Post Three

Home Theater Madness Part Two: Speakers

In my previous entry I gave a semi-enternaining introduction to my experience with the home theater hobby, and talked about the most important component: displays.  Now, I would like to switch directions, and have at the most important audio component (other than your room, but I'm getting ahead of myself) which are your speakers. 

Back in the days before home theater existed we basically were limited to two channels: right and left (and, perhaps, a subwoofer, but that was rare).  These were the days when the audio world was ruled by a sinister bunch of goons called audiophiles.  An audiophile is a person who is obsessed, to the point of insanity, with audio perfection.  An example:  it's common for audiophiles to spend thousands of dollars on the cables to their systems.  Crazy, yes, but believe it or not, it's a normal thing in this bizzaro world.

          JPS Aluminata Speaker Cable: An Audiophile Classic at $8,499.00 a Pop 

Thankfully, audiophiles are being replaced with a more pragmatic bunch which I will call audio/video enthusiasts.  I fall in this category.  Basically, we want to get close to audio and video perfection, but we're willing to live in the real world much more than a pure audiophile.  Audiophiles would consider me a heretic of the first order, but at least I an pay my bills and have a life.  Also, until very recently, most audiophiles would never even consider the mere mention of home theater in their vocabulary.  In  their mind, any combination of audio and video in the same system is a recipe for disaster. 

I'm not saying audiophiles don't have a point.  If you have the money, then by all means have two systems: one optimized for audio and the other for video.  That's an impossibility for most mortals, and it's high time that audiophiles get off their moral high horse, and realize that out of necessity the two must coexist.  Which leads me to my discussion of speakers. 

As I said above, we're basically saying goodbye to the world of two-channel audio.  For the most part, you won't be missing much.  Yes, some will argue that music recorded in two-channels must be replayed in two channels, but that just isn't relevant to the vast majority of system integration issues faced by a modern home theater.  Two channel music reproduction, while important in theory, should not be the most important thing one considers when building a home theater.  Instead, you must consider that you will be buying at least five speakers, and perhaps as many as nine!  If you budget for expensive two channel speakers, then you will be sacrificing the other channels at their expense.  That's not a good idea. 

I would argue that in today's home theater your center and surround speakers are just as important as the left and right channels.  Skimp on the center channel, and you will be regretting it.  Nearly all the dialogue comes from that one speaker, and if the center channel cannot do a convincing midrange, then your home theater will suffer badly as a result.  My main point here is that everything should be about balance.  Don't buy your speakers haphazardly; make a plan of it.  If all you can afford are the two channels, make sure the speaker line  has center and surround speakers that will match up with them once funds allow.  Rarely do you want to mix and match speakers from different companies as the timbral balance will be off.  I have and do, but I have been at this a lot longer than most.  It took tremendous trial and many errors to get it right.  Don't go down that path.  Get it right the first time. 

An Example Balanced System:

Ok, here is a speaker system that I recommend to the beginner.  It will allow you to buy two channels, and increase the number as funds allow.  In the end, you will want a minimum of five speakers (left, right, center, left surround, and right surround). 

Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Reference Monitor ($850/pair)
Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Center ($450)
Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Reference Monitor (used as surrounds) ($850/pair)

These can be purchased at: http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/SRM1/srm1.html

For entry level speakers it doesn't get much better than these.  A bargain at this price; you will not have "speaker regret" with these beautiful monitors.  Being internet direct, the company bypasses the middle man, and you save a ton of brick and mortar markup.  Ascend let's you send the speakers back if you don't like them so there is really little risk. 

Do I recommend floor-standing speakers?  Sure.  I own them.  However, you may have a partner who won't like a 50" tall pair of speakers setting in their living room.  If you have the space and funds, though, have at it. 

An Example Balanced Floor Standing System:

EMP Impression E55Ti Towers ($800/pair)
EMP Impression E5Ci Center ($200)
EMP Impression E55Ti Towers (used as surrounds) ($800/pair)

These can be purchased at:

http://store.audioholics.com/product/2905/66334/emp-impression-e55ti-tower-speakers--red-burl-pair-

EMP is another Internet Direct speaker that will slaughter most brick and mortar speaker brands.  I have read nothing but good things about them, and for the money they are impossible to beat at these prices.

So, I hope this gives you a good primer on speakers.  Next, I will tackle the Source. 





 

Post Two

Home Theater Madness

I'm a big fan of Michael J. Nelson (of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame).  His wit and sardonic writing style is right up there with the best ever.  Now, among other things, he writes a back page editorial for a magazine called Home Theater.  His articles are always a fun read, and he makes this crazy hobby fun for me even though I have been at it for almost 15 years.  And believe me, that's no easy feat.  For home theater is a hobby that is both glory and curse all in one.  I do not exagerate: it's power and allure has been known to drive it's disciples to such depravity as sacrificing the first born...well I exagerrate...only the second born.

