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Sub Size, Upscaling, Blu-ray
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 27, 2010  |  15 comments
Size Doesn't Matter—Much
What is the recommended size for a subwoofer in a room measuring 19x17 feet? How big does the sub need to be for home theater?
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Subwoofer Crossover
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 14, 2011  |  4 comments
I have a Yamaha RX-V2400 A/V receiver driving a set of Boston Acoustics VR2 towers and a Boston PV1000 subwoofer. My question is what crossover, if any, should I set on the front of the subwoofer? It has three controls—a selector switch with 50, 80, 120, and 150Hz; Crossover Set or None; and Polarity None or 180. I did not get a manual because it was a floor model. My bass sounds odd and it is bothering me.

Greg Peckinpaugh

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Subwoofers, Impedance, HDMI Audio
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 30, 2011  |  4 comments
Is there a downside to using speakers with built-in subwoofers? How do I take speaker impedance into account when shopping for an AVR? What's the best audio connection?
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Suggested TV Settings
Al Griffin  |  Oct 08, 2013  |  4 comments
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com.

Q. I recently purchased a Samsung 6420 LED TV. I contacted both Samsung and TweakTV looking for suggested calibration settings, but they were of no help. I am not satisfied with the set’s current picture and was wondering if you had some suggested settings for this model or could direct me to other Websites that might help. —Cannon / via e-mail

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Surround Formats, Defeating Overscan, Glassesless 3D
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 05, 2010  |  6 comments
It's What's Up Front That Counts
I have an Onkyo TX-NR807 receiver, which provides seven channels of amplification, and it can do 7.1, Dolby Pro Logic IIz, and Audyssey DSX. Which of these surround formats do you recommend?
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System Recommendation, Analog vs. PCM, TiVo & FiOS
Scott Wilkinson  |  Aug 04, 2009  |  17 comments
Starting from Scratch
I have a family room that measures 16x25 feet, and I intend to install a projection home theater with a good, affordable sound system. My budget is about $8000. What do you suggest for the projector, receiver, and speakers?
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The Best 2D Full-Array LED-LCD TV
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 05, 2012  |  1 comments
I want to get the best 55-inch 2D full-array LED-LCD TV in the $1500 to $2000 range. I see that you have highly rated the Vizio XVT553SV on your site. Is that model still your first choice in my price range?

David Henry

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The Best Streaming
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 06, 2011  |  2 comments
I have a Denon AVR-5308CI receiver, Panasonic TC- P65VT25 TV, Oppo BDP-93 disc player, Xbox 360, and PS3. The TV, Oppo, Xbox, and PS3 all stream Netflix and other media, but I want to know if I need a extra box for media streaming to get the very best image.

Marcos Carvalho

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The Bigger Wow: Atmos/DTS:X or 4K/HDR Video?
Al Griffin  |  Jul 25, 2016  |  0 comments
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q About five years ago, I got serious (at least by my tightly budgeted standards) about home theater and purchased a 50-inch Panasonic plasma TV, a Yamaha 7.1-channel AV receiver, and Klipsch speakers. This setup has provided me with a great in-home listening/viewing experience, but I wonder which upgrade could better take things to the next level: Atmos/DTS:X audio or 4K/HDR video? Both would require a new receiver. For audio, I could easily add Klipsch Reference Premiere Dolby Atmos elevation speakers to my current system and be ready for Atmos/DTS:X. That option would be quite a bit cheaper than buying a new receiver plus a 60-inch or larger high dynamic range (HDR)-capable 4K TV. Which upgrade do you think would provide the biggest wow factor?—Adam Head / via email

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The Difference Between Dolby Digital and THX
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 23, 2012  |  0 comments
Because you are a home-theater Jedi, my question may seem a bit primitive. However, I am compelled to ask only because my own A/V guy can only seem to give me answers in terms of bass curves and decibels. Which processing mode is better to use, Dolby Digital or THX?

I am using an Integra DTR-7.9 A/V receiver with Anthony Gallo A'Diva Ti speakers for the front left, right, and center, three Gallo Micro Nucleus Ti speakers for the surrounds, and a Gallo MPS-150 sub modified by Gallo with its upgraded TR-3 driver for a 6.1 setup. My receiver automatically switches to Dolby Digital EX or THX Surround EX (whichever I choose) when I play 5.1 or better content, but which one should I have it switch to?

Where THX is concerned, I know that all speakers should have a frequency response down to at least 80Hz, which only three of mine do—the A'Diva Ti speakers (the Nucleus Micro Ti speakers only go down to 90Hz). I fear you may tell me to just set it to whichever sounds better, but a guy like me needs more than that. With my setup, what would you do? I like the brightness of Dolby Digital, but I also like the punch of THX, though the highs seem muddled because of Re-EQ (which I can turn off). Should I turn on Loudness Plus and ditch Dynamic EQ? Lots of questions, too many settings, I need guidance!

"Help me Obi-Scott Kenobi, you're my only hope."

Adam Meyerson

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The Pros and Cons of TV Calibration
Al Griffin  |  Dec 12, 2013  |  8 comments
Q What are the pros and cons of having a 2013 Panasonic plasma TV such as the TC-P55VT60 professionally calibrated? And what should I look for in a calibrator? —Scott Oakley / via email

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THX Certification
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 23, 2012  |  18 comments
I understand that THX certification is a high honor for home-theater gear, but how important is it? I often see reviews of speakers, receivers, and TVs with very high ratings, but they don't have THX certification. (GoldenEar's Triton Two tower speakers come to mind.) Is this because the product isn't quite up to THX standards, or is something else going on?

Mark Nott

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Tiled Video, HDMI to Component, Upconversion
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 27, 2010  |  5 comments
Video Skypeasaurus
I'd like to create a four-TV setup in my media room. Rather than purchasing one large TV, I thought I might buy four medium-size TVs and tie them together so each one can display a quarter of a single program or four separate programs such as football games. Leo Laporte uses a similar system with four PC monitors that show his TWiT logo across all four screens or several individual guests, such as yourself, via Skype.
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Time to Upgrade
Scott Wilkinson  |  Aug 15, 2011  |  7 comments
I have an old (1997) Bose Acoustimass Lifestyle 12, and the AM/FM/CD player has stopped working. I want to know if I can still use the five cube speakers with a new A/V receiver and a new subwoofer. I hate to throw it all away, and I like the look of the cubes. Can I expect the speakers to work, and will I get a good sound out of them?

Dennis Couch

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TiVo HD, TV Sound, Asian AVRs
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 21, 2009  |  9 comments
Simple Answer
I've been looking for a device to record television programs from an over-the-air antenna so I don't have to subscribe to cable or satellite for my local stations that I used to record with my VCR. Is there such a device? My VCR still works, but I would prefer something that records HD.
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