Updated 11/23/2008 - HDTV and Surround Sound Recommendations! - Page 43

Simon · 05-20-2007, 05:09 PM

Me and my mates are at my grandparents house in florida. Talk later, im off.

Deathwish238 · 05-21-2007, 02:52 AM

I've recently fallen in love with Pioneer plasmas. I've always loved their Elites, but the normal Pioneer line is simply beautiful for the money. Very little glare, awesome black levels, and very bright at the same time. Simply beautiful. I've added them to my list of recommended HDTVs

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bopper_T

On paper 720p is actually superior to 1080i, although I can't tell the difference on my TV.

Although I wouldn't recommend going for a no name brand.

nah, 1080i is better than 720p. 1080i has a higher resolution and so you'll see more detail. Also, movies are only 24 fps so the higher fps of 720p doesn't really. I'm yet to figure out if there's an advantage with gaming...I've never noticed a difference playing GoW on a 1080i or 720p HDTV. At the same time, the 360 renders most games at 720p so setting the 360 to 720p or 1080i shouldn't make a difference. However it can vary depending on the display so pick whichever looks best.

ArielAtom · 05-26-2007, 05:12 PM

hey, I'm back.

I have just bought Paradigm Atom Monitors and PDR-8, and a Yamaha RX-397 stereo receiver. Not the best, but it sounds great and as a package is (after taxes)$950, it couldn't be beat.

I still need a DAC and like the looks of the Spitfire. Shike, why do you recommend the DIYEDEN over it? Just price?

Anyways, my friend just got a new TV; a sony Bravia. I am pretty sure its this one. Wait, it says in the specs that it is 720p though.
Anyways, if it is in fact 1080p as my friend's mom states (perhaps a newer model? It looks the same as the linked one and is the same size...), then I have a question. I can assume that it doesn't accept 1080p through component, from a 360.

So IF it is 1080p, can it accept 1080p through VGA?

I figured this question has been asked, but upon searching there was no answer.

I am at my friend's house now, I can't wait to get home and give the system a listen!

P.S. do unshielded speakers effect LCD monitors or computers?

Shike · 05-26-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArielAtom

hey, I'm back.

And so is a person posting under your account it seems >_>

Quote:

I have just bought Paradigm Atom Monitors and PDR-8, and a Yamaha RX-397 stereo receiver. Not the best, but it sounds great and as a package is (after taxes)$950, it couldn't be beat.

Yes it could, but it's good to hear you found something you liked

Now what you need to do is get an EQ or a rumble filter to cut any frequencies that give you a problem in the future

EQs that would work are the Behringer DSP1124P w/guide, Onix R-Des, or Velodyne's SMS-1. Listed from lowest to most expensive.

Quote:

I still need a DAC and like the looks of the Spitfire. Shike, why do you recommend the DIYEDEN over it? Just price?

Nope, there's more. It has 8x oversampling and is cheaper

Quote:

Anyways, my friend just got a new TV; a sony Bravia. I am pretty sure its this one. Wait, it says in the specs that it is 720p though.
Anyways, if it is in fact 1080p as my friend's mom states (perhaps a newer model? It looks the same as the linked one and is the same size...), then I have a question. I can assume that it doesn't accept 1080p through component, from a 360.

So IF it is 1080p, can it accept 1080p through VGA?

I don't know the answer either, I don't have experience with the Bravia line at all.

Quote:

P.S. do unshielded speakers effect LCD monitors or computers?

Well, LCD/Plasma based displays no. It would ravage a CRT though. As for computers, it could depending on the type of HDD, Chasis, and distance.

EDIT:

Found some actual filters you could use here.

Rob · 05-29-2007, 06:28 PM

OK, I know nothing about this so need some help.
How much would a reasonable surround sound receiver and 5.1 setup cost? Bear in mind I've never heard a properly calibrated setup before, and anything will be better than my current one, so I don't want to spend masses.
I can probably get about £400 ($800) as I've decided against building a new gaming PC, but don't want to spend as much as I was going to.

Thanks

Deathwish238 · 05-31-2007, 09:56 PM

Go shop around and see what type of speaker packages you find. Check out B&W, KEF, Tannoy just to start.

