Where are the TIMELY professional audio reviews???

[NJHammer]

Howdy, folks.

I've been watching this forum for a long time and want to express appreciation to all those that maintain and support it. It's been very informative and educational for me.

The best hobbyist discussion boards on the Internet are those that can truly maintain vendor-neutral positions as they grow and gain sponsorship.

I think that it's great if Audioholics sells banners to Denon and Sony at $2,500/month. Good for you, you deserve it! But it's a Greek tragedy if that business arrangement manifests into censorship of the user community. I've seen far too many hobbyist discussion boards head South of the commode for just that reason. It's great if Denon is helping to pay the rent but the real benefit of websites such as this is to inform the community; for example; of a POS receiver that Denon has just released. That information would surely reach the wider community provided that the moderators are not censoring the complaints.

So I've been watching from the sidelines and see lots of colorful and candid communications from the community. That's a good thing and I sincerely appreciate it.

Anyway, my current rant: Where's the professional reviews of the cutting-edge products???

My AV receiver is probably 10-12 years old. It's been a great member of the family but is soon to be eBay'ed. Adios! Already have two of the top-line Sony rear-projection TVs and they're great. Now the audio needs to catch up.

So I'm trying to be a prudent technical geek and get up to speed with current technologies. It seems that the plausible "product-to-have" includes Hollywood Quality Video processing (HQV). OK, that's great. The technology is reasonably priced and I can live with spending $5K on a good A/V receiver if it delivers as promised.

So current offerings include Onkyo and higher-end Integra. So what gives? Where's the pro reviews of the 905/8.8??? They've been released to the market long enough!

There's plenty of information from this website on those products but the forums are more geared toward existing owners and their trials-and-tribulations of investment on the "bleeding edge".

Now Denon will soon release the 5308 which is to include an even better HQV processor chip. Or are they? No hint of information on their website on a flagship product; expected to be released in a matter of weeks? WHY????

It seems like there is a giant pregnant pause with the whole industry and these new products. Why haven't the technical and audio critics gotten their hands on these pieces and given us the low-down? After all, their job is to objectively evaluate these products and give us a heads-up! Timing is everything. This is exciting new technology but it's a huge investment. That means RISK RISK RISK!! Come on, guys!! This is the moment of truth...this is your purpose. Time is of the essence!! When is someone going to step up to the plate and de-mystify HQV-equipped AV receivers?

Are they really worth it? Is the technology just too new and bleeding-edge to be adoptable yet? Do these processors really make a worth-while difference with a high-end TV, HDMI, DirecTV and a PS3 feeding Blu-Ray movies?

Is it a better choice to buy a separate HQV / video processor component and omit that criteria from the AV receiver? Is HDMI source switching really that delayed? I've seen threads where guys are complaining that switching between HDMI sources can take up to 30 seconds!! Is that accurate? If so, that's a real speed-bump. Is it a worth-while trade off? Sure, the guys who have already taken the risk and bought an 8.8 or 905 say so. They're biased!! Few will express buyer's regret and others yet are in denial of a poor major investment in their home systems!!

No offense to anyone and I may be completely off base with these speculations. My point is....I want to make a prudent decision on these new technology choices and there's no professional sources of information yet. WHY?????

What's the difference between the HQV chip included in the Integra/Onkyo AV receivers and the one due to come out from the new Denon? What other manufacturers are going to release this video processor?

And if it's advisable to keep components separate and invest in a separate HQV video processor component...what's really out there? I see a few products but none are "main-stream" but instead very small manufacturers. Why? Where's the Sony HQV video processor unit? If it's THAT GOOD, wouldn't the big fish be all over it and promoting upcoming releases?

Sometimes I wonder if critics back off of questionable technology in line with the old adage, "If you don't have something nice to say then say nothing at all". I'm sure that there's consumer spending patterns associated with new products. Perhaps Onkyo has convinced most of the AV critics to delay reviews until they scoff up all of the initial sales?

Doesn't it stand to reason that if these products were truly great and the HQV chip was a refined winner then wouldn't we expect the manufacturer to push demos to the critics to further stimulate sales (initial or otherwise)?

Whenever I see a "pregnant pause" like this in the industry; particularly on the foot of new technologies....I become apprehensive. I can think of lots of negative reasons why the professional reveiws are delayed but I can't think of many positive reasons.

And without any guidance from the pro's...we're all left to speculation, aren't we?

I'd really like to know more about this HQV technology and the stir that it's creating. I've read some reviews on projectors and the chips themselves but VERY limited info on these new A/V products.

Anyway, sorry to rant, thanks for reading (if anyone actually got through this post) and any feedback or information would be appreciated.

-Hammer

 

[Thaedium]

Hehe, that post was a bit long winded, lol. Kinda hard to pinpoint the real point or question or purpose of your post, perhaps you should have went essay style with a hypothesis and or maybe synopsis to help us out? j/k

Anyways, as I understand it, Audioholics doesn't exactly have a huge staff of people to dedicate to testing the latest greatest equipment. The simple fact is that the A/V world is enormous, there are so many different things you could have in your system. Bread and butter are obviously the Speakers, TV's and perhaps recievers, but there are so many other components, even with a staff of 20 people doing nothing but reviews it'll take quite a while for product reviews to come out.

Idle speculation about a supposed "pregnant pause" is exactly that... idle. Don't get all worked up over it, just wait it out. You're current Reciever is 10 to 12 years old you said, whats another couple month wait? Don't be in such a rush to go replace it just yet.

Many of your many questions are aimed at HQV. So I guess I'll just give you a link and I would recommend doing some reading. Is it worth it? Thats a consumers perogative, and entirely up to you. Are there better chipsets for it? I'm not certain, but I believe the product is made by Silicon Optix which the Denon and the Onkyo will both be using.

