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Home Theater equipment list https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=24	Page 7 of 22

Author:	laserbite34 [ 03 Mar 2012, 14:11 ]
Post subject:	Dolby Stereo CP65
New vintage Dolby addition Dolby Stereo CP65 arrived a few days ago its taken me nearly a day to get a few of the basic input modes up and running and it has a lot more once I get a few extra SR CAT cards installed. Unpacking the Dolby Stereo CP65 Nice I like it already First time since I've seen a Dolby Stereo CP65 up close as other CP I've ether heard in the cinema as well as seeing them up close in the booth or have handled a few of them like Dolby CP55 and CP500, others I have only heard and seen such as Dolby CP50 CP200 CP650. Noted single CAT-300 or 350 SR cards not installed and they should have been installed as its part of the package but the cinema took them out and used an outboard Dolby CAT-363 with SR cards. So now I have to buy some Dolby SR cards. Rear view all the wires cut off at their ends. I had to de-solder the wires and re-wire the processor. ________________________________________________________________________ Preparing to de-solder the wires also note the extra card fitted its for Dolby loudness model 737 that monitors the db level. I'll keep a look out for one of those its a bit rare. _________________________________________________________________________ Getting readying to un-rack the Dolby CP500 until I get the extra spare CAT cards it will have to wait. It was easier this time to remove the CP500 and slot the CP65 in place due to the weight and single handed its bit hard to hold it in place and screw it into the rack at the same time, but it was easier this time around. Dolby CP500 safely placed to one side _____________________________________________________________________ I've seen tired up some of the dangling wires and until I can buy some new cable on role literately meters of it to re-wire the whole system and when I have another rack otherwise no point as the equipment will be placed in specific racks and in certain order to make wiring more manageable. This is a few days ago. The morning tidy up is little tiny different. The morning tidy as I need to connect a few extra wires for sub bass extension on the other subs for this today's Altered States just arrived this morning on region 1 DVD, 6track Dolby Stereo. ________________________________________________________________________ The other Dolby CP posing on a cinema seat ___________________________________________________________________________ Sooty says, hold on! Sooty goes in for closer look on the missing CAT-300/350 Sooty approves of the Dolby Stereo CP65 The Dolby CP45 now serves as Dolby Surround-EX on format 60 non-sync and I'll be wiring format 61 AUX up for something else, too early to comment on that as I've got to get it a lot of thought. ________________________________________________________________ Removal the Dolby EQ module for alignment I have to remove each card one at time since I don't have the attachment to slot into the CAT-64B frame I have to switch the CP65 to bypass then remove the EQ card after looking at te RTA and memorizing what I saw on the RTA as well as the tonal sound of pink noise. _________________________________________________________________ Altered States wow cool strange film sound effects are creepy. Nice openness across the stage channels at the opening with machine printing out on left and another machine sound on right centre was nice and discrete. Dialogue track had foggy sound on left and right many db down its only noticeable when muting each left and right for a listen. Surrounds had some nice atmosphere effects when going into mind of Dr. Jessop. LFE.1 only came in as and when called for. stage fronts carried some lows in the effects or parts of John Corigliano score. Fader was set at "7" and it was quiet loud at times.

Author:	knatterbuechse [ 18 Mar 2012, 16:31 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
So here's my current setup: It has gone through a lot of changes during the last few years while exchanging units, amps and speakers to find out which combination delivered the best results. Latest addition was the Pioneer LD-S9 you see on the left (on top), underneath there's a PDA-V100HD switch, a BDP-LX71, a Marantz DVD (codefree), a Sony VCR and a JVC Dtheater player. In the back you'll find a Meridian demodulator to support the LD-S9 for AC3 and digital coax. On the right there's a Panasonic plasma tv on top, the center speaker, a DVDO VP50Pro and two other LD-players (a CLD-2950 and a CLD-1500) being connected to the DVDO for picture enhancement. The Yamaha DSP-Z9 is responsible for the sound - of course. Speakers are all Wharfedale except for the Klipsch downfire sub. Some voltage transformers in the back to support the japanese or u.s.-units - and lots of cables. Picture shows the complete front, there are two more dipole speakers in the back for the surround effects. Took some time to get the best result for every media type I use, for example I had to create lots of different picture profiles for LD (both PAL and NTSC), DVD, BluRay etc. using a SpyderTV measuring tool. Took hours to get it done but the results are awesome. Settings for the sound were done using the amps YPAO-program and a microphone. Pretty easy, just had to do a few minor changes myself on the predefined settings because of some odd results (like the sub which is only 3,5 meters away from the listening position but the measuring results showed 10 meters). I don't think anything will change soon, I really like it the way it is now...

