Info and forum posts by 'Adam George'

RE: 28" Widescreen TVs

I got the sony about two weeks ago from empire for 399.

Very happy with picture and sound is also very good is you can`t be bothered to switch on the HTS.

RE: Novice needs help.

Is the reoc HT60 5.1 system any good?

This item was edited on Tuesday, 17th June 2003, 14:24

RE: Choosing new TV, 100hz disappointing, is 50hz the way to go?

I finally went for the 50hz sony (ls35u) from Empire which were 100 pounds cheaper than the high street.

Setup the tv yesterday but only checked one film out very quickly. Very happy with the picture, hopefully be able to check it out properly at the weekend. Just need to reconnect and route the surround sound system before I can fully enjoy my HTS.

Thanks for all the feedback.

RE: Sony 100hz bad buying experience....

I would imagine that setup has something to do with it, however I tested on two different sets and both displayed the same problem. In addition in `wide` or 14:9 mode a thin white line would appear at the bottom of the frame. The bar would disappear during some shots and reappear on others (this occured on both sets and with different films and DVD players). the only way I could get rid of the white line was to switch to `zoom` mode.

Guess there was a bad batch from Sony.

Sony 100hz bad buying experience....

Hi,

After some initial investigation and being offered an amazing deal at the shop I purchased a 28" sony 100hz tv on Saturday (kv-28fx66). I did the usual testing in the shop with a couple of DVDs, but none that I had seen before.

Upon setting up at home noticed on my first disc, MI2 that skin tones were very orange and a lot of `purple fringing` occured on light colurs and whites (eyebrows and lips are a good example). The picture was generally very grainy although helped by adjusting contrast settings. The final straw was with solid colours however, during the opening sequence, cruise is rocking climbing against a plain blue sky, which on this new tv sufferred from terrible `articfacting` and looked like a very bad sky signal.

Other discs followed this trend, gladiator skies and skin tones all terrible.

Decided to take the tv back and try out another 50hz Sony (I had to buy a tv with a glass fronted stand) and found the picture to be perfect, watching DVDs was enjoyable and engaging again.

However after unpacking my new tv at home noticed a massive crack and dent on the left speaker, so back to the shop for a refund.....

I guess it will be worth it once I get a new one.

Adam.

Choosing new TV, 100hz disappointing, is 50hz the way to go?

Hi again,

Getting to the short list of new widescreen TVs, really fancied a sony kv-28fx66 with is a 100hz, however had a demo of another 100hz tv showing `the mummy returns` and found that when the characters were moving (on some sort of flying ship!) I could see shadowing around their heads, otherwise the picture looked pretty good.

Further investigation has lead me to believe that this is a common problem on all 100hz tellys, although only visible if you look for it so a standard 50hz might be back on the cards, just need to find a damn stand.

Does anybody have experiences of 100hz, comments etc.

Many thanks

Adam.

RE: New widescreen TV and stand but where do you put the surround speakers

Cheers for the responses.

I looked at the JVC and it does look good, however the girlfriend refuses to have an open stand with all the gear on show (claims it will look messy) so I need to get a tv and stand that has doors or a new stand (which are hard to find and cost nearly as much as the tv)

I looked at the sony 28" quite a curvy tv and stand but I am not too keen on the design. So it basically leaves the sony kv-28fx66s? (around 650 to 800) which is a 100hz square looking tv with virtual dolby sound and a stand with a glass stripped panel that opens `up`. I think I can then put the speaker on top of the telly when they are needed (DVD playback only)

Anyone got pictures of a tv setup with an open stand and loads of gear, video, DVD, sky etc in place?

Adam.

RE: wharfedale750s HELP-HELP-HELP

Could you try a `one 4 all` from Argos or similiar (perhaps they have a web site that you can confirm the 750s is supported)

Adam.

