76 replies to this topic

[:)]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOME THEATRE FAQs

Below are a few Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Apart from a few direct links to info on the forum to help you with answers, also included is suggested search criteria and a link to the search page if looking for additional upto date information. To use, Copy and paste the key words suggested [in brackets] into the search engine, select the 'Home theatre Systems' forum to search in and select the recommended options to perform a search for additional info.

CONNECTING IT ALL UP
Q How do I connect [Item A] to [Item B]? - How do I hook it all up ? link1, link2, Goofy , Link 3
Also Search by key words [ connect ] & Search titles only here

Q What are all these plugs and how do they work? link

Q Which is better coax or optical ? link1, link2
Also Search by key words [ coax+optical+spdif ] & Search titles only here

Q HDMI ? v1.3, Cables, Splitter, Switcher, SPLITTER WARNING

Q Multi channel analog switching ? Link1, Link2

Q What's better analogue or digital ? link1, link2
Also Search by key words [ analog+digital+output ] & Search titles only here

Q Can I combine 2ch and HT ? link1, Link2; Link3 - refer Articles/Stereo and surround sound, Link4, Link5,

Q Bi-amping / Bi-wiring ? Link1, Link2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5, Link 6

Q Should I route video via the Receiver or direct? link

Q Connecting up Blu-ray and HD DVD players plus an explanation of the new audio formats DD+ TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, PCM lossless ? Link

Q Networking the home for Audio and Video ? Link

SYSTEM SETUP

Q Test material ? Movies & TV, Music DVDs, Hi-Rez(DVDA/SACD), CD, CD2,Vinyl?, Classical, AVS Bass DVDs

Q Setting Levels ? DVE, How to?, Reference?, Listening level?, SPL meter

Q Audyssey & SPL meters for setup ? Link, Audyssey setup FAQ and procedure, Link3, Audyssey setup summary tips

Q Equipment for Room Measurement and EQ ? Link

Q HD-DVD/Blu-ray and LFE ? Link. AVS link

Q HD-DVD/Blu-ray and setup for multi channel analogs : Link XE1, Link

Q Bitstreaming / LPCM, Link

Q Centre Channel and speaker setup particualrly for Large Displays, Link

Q Left and Right Main Speaker positioning and setup to optimise for 2ch and music, Link

Q Speaker placement & layout, Link, Dolby, THX, Audioholics, Crutchfield, 7.2 positioning

Q Room and speaker setup - optimising sound in your room, Link

Q Centre Speaker Wall Mounts, Link

Q 4 Ohms ?, 8 Ohms? , Speaker Impedance and Amps, Link

Q Dampening factor for amplifiers ? Link

Q Racks, Cabinets & Furniture for all the gear ? Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4, link5, Link6
Also Search by key words [ Rack ] or [ Cabinets ] or [ furniture ] & Search titles only here

SUBWOOFER SETUP

Q Where to put the sub ? link1, link2, link3, TIPS, Harman white paper for multi subs Link4
Also Search by key words [ subwoofer+placement+where ] & Search titles only here

Q Should I set my speakers to large or small ? link

Q What xover setting should I use ? link1, link2, link3
Also Search by key words [ crossover xover ] & Search titles only here

Q How should I set up my sub ? link
Also Search by key words [ behringer+subwoofer ] & Search titles only here, By ear, Link2

Q Integrating Subs & dedicated 2ch, For combined HT & dedicated 2ch systems ? Link 1, Link2, Link3
Also Search by key words [ Music+subwoofer ] & Search titles only here

Q Twin subs ? Link, Stereo subs ? Link

Q Room EQ Wizard and the Behringer FBQ2496 ? Link

HT Pics Link

TROUBLE SHOOTING
Q how do I to stop it humming ? link1, link2, link3, link4
Also Search by key words [ humming+buzz ] & Search in posts here

CABLES
Q Which cables ? link1, link2, link3, link4, link5, link6, link7, Link8,
Also Search by key words [ cables ] & Search in titles here

SCALING & UPCONVERTING link1, link2
Also Search by key words [ upscaling+upconverting ] & Search in titles here

HDMI CEC Control ? Link

DIY FAQ
Q DIY subs ? link, IB?, Sub Amps, Sub Amps 2

Q DIY speakers ? link, Tools ?