Author:	invenio [ 18 Mar 2012, 17:41 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
-knatterbuechse Very nice setup. That S9 looks great! I like the general clean look of your setup and you definitely have some nice items in there. I agree with you that the calibration for the different inputs is so important. I can't believe how many people just buy a TV and player (LD, blu-ray, or other) and never take the time to calibrate the picture. It's like they are willing to spend thousands for the TV but don't want to take 15 minutes to complete even a basic calibration that will get them to 95% to ideal. Another thing with calibration is that if you don't have an "all the time" darkened room such as dedicated home theater room, you have to do calibration for both dark/nighttime viewing as well as bright/daytime as they will be vastly different. The other comment I had is the subwoofer. I see you have it tucked in the corner right up against two walls. Having the sub so close to the walls often gives a lot of distortion to the low end (maybe this is why the calibration interpretation is so off, although sub calibration is notoriously inaccurate in the automated calibration of most receivers). Have you thought about bringing it out a bit, or maybe on the left side of your setup, it looks like you may have some more room there. I have two subs in my system and I keep them a couple of feet off the walls. I find they are more accurate that way and I don't get any of that nasty "boomy" sound out of them. Also, questions about the speaker setup. First, what kind of speakers are they, I can't make the brand out in the picture. 2nd Why are there two sets of fronts as this is rarely done (although I have 2 sets of fronts in my system)? The only configuration I know that uses this is the dolby prologic IIz but I think in that setup they recommend mounting all the way up at the ceiling. I have a dedicated 7.2 speaker setup for movies/games etc. And then I have a separate 2 speaker setup for music listening. But they're essentially two separate setups in the same room and never play at the same time. Once again, super awesome setup! congrats.

Author:	knatterbuechse [ 19 Mar 2012, 12:58 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Well thank you so much for the kind words! As for the sub there have been several attempts to find the right position. First it was placed near the right side of the rack but low frequencies turned out to be soft / blurry and somewhat inaccurate so I placed it close to the wall. Performance was much better after doing that, even very low frequencies are clear and the overall timing just sounds "right" to me. I agree with you it's critical to place it so close to the walls but in this case it was just the right decision… Speakers are made by Wharfedale, a british company. I really like their products, nice design and not too expensive. The two smaller dipoles you see on the wall are used for the "Presence"-effects in addition to the surround channels in the back. Some sort of Yamaha-specific feature I guess but it works very well for both movies and music videos. I even have two more channels available for separate back surround modes but I actually do not use them.

Author:	invenio [ 19 Mar 2012, 14:17 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
knatterbuechse- Very nice. Sub placement is one of those things that you just can't predict. I think you got real lucky that it sounds good against the wall. I'm not familiar with the Yamaha specific DSP's but it kind of sounds like Dolby Prologic IIz with the front elevated ambient channels. Very cool.

Author:	publius [ 19 Mar 2012, 18:23 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
I have no problem seeing the picture. Nice wall-scroll by the way. I'd never realized that the CLD-2950 has the exact same faceplate as the CLD-D704.

Author:	knatterbuechse [ 20 Mar 2012, 13:11 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Invenio: Your theater looks really nice too... Plenty of room you got there! I guess that Conrad-Johnson tubeamp is for stereo only (what does it sound like? never seen their products overhere) and the Onkyo is doing the surround job? Publius: Well, I'm a huge Helling-fan so I made that wall-scroll all by myself as I didn't find anything big enough to fit on that wall. It's all vector graphics design printed on heavy cotton. Took about 50 hours to get it done and whenever I look at it I still find tiny little errors here and there...

