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  1. Brent_S

    THX Cinema Mode Explained

    Adam did mention he had an Onkyo and I think many of us, myself included, are speaking from first hand Onkyo experience. I tried to qualify my comments as Onkyo specific, where necessary, although quite a few items should be universal for THX standards. What Pioneer do you have? I've tried to...
  2. Brent_S

    THX Cinema Mode Explained

    John, I think you're confusing THX processing in a prepro/receiver with the THX mode on some subwoofers, M&K being the main proponet that I can remember. The THX mode on those subwoofers would change the subsonic filter and probably apply some other equalization to faciliate meeting the THX...
  3. Brent_S

    Recommendations on Onkyo TX-SR806 and Soney ES STR-DA3400

    It really depends on what you mean by enclosed space. All electronics are going to produce heat and have a limit on how much they can tolerate. My gear, including a front projector, can raise the temperature in a 3400 ft^3 room 2-3degrees F over the course of a movie. I haven't checked the...
  4. Brent_S

    Pioneer Kuro - Should I buy?

    Greg, please. Nothing in my post remotely suggests I have any doubt where I saw the deal posted. Out of respect for HTF I didn't point out the exact sub-forum and thread title where to find the deal. The deal post you linked didn't even start until AVSers had already started receiving the...
  5. Brent_S

    Recommendations on Onkyo TX-SR806 and Soney ES STR-DA3400

    If they're close to the same price, I'd pick the 806 just because of Audyssey. Based on a recent review of the 5400ES, I'd also bet on the 806 (THX U2 certified) having a much better amp section than the 3400. For a bit less money, the 706 can do everything the 806 can except it's THX-Select...
  6. Brent_S

    Pioneer Kuro - Should I buy?

    Do you really want to give up FP? Just to tempt...saw a thread last night at AVS that Pioneer's rebranded JVC RS2 is being blown out for under $3K. The RS2 went for around $7K when new and the Pioneer Elite version is still listed at $9K at some online retailers. Choose fast. -Brent
  7. Brent_S

    Do I need a center channel?

    Per my fuzzy memory of the Dolby spec and some of the user "testing", I'm pretty sure the dynamic range is compressed when any channel needed by the bitstream is missing. IOW, if you're listening to 2.0 DD, which a lot of broadcast TV still is, you're not going to be "penalized" for downmixing...
  8. Brent_S

    Buying an onkyo receiver-advice required

    IME, his "gain from placement" is probably still a bit conservative...the key being my experience, but I've used large open-to-the-whole-house living room as well as sealed "theater" rooms so it's a pretty broad exposure. Even using corner placement with only 2 speakers, I've measured higher SPL...
  9. Brent_S

    Do I need a center channel?

    Yeah, uhm, well...uhm...but the OP has an Onkyo 705. I had forgotten that some of the Denon's were found to have a kill switch for the downmix protection. I didn't read every thread on the topic, having only discovered the main discussion after it had gone cold. Were any other brands/models...
  10. Brent_S

    Buying an onkyo receiver-advice required

    Marketing people love you. :D Yes, the technical specs (S/N, dynamic range) are a few dB better for the B-Bs, but the Cirrus in the 705 will still exceed the capabilities of the rest of the playback chain. Implementation of a part is more important when the parts being compared are each more...
  11. Brent_S

    Do I need a center channel?

    I brought this particular point up because it's a little known "feature" that's not user defeatable with DD and, presumably, DD+ and TrueHD. Dolby made this mandatory in the decoder anytime downmixing is engaged. It's not the same as the user selectable "night mode" and there is no indication to...
  12. Brent_S

    Do I need a center channel?

    IMO, the bigger issue with no center or surrounds for DD based audio is the compressed dynamic range. Dolby made it part of the spec when downmixing that the dynamic range be reduced to prevent overloading of the remaining channels. There are extensive threads on this at AVS and HomeTheaterShack...
  13. Brent_S

    Buying an onkyo receiver-advice required

    Audibly, I don't think you'd hear a difference in blind A/B testing. Technically, the 805 has a much stouter amp sectin (THX Ultra vs. Select) and it has Burr-Brown DACs instead of Cirrus. The B-B are spec'd better than the Cirrus, but neither will be the weakest link in the playback chain...
  14. Brent_S

    Problem with ViP722 - Dish Network

    Even better with pictures. More hints. -Brent
  15. Brent_S

    Make my HT better please!

