Russ, I did notice that. But The way they were "bundled" together...and not labled "input 1" and Input 2" or Aux 1 and aux 2...I couldn't tell if the two different types of dig in's were for the same input.
did that make sense???
thanks!
Sony B*stards!
- Thread starter stewey
- Start date
Russ, I did notice that. But The way they were "bundled" together...and not labled "input 1" and Input 2" or Aux 1 and aux 2...I couldn't tell if the two different types of dig in's were for the same input.
did that make sense???
thanks!
RuSsMaN
Pudknocker
It's a 'smart' unit, and will sense a signal on either Dig input, then decipher if it is DD5.1, or DTS, and decode accordingly.
I'm REALLY impressed with this thing so far, especially since a good friend of mine is using it. It's turning out to be a real giant killer, and may very well be one of the best kept secrets in HT preamps.
Cheers,
Russ
I'm REALLY impressed with this thing so far, especially since a good friend of mine is using it. It's turning out to be a real giant killer, and may very well be one of the best kept secrets in HT preamps.
Cheers,
Russ
That's it...I'll talk my brother into buying one.
Anyone have a line on a decent (but cheap) three channel amp (for center and two rears)?
thanks Russ...thanks guys!
Anyone have a line on a decent (but cheap) three channel amp (for center and two rears)?
thanks Russ...thanks guys!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3071454839&category=14973
I don't know about any real cheap ones...I do remember that there were some built just for that purpose, but I can't recall just who made them besides Adcom.
I don't know about any real cheap ones...I do remember that there were some built just for that purpose, but I can't recall just who made them besides Adcom.
stewey
Active Member
IT'S HERE!!!
Well, it finally arrived today. Sad to think it would have been here sooo much sooner if only Klipsch had extended their offer to Canadians. Ah well.
So, initial impression is.. WOW. All this for $99 !?!?! My gawd. This thing is sweet. I do wish it had a few more features - bypass, better balance controls, and better eq controls/documentation. Overall, I'm stunned. It's not a myth, this thing really does do what we all thought it did but couldn't quite believe. Now, I just need to find out what frequencies EQ BAND 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 refer to. Also, it would be great to know what the slope of these bands are.
A few words on build quality. It's a cheap unit and the feel of it reflects that. I must say, I was expecting a lot less. It really does seem to be of better build quality than one would expect from a $99 unit. The feel of it is not anywhere near on par with the vintage equipment so many of us are used to, but what is? It's not quite as solid as the POS sony pre/pro it replaces, but I REALLY couldn't care less. At least the Klipsch performs! Now, the remote control is the low-point, but like most of us, I have a high-end universal remote that will gladly learn all of the DD-5.1's features. So, for most of us, this is a moot point.
Ok, now the good stuff. How does it sound? I'll admit, I haven't had a chance to dial in the sound to my personal tastes yet, so some of these conclusions may be premature. I tested the unit out with Die Another Day (the latest Bond flic). The first thing I listened for was noise because I've had MAJOR problems with this in the past. So, I paused the DVD got real close to my speakers and listened... I won't kid myself, there IS some noise. BUT, it's quiet. A little more than if I pause a CD running through the pre-amp in my vintage Pioneer SA-8800, but that doesn't surprise me, and it doesn't bother me. I'm not interested in fighting for absolute silence from my HT setup - it's surround after all - I'll leave all that stress for Stereo. The point is, it's leaps and bounds ahead of the Sony EP9ES. Ok, what about when you're actually listening to something? First off, I was underwhelmed. Die Another Day is DTS, so I was expecting more - I felt let down. The separation was blurry, the highs were a bit harsh, etc... Then I realized I wasn't actually listening to DTS! Dumbass! So, I fumbled through the stupid menus and enabled DTS. HOLY SH*T! I can't believe what I've been missing! The sound is SOOO much better with DTS, excellent separation, smooth highs, you know the rest. The soundstage really comes alive with DTS. I was skeptical before, really skeptical, but I was wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! DTS is superior, very noticably superior to DD 5.1.
Well, that's enough rambling for one afternoon. I'd be happy to take any questions, and if there's interest, I can update my opinion once I've had a chance to tweak my setup and audition a few more titles.
cya, Stew.
Well, it finally arrived today. Sad to think it would have been here sooo much sooner if only Klipsch had extended their offer to Canadians. Ah well.
So, initial impression is.. WOW. All this for $99 !?!?! My gawd. This thing is sweet. I do wish it had a few more features - bypass, better balance controls, and better eq controls/documentation. Overall, I'm stunned. It's not a myth, this thing really does do what we all thought it did but couldn't quite believe. Now, I just need to find out what frequencies EQ BAND 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 refer to. Also, it would be great to know what the slope of these bands are.
A few words on build quality. It's a cheap unit and the feel of it reflects that. I must say, I was expecting a lot less. It really does seem to be of better build quality than one would expect from a $99 unit. The feel of it is not anywhere near on par with the vintage equipment so many of us are used to, but what is? It's not quite as solid as the POS sony pre/pro it replaces, but I REALLY couldn't care less. At least the Klipsch performs! Now, the remote control is the low-point, but like most of us, I have a high-end universal remote that will gladly learn all of the DD-5.1's features. So, for most of us, this is a moot point.
