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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Home AV advice needed


BigRoy

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I'm looking at a JVC QP-F70AL, anyone any knowledge on this. Reviews seem good particaulary on sound and visuals, get 5.1 but 6.1 with addittional speaker thats extra, recorder, good variety of media playback around £600 :thumbs:

 

or Pioneer RCS-9H everything above but front speaker virtual setup, bUT also an 80GHDD good review and at £700 a bargain.

 

 

What do you think?

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When I got into this in 96 people thought i was barking mad, but like the sound etc. Since then i have changed the stuff loads of time, learning some as i went. Still laerning loads as this trade changes so fast its hard to keep up.

All the above posts are good and what i write below is just a few pointers from my own note book, no contradicting anyone, just a few bits for your consideration.

 

Firstly 1080i is coming usually with a 720p option. Sky hope to have it going from Jan next year I believe. Whether the new sky boxes have HDMI outs or not I dont know yet but if not at first probably will soon after. HDMI gives you raw digital pic right through to your projector (if it has the hdmi input) so there is only one digital conversion at the projector which i think is to RGB. (not totally sure)

A/V recievers are now appearing with HDMI switching, handy for quick source changes.

So I am holding off at the minute until the new stuff is around hopefully sooner than later.

After owning many a/v amps i have to saw the best value for money i have heard for both movies and music is the latest series Yahama's, the RDV-2500 is very powerful, and music is sweeter than my previous Rotel pre power. It also makes a great job of DVD audio / SACD, keeping it sweet where others leave it gritty.

Subs, even the low cost REl's are excellent, if its going to be down firing make sure its on to a hard surface as carpet will kill it. Some people just put some large floor tiles between it and the carpet.

Speakers, of the lower budget stuff I have heard TDL were surprisingly good for the dough.

The Bose idea is great if you want to save space, last one i heard was a new model back in Feb and it was very impressive if a little fluffy on the bass.

A new format DVD will be here soon too with 1080i or 720p picture. Pioneer and Denon seem to make some very good players than can manage a decent CD reproduction.

All in all its a tricky time, so many changes about to happen, and too good to miss.

My main bit of advice is think forward, when you have seen 1080i you would find it hard to go back. 1080i isnt really new, it first appeared on Laser disc in 97 called muse discs which at £120 a throw were not gonna make it outside Japan!.

If it was me with your budget I'd consider the poineer dvd player (about £200 to £250), yamaha a/v amp (RDV-2500 can be got for £650 ish in the right places), REL sub about £400, 5.1 speakers TDL from richer sounds, about £400 ish and some dough left for cables etc. This system would really lift you out of your seat!

Good luck.

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A slight :hijack: but still on topic.

 

Can someone please explain what the different connections are / mean and which is the preffered choice for the set up I mentioned earlier. I know what a scart connector is but what is / are "component" connectors? :conf:

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Component vs RGB, I did a back to back test on my plasma component won hands down. I dont know the tech on it, but its the best way to connect pre HDMI days.

Keene electronics make convertors e.g RGB to component, RGB to S-video, Composite to s-video etc. They are high quality units. I use one to convert the RGB of my skybox into component as my a/v amp doesnt take scart, I got a better pic into the bargain as the plasma liked it better.

MY current use of video connectors are

Laserdisc S-Video (through a 1080i scaler)

DVD component (using progressive scan 720p)

Sky - rgb converted to component (upscaled to 1080i)

Upscaled 1080i isnt as good as real 1080i but I like it anyway until the real 1080i formants get here.

scart connectors can be wired either composite or RGB. If its RGB then its better pic, and the best way to output sky.

until hdmi gets my way I'll try and do component where ever I can suggest you try the same.

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Thanks Chief. :thumbs:

 

So, with my set up to include these:

http://www.digitaldirectuk.com/products_moreinfo3/index.asp?product_id=5480

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/html/SAM-LE32R41B.htm

and a Sky box should i be looking at the following:

 

1. RGB to component cable for Sky to LCD TV (or should Sky box go through the Yamaha HC unit first then onto the LCD?)

2. Component to component for DVD - LCD TV

3. Monitor output to 15 pin from laptop to LCD TV

 

Then the sound gets figured out later

 

Then I have to figure out the sound inputs from Sky :conf:

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1. RGB to component cable for Sky to LCD TV (or should Sky box go through the Yamaha HC unit first then onto the LCD?)

RGB and component are different types of signal so you need a convertor e.g. like what Keene sells.

 

Component to component for DVD - LCD TV

Good idea !

 

Then I have to figure out the sound inputs from Sky.

Get a box e.g. Sony (I bought mine s/h on e bay and put the supplied one in a cupboard somewhere) which has an optical output, this will give you digital sound into the a/v amp which we believe gives better dynamics and allows more accurate surround processing. You will also get SKY movies 1 2 and 3 in dolby digital, well when they movies have DD in the info line. You can expect more DD from Sky in the future.

 

Migster if thats your system, i'm coming to your house with my fav cd collection! :-)

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Is you have a lot of different input soruces, why not buy an upsampling amp and do all the conversions in the same box? Its got to work out cheaper than individual converters.

 

I think the Denon 3803 (or something) was the cheapest amp to do this (£600 ish) when I was looking.

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