All of this home theater jargon....I'm So confused!

[bookasan]

I have been a 2 channel stereo guy since I was a kid. I just spent a few days in a lovely condo on the beach that had a surround sound system. As soon as I got home, I got on the internet and bought my HT system. Now that I got it, I am so confused! Is there a good source of information for newbies that explains all of the formats in easy to understand terms?

I guess what I need is a simple description of all of the audio and video formats.
The manual for my Marantz receiver does not do a very good job at describing them, and they seem to assume you already know a bit about the formats and HT.
From what I am understanding there is Dolby and DTS that do basicaly the same thing. They both offer a discrete 5.1 digital sytem that sends seperate audio channels to specified speakers. Then they both have Matrix systems (Dolby Pro Logic and DTS NEO6) that take a stereo signal and simulate 5.1 surround. Am I on the right track here? Then there is Dolby Pro logic II and about 1/2 a dozen other variations.
Then, how the hell does SACD and HDCD and all of that work?

[Duane]

I'm not certain there's an easy explaination for all of the formats.If you want to find some technical data,you might try looking at the Dolby website
www.dolby.com or DTS at www.dtsonline.com.

If this your first venture into surround sound,might I offer a suggestion.With your new receiver,there will be a speaker level test tone sequence that you'll use to adjust the levels for each channel.Purchase a sound pressure level meter from radio shack.Doing it by ear is nearly impossible.Most people think the rear channels need to be high so they can hear them.This is wrong.Each channel should be equal in level when you read them with the SPL meter from a single spot when seated.If you are confused by this,try renting or purchasing Video Essentials DVD.It has a good set of instructions on proper audio level checking.

[ToTo Man]

What model of Marantz did you choose?

[bookasan]

Thanks Duane for the links and info. I've been learning a lot just by playing around with it.


The receiver is an SR4600. Sounds really good for a modern day receiver and looks and feels better than most of the BPC out there.

[ToTo Man]

Good choice for your 1st taste of HT :yes:
I started off with a SR4300 (bought new) then progressed onto a SR7300 (bought used because I could never have afforded it new!). Not much difference between them (80wpc vs 105wpc @ 8ohms), but the SR7300 was in champange gold and was simply gorgeous :drool:. Only down side was that the remote control for the SR7300 has twice as many buttons as the SR4300 remote so it took me a few weeks to get the hang of it! :D I was itching for a while last year to upgrade again to around 140wpc/160wpc this time but I simply couldn't afford it :sigh: , but now I realise that for most situations the SR7300 is more than ample, so I'll be holding onto it for some time yet :yes:.

Regarding sound quality of the SR units, they're very good. Obviously their strength is decoding true 5.1 signals (DTS discs are especially awesome :thmbsp: ), but normal stereo playback is good too, with excellent imaging.

[Clmrt]

What are you using for speakers and sub(s)?

[bookasan]

What are you using for speakers and sub(s)?

I bought the Mirage Nanosat system. I needed speakers that took up next to no space, fit into the decor nicely, and sounded good at the same time. I had no room for floorstanders (except the sub). I was able to audition several speaker systems at a store called the Great Indoors. They were right next door to Best Buy (which I cheked out first) and I felt even the least expensive system they carried was a cut above the most expensive speakers BB had to offer.
The Nanosats are very small omni directional speakers. They have an excellent build quality and great WAF and I think they sound great. I have only been able to really hear the speakers as a 3.1 system so far because I havn't been able to get the system wired into my walls. I have %$#@ plaster walls that crumble when it even sees a drill bit coming towards it. I have a handyman comming next week to do the dirty work.
I can't wait to hear how this system sounds when complete!
I will do a review on the speakers once everything is together.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/pics/nanosat_system.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/mirage_nanosat.htm&h=302&w=340&sz=19&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=VqBwwmW0Di5O-M:&tbnh=106&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnanosat%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3 D%26sa%3DN