I was at a home on the other side of the country last Thanksgiving. There was wine involved and I can't remember lots of the details, but, this guy put on the LOVE Beatles recording. It sounded pretty good with at least front/back and subwoofer. Then he pushed a button to turn on a signal processor, and Dear Lord, I have never heard anything like it. Was it perhaps DTS, if so, what do I need to get started?
I already have two sets of speakers and subwoofers routed to my listening area:
System 1 - Front
Soundscraftsmen Pro Control 3
Soundscraftsmen PM860 mosfet amp, around 450 watts
Magnapan IIa speakers with driver panel, ribbon tweeter, external xovers, etc.
System 2 - REAR
Phase 400 power amp fed from the SC preamp
(phase preamp needs some work)
Magnapan MG-I speakers
I've got some lame kinda subwoofer that isn't hooked up yet.
It's all wired with 12 gauge end to end.
I use my computer with my entire CD library (~600 titles) ripped to MP3s at the highest sample rate, equipped with an OK sound card that I usually use as an easy source, but I also have an inexpensive Panasonic CD player.
The sound card is an Audigy LS, and it looks as if it has a S/PDIF jack in mini headphone form factor.
The system sounds pretty good. With the windows open you can hear it up and down the block (though I usually CLOSE THEM.) I'm hearing things in my recordings I didn't even know existed, even thru the MP3s.
I have the test gear to do all manner of acoustical testing and accommodation in my listening area (I'm an engineer that used to work for HP), and acoustical engineers at my disposal, more or less for free (old friends and customers) but I'm not ready for that yet.
As an aside, I've had a component stereo since 1968, when most people thought a HIFI was a nice wooden cabinet. The system I had in college is in my garage, and it still kicks. The system I had in high school is in my cousin's garage and still alive.
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How to get started with DTS? I would like to have that experience or better in my home.
I can probably afford most any sound card, and can put an optical cable from the 'puter to the preamp (until I finish the room walls!). A new media player isn't out of the question, either.
It looks like I need at the very least a preamp. I don't need to go high end yet. Recommendations? Better places to get these answers?
tanks
mac
