Ask Home Theater
Sort By: Post Date | Title | Publish Date
2.35:1 Projection
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Aug 01, 2011 • 1 comments
I currently have a 16:9 front projection system, I am thinking of upgrading to a 2.35:1 screen and projector, as I watch mainly movies. I think I want a projector that will project natively at 2.35:1, with black bars on the sides for 16:9 material. What is that feature called? The projector would need to be either DLP or LCOS. Are there any such projectors out there now, or maybe on the near horizon? Any other thoughts you have would be appreciated.

Mike Weyer

Continue Reading »
TosLink Switcher
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 27, 2011 • 1 comments
I bought a new TV based on your suggestions, but I found a problem when hooking it up. I have a Yamaha receiver that has only two TosLink optical digital-audio inputs and one coax. But in order to hook up my computer, I need a third optical input. Can you recommend a TosLink switcher?

Brad McQuade

Continue Reading »
High Def to Older HDTV
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 26, 2011 • 8 comments
I bought a new Sony Blu-ray player with an HDMI output that I want to connect to an older Mitsubishi HDTV that only has component and composite inputs. I've seen HDMI-to-component converters on the Internet, but will they improve the picture quality over just staying with the Blu-ray component outputs?

Joseph Bernard

Continue Reading »
LED Backlighting vs. Edgelighting
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 25, 2011 • 3 comments
Okay, I am now in the grip of Scott terror! I have a wonderful opportunity to buy several televisions for my home, and I have listened to your moments with Leo Laporte (which are just the best!) and read what you've written. As I see it, your recommendation is first plasma (if conditions permit) and second LED LCD. But I'm not sure if you prefer LEDs around the edges of the screen or full LED backlighting.

Herman Tarnow

Continue Reading »
Tube Amp Warmth
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 22, 2011 • 1 comments
I've been reading about tube amps and the warmth of the sound they produce. Will a tube amp work with an A/V receiver if there is a digital amp already in the receiver? It seems to me that it wouldn't because the sound has already gone through a digital amp and you can't get back to the original quality.

Bob Spencer

Continue Reading »
NAD and GoldenEar
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 15, 2011 • 0 comments
I am really new to A/V but quickly becoming addicted! What are your thoughts about NAD? I have a moderate budget and expensive tastes, so I was considering the NAD T 785 A/V receiver and the GoldenEar TritonCinema Two speaker system. I have read great things about GoldenEar, and I like the sound of these speakers. I don't see as much press on NAD, but they come highly recommended from the staff at Listen Up Denver.

Chris Ferguson

Continue Reading »
DIY Calibration
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 15, 2011 • 2 comments
I bought the Spyder3TV calibration system a few years ago but never used in on my former 50-inch plasma. I now have a Panasonic TC-P54G25 plasma, and I love it, but I haven't calibrated it yet. Is the Spyder3TV any good, or is there a better one? Also, is it even necessary to calibrate it?

Doug Pennell

Continue Reading »
HDMI to Component
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 14, 2011 • 6 comments
I have an older Toshiba 57H82 TV with component-video inputs—not HDMI—and an Onkyo TX-SR608 A/V receiver with HDMI. I would like to connect HDMI hardware, such as a Roku box and DirecTV tuner, to the HDMI inputs of my receiver, but I can't connect the HDMI output of the receiver to the TV. I have heard of the HDfury, which is supposed to convert HDMI to component. Will that work? Do you have any suggestions, or am I stuck until I buy a new TV?

Gary Wilson

Continue Reading »
Matte-Screen TV
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 13, 2011 • 0 comments
I'm looking to purchase a 46- to 55-inch TV. We have a window parallel to the TV area and behind our seating, which can cause some glare on a regular tube television. For this reason, we've been steered toward an LCD. Do you agree? Which LCDs are the best? We heard a lot of positives about Samsung.

Mark B

Continue Reading »
Digitizing Cassettes
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 13, 2011 • 2 comments
Can you recommend an audio system that will let me transfer my cassettes to CD or MP3? It would also need to have excellent sound quality and all the usual features; satellite radio would be great as well. I've checked with several retailers, but none seem to have what I need, especially the first item on my list, which is crucial.

Some have suggested I simply buy a tape-to-CD dubbing deck, but they are cumbersome and the last thing I want is a shelf of separate components. Right now, I don't have any audio components, not even a portable. Cost is also a factor (keeping it low as possible).

Ray Aviles

Continue Reading »
TV Headphone Listening
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 12, 2011 • 3 comments
I own a Sony KDL-40V4100 LCD TV, and I need to use headphones when I watch TV at night, but the TV doesn't have a headphone output. How can I connect headphones to the TV?

Mel

Continue Reading »
Marantz AV7005 vs. Integra DHC-40.2
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 11, 2011 • 4 comments
I am planning to replace my preamp/processor, and I've been looking at the Marantz AV7005 and the Integra DHC-40.2. I've read both reviews on HomeTheater.com (linked here), but I would like your opinion about these two units, especially the differences in sound quality and video processing.

Eliot Marin

Continue Reading »
Dinosaur TV
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 11, 2011 • 7 comments
I have an old 50-inch front-projection TV sold by Sears under the brand Proformance around 1984. The picture is still good overall, but small text such as a ticker at the bottom and sports scores are out of focus. Large text is okay. It seems like it needs to be re-focused and realigned on the screen, but I don't have a manual and neither does the Internet. I also don't want to put any tech money into this TV, so hopefully I can do the adjustment myself. Included in this message are pics of the TV and the problem along with the control panel. Is there anything I can do to correct these problems?

I found a link to a procedure to refocus a 3-CRT rear-projection TV, and I wonder if it will work from the front controls of my TV?

Donna

Continue Reading »
Video Processing
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 07, 2011 • 0 comments
I have a Pioneer VSX-33 A/V receiver that outputs HDMI to an Epson 8700UB projector (seen here). How do I know which component is doing the video processing? When my Blu-ray player or satellite receiver runs through the AVR and out to the Epson, does the AVR do all the processing, or does the Epson's video processor? I guess I would prefer to have the Pioneer do all the video processing since its Marvell Qdeo chipset has been so favorably rated.

Dan Theis

Continue Reading »
Front vs. Rear Projection
Ask Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson • Jul 07, 2011 • 3 comments
I've been thinking about building a theater room, and I'd like to know the relative benefits of front versus rear projection when using a video projector. As of right now, it appears that DLP is the best bet for projection, but I am sure that could change.

Grant

Continue Reading »
Site Map / Direct Links
Displays Speakers HT Systems Sources Electronics Other Gear Software AV Interiors Top Picks How-To Community Show Reports Blogs Archived Blogs Latest News Shop Resources Subscriptions