http://www.audioholics.com/education/rss.xml Configuring your A/V system can be a daunting task - we can help! hourly 12 2006-12-01T00:00 http://www.audioholics.com/static/logo.jpg http://www.audioholics.com/ http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/flat-panel-tv-trends Flat panel televisions are continuing to transform in teh marketplace. This year we saw a great number of companies looking to go "thin". While flat panels are traditionally advertised as being hangable on the wall, consumers have been reluctant to do so. With this year's batch of new products it looks like the trends may shift and these LCD televisions might be finding their way onto the walls of many consumers' homes. clint 2008-09-05T19:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/upscaling-is-your-friend Gefen, Toshiba, DVDO... they all want to sell you on the joys of upscaling. Some of them incorporate their technology into their displays or dvd players (Toshiba) while the others want you to purchase a standalone box. The technology is valid - we know this from many, many tests but do you really need it? This year at CEDIA we explore some of the scalers that are out there and what they mean to you. tom 2008-09-05T15:54:26+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/wireless-hdmi-takes-flight Wireless HDMI seems to be coming to a living room near you. While everyone pretty much agrees that HDMI is the most bitter-sweet invention to hit the consumer AV electronics industry in some time, there's no denying that most are trying to make end runs around the format. In some cases that is through the use of cable conversion, while others are looking to send HDMI through the ether. tom 2008-09-05T05:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-power-ratings In part I of this series of articles, we discussed simple concepts regarding power handling in loudspeakers and common misconceptions surrounding them. In this article, we discuss the mechanics of loudspeaker clipping and work several examples of product failure at various power levels depending on what test signal is being used. We learn that without a knowledge of the test signal used, the power rating number for a loudspeaker system is meaningless. Read on to find out why. Paul Appolino 2008-08-31T13:10:03+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-power-handling There are two basic ways in which you can destroy a loudspeaker with power; thermally or mechanically. Everyone is familiar with the concept of being able to burn a loudspeaker. It gets too hot, and the voice coil wire burns, or worse, something else (like the cone) catches on fire and burns. We all go shopping with “How many watts can it handle?” This is like living in a vast desert with only a few filling stations and wanting to know your cruising range in miles. We ask how big is the tank, and not how many miles we get to the gallon. (What is the efficiency?) In part I of this series, we examine a few very simple concepts regarding power handling and common misconceptions surrounding them. Paul Apollonio 2008-08-13T14:15:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/long-hdmi-cable-bench-tests I decided to write this article the first time I saw another writer say "HDMI is digital - it either works or it doesn't." Then I saw that statement get repeated over and over. The problem is that HDMI isn't like a digital coax audio cable - it can degrade partially and produce sparkles and snow. We'll illustrate some of this below. It took nearly 6 months to research and prepare for this experiment. I intended to acquire as many HDMI cables as possible and focus on empirical testing of mostly longer lengths to show the differences that abound when you exceed 5 meters. The exercise, I believed, would save many consumers from losing lots of money and time - on a number of levels. clint 2008-07-08T10:50:10+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/sound-bars-silicon-chip-ti High-quality audio is a critical part of creating a compelling home theater product line. With the availability of six- and eight-channel surround sound systems, consumers expect movie theater quality sound in their living rooms and bedrooms from their televisions. New Silicon-on-Chip Designs promise better and cheaper sound bar technology to fill the gap for those who can't build out full 5.1 systems. Claus Neesgaard 2008-06-26T08:52:15+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/pear-cable-science A Case Study in Applying an Audioholics A/V Education to Identify Marketing Drivel. In this follow-up to our initial article, we will look at Pear Cable as a case study in evaluating exaggerated marketing claims about the audio performance improvements attributed to cables. We will use known science, established engineering principles, and the educated opinions of well known audio engineering practitioners to look for contradictory statements, mistakes and misuse of engineering knowledge, and exaggeration of the audible significance to certain aspects of audio performance. david 2008-05-11T04:20:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/too-many-hdmi-outputs Jim from Iowa asks us how in the world he's supposed to make use of all the new HDMI-capable components he has when his TV and AV receiver don't have enough inputs. It's a good question, and one that many people are asking as more and more manufacturers place HDMI into their products. We tackle