3, 2001

Editor,

I was wondering, since your review of the Denon AVR-5800, have you heard of any plans by Denon to come out with an upgraded model with Pro Logic II; perhaps a AVR-5802 due this fall? Is there a totally new flagship due this fall? Any word on upgrades for current owners of the AVR-5800? Either home upgrades by way of CD, Internet downloads or authorized service station?

No news yet on a replacement for the AVR-5800. I am really expecting an upgrade before a brand new unit anyway, but that is yet to be seen. Check out our upcoming CEDIA coverage at www.soundstagelive.com for new products and announcements. If there is something from Denon, we'll get it for you. Thanks....Jeff Fritz

September 3, 2001

I just read something off a Denon AVR-5800 forum. Someone just returned from the Germany (Berlin) show, and according to a Denon technician, an upgrade will be in the way of replacing a digital board with a new faster SHARC with new software. The official announcement should be in November. It would run approximately $500.

Steve Berson

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