New widescreen TV and stand but where do you put the surround speakers

Hi All,

Looking to upgrade my 21" TV to something new from Sony etc, most TV`s now come with good looking stand units but obviously do not have an ideal location for the additional speakers required from my Sony HTK-215 (basically tiny speakers but need to sit one either side and one on top).

Where do you guys put you extra speakers? and is there a TV available that allows you to use the existing integrated speakers for a dedicated AV purpose (you spend all this money on them but they are rarely used). I don`t mind putting the centre speaker on top.

Thanks for your help

Adam.

RE: Sony HTK215 and Toshiba sd110

Well the coaxial output is normally one rca phono connector used in pairs on regular hi-fi gear.

The optical connector is a female small funny shaped thing, normally with a black protector covering the whole. Argos sell a lead to connect the PS2 to a suitable amp so a picture of the lead probably can be found in the catalogue. Alternatively search the web, I guess there would a picture somewhere.

The HTK 215 is a great unit, very small, with plently of volume and bass, my only niggle is that the sub has to be turned off manually and can not be operated via remote control. But if you have an optical out I would definetly recommend this unit.

Adam G.

RE: Sony HTK215 and Toshiba sd110

Hi,

Don`t know your particular DVD player, but the 215 will only take a digital lead using an optical connector, if your DVD does not have one then you won`t be able to connect the two. However if you DVD can decode the Dolby Digital signal and has the outputs you should be able to use the 215 as just an amp (which is not really the point of it).

I believe that Sony adopted the optical connectors early on and still only use one type for the majority of their products (or it might not be the case now).

You can may a converter box (which is about £35) and will probably need a power supply so that just adds to the hasle.

If you have the `optical` output then you are laughing.

Adam G.

RE: Some help required please :)

Damn, all for sixty pounds, that is pretty good value. I wonder if there are many features on the amp ? What size are the speakers and does it include a sub-woofer ?

RE: Some help required please :)

Well, I am not sure whether it will connect to the DVD player directly, you normally would need an amplifier and decoder between the two. As mentioned on another post it is possible to buy a DVD player with an onboard decoder which will then send the decoded signal out via phonos to a suitable amp (which obviously must have inputs for a 5.1 signal).

Alternatively you could buy an integrated amplifier / decoder which would link to the DVD via the digital cable (either coaxial or optical) and then decode the signal internally and your speakers would connect directly to this unit.

As you have just ordered the speakers I assume that no amp was supplied, look at some on richer sounds or the other major ones.

Hope this helps ??/

Adam G.

RE: PS2 DVD picture problem

Well only thoughts, but .....

Can you TV handle the NTSC signal, can you change the settings for you TV, I guess it might be set a PAL

Could the Macrovision protection be causing a problem, remove all other hardware and connect the PS2 direct to the TV via scart.

Or it could be the cable (argos sell them for 4 quid)

Do you have to tell the PS2 that you want to play NTSC discs, I think my DVD player requires you to change the setting or put in AUTO.

Let us know how you get on.

But because your REGION 1s are ok I think it might be an NTSC problem, what make / model is your TV ? what films are you trying to watch ?

Goodluck

Adam G.

RE: sony htk215

Basically `AFD` means that will attempt to detect the type of signal available, i.e DOLBY DIGITAL, Pro-Logic etc, it appears you can override the settings and choose whether to listen in surround, 2 channel etc.

You will need to purchase a suitable digital cable. The VCR and SkyDigibox might have phono outs which I use on mine to connect to the 215, but normally I don`t bother and just use the standard scart linked to the speakers.

The HTK-215 is a decoder for the DD and DTS signal.

Enjoy

Adam

RE: sony htk215

I have the 215 and it does have inputs for a 5.1 decoded signal along with a source select switch, but I do not have suitable DVD to test.

No problem with the subwoofer, my room is about the same size and it`s very loud, you can also adjust the bass accordingly.

You can buy a converter for the co-ax / optical but this costs about £35.