it a couple of ways to give you options for maintaining a great picture and also retaining the ability to get the best audio quality possible. clint 2008-05-06T09:31:16+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/thx-video THX Display Certification primary goals are to drive quality in manufacturing and help simplify consumer buying decisions. According to THX, having a single testing methodology and specification enables display manufacturers to standardize on one benchmark that is recognized by both industry insiders and consumers alike. We put THX to the test with a series of questions we had about this program to ensure it wasn't just another logo branded on a product to pimp sales. Gene 2008-04-25T15:38:23+00:00 Editorial http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/hdmi-output-component A reader asks Dr. A why he can't view some of his material on the TV he bought. Lots of people run into this problem, so we figured we'd take it to Dr. A for a solution. clint 2008-04-25T10:04:32+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/dayton-audio-wt3 The WT3 Woofer Tester by Dayton Audio is a fast, accurate and affordable measurement tool that’s about as easy to use as it gets. Just load the included software, plug the probe into the nearest USB port, calibrate, and you’re good to go. It’s that simple! It’ll measure driver impedance and derive the all-important Thiele/Small parameters - critical to the loudspeaker design process. It will also measure the impedance of various components commonly used in the construction of passive crossover networks such as resistors, caps & inductors. Rounding out this feature set, the WT3 sports some useful extra utilities you’ll likely find handy. All in all, this is one item likely to be a favorite of the DIY community for a long time to come. mark 2008-04-17T22:50:34+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-measurement-part-1 When it comes time to size up a subwoofer's performance, the proof is in the measurement! Audioholics takes a hard look at the science of subwoofer measurements in a two-part series covering a broad spectrum of measurement methods, useful to both pro and enthusiast alike. The purpose of both documents are to present a set of measurement guidelines by which a comprehensive objective assessment of a subwoofer’s performance can be developed. Included within this document’s definition of a subwoofer are: single & multiple driver subwoofer systems; powered and passive systems; systems featuring vented or totally enclosed cabinets; along with less common items such as dipole subwoofers. Let the science begin!" mark 2008-03-05T18:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/understanding-difference-hdmi-versions HDMI has changed versions so many times it's been hard to keep up for most people. We've talked about the versions as part of other articles and documents, but it seemed fitting that we'd formulate and maintain a definitive document outlining the changes in a straightforward and easy-to-digest manner for all concerned. Hopefully this article helps you understand the format differences and aids in your ability to discern what features are important to you as you shop for HDMI-equipped products. clint 2008-02-26T09:24:57+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge Lately we’ve been getting hit with the common question “what speaker wire gauge should I use”? More often than not, we’ve seen Audiophiles choose a higher gauge esoteric wire over a lower gauge generic zip cord cable simply because they were sold some marketing nonsense that these magic cables would improve your systems mojo. This guide cuts through the nonsense and gives some solid recommendations on selecting speaker wire gauge based on cable length and impedance of your loudspeakers. Gene 2008-01-21T15:32:47+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/toshiba-cell-broadband-video-processor Toshiba showed off a lot of their new display products for us at the 2008 CES, but the one technological development that stood out was their use of the Cell Broadband Engine (yes the same processor found in the Sony PS3). They had a rather sophisticated demo involving both standard definition and high-definition content which utilized the Cell Broadband Engine to sharpen images with uncanny ability. clint 2008-01-14T11:56:30+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/acoustics-principles/twenty-questions-toward-a-correct-room Let’s get right to it. You love audio, are passionate about your system and are always searching for a better experience, a more accurate response. You’ve heard the term “room correction”. You’ve heard speakers in various rooms, you are aware of acoustical treatments and active room correction systems (ARC). You know that your dedicated audio system is not in a purpose built room. You would like to make the room as “correct” as possible; however you have no clear idea what approach is best for your room. This article explores the 20 questions you should ask yourself towards building a great room along with feedback from leading industry experts within their own respected disciplines on this topic. Jeff Hedback 2007-12-09T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/subjective-loudspeaker-reviews-price When taking on the task of reviewing products for consumers there are different ways to get across the conclusions and experiences of the reviewer. Objective