Mod: Replacing Speaker Connectors with Kester Solder

Serendipity

Update: I think I have this solved. It depends on the source!

My Xbox 360 would not output DTS 96/24 over the analog connection regardless of settings in the menu. However, I have a Panasonic DMR-E95HS HDD/DVD combo unit that not only plays DTS 96/24 through the analog connection, but converts it to 48k LPCM over the optical output!

So I need to find new source(s), a new pre, find a DAC, and pick up a nice amplifier.

Or the Parasound Halo C1 is another option.

heiney9

As far as the 96/24 disc. I don't play or own those and it seems everytime I give you an answer you reply back with new info. First you said 2.0DD and now you say 96/24. It's hard to address your questions when you keep adding/changing the information.

H9

Serendipity

Sorry if I was unclear. My Concert DVD's are either DD 2.0 or DD 5.1, you pick in the disc's title menu.

I have a 96/24 disc that depending on the player, will or will not output over the Analog L/R connection.

I hope this makes things clear.

FTGV

Serendipity wrote: »

Update: I think I have this solved. It depends on the source!

My Xbox 360 would not output DTS 96/24 over the analog connection regardless of settings in the menu. However, I have a Panasonic DMR-E95HS HDD/DVD combo unit that not only plays DTS 96/24 through the analog connection, but converts it to 48k LPCM over the optical output!

For outputing DTS via the XBOX analog outputs would require it to have an internal DTS decoder.As for DD2.O playing on a 2 CH DAC would require the digital output mode in the DVD menu to be set to PCM. Otherwise the DAC cannot process the DD bitstream.

heiney9

Serendipity wrote: »

Sorry if I was unclear. My Concert DVD's are either DD 2.0 or DD 5.1, you pick in the disc's title menu.

I have a 96/24 disc that depending on the player, will or will not output over the Analog L/R connection.

I hope this makes things clear.

You are just going to have to figure out what you want to do then build a system with the least amount of compromises but still fulfill your wishes. With high-rez, DD, multichannel, and all the devices used for playback there is no singular answer, or you have to hunt around and figure out how to down convert, for example.

I keep it simple for my 2 channel rig and AFAIKT, my DVDp is set to output PCM to my dac irregardless of the material. If I get a new DVDp or other device I'll probably have to reconfigure so it works for I want it to.

H9

Serendipity

heiney9 wrote: »

As far as the 96/24 disc. I don't play or own those and it seems everytime I give you an answer you reply back with new info. First you said 2.0DD and now you say 96/24. It's hard to address your questions when you keep adding/changing the information.

H9

I think the digital output mode in your DVD player is set to PCM, like FTGV says:

FTGV wrote: »

For outputing DTS via the XBOX analog outputs would require it to have an internal DTS decoder.As for DD2.O playing on a 2 CH DAC would require the digital output mode in the DVD menu to be set to PCM. Otherwise the DAC cannot process the DD bitstream.

This may be the cause of the misunderstanding.

heiney9

Yes, it is set to PCM but I guess I assumed you had tried that already. No, a dac can't process a DD 2.0 native bitstream. I am so used to using PCM, I sort of glossed right over that issue when you mentioned it because I don't really think about it at all.

I also admit a weakness when it comes to HT and the associated multi-channel settings, etc. I just don't deal with it all that much. I know what I do to make movies and concert DVD's work in my rig and that's set the output to PCM to the dac.

In the case of concert DVD's some sound better than other's depending on the native mix. The DVD's that only have a 5.1 DD mix and no 2.0 DD mix suffer a little bit sometimes when converted to PCM. In my rig which is strictly 2.0 PCM based there is quite a difference in sound from some concert DVD's to others. Nothing I can do about it because it's how the manufacturer/artist mixed it. Even some 2.0 PCM audio tracks aren't all that good.

H9

Serendipity

Thanks! Really appreciate everyone's advice in this thread.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to sit down and figure out how to optimize everything. To start with, I am going to demo a Parasound Halo A21 and see if I can pick up a Parasound Halo C1 or C2 pre/pro at a good price.

As for sources, I also have to sit down and find out which settings/combinations will produce the best sound. I am using right now:

CD Player: Onkyo DV-CP500
XM Radio: Samsung NeXus 25
Tape Deck: Aiwa
DVR: Panasonic DMR-E95HS
VCR: JVC HR-S9911U, HR-S7000U
HD-DVD: Toshiba HD-XA1
DVD: Samsung Single-disc DVDP
Music Server: HP Digital Entertainment Center z560
Gaming: Nintendo Wii, SNES, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
2nd PC: Apple Mac Mini with Snow Leopard and Win7

headrott

If you get a pre-amp, DAC or tube buffer that uses 12AX7 tubes and put some RCA black plate 12AX7 tubes in there, you'll be happy.

