Hello to all members and guests, and thank you for letting me post on this site. I'm new as a member, but have been reading previously for a few weeks, the many forums and tech topics as I can to further my quest in understanding and applying Home Theater principle and design. I don't exactly have any specific questions to ask, but just wanted to share a few things that I've learned and have put to use over the years in my own HT build-up. I apologize in advance if my post turns out to be long-winded...
Here, I'll start with a list of gear that I have in the rig. Hopefully, it'll better illustrate what I'm running as a HT set-up. So, here it goes:
Receiver Section:
1) Yamaha HTR-6030bl, 100w per ch, 5.1 surround (speaker output set
@ 6ohms). All speakers set to 'small'. System crossover @ 100hz.
2) 2 Infinity RS-3000 2-way front speakers, 6ohms/20-100w/45hz-22kHz,
with MTS replacement bass cones from 40hz-5kHz. Speaker crossover @
4kHz.
3) Yamaha NC-C125, 6ohms/100w, center ch speaker with bass reflex.
4) Yamaha YST-SW216bl sub-woofer, 5ohm/100w/20-180hz -10dB. High-Cut
filter set to "low", rolling off around 100hz. Connected at 'sub out' by
mono rca.
5) 2 KLH 4" 3-way speakers, rear surround, 6ohm/100w/90hz-20kHz,
Playback and Source Section:
6) Pioneer DV-250 DVD player.
7) VCR (don't laugh), used as tuner receiving coax RG-6 RF, then stereo/audio out to distribution amp... no cable box here...
8) CD and PC audio to CD input.
Note: DVD player is driving the S-Video input on the TV and Component input on the receiver through 'monitor out' to TV simultaneously. The 's-video' is used to view 4:1 formats correctly without stretch and distortion, and the 'component' for 16:9 and anamorphic scope formats.
Pre-Processing Section:
9) Rolls RA-63s 4 ch stereo / 8 ch mono distribution amp (stereo enabled)
10) Behringer Ultramizer Pro DSP1424P
Note: VCR (DTV) audio drives the distribution amp, to the DSP1424's input for a "no-compromise" multiband processing before the HTR's DTV input, to level out the annoying variance in volume between channels, and to improve fidelity and consistency from channel-to-channel and source-to-source.
11) Aphex 108 Easy Rider, auto compressor
12) Behringer Ultra-Dyne Pro DSP9024, 6-band processor
Note: Both of these combined handle audio from the DVD player. Aphex takes analog audio from DVD, then to the DSP9024 for side-chained, stereo-coupled processing at 48kHz, in a 6-band split. Similar idea as above. Then, analog out to DVD input at receiver.
All wiring throughout is balanced except at the receiver's input on any source.
At the receiver, I have each used input running its own DSP program further manipulating the source signal after the pre-processing. The main reason behind all the pre-processing is to maximize, as much as possible, the signal-to-noise ratio, and to compress and limit the peaks to help increase the RMS average more within the system's headroom limits, without audible clipping/distortion -- even as these devices were designed to prevent that, they can also cause clipping and artifacts to occur! But at the same time, some very interesting sonic effects can be realized and achieved, too! The rest of the processing, has been adjusted for blending between speech, dialogue, SFX and music, while maintaining consistency, punch and clarity without distortion and, blaring volume inconsistencies and the clipping causing frequency tilt that sometimes occurs in the broadcast RF signal. Not all broadcasters process their audio equally. They all have their own idea of what sounds good to them, and to you...
I like to have more control over my audio than what's given out in HT systems anyway, their DSP programs and templates etc. In that regard, what I have works very well and compliments the upstream processing very nicely, producing a smooth, even sound adding that finishing touch. You hear "through" the processing, not the processing itself. It may seem like a lot of equipment to have. It's a lot of extra wiring too! I should also say, I make my own audio cables... Then, if something goes wrong in the audio, I can troubleshoot by starting at the cables - I can take them apart. A big plus!!!
But in the biggest picture of all HT audio design has to offer, I find that it really comes down to having a firm grasp of how human hearing works, and they way we perceive sound in the real world. All DSP surround sound programs are designed with the intention in mind, to take an artificial signal, recreate and distribute it to the speakers in a way, where it sounds real and indistinguishable from its organic counterpart(s) in every way that sounds true-to-life. As if the sound were happening all around you, not at you.
Having high quality source material is best for the DSP sound fields to work their true magic. Always remember: garbage in, garbage out...
In my rig, I'm very pleased with my results! I only wish I could share with you the sound quality. But that's all subjective, anyhow.
Creator and developer of the Optimod line of audio processors for radio, TV and Streaming, Bob Orban, once stated, "There are no magic formulas, but there is one psycho-acoustic trick".
And, "...when adjusting any audio processing [parameter], always remember that, less is more".
Any questions, comments, corrections or suggestions from anyone here, is most welcomed.
