Letters - January 2008
Anthem AVM 50 and HDMI
January 25, 2008
To Randall Smith,
I just got done reading your very
comprehensive review and you obviously like the Anthem AVM 50 processor. Since it
looks like the Blu-ray/HD DVD war is shaking out with Blu-ray winning, I have started to
think about upgrading my Integra Research RDC-7 so that next year I can get one of the new
Pioneer Kuro plasmas that was demoed at CES this year; this will also mean upgrading to a
Blu-ray player.
The Anthem AVM 50 is very high on my list of SSPs, but I
have to say that I am confused about the whole HDMI 1.0 vs. HDMI 1.3 thing -- particularly
in the audio realm. The current Anthem line doesn’t have HDMI 1.3, and according to
Anthem's features chart, none of their preamps feature Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD, but you don’t
mention anything about this in your review. I know that Anthem is pretty good about
upgrades, but in another review I read about the AVM 50, the reviewer indicated that,
while the DSP board could be upgraded, it was doubtful that the HDMI could be upgraded to
1.3. There are now SSPs coming out from Integra (DTC-9.8) and others that do have HDMI 1.3
and feature the latest versions of Dolby and DTS, yet the Anthem site has a PDF that says
people don’t need HDMI 1.3 since the new DTS and Dolby formats will be processed by
the DVD player. This just adds to my confusion.
I don’t know how the video or sound compares between
the AVM 50 and DTC-9.8 (and I don’t need the Audyssey EQ on the Integra since I
already have the separate EQ), but let’s assume that there is a significant
difference in the Anthem’s favor, I don’t know that it makes sense to spend
$3000 more on the Anthem if it doesn’t have the latest HDMI since once all of the
features of 1.3 come out, I’ll have to upgrade again.
So, in my quest to find a new SSP, should I rule out any
that don’t have HDMI 1.3?
Chris Gossard
You ask some very good questions, ones I also asked
when I began considering whether or not to purchase the Anthem D2. At the time I wrote the
AVM 50 review, DTS-HD Master Audio was not yet a reality. Sure, there were a few Blu-ray
titles that did have DTS-HD MA tracks, but there was not a source player that could decode
them, much less pass the soundtrack to a processor/receiver that could. However, I also
had my eye towards the future. I didn’t want to purchase an expensive processor only
to have it become obsolete because of an HDMI spec. Before I made my decision, I had the
chance to interview Nick Platsis, Anthem’s lead technical support specialist.
He clarified Anthem’s position on HDMI 1.3 and why their processors do not currently
incorporate it. He explained that in most cases, the new HD source players will decode the
new HD sound formats; the only exception is DTS-HD MA, which is a sound format that can
only be decoded by a handful of receivers (Onkyo and Integra being two of the few). The
rest of the source players do decode Dolby Digital TrueHD,and then the player passes the
soundtrack via PCM to the processor. Another plus for the Anthem processors is the Gennum
video processor, which is top-notch. Deep Color is another technical buzz term looming on
the horizon, but unless every piece of your electronic chain is capable, then you are not
truly prepared.
Having said all of that, this is still a very tough
decision. If all of the decoding is done inside of the player and the processor/receiver
is mainly being used as an audio/video switcher, then perhaps a $1000 receiver will do the
trick. On the other hand, the next generation of Anthem processors will not be released
for a few more years, I’m certain, so the current versions will not be replaced
anytime soon. I made my decision: I bought the Anthem D2 and I couldn’t be happier….Randall
Smith
Nanosats and room size
January 21, 2008
To Doug Schneider,
I just read your
review of the Mirage Nanosat speakers that I am considering purchasing to go with a
Denon AVR-1508 receiver. I will be using the system for movies and also for music, mostly
classical.
What caught my attention in your review was your comment
about the room’s size. My family room is about 25’ x 15’ with cathedral
ceilings, although the back of the room is like a foyer, and the sitting area is about 12’
x 15’. Do you think this might be too much space for these speakers? If so, any other
suggestions that I might consider?
Bill Walker
I’m a big fan of Mirage speakers, as are a number
of Home Theater & Sound reviewers, but I think that the Nanosat system,
despite how big and spacious it sounds, might be too small for your room. The length and
width are longer than most, and the higher ceilings exacerbate the problem further.
Since the Nanosat system is Mirage's smallest system,
my suggestion would be to look at the larger Mirage speakers, providing your budget
allows. One step above the Nanosat is the Omnisat, and then there are now several models
above that....Doug Schneider
HDMI cables
January 16, 2008
To Wes Marshall,
I was reading your answer regarding HDMI cables and the
Oppo DVD player. I’m somewhat confused about HDMI. Very simply, I’ve known that
cable quality is important since the ‘80s while tinkering with different cables and
systems. Now I was told by a salesperson that when it came to HDMI a $20 Recoton set was
just as good as my $150 AudioQuest set. My daughter just got a PlayStation 3 and would
like to share it with me since it plays Blu-ray discs and we both love to watch movies.
