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Won't the center be as far from the listeners as the other front speakers? If so, why is there a problem with distance? And why not build the center into the bar itself, angled upward slightly if needed toward the listeners' ears? Putting a speaker on a bar, requiring it to be moved somewhere...

The subtitles Robert complains of are not the normal subtitles, but the narrative subtitles (for the hearing-impaired) which the DVD offers and seems to make the default. The normal subtitles do not have the problems mentioned and they are actually very accurate (I am fluent in Swedish and have...

I agree with Al on the preferred speaker purchase order. While a phantom center can suffice, it is far from optimal. For movies, you really do need a timbre-matched center as most of the dialogue comes out of the center rather than out your left and right fronts. But I disagree somewhat with...

The best surround sound processor I have ever heard is EFE's Pro-One. It takes a stereo signal and converts it to 5.1 (it requires no power). I have never heard anything that makes movies and music sound so "live" and so accurate. It is the one piece of audio equipment that my wife urged that we...

If it was your own set-up, I'd say you should go with 12 gauge, but your parents should do fine with what you have done for them.

To go back to your original question: while 2.1 should be fine for music, I think your music will sound better in 5.1, especially given all the CDs and music DVDs being encoded for surround sound. I have very good full-range floorstanding speakers and a good sub but I still listen to music...

Thanks for the info Robert. I am glad that good quality elements survive and that the movie does not need a full restoration. But I suppose my question is then really whether this movie is already out in a version worth buying (if so, which one) or whether some new cleaned-up version is in the...

I have seen that version for sale, but I have not heard anyone compare it to other versions. As far as I know, the Brazilian version is the best version on the market right now. Roger Ebert said in June 2006 that the "Brazilian disc [by Continental I think] is clear enough and a thing of...

I don't trust anyone who tells people that a speaker needs "break-in time". They all too often then go on to tell you that you need some expensive speaker cable to run your speakers. Both are myths. And so is the claim that you don't need a sub with floor-standers. I have never heard of any...

As stated above, you get what you pay for in accurate sound reproduction. I think it is generally well accepted that the following is true: Best: identical speakers all the way around. 2nd best: identical fronts and timbre-matched surrounds. 3rd best: identical L and R front, timbre-matched...

It depends on what you use the speakers for: if you use them for surround music, then you should consider identical, or at least timbre-matched, speakers all around. If you use them for DVD movies, then it is less important, but it can still make a difference and the difference is becoming more...

Another recommendation for SVS (I have one of their cylinder subs). I don't think you can get a better bang for your buck in a sub. But, as stated, HSU and Outlaw also have well-respectged subs and both of them are also known to provide bang for the buck.

Is there any information on the status of the restoration of Orson Welles' "Chimes at Midnight"? A restoration is supposedly near completion, and I have even heard that the DVD may be released in April 2009. But no one seems to be giving out any reliable information. Should people spend $30-$40...

Wonderful movie and the review sums it up well. I can't recommend this movie highly enough to anyone who likes quirky/romantic/funny movies. Plus, not only is it a great movie but it introduced me to the great musical group Gogol Bordello! Great soundtrack!

There are a lot of options for setting up a surround sound system with more or less accuracy. But I am not sure what your point is. All I am trying to say, and all that I hear others trying to say, is that you might have a decent set-up, considering your limitations, if you skip a center or a...

I have large, 5' tall, full-range tower speakers, each of which has a 12” subwoofer, a 10” woofer, two 6 1/2" midranges, and a 30mm tweeter, which do go to 20Hz. And I have heard other large, full-range speakers as well. While you don't need anything else for 2-channel music, and while you don't...

You should also take a look at Outlaw Audio's sub. It has gotten some very good reviews.

I have a 2.1 system from Cambridge Soundworks that has a sub (it is not an SVS sub by any means, but it is not boomy like many Logitech subs, etc.) and a pair of Newton M-50 speakers. Great sound, but the speakers are not the smallest. Works great as a computer sound system. I also have CSW's...

I have never heard of there being any merit to bi-wiring speaker. It seems to be a complete waste of money. That being said, I could guess at the answers to your questions, but why not call or e-mail Magnepan and ask them directly? They ought to know best.

Take a look at Magnepan speakers.

If you care about sound quality, try to avoid the cube speakers and HTiB systems. Take a look at the speakers made by Axiom if you want something small but that still reportedly has good sound quality.

I'd go with CSW too. They make some very good speakers for the price. There are, however, others who also make good small speakers, such as Orb. And as to the negative comments about Bose, they essentially boil down to the opinion that you can pay less and get more if you go with another...

I recall hearing that running the cubes directly from a receiver risks blowing them, even if used as surrounds. The cubes are apparently not designed to reproduce as wide a frequency range as a regular speaker and can thus easily be damaged if operated as one.

I'd suggest that angle your center speaker toward your ears. It should not matter if it is placed above or below your TV. There should also be no reason to toe-in your sub (unlike floor-standing front speakers). If you want more bass, try putting the sub in your seat, then walk around the...

In the long run, I think the best choice is to sell the Bose system and replace it with the best 3.1 or 5.1 system you can afford. You can then buy more surround speakers as money allows. Hopefully, that will prevent the need to buy an interim system that you will only later throw away and...

Jonny Quest (the original, not the edited one out now) Josie and the Pussycats Undersea 2020 (the original, not the bastardized spoof out now)

I loved the book but disliked this movie. In fact, I thought it was so bad that it made me avoid the later TV miniseries on the assumption that it would be just as bad, or worse. But I stumbled across the miniseries and its sequel during a rebroadcast and was transfixed. Absent a Peter...

Internet speaker companies will give you the best bang for your buck, in my opinion. Cambridge SoundWorks makes some really good sounding speakers in various price ranges. I especially like their Newton series speakers (though I don't think much of their subs). If you are only getting 2...

Check out the Outlaw sub too. They usually have a special price on two of them and have been well reviewed.

I am waiting. I just got a Zenith DVB-318 for about $160 which upconverts to 1080. That will do fine for me until the whole HD thing has settled down.