UPGRADING
Q Affordable HT system, (HTIB) Home Theatre In a Box, Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4, Link5, Link6, Link7, Link8
Also Search by key words [ htib ] & Search in titles & for in posts here

Q Which Reciever ? link1, link2, link3
Also Search by key words [ receiver+upgrade+which ] & Search in titles here

Q Which centre speaker ? Link

Q Centre FAQ - Audioholics,  Vertical vs horizontal centre channel speaker designs as well as good and bad points on 2 and 3 way centre's Link

Q Receiver(AVR) or Separates ? link1
Also Search by key words [ +receiver +seperates ] & Search in titles here

Q AV Pre Pros, AVR's as AV pre-pros vs AV Pre-pros ? Link1, Link2

Q AVRs and AV processors that support DSD Link

Q HD Audio(DD+, DTS-HD/MA, Dolby True HD, PCM lossless) & Receivers and av pre-pros ? Link

Q 2ch Pre-amps & Integrated amps with HT-input ? Link1, Link2, Link3, Link 4

Q 2ch ? Link1

q Thinking about going 7.1 and adding rear speakers ? Link

Q Power Amplifier ? link1, link2
Also Search by key words [ +power amplifier ] & Search in titles here

Q Power Ratings, How much power ? Link1, Link2

Q Which Subwoofer ? link1, link2, link3,  AvTalkSub tests
Also Search by key words [ subwoofer +which ] & Search in titles here

Q Which Speakers ? link1, link2, How to buy, How to demo
Also Search by key words [ which+speakers+upgrade ] & Search in titles here, Floorstander, Bookshelf

Q Which Player (CD/DVD/Universal) ? link1, link2, link3, link4
Also Search by key words [ player+ upgrade+ which+ universal ] & Search in titles here

Q 2ch DACs ? link1, link2, link3, link4

Q HTPC ? Link

Q Owners threads, Monitor Audio, Focal

Q Aussie Products ? Link1, Link2

Q Buying Abroad ? Link

Q Overseas shipping and pitfalls of buying abroad ? Link

Q Voltage Change ? Link

Q Upgrade path ? "do's and don'ts" ? link

Q How much to spend ? POLL: Cost of HT?, link Also Search by key words [budget+ cost] & Search in titles here

Q Power filters/boards ? link1, link2, Link3
Also Search by key words [ power+ filter conditioner ] & Search in titles here

Q Headphones ? Link1 ; Head phone Amps ? Link1, Link2
Also Search by key words [ headphone ] & Search in titles here

Q Where to audition ? Melb, Bris, Sydney, Adelaide - Link1, Link 2, Link 3, Hong Kong Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Also Search by key words [ your city ] & Search in titles here

Q How to get the best deal/price ? Link

Q Buying second hand ? Tips

Q THX ? Link1, Link2

SURROUND FORMATS
Q what's better, DTS or DD ? link1, link2, Explanation of HD Audio formats used by Blu-ray and HD DVD

SPEAKER Formats
Q What's better 7.1, 6.1 or 5.1 ? link1, link2, link3, link4, mono-pole vs di-pole
Also Search by key words [ surrounds+dipole+bipole ] & Search in posts here