ArielAtom · 06-02-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariel Atom

my friend just got a new TV; a sony Bravia. I am pretty sure its this one. Wait, it says in the specs that it is 720p though.
Anyways, if it is in fact 1080p as my friend's mom states (perhaps a newer model? It looks the same as the linked one and is the same size...), then I have a question. I can assume that it doesn't accept 1080p through component, from a 360.

So IF it is 1080p, can it accept 1080p through VGA?

Deathwish do you know the answer to this?

Anyways, I am going out to get some good speaker cables. Right now I am using some leftover generic 18-gauge wire. The guy at Gibby's said that bigger diameter wire allows a "bigger sound". I am not sure what that means, but I know the wire is an important aspect of the system. What should I know when purchasing? So far I pretty much know that gold is a better conductor than silver (is this true?), oxygen free is good because, well, it prevents oxidization, and bigger diameter allows more current, sounding better I guess. Anything I should look out for, any companies I should note? How much should I spend given my system?

ArielAtom · 06-02-2007, 10:05 PM

help!

Sorry for double posting BTW.

ok, today I went out and got some speaker wire: 12 gauge, copper wire I suppose it is. around 80cents a foot, it was the thickest/most expensive they had without going into braided stuff that only came in 4 foot lengths.

Anyways, I brought it home, cut it up and hooked up the speakers/sub (after trying to make the cables stay connected around the binding posts - when I realized that there is a hole in the middle!). I then turned on some music, and it did sound noticeably fuller and more lifelike, but there was something interfering. When I paused the music, I noticed a hum that got louder as the volume was increased. The hum is similar to the one made when you touch the 3.5mm jack which plugs into the computer.

To find out what it was, I tested the components individually. First, I plugged in some headphones to the computer output. There was no hum. Next, I switched to the Yamaha tuner, which sounds clean as far I can tell - the hum occurs once the dial is at around 10 oclock (6 is mute), and at that point the radio is loud, and there aren't any quiet parts in which I can detect the hum. But seeing as it sounded cleaner than it did than from the computer source, I figured it was the cable connecting the two. I connected my iPod to the receiver using the cable used for the receiver/computer, and the hum was much less. I thought it might have been from interference from the other cables it was touching, but it isn't.

Another curveball, when I turn up the computer volume, the hum is hardly there, but at the same volume, if the computer is turned down and the amp is turned up, the hum is there much louder than before.

EDIT if it matters, when I am listening to them with the computer as a source with the volume att hum-inducing level, the left speaker makes a grainy clipping noise, but its only at some frequencies, not the highest ones.

I called apple and they said that it isn't the computer's output, and they bet that it is just some sort of interference.

I hope you understand the description of my problem well enoguh. Any ideas?

Shike · 06-03-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArielAtom

help!

Sorry for double posting BTW.

ok, today I went out and got some speaker wire: 12 gauge, copper wire I suppose it is. around 80cents a foot, it was the thickest/most expensive they had without going into braided stuff that only came in 4 foot lengths . . .

When you buy wire, you want it to be extremely tightly wound with multiple layers. From the sounds of it, you didn't go that route. Also, how well is it insulated?

Some equipment do have a sort of "hum" to them, so I can't tell you par-say whether it's the wire getting interference or how your receiver actually sounds. Can you get a picture of the actual wire?

ArielAtom · 06-03-2007, 05:03 PM

I just biked around, and got some info.

One guy (at gibby's) said that it is a common problem when feeding a stereo with a computer signal, and that it is caused when the amp volume is higher than the computer volume. He didn't have a solution when I said the problem wasn't there before. They have a really poor return policy (7 days, in-store credit), and seeing as I wasn't sure if the cable is the problem, I didn't get one. I biked over to the mall, and at radio shack they didn't have much that looked any good, so I went to future shop. The (somewhat misinformed) salesman and I talked for a while, and eventually he said he could get me a monster cable for $20 (reg $30). That was only $4 more than the no-name thin wire, so I got it. Monster seems to have a very split camp if they are high quality/good for the price or not, but its THX certified so whatever.

Anyways, I got it home and hooked it up, and the hum is still present. I don't think the cable made any difference. that must mean it is the speaker cable. here is a picture:

and my old speaker wire:

I don't think its/hope that it isn't my receiver. It didn't make the hum earlier though so...

What do you think?