Letters to the Editor - March 2002
Top four for music and movies?
March 29, 2002
To Wes Marshall,
I'm looking to spend between $1000-$3000 on home-theater
components. I listen to stereo music as much as I watch movies. The room is mid-sized. If
you could list the top four receivers in order from best sound to worst, that would be a
help. Same for speakers please. Thank you.
Andrew Michael
Of course, it is impossible to say what is best and
rank it in the world of A/V. It depends on your needs and tastes. Even if I knew you very
well, I still couldn't predict what you would like and wouldn't like.
That said, if I were looking in the price range you are
speaking of, I would look at the following brands of speakers (alphabetically): Acoustic
Research, Aperion Audio, Paradigm, and PSB. For receivers: Arcam, Denon, Onkyo and Outlaw
Audio.
You really have to go listen and try them to know for
sure though....Wes Marshall
Loud and louder
March 20, 2002
To Roger Kanno,
I recently purchased a three-channel power amp (Acurus
200x3) for my fronts and center-channel. My receiver is an Arcam AVR100. I was expecting
the volume to get louder, but I am getting the same amount of loudness. Is this normal or
should I get a bigger and louder sound? Thank you for your expected reply.
Arnel Calim
While you might think that connecting a more powerful
amplifier in this way would automatically lead to an increase in sound pressure level at
any given volume setting, there are actually two other factors that must be taken into
consideration. First, power amplifier’s have differing input sensitivities, which
determine how strong of a signal is required to output a particular amount of power. For
example, one amplifier might only require a 1V input signal to achieve its maximum power
output while another amplifier might require an input signal of 2.5V. Therefore, power
amplifiers with the same power rating, but differing input sensitivities will not output
the same amount of power given the same signal from a preamplifier.
Second, preamplifiers (or the preamp outputs of the AVR100
in your case) do not all output the same signal levels. For instance, one preamplifier
might have an output level of 1V at the 9 o’clock position while another preamp might
only be outputting a signal of 0.5V at the same position. Therefore, a preamplifier with a
low output signal will require you to turn up the volume more to get a certain amount of
power from a particular power amplifier than one with an inherently higher output level.
So the amount of power that a power amplifier provides to
your speakers at any given time is dependent not only on the amplifier’s rated power,
but also its input sensitivity, and the output level of the preamplifier....Roger Kanno
Processor choice
March 15, 2002
Editor,
I read with interest your
review of the Anthem AVM 20. It sounds like an excellent product. I am installing a
home theater in my house in the near future and I am in the midst of researching products
for the system. I had narrowed down my processor choices down to the Lexicon MC12 or the
Meridian 562/568 combo. After reading your review, it appeared to me the AVM 20 had many
of the features of the MC12, particularly once the chip upgrade adding Pro Logic II and
DTS ES is included.
How close in performance is the AVM 20 to these products?
Is there a discernable difference? If you could afford either but were not interested in
burning money unless clear benefit is obtained, what would you choose?
Vince Morgan
I have heard neither the Meridian nor the Lexicon in my
system, but I do know people who have, and they both maintain excellent reputations. The
Anthem, though, is a top-notch performer in its own right. When you get into
multi-thousand-dollar price differentials as exists between these products, you certainly
have to keep a clear goal in mind with respect to what you wish to achieve with your
system. If I could have the Anthem, and say, put a few thousand dollars more in my speaker
system, this would likely be my choice. If money were truly no object, perhaps there is
some benefit to going with the more expensive product (but perhaps not!)...Jeff Fritz
Small speakers
March 14, 2002
Editor,
I will be buying a home-theater speaker system for my new
house. Because of the layout of the living room (and the wife-acceptance factor) I've
decided to purchase smaller satellite speakers. I've done some initial research and have
found that the quality varies incredibly in the sub/sat category -- from very bad to
pretty darn good for a satellite. My search has come down to two options (minus the
subwoofer because I have one I am happy with): Polk Audio and Cambridge SoundWorks.
On paper the two speakers look very similar, but I have not
been able to listen to the Cambridge SoundWorks speakers or find any reviews on their
smaller Newton models. On the other hand, I've had a chance to give the Polks a listening
test against some other satellite speakers, and I was very impressed. The price difference
is definitely a plus for CSW, and they offer a 45-day trial to boot. But I would prefer to
avoid the hassle of shipping speakers back and forth if the Polks are hands down the
better speaker. Do you have any suggestions? Is the difference between the two only a
matter of preference? Should I suck it up and give the CSWs the 45-day trial?
Jayson Bjurstrom
Check audiovideoreviews.com for several Polk Audio reviews as well as a
Cambridge SoundWorks review. We've heard very good things about the current line of Polk
speakers. Our sister home-theater site, onhometheater.com with Wes Phillips, recently reviewed a Polk system,
and the results were stellar. One of our reviewers, Anthony DiMarco, has recently had a
very pleasurable experience with the customer service department at CSW, and he was quite
impressed with their speakers. In fact, he still uses a system from CSW as his reference.