HT Tips
- 101 interesting ways to use Velcro -> Search by key words [ velcro ] & Search in posts and show results as posts here
- Blu-Tack can provide sticky moments -> Search by key words [ blu-tack ] & Search in posts and show results as posts here
- Spikes - it's not all about pain -> link, link2, Search by key words [ speaker+ spikes+ ] & Search in posts and show results as posts here
- Naked or Plugged - going bananas -> link, Search by key words [ banana+ bare ] & Search in titles and show results as topics here
- Have you got sand in your stands? -> Search by key words [ sand+ stand+ ] & Search in posts and show results as posts here
- Room Acoustics/treatment... what you don't want the neighbours to hear -> link1, link2, link3, link4, link5 (Insulation) Search by key words [ +room acoustic treatment ] & Search in titles and show results as topics here
- Bass Traps - Link
- Acoustics FAQ - Link
- Room acoustics tips from colin whatmough Link
- Room and Acoustics - Linkwitz, Link
- Sound Proofing a Theatre room ? -> Link
- Laying cable under carpet - use your long nose ! -> Link
-Reparing speakers -> Link
-Speakers out of phase ? -> Link
- Wires ? Link
- XLR or RCAs, balanced vs unbalanced, pitfalls of mixing both Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4
- Freighting, courier companies and posting items Link

LINKS FROM THE WEB

HomeTheaterForum's Primer/FAQ: link

Home theatre basics FAQ : link

Setting up Your Home Theatre "101" from AVS : Link

Audioholics cable tips : link

Audioholics System Setup & Calibration : link

Crutchfield adviser : Link

THX ? : Link1, Link2, Link 3

Dolby Website : Room Setup and Layout Tips

eCoustics Guide to Home Theatre Speaker Placement : Link

THX Speaker Placement : Link

Speaker Layout & Setup advice (2ch & HT + for odd sahped rooms) from Legend speakers : Link

Speaker setup from Rives audio : Link
Speaker placement suggestion from Rives audio : Link

Speaker Placement Tips from Crutchfield
- In-wall, In-ceiling, and On-wall Speaker Placement
- Speaker installation guide for finished construction
- speaker installation guide for New construction

Sound Advice from Colin Whatmough, Link - follow link to Whatmough website refer to the section 'Sound Advice' for following topics
- Amplifier/Speaker Impedance Matching
- Speaker Types for Home Cinema
- Loudspeakers for Both Audio and Home Cinema
- Stereo or Home Theater?
- Audio Specifications. Are they Relevant?
- The Times – They are a Changing

Describing sound - From stereophile magazine, Sounds Like ? And Audio Glossary

eCoustics Room treatment articles :
link

room acoustics treatment and design tips (Ethan Winer)
Link

Audio calibrations & calibration/setup resource
HAA,

Sound Studio and Audio Calculations, Online - Acoustics Conversion Engines :
Link

DVD reviews : Region 1 v Region 4, DVDcompare

Home theatre accesories ? Link

Forum Search Tips : Help then click on advance usage help, Link, Using Google, Using Google for 3 charecter word searches

the above info is put together from suggestions from many in this thread here, and continues to be updated - if you have any suggestions, changes, better more upto date links or search criteria drop me a pm or post a line here and I'll do my best to incorporate.

Last updated : 7th April 2013
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mike Kakay]

OMG!!!!You work too %$&#?> hard al!!!!!!!


STICKY!

Edited by Mike Rowesoft, 20 February 2006 - 05:47 PM.

[:)]

Mike Rowesoft, on Feb 20 2006, 06:34 PM, said:

OMG!!!!You work too hard al!!!!!!!
STICKY!

hehehe its coming ! coral asked me to send a link to this thread once ready...which it is.

Should be soon a sticky up top of the HT forum once coral gets around to it  

[50MXE20]

Good man. You've done it! I've got it as a shortcut on my desktop already!

[Mike Kakay]

alebonau, on Feb 20 2006, 06:38 PM, said:

ps mind editing out the qoute of the entire damn thing in your last post as it might get updated !  

Done.

But please call it, "Read this first".

[Spearmint]

alebonau, on Feb 20 2006, 06:38 PM, said:

hehehe its coming ! coral asked me to send a link to this thread once ready...which it is.