Are you really willing to fork out $5000 + grand for a Flag ship reciever that has it in the comming months, or are you willing to wait until it filters down to some more moderately priced recievers?

Hope that helps some.

 

[NJHammer]

Hi, Thaedium. Your response does help and I appreciate it.

Sorry about the young novel post, hehe. Guess it's a lot of built up steam from months of reading on the side-lines.

You seem to understand most of my communication but one thing: I'm not implying that Audioholics should review these products. I'm saying that the whole industry seems to have backed off. Not even CNET has reviewed the 8.8/905.

I agree with you in that it's prudent to wait it out. It funny how some products get instant access by the pro critics and others seem to have the pregnant pause. With regard to the HQV a/v receivers..it's particularly strange because there's such a strong following and huge demand.

You'd think that the critics would see the blip on the radar and provide the service that's clearly needed.

So why nothing on these products? Chess game? Politics?

And I agree with you about personal preference...to a point. With technology, there is a variable for subjective taste and then there's just the facts: Is it worth it? Does HQV video processing really create that WOW result as it's been hyped up?

I've spent a good deal on two 60" Sony top-end XBR rear projection TVs. They're absolutely breathtaking pictures; particularly with Blu-Ray media. Will the HQV substantially improve on that? How about 480 or 720?

There's a big void with these products and the industry as a whole. As important and exciting as these technologies are....I really wonder what's going on.

Sorry, guys. I know I'm looooong winded. I'll work on it!

 

[NJHammer]

Hey, Thaedium:

Just read your signature. How's that Velodyne DD-15? I've got an NHT Classic Four 5-piece system and am about to invest in that exact sub for the .1.

Thanks

 

[NJHammer]

Moderator: Please move my thread back, it's not a site suggestion thread and doesn't belong in this forum.

Also, its common courtesy to PM a user when you intervene in their posting, isn't it? I think I deserve that.

I had to search on my user name after my thread mysteriously disappeared.

 

[Thaedium]

I've spent a good deal on two 60" Sony top-end XBR rear projection TVs. They're absolutely breathtaking pictures; particularly with Blu-Ray media. Will the HQV substantially improve on that?

I doubt there will be a "substantial" improvement, however. If you read the page with the link I put in my last post, what HQV does is remove combing, or motion blur. So in intense scenes, where there is a lot of movement on camera, quick paced, there can be a tendancy towards this combing effect. With HQV, it removes these pixels that cause it, and allows you to see the image more clearly.

And I agree with you about personal preference...to a point. With technology, there is a variable for subjective taste and then there's just the facts: Is it worth it? Does HQV video processing really create that WOW result as it's been hyped up?

What I meant about preferences was simply; does the consumer really care to have that extra clear picture, or do you find regular non-HD satisfying? Yes there is a clear technological difference between the two. However, when you ask is it worth it? the answer comes back to what I'm saying in preference. For me, as of right now, the improvement is not worth the price to pick up a flag-ship reciever that has it. So in my opinion, its not worth it.

Also, to answer your question regarding improvement on HD, yes it will work on HD as well. Read the page on the link for a more comprehensive understanding of it.

Just read your signature. How's that Velodyne DD-15? I've got an NHT Classic Four 5-piece system and am about to invest in that exact sub for the .1.

I find the DD-15 to be quite excellent really. The on-board software for EQ is straightforward. When you buy it, you get the mic (if you don't already have one) that is quite a solid piece of kit, and you can hook it up to your reciever to display the EQ software on your TV. Run through the setup and you can generate a more flat response fairly easily.

Only problem for me is that I'm tight on space, and the DD-15 is no small cookie, heh. The presets are handy as well, I can just flip from 1 of 6 presets, or edit them as I please. Which I have. So for me, going from an action movie to some rap, or even rock, I just hit a button and I get the required level of bass.

Truth is, the DD-15 is probably going to pull my house down over my head.


As for all the speculation regarding pro-reviews, I couldn't even begin to tell you anything about that. I'm not in the business, and I'm not always up to date on the latest and greatest. CEDIA 2007 wasn't done that long ago, so I would imagine many of these products are just not available to the reviewers yet because the manufacturers are either hammering out last minute details or any number of things really. Its all just speculation on our part, I wouldn't worry about it. HQV is here, and its here to stay. Regardless of a pro-review or not.

 

[NJHammer]

Thaedium,

Great feedback, bud. Sincerely appreciated.

I couldn't find your link initially but have now checked it out. Lots of good info, thanks.

For me, I'm not comfortable investing in new technology until I see many credible sources of review. In other words, if there were great reviews from Stereophile, HT&S Review, AVGuide, UltimateAV, Audioholics, etc...then I would feel confident.

And I do agree with you; I'm not willing to buy a $5K flagship component just for video processing; although I would invest the money if it were a true value for ME, soup-to-nuts. I personally won't ever utilize zones so there's no point in investing in a product that focuses on that technology (for example).

As far as the Velodyne goes, I'm convinced and excited to invest. Your feedback is right in line with 15 other solid reviews that I've read and they're all very consistent. I think I'll order it today. I was unsure as to going with the 15 or the 18. My family room is about 500 sq/ft but it's got a huge open cathederal ceiling and is open on one side to the kitchen and sunroom. Velodyne's website suggests going with the 18 based on my environment; but not sure I trust that. I've got the room for a big sub enclosure but don't want to waste money on overkill. Plus I like to cutover the drivers on my main floor speakers at higher frequency; so a sub with 18" driver might create a low-mid "hole" in overall macro dynamics.

As far as the receiver, I have been leaning toward the Integra 8.8 for a couple of months but will wait to see the post-Christmas offerings and how all of this new technology shakes out.

Thanks again!!