News Page

Services Contents Search  

 

 

 Supplement to Newsletter-2010-07/08

 
Recently I spoke with one of my clients and realized that he doesn't listen to the best audio his system can provide.
 
Attention:
Even you have the best equipment connected and setup properly, you don't listen to the best audio recorded on BluRay disc until you activate it! 
Before you press PLAY button, go to SETUP please, check what is the best audio recorded on this disc and activate it if your receiver can decode this format.
 
Please remember, that default sound on the disc is usually set to DD5.1 or even lower, to be compatible with older equipment.
1.         If your equipment is connected to audio system by coax or optical cable (SPDiF), the best sound you can get is compressed DD 5.1 or DTS 6.1.
2.         To get the best audio recently recorded on BDs, your BluRay player must be connected to your receiver by HDMI cable (or by 8 analog cables if your player has built in audio decoders).
3.         To get the best audio recently recorded on BDs, you have to go to audio setup and choose the best audio recorded on the disc.  
 
 
            Audio Formats:
There are two audio formats used by DVD and BD manufacturers; DTS and DD.
 
DTS-HD Master Audio
            A disc encoded with DTS-HD Master Audio delivers ALL of the information from the original master recording — bit-for-bit and it's identical to what the sound engineers laid down. Audio doesn't get any better than this.
  		Dolby TrueHD
            Developed specifically for high-definition entertainment, Dolby TrueHD is Dolby’s new generation, 100 percent lossless technology.  Dolby TrueHD brings stunning high-definition sound to the home theater experience, unlocking the full potential of Blu-ray.
 
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
            This near perfect reproduction has a constant bit-rate that can range from 2.0 Mbps to 6.0 Mbps. Like DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio can provide up to 7.1 discrete channels via HDMI 1.3 or analog connections.
  		Dolby Digital Plus
            Dolby Digital Plus was designed specifically to adapt to the changing demands of packaged media, cable, satellite, digital broadcast television, and audio storage systems while simultaneously retaining backwards compatibility with the existing Dolby Digital 5.1-channel home theater systems in use today.
 
DTS Digital Surround
            DTS Coherent Acoustics provides a range of audio codecs supporting television, radio and internet broadcasting.  Solutions span the range from low bit rate systems providing spectrum efficiency and cost savings for terrestrial broadcasters to high bit rate lossless providing studio master quality over optical fiber networks and everything in between.
  		Dolby Digital
            Dolby® Digital, also referred to as AC-3, is an advanced audio encoding/decoding technology that efficiently delivers up to 5.1 discrete channels of vibrant surround sound for broadcasting, home theater, cinema, PC, online streaming, and video game programming.
 
 
 

Newsletter-2010-07/08
 
 
            LCD vs Plasma:
In last couple of years I was strongly against LCD TVs because of picture quality.
Recently I saw and calibrated several LCD panels and I have to admit that – after calibration – I liked somehow a picture on these panels.  Good black level, fast response and improved viewing angles, but still not even close to good plasma panels. 
With plasma, you can sit to the side of the TV and the picture won't degrade, and blooming and other uniformity problems are nonexistent.  LED backlighting doesn't improve LCD's poor off-angle viewing and LED TVs have worse picture quality than their standard CCFL-backlit cousins in this regard. 
 
There is one advantage of LCD panels, however; Maximum light output.
What brands?  Samsung, LG and (surprise) Mitsubishi.  Samsung's UNB8500 series and LG's LE8500 series – are the best LCD panel recently.
 
In June and July I calibrated couple of Samsung PNxx-C8000.  After calibration picture on these panels is perfect.  I strongly recommend this model.  PNxx-C8000 has almost all controls necessary to dial picture to perfection making external processor obsolete.
 
Panasonic is on second position.  Panasonic panels don't have black level advantage anymore over Samsung panels.  (Look at Newsletter 2010-04) or here
 
 
            Outdoor LCD:
Looking for outdoor TV?
Check SunBriteTV.  They make several models All-Weather Outdoor LCD TVs, but only two are full HD; 4610HD (Retail Price: $4,995.00) and 5510HD (Retail Price: $7,195.00).
 
Runco has announced two new outdoor LCDs, the CP-42HD and the CP-52HD.  PRICE: CP-42HD: $6,495  CP-52HD: $13,995
CONTACT: Runco.com
 
            Attention:
Avoid component cables in new installation, please.  All BluRay players built after Dec 2010 must down convert any analog output to 480p.  Only equipment built before end of 2010 will be able to send HD over component.
Cable and satellite boxes may down convert signals to 480p over analog outputs since Jan 2011 (not confirmed yet).
For HD programming – HDM connections are required.
 
