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Articles by Drew Neilson
4K UHD Blu-ray vs. 3D Blu-ray
What movies are the best demonstrations of 4K UHD Blu-ray picture (with HDR) and Dolby Atmos or DTS:X sound to help me decide whether 4K UHD Blu-ray with HDR and Dolby Atmos or DTS:X is, overall, better or worse than 3D 1080p per eye Blu-ray with 7.1 (at best) audio? I have not experienced 4K UHD (unless it was in a movie theater), so I don't know whether 4K UHD with Atmos or DTS:X is worth losing 3D.
listening modes: Dolby vs. DTS vs. THX
The audio formats are different codecs all with slightly different interpretations of the audio being passed through to the speakers . Most movie soundtracks are encoded in one or more of these codecs. Some codecs allow your receiver to override or upmix the sound into another audio format you, as the consumer, prefer. Some codecs do not allow for that audio format change while you are listening. They hold fast to the intention of how the movie was mixed for the dvd/bluray/UHD release.
Official Boston Acoustics Digital Media Theater PC speaker system discussion thread
I have this speaker system. I got it from Gateway in late 1999. I've been having difficulty finding technical information on it, so I've decided to create a thread with the information that I've found or have deducted logically so that other people may find this information and contribute. Its...
Blu-ray Player app and deinterlacing
Sony XBR-49X900E, Onkyo TX-NR787, DCM KX Series 2 & 2 Panasonic speakers, 2 Dayton Audio subs Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 447 Posts Discussion Starter · #1 · a moment ago Can the Blu-ray Player app on Xbox One and on Series X output interlaced video as-is so that the user's HDMI-connected devices can deinterlace it, or does that app always deinterlace that video before outputting it? Is there an option to make it output interlaced video as-is?
Apple Music and spatial audio on Xbox One, Series X|S, and Windows PC
Sony XBR-49X900E, Onkyo TX-NR787, DCM KX Series 2 & 2 Panasonic speakers, 2 Dayton Audio subs Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 441 Posts Discussion Starter · #1 · a moment ago Apple Music recently became available as an app on Xbox One and on Series X|S, with the promise made during its announcement that a version for Windows would be coming soon.
How can I graph crossovers, low pass filters, and high pass filters using software?
Sony XBR-49X900E, Onkyo TX-NR787, DCM KX Series 2 & 2 Panasonic speakers, 2 Dayton Audio subs Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 435 Posts Discussion Starter · #1 · 35 m ago (Edited) I'm trying to improve my understanding of crossovers, low pass filters, and high pass filters. To be more specific, I understand what they do, but I'm having a hard time grasping the combined effects of all of the low- and high-pass filters in my system, so I'd like to graph them.
Question/feature request - script-ability
#1 I'd like to write a script that asks me the name of the location--for example, my TV area--and of the position being measured--for example, MLP or left side--and then makes REW take sweep measurements on specific audio outputs--in my case, each channel on my AVR except for the LFE channel, followed by the first three outputs of my MiniDSP--using specific audio inputs--in my case, my UMIK-1--and save the measurements as a single file with a name convention like this:...
Please recommend desktop amplifiers for passive subwoofers and for passive speakers.
Media Room: LG OLED83C1, Marantz AV8805A, Sherbourn 7/2100, Emotiva A-300, Studer A80, Studer Revox b795, Nakamichi RX-202, HTPC, exaSound e38, Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-2, Silicondust HDHomeRun Flex 4k, Spectrum Cable DVR, (2) Piega P10, Piega Coax Center, (6) Piega AP 1.2, Hsu VTF-15h mk2 Office: Emotiva mini-x A100, Geek Pulse, (2) KEF LS-50, Goldenear FF 4, PC, NAS 165TB Bedroom: Panasonic TCP55vt35, Marantz NR1200, Dune 3 Prime, (2) Elac Uni-Fi UB5 Game/Exercise Room: LG OLED65C7, PS3,...
Is there a 2-3 channel USB sound adapter with crossover?
Sony XBR-49X900E, Onkyo TX-NR787, DCM KX Series 2 & 2 Panasonic speakers, 2 Dayton Audio subs Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 411 Posts Discussion Starter · #1 · 17 m ago It feels ackward to post this question in the "home theater computers" area, but I'd like to know if anyone can recommend something like a MiniDSP that connects to my PC via USB and has only 2-3 unbalanced analog audio outputs.
Where does REW's installer put the Java runtime environment executable?
#1 I need to know where the Java runtime environment executable is so that I can properly run an app that is unrelated to REW. I think that I did not install Java separately and got Java from REW's installer. Since it is already installed, then when I want to download other software that requires Java and that comes in two versions--one that includes Java, and one that doesn't--I can download the version that doesn't. I've been unable to find the Java runtime environment executable.