Overrall I can highly recommend this unit.

RE: Sony STR-DB 940 DTS Sound Problem

Ian,

The word `UNLOCK` appears when no digital signal is being sent from the source to the AMP. The UNLOCK appears on my MD if for example my source CD is not actually turned on. The same applies to my DTS Amp, if the Wharfy is off then `UNLOCK` appears. If I am trying to play a DTS disc and have set the wharfy to DIGITAL PCM but not set the disc to play the DTS soundtrack then I get PCM 2/0 appearing on the AMP.

Regards

Adam George

RE: Wharefdale 750 DTS Sound Problem

Ewan,

What discs are you trying to play. I will check my audio settings tonight. Have you set the disc to actually output DTS, I think it is an option on Gladiator and Chicken Run, I believe on Gladiator if you are using DTS then you get a different intro from DTS, some piano demo. What model of 750 do you have, has it got dts on the front ?

Regards

Adam George

RE: Wharefdale 750 DTS Sound Problem

Evan,

If you amp is DTS compatible, then you will probably need to change the audio output type from the 750. With no disc playing press the `setup` button and change the audio option on the second page from digital PCM to bitstream (or back depending on your current setting).

Make sure the disc you are now playing is set for DTS output and then enjoy.

any probs just email and I can try them out on my setup.

regards

Adam George

RE: dc-dvd

Hey,

My DVD arrived on Wednesday (10/1/2001) about two days from shipment date. Happy with the service.

Regards

Adam George

RE: dc-dvd

placed an order last wednesday (3/1/2001), their website says it was shipped yesterday (8/01/2001) so expect it in a few days, will post when it arrives.

Regards

Adam George.

My Quick Review of Sony HTK-215

Well, I installed the unit on Friday and it was very easy to do, each speaker is connected to the amp via colour coded connectors, the active subwoofer is connected via single RCA phono lead and has it`s own mains plug and can be placed anywhere in the room (although the connecting cable is not very long). My DVD player is connected via a digital toslink lead (which is not supplied). All the settings from speaker type, distance, sound levels are preset and seem to work ok for me, although I will be modifying them when I have time. The actual amp is about the same size of a component from a micro / midi system, it has two digital inputs, two RCA phone inputs (TV and Video) and inputs for a six channel device (off board digital decoder, perhaps straight from DVD player). It can decode Dolby Pro-logic, Dolby Digital and dts signals. It has plenty of sound modes which can change the effect levels such as Hall, Live, Jazz, Surround, Cinema A, B, C etc as well as the default A.F.D (basically as the software dictates). I must admit that the Sony is my first adventure into Home Cinema land, I have always been a keen hi-fi fan and temporarily connected my stereo to the DVD player with OK results, but was sacrificing the quality of my CD reproduction and so purchased the HTK which has been an amazing improvement. The dialog on Gladiator is excellent, very clear and sticks to the screen, the low end produced by the subwoofer is wonderful, and can be changed to your preferences (I am using a very low setting and so there is plenty of power if required). The surround sound effect works very well with `arrows` flying all over the place. The remote control has plenty of features and can control your Sony DVD and other Sony toys as well as turn on and off the unit, although the subwoofer has to be powered up by hand. In general I am extremely happy with the unit, I won`t be going to the cinema that often now, even my girlfriend who is not very interested in all things techie has been very impressed with the sound. On my MI-2 DVD again the sound is excellent, and really changes the whole DVD experience for the better. If you want an easy (all speaker cables supplied), low cost, smart looking (the speakers are tiny), piece of kit then I can easily recommend the the Sony unit.

RE: Has anyone got any experience of sony htk-215

Ian,

Put down a deposit at my local Sony Centre today (total cost £329). The small size was the seller for me. Picking up the unit tomorrow and will try it out - email me if you want my opinon. Try a few Currys but none in stock.

egroega[at]ku.oc.qapmi

Regards

Adam George.