Ok, now the good stuff. How does it sound? I'll admit, I haven't had a chance to dial in the sound to my personal tastes yet, so some of these conclusions may be premature. I tested the unit out with Die Another Day (the latest Bond flic). The first thing I listened for was noise because I've had MAJOR problems with this in the past. So, I paused the DVD got real close to my speakers and listened... I won't kid myself, there IS some noise. BUT, it's quiet. A little more than if I pause a CD running through the pre-amp in my vintage Pioneer SA-8800, but that doesn't surprise me, and it doesn't bother me. I'm not interested in fighting for absolute silence from my HT setup - it's surround after all - I'll leave all that stress for Stereo. The point is, it's leaps and bounds ahead of the Sony EP9ES. Ok, what about when you're actually listening to something? First off, I was underwhelmed. Die Another Day is DTS, so I was expecting more - I felt let down. The separation was blurry, the highs were a bit harsh, etc... Then I realized I wasn't actually listening to DTS! Dumbass! So, I fumbled through the stupid menus and enabled DTS. HOLY SH*T! I can't believe what I've been missing! The sound is SOOO much better with DTS, excellent separation, smooth highs, you know the rest. The soundstage really comes alive with DTS. I was skeptical before, really skeptical, but I was wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! DTS is superior, very noticably superior to DD 5.1.
Well, that's enough rambling for one afternoon. I'd be happy to take any questions, and if there's interest, I can update my opinion once I've had a chance to tweak my setup and audition a few more titles.
cya, Stew.
stewey
Active Member
Noise...
Which noise? The one for the Sony, or the one for the Klipsch? ...I'm fairly certain that neither are the result of a ground loop. Neither were your typical 60hz hum. The Sony was reproducible in every system I tried, including the two service shops I took it to. With the Klipsch it's just a little white noise.
Which noise? The one for the Sony, or the one for the Klipsch? ...I'm fairly certain that neither are the result of a ground loop. Neither were your typical 60hz hum. The Sony was reproducible in every system I tried, including the two service shops I took it to. With the Klipsch it's just a little white noise.
stewey
Active Member
I think you might be right...
I can't speak from experience (this is my first real HT setup). Maybe all the DSP generates noise. That might be why our old school analog pre-amps are so quite in comparison!?
...or maybe, just maybe we're spoiled by our old equipment. You can buy 'audiophile' quality pre/pro's by the likes of Krell, Lexicon, etc... for 30-50 times what I paid (which if you account for inflation is roughly what our vintage gear would cost today) - I'd expect they're dead quiet.
I can't speak from experience (this is my first real HT setup). Maybe all the DSP generates noise. That might be why our old school analog pre-amps are so quite in comparison!?
...or maybe, just maybe we're spoiled by our old equipment. You can buy 'audiophile' quality pre/pro's by the likes of Krell, Lexicon, etc... for 30-50 times what I paid (which if you account for inflation is roughly what our vintage gear would cost today) - I'd expect they're dead quiet.
What type of noise are you talking about? My Sony HT receiver runs thru a bypass on my 2 channel preamp...I've got 108db horns for the midrange/highs and no audible hum at all. Well, if you put your ear right up to the midhorn you could here the Tube amps a bit...but if you stand up directly in front of them they're quiet. 
Depending on what type of hum you've got...you may want to look into other causes.
The Klipsch does sound like a winner tho
Depending on what type of hum you've got...you may want to look into other causes. The Klipsch does sound like a winner tho
stewey
Active Member
Not sure how you want me to describe it...
My speakers are reasonably efficient 91 db/w @ 1 meter. Certainly not as unforgiving as your horns though. There's no hum that I can detect. There is a "sssshhhhhh" sound though. With the Sony the sound was similar, just many times louder.
You have to put your ear with a couple feet of the tweeters to hear it with the Klipsch.
My speakers are reasonably efficient 91 db/w @ 1 meter. Certainly not as unforgiving as your horns though. There's no hum that I can detect. There is a "sssshhhhhh" sound though. With the Sony the sound was similar, just many times louder.
You have to put your ear with a couple feet of the tweeters to hear it with the Klipsch.
THOR
Fearless Prophet
Well mine has been a hum and sometimes it is dead silent and sometimes it is something you hear with your ear right near the speaker sometimes it has been loud enough to bug me, but always only in HT. I believe my problem has always been the wirng and the long lengths of cable I need to deal with.
Remember a while back I posted about how the hum got louder the closer my rack got to the wall? Right now it is dead silent but I am sure I will do something to cause it to come back and haunt me
Remember a while back I posted about how the hum got louder the closer my rack got to the wall? Right now it is dead silent but I am sure I will do something to cause it to come back and haunt me
stewey
Active Member
Creative DDTS-100
Just released. This is worth checking out as another alternative to the DD-5.1. It offers better support for new surround formats (ie: DPL II), but it doesn't have rca output jacks, just mini-plugs. Plus I haven't read anything about an EQ, or much in the way of bass management.
It looks like these things are springing up all over the place. Vintage surround is getting a whole lot easier!!!
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?prodid=9468
...oh, and it's $150 USD.
Just released. This is worth checking out as another alternative to the DD-5.1. It offers better support for new surround formats (ie: DPL II), but it doesn't have rca output jacks, just mini-plugs. Plus I haven't read anything about an EQ, or much in the way of bass management.
It looks like these things are springing up all over the place. Vintage surround is getting a whole lot easier!!!
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?prodid=9468
...oh, and it's $150 USD.
Yeah...more damn adapters........
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=&product_id=274-883
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=&product_id=274-883
stewey
Active Member
More info on DD-5.1
I was able to get some more technical information on the equalizer built into the DD-5.1. Here's a graph illustrating what frequencies each band corresponds to:
And if anyone's interested, here's a PDF detailing the CODEC used in the DD-5.1.
CIRRUS LOGIC SS CODEC
cya.
I was able to get some more technical information on the equalizer built into the DD-5.1. Here's a graph illustrating what frequencies each band corresponds to:
And if anyone's interested, here's a PDF detailing the CODEC used in the DD-5.1.
CIRRUS LOGIC SS CODEC
cya.