DRM-protected 4K UHD Blu-rays might not be playable on 12th-gen Intel processors.
Playing UHD Blu-Ray on PC is a mess anyways, you need a real UHD drive (of which I think there are two drives, and they are extremely expensive and rare), and you have to buy PowerDVD which is like $99 a year (it doesn't have a subscription, but it needs keys renewed every few weeks and they stop updating that really quickly).
Mathematical formula for total SPL with more than one subwoofer
Sony XBR-49X900E, Onkyo TX-NR787, DCM KX Series 2 & 2 Panasonic speakers, 2 Dayton Audio subs Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 402 Posts Discussion Starter · #1 · 35 m ago Please correct me if I am incorrect, but here is a function I was given. If a single subwoofer is calibrated to be playing at 75 dB at the MLP, and a second subwoofer is installed and is likewise calibrated, then the total SPL at the MLP is 81 dB.
the check levels function and the sweep level
#1 I have my AVR's subwoofer pre-outs connected to my MiniDSP 2x4 HD, and am currently learning how to use Multi Sub Optimizer to optimize my subwoofers using the MiniDSP. To measure my subwoofers, in REW I set the output to one or both of my MiniDSP's two input channels (bypassing my AVR, by going directly to the MiniDSP via USB). I still use my front left speaker via my AVR as a timing reference.
The Tomorrow War
I just watched this movie on Amazon video. It only came out a few days ago. I've already stated my thoughts in my Amazon review . As for its sound, did anyone else have a bad experience with its sound? On my Atmos 7.2.0 system, I had to increase the volume so that I could understand what the actors were saying, but I couldn't increase it enough to hear every word, because if I did, my hearing would be damaged when the action scenes happened.
Please show me how to optimize my subwoofers (placement, gain, etc.)
I have two subwoofers and I've been trying out different placements and gain settings with less-than-satisfactory results and I'm about to LOSE IT because I'm running out of patience. I need a guide that will simply tell me how I can find the best place to put my subs, and how to EQ each of them, set individual gain levels, etc. I've been looking through Guide to Subwoofer Calibration and Bass Preferences | AVS Forum but I don't see a simple list of steps for optimizing more than one subwoofer.
Is Dolby Atmos practical for music? How do you listen to music in spatial or in surround sound?
TV: LG 47LW5700, AVR: Onkyo TX-NR787, speakers: DCM KX speakers & 2 Panasonics, Dayton Audio sub Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 356 Posts Discussion Starter · #1 · 31 m ago I wonder how practical Dolby Atmos is for music. When people watch TV shows and movies, and play video games, they face a screen, so sound can be designed such that the actors' voices mostly come from the center, front-left, and front-right speakers.
7.x vs. 7.x.2: which is better: two height speakers or zero height speakers?
For those of us that have 7.x setups (seven main listener-level speakers, an undefined number of subwoofers, and zero overhead/ceiling, height, nor up-firing speakers), is the addition of two overhead/ceiling, height, or upward-firing speakers an improvement?
Official DCM KX speaker series discussion thread
Home Theater: Marantz AV7705 Prepro, Mark Levinson #532 running Tekton Moabs, Integra DTA 70.1 9 channel amp running Center, 4 height and 4 surrounds. Samson S1000 (545 watts x2) running 2 SVS CS-Ultra subs, JVC NX-7 4K projector w/ 125" 16x9 screen, Panny UB420. Separate 2 chan preamp for 2.0 listening, Axiom II Walker Mod. ClearAudio Emotion TT, Moon 310LP/320PS phono pre, RME ADI2 DAC fs. SYS 2: Axiom II w/Walker mod Preamp, Proceed BPA2 amp, Tekton Lore-S spks.
Xbox One and Series X|S consoles now have optional passthrough audio bitstreaming.
TV: LG 47LW5700, AVR: Onkyo TX-NR787, speakers: DCM KX speakers & 2 Panasonics, Dayton Audio sub Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 342 Posts Discussion Starter · #1 · a moment ago This feature is new, with the May 2021 update. I noticed this new option when I was in my Xbox One S' audio settings for other reasons. Xbox owners have been asking for this for years, haven't we?
How do volume matching and dynamic audio range compression work?
TV: LG 47LW5700, AVR: Onkyo TX-NR787, speakers: DCM KX speakers & 2 Panasonics, Dayton Audio sub Joined Nov 8, 2013 · 328 Posts Discussion Starter • #1 • a moment ago I don't know whether DTS has anything similar to those two things. I assume that two-channel content--no matter whether its analog or digital--doesn't have those two things. How does volume matching and dynamic range compression work with: 1. Content with AC-3 encoding: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Atmos?