    According to that thread, you are correct. Some quick Googling found other sites also discussing the lack of 5.1 via HDMI. Couldn't tell for sure if it applied to both Moto and Cisco boxes, though...most threads only mentioned the Moto U-verse box. Since we (in the HT world sense) are making...
  16. Brent_S

    DSD playback with Oppo 980 and Integra

    No first hand experience since my Oppo 970 won't pass DSD native, but I do have an Onkyo 805, which is nearly identical operationally to an Integra. It sounds like you have your "Listening Mode Presets" left on the default of "Last Valid". "DSD Multi" is a listening mode for DSD just like DPL...
  17. Brent_S

    Make my HT better please!

    The THX Optimizer routines are found on every THX certified DVD, such as "The Incredibles". I haven't checked for it, but Indiana Jones 4 is a THX certified Blu-ray so the optimizer patterns shoudl be there as well. SP/DIF optical/coax cannot carry the latest lossless audio from Blu-ray. You...
  18. Brent_S

    Onkyo TX-SR706 won't detect my subwoofer

    What sub? Does it have an auto-on feature? If so, set it to always on and retry. The auto sensor needs to see a certain voltage before it wakes up and the calibration tone may not be sending enough? Where do you have the gain set on the sub...turning this up sometimes makes auto sensors more...
  19. Brent_S

    Panasonic BD35 audio problem

    What make/model display do you have? What connections are you using from BD35 -> 606 -> display? Does the 606 have any video processing options enabled? What resolution are you setting the BD35...auto would probably be best? A WAG is you're not always turning on the display first. Assuming...
  20. Brent_S

    Panasonic BD35 audio problem

    A few people in the AVS BD35/55 owner's thread have run into this. A full factory default reset of the BD35 was the solution, IIRC. -Brent
  21. Brent_S

    Problem with ViP722 - Dish Network

    Any number of things could interfere, both inside and outside your house. IIRC, the remote operates around 390Mhz give or take. What are the walls made of? How fresh are the batteries? Any neighbors close by that could have a similar unit? I've seen instructions for changing the operating...
  22. Brent_S

    DIY HT sub/ use what I have or start over?

    Sorry, didn't realize the situation between AVS and HTF. If you search the DIY forum at AVS for "NHT build" or something like that, you should be able to find it. Searching for "NHT 11-083" would probably do it as well. -Brent
  23. Brent_S

    DIY HT sub/ use what I have or start over?

    You might be interested in reading through this thread at AVS. It's a project using *12* of the NHT 11-083 drivers in a sealed alignment. He's got some in room measurements of the frequency response, not output, near the end of the thread. If you're familiar with RoomEQ Wizard (REW)...
  24. Brent_S

    DIY HT sub/ use what I have or start over?

    Most plate amps are rated at 4 ohms. That doesn't necessarily mean Paradigm used a 4 ohm driver. For marketing, they could truthfully list the sub as having a 1500 watt amp (into 4 ohms), but it might only be delivering 800 watts to an 8 ohm driver. Amps are simply class D. Ultra-D is a...
  25. Brent_S

    DIY HT sub/ use what I have or start over?

    Additionally, for a similarly smooth rolloff without exaggerated peaking, you'll need a 4.5 ft^3 or larger box per driver compared to the 2 - 2.5 ft^3 to run it sealed. Ken Kantor, founder of NHT, and at least codesigner of the 1259 motor, strongly recommended against running the 12" 1259 in...
  26. Brent_S

    DIY HT sub/ use what I have or start over?

    Chances are you were better off with the PS1000. I could only find specs on the 1010 by looking in the Wayback Machine. DD doesn't list Xmax, but says the magnet gap is 13mm. I'd generously model Xmax at 6.5mm, but it's likely a bit less. Plugging what specs are available into WinISD, I...
  27. Brent_S

    Make my HT better please!

    Didn't address your M-L question earlier. Human nature being what is is, we'll always pick louder as better unless it's grossly distorted. Bottom line physics of SPL is doubling the power only gets you +3dB, half the power loses -3dB. An M-L is just as bound by that as any other type of...
  28. Brent_S

    Make my HT better please!

    Louder != better sound quality. In stereo mode, the Sony clipped at 142 wpc into 8 ohms. To play a barely noticeable 3dB louder you'll need a 300 watt amp (technically 284). While we can differentiate 1dB increments under lab settings comparing pure tones, with music in a real world...
  29. Brent_S

    Check out this SPL1000

    The two that show continuity would be the voice coil leads. You should be able to use a battery to determine true polarity. The third connection would appear to be the sensing lead that went to the original Velo amp. Can you see where it goes under/in the spider? I would guess it has to make...
  30. Brent_S

    Check out this SPL1000

    I doubt you'll be very happy trying to run that sub without the corresponding Velo amp. From skimming the Secret's review of the SPL1000, it appears the SPL series had some sort of impedance feedback circuit in place of their higher end Servo control system. IOW, one of those connections went to...
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