Author:	invenio [ 20 Mar 2012, 13:35 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
knatterbuechse wrote: Invenio: Your theater looks really nice too... Plenty of room you got there! I guess that Conrad-Johnson tubeamp is for stereo only (what does it sound like? never seen their products overhere) and the Onkyo is doing the surround job? Thanks. Yes, you are correct. The CJ amp is for stereo listening only and I used the Onkyo for home theater viewing. Basically it's a completely separate 2 channel and 7.2 setup in the room. The 2 channel setup is really where all the "refined" quality is located. The CJ amp is wonderful sounding. It's a 115 lb behemoth that easily powers my hard to drive electrostatic speakers. It's defined yet very smooth and musical. I'm never giving it up!

Author:	laserbite34 [ 22 Mar 2012, 12:00 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Nice champagne colour of the Pioneer LD-S9 and the Yamaha DSP-Z9.

Author:	laserbite34 [ 22 Mar 2012, 12:43 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Last few days I've installed a second Samson SRK21 rack its taken a few days to rack it and re-connect all the cables while tiding them up to a reasonable look, (and until I get all 3 to 4 racks I'll start on re-wiring the cables with multi-stand cable with shielding). Sooty wants to lend a paw in assembling. It was bit of b**ch at times screwing up the rack first one was easier but stress levels where a bit lower last year. I'll also have to look for cheap rack trays to screw into the rack to keep each player separate and neatly placed. I might use this, rack for the players when I get a third Samson SRK21 which are really cheap £99.99 free-delivery. Further on 19" rack trays I'll have to measure the height of each item that will be placed above the Pioneer DVL-909 as each player varies in height. I knew the Pioneer would be a bit noisy on the rack and plan to get a rubber matt to isolate or reduce some of the vibration into the rack and pad the inside the rack with some absorbent material at later date. Even thou this, picture was taken days ago I had to resolder one of few leads for the LCR sub bass extension that connects to the audio mixer, (soon to be replaced with multi channel Behringer). Fitting the Dolby CP500 almost busted my hand as I had to balance that with hand single-handedly while quickly screwing up the rack screws. Its only connected for power up at the moment as I have to fit a few more CAT cards inside it before switching over from the CP65 to CP500 not that the CP65 isn't any good its marvellous brutal processor. Update from my comment above about the Pioneer DVL-909. It plays quietly at present (with STAR TREK II NTSC laserdisc now playing) CD is about the same loudness a tiny fraction db less, still it would benefit with simple cheap rubber matt. I placed my hand on the side of the rack and vibration is like a little tickle hardly noticeable.

Author:	laserbite34 [ 22 Mar 2012, 13:50 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
A copyCAT-67 board was made by my friend who teaches electronics as well as having small independent business produced a copy of another copyCAT card made by someone else many years ago. Its to mate between the edge connectors on the CAT-64 EQ modules or so that the cards can be removed while performing 1/3 octave house EQ to standardized X-curve 2969. I ordered a "16way 1 side edge connector,0.15in pitch" though RS early this week and arrived next day. The edge connector fits into the coyCat-67 like a glove. Soldering the cable/wires onto the edge connector pins and PCB is the final step then testing to see if it works when attached to the CAT-64 card.

Author:	laserbite34 [ 01 Apr 2012, 14:07 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
A small cosmetic appearance with these RGB LED lights with prefixed programs and 6 user program modes, fade lights brightness up or down use slow or quick flash fade and so on. Remote is very light construction with slim watch battery. The controller I guess has small workings of chips to control the outputs to 5 meter lights. Sticky tape on the back the lights so it can be stuck down to the wall. Lucky I had a variable transformer handy.