Greg

heiney9

Serendipity wrote: »

Thanks! Really appreciate everyone's advice in this thread.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to sit down and figure out how to optimize everything. To start with, I am going to demo a Parasound Halo A21 and see if I can pick up a Parasound Halo C1 or C2 pre/pro at a good price.

As for sources, I also have to sit down and find out which settings/combinations will produce the best sound. I am using right now:

CD Player: Onkyo DV-CP500
XM Radio: Samsung NeXus 25
Tape Deck: Aiwa
DVR: Panasonic DMR-E95HS
VCR: JVC HR-S9911U, HR-S7000U
HD-DVD: Toshiba HD-XA1
DVD: Samsung Single-disc DVDP
Music Server: HP Digital Entertainment Center z560
Gaming: Nintendo Wii, SNES, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
2nd PC: Apple Mac Mini with Snow Leopard and Win7

Good luck, lots of choices out there as well as configurations, etc. It can be quite daunting but fun at the same time. As long as you take your time and do your research you should find something that works well.

H9

Face

Room treatments!

SCompRacer

Face wrote: »

Room treatments!

I just love it when someone says room treatments! Should be part of the audio budget to get maximum results.

VR3

HT Bypass...

Just saying

F1nut

Face wrote: »

Room treatments!

An excellent point. Alex is your gear still in that room with the hardwood floors and the wall of mirrors? If so, you definitely need some serious room treatments.

Serendipity

F1nut wrote: »

An excellent point. Alex is your gear still in that room with the hardwood floors and the wall of mirrors? If so, you definitely need some serious room treatments.

No longer using that room, that room was too bright and acoustically difficult to work with. (Mirrors, glass, etc.)

Face

Your other room is almost as reflective, you need treatments.

heiney9

Funny, I responded to this thread agreeing with Mike and his room treatments response, except my post is gone. Hmmmmm

H9

Serendipity

Face wrote: »

Your other room is almost as reflective, you need treatments.

Good idea! Since the basement is prone to water intrusion during periods of heavy rainfall, I'm going to fix this first. Many of the houses in this area have water problems too so they installed sump pumps and drainage systems. I only have one working sump pump right now. Need a few more!

Then carpeting can be placed on the floor and not get soaked, which will solve the ground reflections.

I want to rip out all of the wood paneling and put in drywall with acoustic treatments right on the walls.

For the ceiling, when you came over I had just installed ceiling tile, but this time I think a drop ceiling with acoustic foam would work better. Unfortunately, all that new ceiling tile will have to be removed.

Some drapes around the screen would work nice (and help increase black level of the projector).

Maybe I will need to borrow Polrbehr's F-150 for all the trips to Home Depot... j/k! I'll rent a truck instead.

Face

Thanks for the sarcastic answer. Enjoy your bi-pole speakers in your echo chamber.

Serendipity

Face wrote: »

Thanks for the sarcastic answer. Enjoy your bi-pole speakers in your echo chamber.

You think I am kidding? Totally serious, everyone in this household wants the basement renovated.

Old plumbing, old wiring, leaks, it's nothing but a hassle.

Edit: I guess you didn't notice the water damage on the walls or the fact that Harry was helping me with an old electrical panel that day.

Serendipity

This.

quadzilla

http://spi-co.com/directory.html

owens corning panels, quite cheap. Lots of locations. Sew up a cloth bag and it's a panel for around 20 bucks.

Serendipity

It has begun.

I pulled off all the molding and definitely signs of water damage. In fact the molding was replaced sometime before we moved in to hide water damage, apparently. What I saw behind was not good. Cold air coming in from the crack where the floor tiles meet the wall, stains on the wood paneling that in some places come up a few inches!!! This is not good.

heiney9

What did the home inspector say?

Serendipity

Lots of work to do here:

Serendipity

heiney9 wrote: »

What did the home inspector say?

It's really water under the bridge, but basically this is a fixer-upper house.

heiney9

So you knew about the issue's from the home inspector?

Serendipity

Basically. What happened is not really relevant right now and too long to post.

Cliff notes version: We moved here fully knowing that this house needs work, I don't mind working on it, and this thread is really about making a killer 2ch / media setup, so it's not a problem getting my hands dirty and building this into the ULTIMATE setup ever!

heiney9

Well, some work is good and some is bad. Foundation issues = bad. I was just curious.......back to the regularly scheduled program.

H9