MJN and Friends



Why?  What could cause rational people to literally lose their minds over something that isn't religion or the particcular eastern philosophy that is currently en vogue in Hollywood?  The answer varies for each of us addicts, but speaking only for myself, I can say that my desire for the best home theater is the desire for audio and video perfection.  And since that isn't possible, I'm hooked for life.  And yet my wife still loves me.

So, if your still interested in the home theater hobby after reading the above prose, then I both feel sorry for you and welcome you as brother and sister.  Unlike me, though, you have the benefit of entering this hobby at a time when it will not cost you an arm and a leg...just the arm (ha).

Seriously, though.  This hobby's cost is at an all-time low and bang-for-your-buck is out of this world.  It's still easy to make mistakes, though.  The Internet is full of information overload for the beginner, and I intend by this article to get you out of the muck, and start on dry land.  And for God's sake don't go to Best Buy for advice.  You know more than they do.

Some things that I must convey to you before I begin:

You have a signficant other who will tolerate this hobby.  I can't stress this point enough.  The last thing you wil ever do is bring home a 60" LED-LCD flat screen television; I mean it; it will be the last thing you ever do.  So, get permission, or go home.  It's not worth your life or your relationship.

You have space to dedicate to a theater.  It can be a living room, but again, prior appoval from the other person is a necessity.  Don't expect to bring home a dual 18" subwoofer that weighs more than Jets coach Rex Ryan, and expect to see the dawn.

  New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan: I hate this guy.



You have some extra money to spend.  It's not worth even thinking about home theater unless you have extra cash flow.  Believe me, I am speaking from personal experience that the last thing you want to do is have three mortgages; your first, your second, and your home theater.

You must have patience.  All this pretty technology is amazing, and believe it or not has become less complicated from the early days where one needed arcane degrees in Quantum Mechanics.  But it still requires a healthy dose of valium to complete a typical upgrade.  Remember, keep all sharp objects locked away, and for Heaven's sake no firearms within easy reach.  It's just not worth it.

And finally, you must be humble.  You don't have all the answers.  Believe you me, if you think your problem is unique your dead wrong.  The Internet has made it possible to have access to geniuses, who, for a small price, may or may not help you.  These home theater Gods are fickle, and have the power to fry your electrical grid for the next hundred years.  So be nice to them, and your problems suddenly will seem much smaller.

Now, after all this, you still want a home theater?  Your my kind of person.

Over the next few posts I will address one component of home theater in all the detail my experience can muster.  I hope you enjoy the ride. 

Component One: The Display

The display is the most important part of a home theater.  Get it wrong, and no matter how good the other components are the end experience will be disappointing.  For home theater, the minimum screen size is 50 inches diagonal.  Your screen size should be dictated by your viewing distance and the resolution of the source material.  With the advent of HD sources we can now sit much closer to the screen than in the good ol' days of DVD and analog cable. 

First, let's take a look at resolution.  You do not want to consider any display that has a resolution less than 1280 x 720 (usually abbreviated 720p).  Ideally, you will want a full 1980 x 1080 display (1080p) which is the resolution of nearly all Blu Ray discs.  Cable and satellite, while both offering a myriad of HD programming, do not broadcast in 1080p; the bandwith is simply too great for even fiber-optic cables.  Instead, their broadcasting is either done in 720p or 1080i (or interlaced; slightly less pure than a true 1080p source). 

Next comes viewing distance.  In the old days, we had to sit a minimum of two times screen width in order to not see all the nasty artificats in the transfer that would simply ruin your viewing experience.  Now, with HD sources, we can safely go to as little as 1.2 times screen width (I prefer 1.5, but I'm old school).  A 50 inch diagonal display has a screen width of 44 inches.  So, your minimum viewing distance for HD sources would be about 6 feet.  Practically speaking, that distance can  be a bit close .  You can  move back from that distance to say, 8 feet, but understand that any further, and you likely will want a bigger display.  In displays, as with other things, size matters.

A display less than 50 inches diagonal would be an acceptable alternative.  In bedrooms, I think such a size is fine.  However, for the living room or dedicated space you will want to go bigger.  And I am not talking about, as the English would say, a bigger "tele" anymore.  Now, we are moving into what home theater is all about: tbe projector and screen.

In the old days (20 years ago is ancient history in this hobby) one could shell out $200,000 for a 9" CRT projector with line doubler.  Even a budget CRT projector was north of ten grand, and it would not do HD so it wasn't even future proof.  Not to mention these beasts were as heavy as a tank, and had to be professionally cared for and installed (unless you were a techie Bob Villa).  In short, they were the domain of the truly mad, or ultra rich.  Or both.  Also, CRT projectors were notoriously dim, and could only be viewed in a bat cave.

                       The Beast From Italy:  Vidikron Vision One 9" CRT Projector

Now, we have no need to spend such princely sums on a projector.  A good 1080p LCD based model will run you about $1,500.00, and a good 92 inch diagonal screen about $500.00.  So, for the cost of a good 50 inch to 55 inch display you can have a projector that in theatrical impact will simply slaughter the television. Another great thing about a modern projector is that you don't have to have it professionally installed.  I have mine on a cabinet, and it took about a half hour to connect and focus the lens.  However, if you wish to ceiling mount your projector you need to be handy, or hire a professional.  The downside to projectors?  Not much, other than bulb replacement which can run you about $300 every 2000 hours.   