I'm not sure just how good a Blu-ray player it would make, but I need to buy another set
of HDMI cables and would not like to pay more when not truly needed. As far as I know, its
about getting as much information as clean as possible from one component to another, and
superior cables have always served me well up to now. Is this another misinformed
salesperson misinforming me?
George
I’ve tried expensive HDMI cables and cheap cables.
I admit there some really cheesy cables coming from China that I wouldn’t use to
tie-up my garbage sacks. But you can’t go wrong going with name-brand cables that you
trust. Personally, the first place I always go is www.bettercables.com. Their prices are
great and when they tell you something, you can trust it.
That being said, I use a mix of Accel HDMI cables and
Gefen’s very high-quality gimme HDMI cables. I am not anti-expensive-cables. Back in
the all-analog days, I spent thousands of dollars on speaker cables and interconnects, and
I am sure I heard a repeatable difference in most. I think HDMI is different. For one
thing, the HDMI licensing people have certain minimum requirements for a cable to use the
HDMI logo. They test representative samples before they give their stamp of approval.
I have about as good a video setup as you’ll see
with best-in-class projection from JVC and a Stewart glass screen, all configured with the
projector 15’ behind the screen, so you are effectively looking into the gun. I’ve
looked and looked unsuccessfully for any major, repeatable differences between the cables.
Not there. It is very easy for those of us who have participated in the growth of high-end
audio to blow off attempts at standardization. One reason audiophiles fall in love with
the sound of a particular recording is because its strengths and weaknesses mirror their
systems. If the next system didn’t make the recording sound as good, the assumption
was there must be something wrong with the other system. It’s more likely that both
are incorrect.
What these standardizing folks are doing is gradually
either reducing or solving old problems. HDMI reduces wire clutter and delivers a
higher-quality signal; THX sets minimum standards on simple things like amplifier power
and speaker dispersion; and the Audyssey system cleans up your room’s sound. All
these things make old audio guys nervous. I think it’s time to give these companies a
big hug. I look forward to the day when I have just HDMI cables connecting all my digital
gear, and straight balanced cables going to my active speakers. Why anyone would miss all
that spaghetti in the back of their system is beyond me.
The PS3 is a gas, and it is a superb Blu-ray player. It’s
also a dynamite music server. Get yourself a copy of DIRT, turn up the surround
sound and you won’t believe the fun you’ll have. And to answer your final
question, let’s imagine salespeople who would recommend you stay cheap because more
doesn’t buy better. If the expensive-cable manufacturers didn’t kill him first,
his boss would later. Plus, most of his customers would think he’s crazy because we
all know more expensive means better.
Luckily, I’m not trying to sell anything, and I
recommend you pick a good wire company and rest assured that with the money you’ll
save, you’ll be able to buy a good bottle of wine. Which, BTW, is another area where
cost and quality have little correlation. Enjoy yourself!...Wes Marshall
Which projector and screen?
January 4, 2008
To Wes Marshall,
Did you purchase the JVC HD1
or JVC HD100 projector? What screen and model are you using or you would recommend? I'm in
Hawaii, and we don't have even one store that has any projectors. JVC is only sold through
Costco and Best Buy, which is so sad. So I have to rely 100% on reviews.
Milton
I got the HD1 and am using it with a Stewart StarGlas
with the projector configured as a rear projector. That's a very expensive way to do it
because it requires about 14’ of unusable real estate in your house, but it is always
the best way to handle a projected image. I like Stewart products, and if I was going to
get a screen for front projection, it would be one of their neutral-gain screens.
I picked the HD1 over the HD100 simply due to price. I
would have liked to have the new things, like HDMI 1.3 and remote lens shift. Let me give
you an analogy as to why I picked JVC after having reviewed a so many great projectors
that I didn't buy. In the world of audio, great strides have been made in getting
digital's problems tamed. But I would still rather hear a post-mastering, analog 2"
30ips Studer than any digital I know of. The sound is just much more coherent. In this
analogy, all the other projectors are cutting-edge digital, but the JVC has that
eye-relaxing analog seamlessness. That's what made me want it.
BTW, Sony uses a similar technology. No Best Buys in
Hawaii? If you go to Google Products and put in JVC HD1, you'll find retailers all over
the place that would ship you one, including some that accept returns if you don't like
it. Good luck. Let us know what you do….Wes Marshall |