Author:	laserbite34 [ 01 Apr 2012, 14:09 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Just arrived last week. (and I have since late of last week brought a Toshiba HD-DVD player with sealed HD-DVD) £70.00! Should be here on Tuesday. The look and sound of perfect My first virgin HD-DVD title :p of Dragonheart and its still sealed. Now all I need is good second-hand HD-DVD player and I’m equipped with Laserdisc DVD HD-DVD and bluray. Dolby Digital Plus now we’re talking sound! I like the red case and the desk top screen of Empire with its red seats. Did you not know that red is warm, pleasing colour. I just want rip the shrink-warp off and smell the case. But! I will be patient and wait until I have a HD-DVD player in the living room. Even my Sooty approves of HD-DVD Dolby Digital Plus

Author:	laserbite34 [ 01 Apr 2012, 14:12 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Since last week I moved the pc into the living to conduct 1/3 EQ LCR and 1/2 sidewall EQ and 1/3 EQ rear back surrounds RTA testing while waiting for the Dolby CopyCAT-67. While I’m still waiting for my friend to drop off CopyCAT-67 card so I can do the EQ without having to switch the CP65 to bypass and removing the EQ module twice every minute, since last night and must have walked back and two from the living to bedroom some hundred times? It was tiresome and my right foot is still aching LOL. Yes sound calibrating and hard sometimes. This afternoon I decided to remove the pc from the bedroom along with monitor keyboard and mouse and do it while seated and its been a bit comfortable, but still got remove the EQ module every few minutes. I’ve placed the Behringer ECM8000 up close to each LF and HF and gone though the 27 bands and applied a few extra ones on DCX249 so far on the HF only a few bands where they’re needed. I’ve aimed for flat response and a lot of juggling with the bands up and down and up and down while checking with the sine wave (rather than pink noise) I’ll check it over again with pink noise once I have the CopCAT-67. A quick listen to some region 2, DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER (1990) 6track Dolby Stereo, chapter 18, phones are ringing and singing sweetly centre only carries cigarette-lighter, dialogue what sounds like fax machine or maybe computer that likes to bleep? Going back to the cigarette-lighter its click is heard on stage right just its centred on the screen and when it moves out of the frame its heard again as top is flipped back over on stage right. Chapter 12 McClane hears a radio bleeping on stage left as he approaches the dead terrorist rolls the body over then removes the walkie-talkie just as some static hash is heard stage left then as its moved to centre of screen the static hash is heard again nicely without too much of jump or drop in the timber balance. I like the way the score has whoosh on stage right as Barns looks at the radio. No. This scramble mode must activate on this code panel. Even if we scan their frequency, we can’t listen in. These guys are pros. I’ll run a REW frequency sweep in jiffy, to see what its like close up on each stage channel LF and HF but for now its quit firm and solid sounding not hard core or anything just smooth and easy to listen too. I purposely plaed a -6db crossover filter on the HF after listening to chapter 5, Capt. Carmine Lorenzo (Dennis Franz) was just a bit top end in my face or ears, as I haven’t yet began to start to roll off the HF to X-Curve I simply applied -6db equally over LCR HF down to 2.3KHz the very top, top end (the highs or syllabant sounds still make it though) might be a bit shallow around 16KHz but for now its good better than it was last night. Short video that I played back on the same JBL 12SR centre only as the video is mono. I can still little parts of the room that needs some more treatment as well as carpet tiles! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhvNdcJHmDI&feature=youtu.be Small easy to correct 3db difference between 4KHz and 6KHz I knew there would be tiny snag around this, range and the rest is not far off, just little bit more patience of a few hours to correct the HF and get it all sorted. Red is centre Green is Left Purple is Right

Author:	laserbite34 [ 01 Apr 2012, 14:14 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Well my friend has dropped off the CopCAT-67 and it looks good nice simple wiring nice and tight ends on the terminal pins have had extra tinted ends so it should be good for so many uses. I'll double check on the EQ from yesterday and go though the sine waves a lot quicker now. Its reduced EQ time down from 3 hours where before I had to keep switching to bypass removing the card now I can remove all CAT-64B cards and slot the CopyCAT-67 into place and do each LCR a lot faster.