Finally, the most important aspect to displays has nothing to do with the physical display itself.  It's all about the settings, dude.  You ever wonder why displays in a Best Buy or Wal-Mart look so bright and pop like a fireworks show?  It's because these displays are in a bright showroom, and in order to sell a display the employees generally max all of the picture settings out to obscene levels.  The result is a bright, but totally inaccurate picture. 

The goal of the video side of home theater is to calibrate the display to get as close to a reference standard as possible.  There are many standards that apply, but the three most important factors are color temperture, color accuracy, and contrast.  How does one accurately set your picture controls?  Get a calibration disc like Digital Video Essentials or the new disc from Spears and Munsil.  These discs are a God-send to newbies and veterans alike.  They will walk you through step-by-step on how to set each picture setting accurately.  You will be amazed at the results. 

I will now make recommendations for displays, and provide you with links that I have indispensable in my journey. 

Display Recommendations

                                            Panasonic 50" Plasma Display

Plasmas in the 50 inch to 54 inch range.  Usually these displays street price for around $1,000.00 and are excellent entry level movie watching displays.  They are not as bright as similar priced LCD's, but make up for it by providing superior black levels and better off-axis viewing.  In my opinioin, there is no better bang for your buck in home theater at the entry level.

                                            Sony 55" LED-LCD Display

LED-LCD's in the 55 inch  range.  At around $2,000 street price these displays are the top dog for television right now.  Spending more on a bigger screen is a waste, in my opinion, and you really should go the projector/screen route at that point.  LED-LCD's blacks are as good as a plasma display, and they have brightness to spare.  Wonderful displays and they keep coming down in price every year. 

                                            Epson 8100 1080p LCD Projector

LCD 1080p projector and a 92 inch screen.  For about $2,000.00 you now have a real home theater.  No need to go to the movies anymore because I assure you, once the pricture is dialed in, you'll have a better picture than your local cineplex. 

Brands I Trust and/or Use

Plasma Display

Panasonic http://www.panasonic.com/

LED-LCD

Samsung www.samsung.com/us/
Sony www.sony.com/index.php

LCD Projector

Epson www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Projectors/Home.do

Screen

Carada http://www.carada.com/
Da-Lite http://www.da-lite.com/

Calibration Disc

Digital Video Essentials www.videoessentials.com/
Spears and Munsil www.spearsandmunsil.com/

Where to Buy

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/
Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/
Visual Apex http://www.visualapex.com/
Projector People http://www.projectorpeople.com/
Carada http://www.carada.com/

Useful Links

http://www.projectorcentral.com/
http://www.projectorreviews.com/
http://www.avsforum.com/
http://www.hometheatermag.com/

Next, I will take a look at the second most important component: Speakers. 

 

 

Post One

I grew up in the 80's.  For those of you that didn't, that either makes me a dinosaur or an alien from outer space.  For those of us who are members of this wonderful time we can take pride in our contributions to humanity like crack cocaine, hair metal, and Uncle Ronnie (President Ronald Reagan for those of you outside of my caste). 

One of my favorite, guilty pleasures from those days of joy was a movie called The 'burbs (1989; Imagine Entertainment).  We all know Tom Hanks as a first-rate actor and director.  But even he has his moments of slumming.  And that is what The 'burbs is.  It's a wonderful indictment of walled-off suburbia circa the late 1980's, but unlike the recent film Disturbia (2007; Dreamworks) it doesn't make the mistake of taking itself at all seriously.  And, boy, does it have it's fair share of dark humor that is of the "love it/hate it" variety. 

Herr Klopek

In one unforgettable scene, the villians of the movie (a family that could serve as extras in Deliverance or Dracula equally well) have an afternoon tea with their inquisitive neighbors who believe they are either Satan worshipers, serial killers, or just out of place depending on who you ask.  This family's name is "Klopek", and when one of the neighbors's asks the elder of the family "Is that Slavic?", the old man replies "NO!". 

So, as I found it very hard to find a name for this blog, and I AM Slavic (or at least half of me is), I felt it appropriate for my first post to introduce you to a great film from a time I very much miss while also providing me a name for this blog.  We Slavic people just roll that way.  Who knows, maybe Tom will read this blog, and they can do a sequel; though I would think his fee alone would cost more than the whole production of the original. 

But what is the purpose of this blog?  Like anyone else who loves to read I like to write.  Recently, one of my neices and one of my nephews have both started a blog, and so I said to myself, "Why not try.". 

There is no real direction for this blog other than to put my thoughts on paper...er, computer.  It's far better than Prozac, at any rate.  Contributions are not on a set schedule, but I hope to write something once a week or two.  It all depends on my schedule, inspiration, and whether or not I simply remember to do so. 

So go watch The 'burbs this week, and find out why Corey Feldman loves his neighborhood.  I think you will, too.