I would say that although the speakers likely sound quite different, you have selected two
quality companies to deal with and will likely be satisfied either way...Jeff Fritz
Portable screens
March 8, 2002
To Wes Marshall,
I read your Home Theater & Sound review of
the PLUS Piano DLP projector, and I am planning on purchasing one ASAP. I need to buy
a projection screen, and I am considering a portable one so I can watch a movie in
whatever room my kids haven't taken over. Could you recommend a portable screen that works
well for viewing 169 DVD movies (or perhaps some online-research resources)?
Thanks.
Michael Kaviani
Portable projection screens have lots of problems.
Durability and picture quality both suffer. That said, Draper makes some very nice
portable screens. Their Cinefold might suit you. Da-Lite also makes portable screens. One
to look at is the Insta-Theater. Be aware that the Piano, like all other projectors, will
spill some light around the picture. This is no problem if the edges are masked somehow.
But using a portable screen makes masking very difficult....Wes Marshall
PLUS Piano
March 7, 2002
Editor,
I enjoyed reading your comments on the PLUS Piano.
I was going to go RPTV, but I have decided to purchase the PLUS. My only concern is what
type of screen to purchase. I would mostly be watching anamorphic DVDs and live sporting
events. Thanks for any help you could give me on selecting a screen.
John McLean
Some good places to start are with Da-Lite and Stewart.
Both companies make screens that would suit the PLUS, and have a variety of price points
for you to choose from. It's really helpful to actually see the screen you are purchasing,
so a good dealer with a variety to compare is the best way to make the decision, which
also needs to factor in your room and the ambient light present, among other
considerations...Jeff Fritz
Praise for the Titan II LE
March 6, 2002
To John Potis,
I couldn't be happier with the ACI Titan II LE subwoofer! It performs beautifully in my system. And my
wife, who said we would not add any more clutter to our living room, quickly
changed her mind after (a) she actually saw it and (b) she heard it. It was
one of the quickest turnarounds in our entire married life. ACI scored big time in
terms of wife/spouse/partner acceptance factor.
Since ACI advertise very little, I feel fortunate that I
ran across your rave review. Otherwise, I would never have known about this great sub, and
I still would not have one because "we don't need any more ugly-looking stuff
in this room" (which I would guess would sound very familiar to other readers). Now,
thanks to your review, I have not only one great-looking sub, but one that performs right
up there with the best. Doesn't get any better than this. Thanks.
Brent Tuthill
First home theater
March 5, 2002
Editor,
I am not rich, but I am very much looking forward to buying
my first home theater. I will be using it mostly for music, about 65% of the time. I am
stuck between the following: Should I buy Athena AS-B1s and matching setup, or should I
buy from Paradigm, its matching set? I have listened to both of them, but at different
stores, and I cannot decide. I will be plugging them into a Denon AVR-1602 and a Cambridge
DVD-300. Any advice is appreciated!
Ravi Singh
Talk about a win/win proposition! I think either choice
is excellent. I would suggest you take some music you are very familiar with to both
dealers and listen again. If you have not done this, it will give you an opportunity to
use source material that you would use at home, and by listening to it over both systems,
you likely will come away with a clear winner...Jeff Fritz
Krell upgrade
March 4, 2002
Editor,
I know that your
review on the Krell Home Theater Standard 2 was very favorable. How do you think the
upgraded version will be? I know that Krell is pretty much replacing of all of the DACs as
well as adding a true analog bypass for all inputs (if wanted). Anyway, I am just looking
for some guidance.
Chris Fitzgerald
I have not heard the Krell HTS 7.1, but it does appear
that the upgrade is substantial. Essentially the owner is getting a brand-new unit. The
processor market is a tough one, which many manufacturers have learned. To stay up to date
with what customers expect, models are updated/replaced faster than any other product type
I can think of. The Krell HTS 7.1 looks to have all that one could want for the
foreseeable future though, and I'm sure it possesses that excellent Krell
performance...Jeff Fritz
Status Acoustics?
March 2, 2002
Editor,
I am a frequent reader of all the SoundStage! Network sites.
Because I have not yet found any reviews of Status Acoustics speakers, I would really like
to see one done by your staff of very skilled evaluators/writers. I value the many reports
on affordable products, but it's nice to read some on super-high-end products as well.
Comparing the really high-end Status Acoustics to the more affordable line (RBH) and/or
another maker of fine speakers utilizing metal drivers (like Monitor Audio Gold Series
maybe?) would be of great interest to me and, I imagine, many others too. Thank you very
much!
M.P. Kistler
I can inquire about a Status Acoustics system for
review. I agree that they look promising, and with the performance we've found the RBH
line offers, I would imagine good things from the upper-range products too...Jeff Fritz |