Author:	laserbite34 [ 03 Apr 2012, 14:00 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
This is HD-DVD and it should have been the next step forwards its got the same DVD logo and putting HD ahead of it seems logical. Well I watched the format war brewing for a few years and wasn't interested at the time due to the cost of it. Well for £70.00 (buy it now) of eBay I get a Toshiba HD-E30 and 42 titles some few I have on Laserdisc DVD and bluray, but the thing I like is DOLBY logo on the titles and the smell of the player the smell and look and colour of the red cases looks warm and pleasing colour over blu colour, blue is cold colour and red is warm welcoming colour. WOW that's a lot of titles I'll edit the post later on with all the titles thou in the next few pictures you can just make out the titles. I like colour of the HD-DVD on the Irwin rocker seats. Got THE THING playing in format 10 fader "7" as it should be in DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS! Playing THE THING (1982) I have DVD sold the PAL laserdisc a year after I brought the DVD I brought the bluray a few years ago and sigh dtsHDMA I don't recall seeing a dts logo on the end credits of THE THING expect for DOLBY STEREO produced mixed recorded and released in two formats 35mm optical A-type which I saw at late night show in the mid 80's. Later on I was aware of a 70mm six-track DOLBY STEREO reading the Dolby titles "Heard any good movies lately" THE THING on Laserdisc is the same pressing used for the DVD from the signature collection. The surrounds are intact as mono surround same LCR expect some kinder of crosstalk error has either been corrected on bluray same with the HD-DVD and same (I'm checking though the audio muting LCR and listening to the surrounds). Listening to audio commentary with John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. Yeah the part where Kurt mentions Keith David stealing a car in New York city has been removed same as the bluray so now I know where it was removed from. Its intact on the signature Collection I amuse as its the thing on first edition DVD region 2 or region 1 and a few later re-issues with new artwork but I guess by around the time THE THING HD-DVD was released Universal removed the original comment by Kurt Russell. So don't sale those THX signature collection or early DVD copies!

Author:	invenio [ 03 Apr 2012, 14:26 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Have to get the 1080p projector up and running, a CRT is not going to do hi-def justice.

Author:	laserbite34 [ 03 Apr 2012, 15:44 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
invenio wrote: Have to get the 1080p projector up and running, a CRT is not going to do hi-def justice. I'll get a 1080p projector as and when I'm ready I like the CRT its universal for Laserdisc HD-DVD and bluray. I'm way too into the DOLBY sound today! SUPERMAN RETURNS playing a small sample of scenes I like the HD-DVD artwork and DOLBY logos. WHOA chapter 1 I have clearly got some A and B testing of the DVD to double make sure about the sound settings when Krypton sun collapsed gulp! In the boom channel! I know the DVD had some insane lows and should translate more or less mirrored to HD-DVD but might be a few +- db difference got SUPERMAN RETURNS set at fader "4" for now there are some other ideas to make it play louder but it not like I can't hear the soft Foley sounds of Lex Lutor rug when he hands it to the little girl. What makes me laugh is the rocket ship returning to Earth with Superman that would be not only heard and felt in one part of the area but all over the entire county for miles around if its moving that much air! Oh I can always put a little audio compression on the boom channel on the MDX4600 to relax it and keep the sub running safely, unlike some who play it way too +db hot in level. Dolby Labs - Turn Down Your Surround Sound! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob1dvP-Vscw Alien "Prometheus" quote in by Lex. "I just want what Prometheus wanted". okay with the super boom channel controlled fader now up at "6.5" super cool John Otman score drums strings at 00h:38m:42s go though that wing SUPERMAN! WHAM KABOOM! Yeah! Its home score. Nice cool sound when Perry White leans back into the chair.

Author:	benmbe [ 03 Apr 2012, 15:57 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
Good afternoon laserbite34, Well done on the purchase (!bargain!) of your HD DVD's and player. You may not believe me when I write this but, you inspire me with your determination Friend. I shall be posting pictures of my flat and system, I.E before and after to 98% finished for the first time in the coming months. I hope that you are well and taking good care of yourself. Respect to you

Author:	invenio [ 03 Apr 2012, 17:05 ]
Post subject:	Re: Home Theater equipment list
laserbite34- How are you decoding the lossless tracks from your blu-ray and HD-DVD films? Are you bitstreaming it to receiver or decoder or are you having it decoded by the player and then sending to the rest of your equipment? I prefer to bitstream my blu-ray as my receiver has a much better DAC than typical blu-ray players. I know that many people connect their audio with spdif coaxial/toslink but this defeats the purpose of lossless audio as it's converting into a lossy prior to hitting the DAC (unless it's LPCM, but then you can't get the 5.1/7.1 audio only 2 channel which defeats the purpose for most movies).

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