Should be soon a sticky up top of the HT forum once coral gets around to it  

ps mind editing out the qoute of the entire damn thing in your last post as it might get updated !  

Well done Al!!!!

I expect Coral will just take you post and not the whole thread?

[ajm]

I second, third and fourth Mike on this one:

STICKY STUFF!!

[:)]

spearmint, on Feb 20 2006, 07:22 PM, said:

Well done Al!!!!

I expect Coral will just take you post and not the whole thread?

thanks guys !

um no don't think so spearmint, think coral will just sticky the read.

[Spearmint]

IMO Coral should just copy your post as a sticky and lock it, and then when any changes or additions are required he can then update the post. This thread could be used as the update/addition WIP.

[:)]

spearmint, on Feb 20 2006, 08:15 PM, said:

IMO Coral should just copy your post as a sticky and lock it, and then when any changes or additions are required he can then update the post. This thread could be used as the update/addition WIP.

I'll leave it to coral but I think its going to be like the other stickys. leaves it open for people to comment down below for update addition I guess.

Coral has given me 'FAQ maintainer' status to keep upto date.

we had the WIP to get to this stage back here...
http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=30638

[Spearmint]

alebonau, on Feb 20 2006, 08:21 PM, said:

I'll leave it to coral but I think its going to be like the other stickys. leaves it open for people to comment down below for update addition I guess.

Coral has given me 'FAQ maintainer' status to keep upto date.

we had the WIP to get to this stage back here...
http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=30638

Well excuse me sir…   congratulations Alebonau, well done and well deserved!

[Kirium]

here here!!

[:)]

spearmint, on Feb 20 2006, 08:24 PM, said:

Well excuse me sir…   congratulations Alebonau, well done and well deserved!

  you are pardoned sir spearmint !

hehehe nothing like that, I'm the bugger that needs to keep it upto date now  

[Aloysius]

Good onya Alebonau!

This is a place to direct the new folks to, not to mention folks like me who are still learning.

Thanx!

[Aqua]

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

"Search Is Your Friend"

[:)]

Aqua, on Feb 20 2006, 08:52 PM, said:

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

"Search Is Your Friend"

[Chui]

Fantastic Al,

Does FAQ maintainer come with a FAT retainer  

Could we maybe add something in upgrades about separates?
Maybe this:- http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=18327

Cheers,


Chui

[:)]

Chui, on Feb 20 2006, 09:12 PM, said:

Fantastic Al,

Does FAQ maintainer come with a FAT retainer  

Could we maybe add something in upgrades about separates?
Maybe this:- http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=18327

Cheers,
Chui

done !

thanks for the suggestion and link

[RodN]

Well done Alebonau great work, congratulations on your sticky faq status  

[Mike Kakay]

al, great job on the FAQ but being 'anal' here, maybe change title icon to a ? What do you think?

[:)]

Mike Rowesoft, on Feb 21 2006, 05:48 PM, said:

al, great job on the FAQ but being 'anal' here, maybe change title icon to a ? What do you think?

thanks mike, good idea on the title icon - have updated it.

[Spearmint]

Al maybe the writing could all be GREEN, oops sorry add a bit of colour i.e. one colour for video, another for audio etc etc.

[:)]

spearmint, on Feb 21 2006, 06:36 PM, said:

Al maybe the writing could all be GREEN, oops sorry add a bit of colour i.e. one colour for video, another for audio etc etc.

hehehe you like green don't you !

Yep will check out some colour coding to break the sections up.

[Aloysius]

Thanx for the sticky Alebonau - a great addition to the forum!

[:)]

alantmorris, on Feb 22 2006, 08:34 AM, said:

Thanx for the sticky Alebonau - a great addition to the forum!

thanks alan, hopefully gives people somewhere to point to and go to for links to info.

have updated with info from Lyle on THX and also links on sub placement/positioning. Also added in links and searches for info on power filters and power amps.

ps spearmint still trying to figure out what to do with colours without turning it into looking liek a rainbow !