 
I was collecting information about audio for August newsletter.  I found several very good articles about audio in Home theater magazine.
In my opinion, it makes no sense to write about something, that other already did and did it very well, so please buy August issue of Home Theater magazine and read following articles:

  • "Sound Matters" by Thomas Norton, p. 18
  • "A/V Receiver Buyers Guide" by Mark Fleischmann, p.22 *
  • Test of "Samsung BD-C6900 BluRay 3D player", p 56 and other tests – if you are interested.
  • Do not miss "A Lighter Shade of Black, Over Time?" on p 67 or online
  • Please look at great outdoor speakers (Def Tech.) at p.39 &47.  Do you need outdoor speakers?  I will get them for you.
If some information are too "technical" for you – call me or e-mail me with questions
 
* Many people buy Hi End receivers with Audyssey MultEQ XT or Audyssey MultEQ built in, but never use this feature.
Big mistake!  If you don't want to do it professionally, do it at least yourself using supplied cheep microphone.  Just follow instruction precisely and you will hear result.
If you want professional calibration – I will do it for you.
More information about Audyssey
 
 
            Speakers:
Looking for flat speakers matching flat display you already have? 
I am exciting to be a Definitive dealer!  I just found that XTR-50 speakers are on the cover of the September Home Theater Magazine and a review:
Headline:
"How Perfect Can Perfect Get?"
Conclusion:
"There’s no doubt about it.  Flat-panel TVs rule the day.  I feel certain that we’re not in danger of folks suddenly deciding they want big, bulky picture-tube TVs any time soon; and the days of feeling like you’re slumming it if you don’t live in a 5,000-plus-squarefoot house aren’t likely to return, either.  That means slim speakers will continue to grow in popularity—unfortunately (sometimes) whether or not they sound good.  In this particular case, the beauty of the new Mythos XTR-50 is more, much more, than skin deep.  At the moment, I don’t think there’s a better combination of size, appearance, performance, and price in any other on-wall speaker you can buy.  The XTR-50’s beautiful styling is apparent upon first sight, but it doesn’t take much listening time to realize that this fabulous-looking speaker sounds fabulous, as well. It’s a stunner that will simply steal the show, regardless of how good your flat-panel TV is.  The Definitive Technology crew may have a new parent, but they’re still the boss.
To top it off, the XTR scored a perfect 5 stars on all three categories of judgment: Performance, Value and Build Quality."
 
 
 
            Calibration
Very often people ask me what they gain after video calibration.  Answer:
After calibration you will have reference picture on your display.
My colleague from ISF forum prepared nice presentation.  Please look at it here.  You can compare reference image with the same image but with some errors in black level, gamma, color gamut etc.
Most of non calibrated displays have all errors combined, so picture is not only far away from perfection but very often – terrible.
 

 

June 2010

          Where are 3D front projectors?

The only 3D consumer projectors currently available are 720p DLP models. LG, Mitsubishi, JVC and Sony will offer 1080p projectors using LCoS technology in the 4th quarter of 2010.
 The DLP manufacturers have been very quiet about their plans but 1080p 3D projectors should be introduced on CEDIA in September.
 My advice is to wait until end of the year to make the purchase, or at least until Sept. after the manufacturers have made their announcements for upcoming 3D 1080p projectors.
 One announcement has been already made by LG:

LG CF3D is the first single lens 3D video projector in the world! CF3D feature 2,500 ANSI lumen’s brightness, a contrast ratio of 7,000:1 as well as TruMotion 120Hz which is designed to deliver smoother and more detailed images.

          3D compatibility.

There are several systems to transmit/code 3D picture:
  
  1. With active, shutter glasses. – Active technology
    1. Side by side. 
There are two pictures in one frame 1080 x 960 pixels, one for left, one for right eye.  Display (TV, monitor or projector) has to process this signal properly.  Direct TV will use this format.
    1. Over and under.
There are two pictures in one frame 540x x 1920 pixels, one for left, one for right eye.  Display (TV, monitor or projector) has to process this signal properly.
    1. Interlaced.
Signal is sent as interlaced – one subframe for left, one for right eye.  Effective resolution – 540x x 1920 pixels
    1. Page flip mode
BluRay plays movie with 48 Hz refresh rate, 24Hz for each eye.  Display will multiply frame rate 2,3 4 or five times.  Blu-ray is using MVC and requires a new Blu-ray player.
 
  1. With polarizing glasses – Passive technology
These glasses create the illusion of three-dimensional images by restricting the light that reaches each eye, creating a stereoscopic, or 3D, effect.  (Avatar in IMAX)
 
  1. Checkerboard 3D format used by DLPs which needs a converter, but Mitsubishi does have one coming for an estimated $100.  In addition some 3D Blu-ray players like the Panasonic 3DT-300 will output checkerboard 3D.
 
  1. With color glasses – Anaglyph technology.
Low quality – I do NOT recommend it at all.
 
There are reported compatibility problems between Samsung BluRay players and Samsung 3D HDTV.
If you have any question please call me.

          Is HDMI 1.4a required for 3D?

No, in fact many HDMI 1.3 cables, switches and other equipment will work with multiple 3D formats, but none are guaranteed to work.  HDMI 1.4a equipment is guaranteed to work with most 3D formats.

          Opinions about 3D:

Newsweek
Digitalprojection
Home Theater Magazine-1
Home Theater Magazine-2
 
          Info about 3D

Amazon
Engadget

        Calibration

Very often people ask me what they gain after video calibration.  Answer:
After calibration you will have reference picture on your display.
 My colleague from ISF forum prepared nice presentation.  Please look at it here.  You can compare reference image with the same image but with some errors in black level, gamma, color gamut etc.
 Most of non calibrated displays have all errors combined, so picture is far away from perfection