5.1.4 vs 7.1.2
"Vampires.
Platform for exercise and, optionally, for subwoofer drivers and/or transducers
My room serves as a bedroom, an 'office' (so to speak), a media room, and increasingly, a gym. I have a 47" TV, a 7.1 sound system with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, an Xbox One S with Kinect and the Kinect for Windows adapter, and several games that use the Kinect and that involve exercise. At times, those games require me to jump. The problem is that there's some floor flex when I land, so I've been instructed not to jump, in order to avoid damaging the structure of the house.
I vaguely recall seeing a thread on this site and I need help finding it.
"Vampires. You've gotta be jiving me!" TV: LG 47LW5700, AVR: Onkyo TX-NR787, speakers: DCM KX speakers: DCM KX-12 Series 2 (as front left and front right), DCM KX Center Series 2, DCM KX-6 Series 2 (as side surround left and right), sources: Xbox One S (with Kinect and Kinect for Windows adapter), Playstation 2 (fat model), Nintendo GameCube (model with digital AV output) with GameBoy Player, Panasonic VCR (PV-4661), PC: Microsoft Surface Pro (5th generation), phone: iPhone 7 Plus
5.1.4 vs. 7.1.2 for games (especially Xbox and PC games)
My AVR is a 9.2-channel AVR and I am considering upgrading my 7.1 system to either 5.1.4 or to 7.1.2. I know that most people recommend 5.1.4 over 7.1.2, but I'd like to ask for opinions on which of those two is better for games. On my home theater system I do more than play games, but I'd like to focus this discussion on gaming. Windows Sonic is the name of Microsoft's spatial audio platform on Xbox One and on Windows 10.
Speakers that match the timbre of my DCM KX Series Two speakers?
TV: LG 47LW5700, AVR: Onkyo TX-NR787, speakers: DCM KX speakers: DCM KX-12 Series 2 (as front left and front right), DCM KX Center Series 2, DCM KX-6 Series 2 (as side surround left and right), sources: Xbox One S (with Kinect and Kinect for Windows adapter), Playstation 2 (fat model), Nintendo GameCube (model with digital AV output) with GameBoy Player, Panasonic VCR (PV-4661), PC: Microsoft Surface Pro (5th generation), phone: iPhone 7 Plus
How I can replace or augment my current TV and place it and my speakers properly: suggestions?
I'd like some suggestions about how I can replace or augment my current TV with a projector plus a projection screen--preferably one that is woven, for acoustic transparency without having visible holes in the screen--and elevate my three front speakers to ear level and place them behind the screen.
Help me choose a PC
TV: LG 47LW5700, AVR: Onkyo TX-NR787, speakers: DCM KX speakers: DCM KX-12 Series 2 (as front left and front right), DCM KX Center Series 2, DCM KX-6 Series 2 (as side surround left and right), sources: Xbox One S (with Kinect and Kinect for Windows adapter), Playstation 2 (fat model), Nintendo GameCube (model with digital AV output) with GameBoy Player, Panasonic VCR (PV-4661), PC: Microsoft Surface Pro (5th generation), phone: iPhone 7 Plus
What weave size do I need in an acoustically-transparent projection screen?
TV: LG 47LW5700, AVR: Onkyo TX-NR787, speakers: DCM KX speakers: DCM KX-12 Series 2 (as front left and front right), DCM KX Center Series 2, DCM KX-6 Series 2 (as side surround left and right), sources: Xbox One S (with Kinect and Kinect for Windows adapter), Playstation 2 (fat model), Nintendo GameCube (model with digital AV output) with GameBoy Player, Panasonic VCR (PV-4661), PC: Microsoft Surface Pro (5th generation), phone: iPhone 7 Plus
Movies, Concerts, and Music Discussion - AVS Forum
Reviews, Blu Ray Movies, Aliens Blu Ray, The Godfather Collection The Coppola Restoration Blu Ray 1215 Attachment(s) Sticky Thread Sticky: Review older films here: 1979 and earlier (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 ... Last Page) Last Post started by wmcclain (11-18-2009) Last Post By: , ago Today 08:25 AM by wmcclain Last Post 2,304 311,740 16925 Attachment(s) Sticky Thread Sticky: The Ongoing "Name That Movie" Contest (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 ...
Subwoofers, Bass, and Transducers - AVS Forum
1585 Attachment(s) Sticky Thread Sticky: Shakers - Simple/Cheap Hookup - Visual Guide (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 ... Last Page) Last Post started by bob_vdi (11-26-2003) Last Post By: , ago Yesterday 08:15 PM by RobZL1 Last Post 2,908 524,878 176 Attachment(s) Sticky Thread Sticky: Guide to Subwoofer Calibration and Bass Preferences (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 ...
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