testing and subjective viewpoints are both presented, and price is also included in the evaluation process. But there are so many methodologies and considerations, how does Audioholics keep it all straight? Frank asks a very valid question and we thought it was good enough to include it for public consumption to outline just how Audioholics handles this issue. clint 2007-12-04T08:38:46+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/speaker-cable-gauge-distance It's been a while since Dr. A answered a reader question so we pulled him away from his 4 month karaoke binge and tossed a new question at him. Seems like Dr. A has an addictive personality so we'll need to keep him a bit more occupied in the future for his own good. This question, from philophobos via our forums, has to do with speaker cable gauge, but we expanded it a bit in our answer to address some other related situations. clint 2007-11-29T09:16:54+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/audio-formats-technology/cd-compression-depression Imagine, if you can, going to Paris to see the Mona Lisa. You wait in line for hours only to come to what appears to be a postcard of the Mona Lisa placed where the original had been. You ask the museum staff what happened to the original and you are told that this representation is what is required for the commercial success of the painting. Totally disgusted, you walk out with a severe case of what I call Compression Depression. The music industry as of late seems to be no different as they pump up the output levels and lay on the compression to play into the LOUDER is better mentality. Dan Banquer 2007-11-12T18:28:22+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-measurements You often see us measuring subwoofers using various methods such as: groundplane, in-room nearfield, outdoor on a pole, anechoic, quasi anechoic, etc in our product reviews and technical articles. This article discusses the different approaches to measuring subwoofers as well as tabulates the pros and cons of each method. Depending on the resources on hand of the reviewer, we will typically apply one or more of these methods and will note them as such in the reviews. The idea here is to eliminate external influences that complicate the measurements to yield similarly correct results for each methodology employed. The scope of this overview is limited to subwoofers only and the amplitude response frequencies range of 10 Hz to 320 Hz. Mark Sanfilipo 2007-11-05T23:50:19+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/epsons-d7-panel-c2-fine Epson has developed a new type of high-temperature polysilicon TFT liquid crystal (HTPS) panel that will further enhance the performance of 3LCD-type front projectors. The new 0.7-inch (1.9 cm diagonal) HTPS panels, which conform to newly developed design rules, use a technology which boosts aperture ratios by 20% compared with the previous model. By enhancing aperture ratios, this technology improves luminance while using the same lamp as previous models. It also enables the use of a lower-watt lamp to achieve the same levels of luminance. clint 2007-10-24T11:21:23+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/audio-formats-technology/video-dolby-cedia-2007 Craig Eggers is interviewed by our own Gene DellaSala to discuss the next generation AV receivers and HD/Blu-ray DVD players which enable the user to have an experience in the home that is equivalent to the studio masters. Dolby discusses the upcoming Audioholics State of the CE Union event where Dolby and AIX Records will be doing an impressive 7.1 demo. Craig also clears up some misconceptions about Dolby TrueHD. clint 2007-10-01T12:45:27+00:00 Video Spotlight http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-spikes-and-cones-2013-what2019s-the-point In recent years it has become common for items of audio equipment to be mounted using “spikes” or “cones”. These come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials, at all kinds of prices. The Hi-Fi magazines sometimes ‘review’ these accessories, and recommend their use. However, are they worth buying and using? In this article, we consider their use with loudspeakers, and discuss some alternatives. Jim Lesurf 2007-09-18T16:28:10+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/lifi-lamp-technology-primer Luxim Corporation has announced that it is partnering with Panasonic to integrate its new LIFI, or Light Fidelity, lighting unit (lamp system) into their rear projection LCD TVs. The LIFI system creates intense light output with digitally-controlled dimming for high contrast applications such as those required for rear projection lamps. The lifetime of the unit is up to 20,000+ hours, a HUGE increase from the typical ~4000 hour expectancy of current bulbs. clint 2007-08-27T11:38:11+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/hdmi-1-3-cables-bitrate With the advent of HDMI v1.3 and 1.3a, consumers are starting to really get confused about cables and what they need to worry about when selecting a product that's going to be compatible with the new specifications. We interviewed Steven Barlow from DVIGear to get a handle on why this is a more complex issue for some, and a non-issue for others. He allowed us to assimilate much of what we discussed into this article you are reading now. clint 2007-08-22T09:57:21+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/vertical-vs-horizontal-speaker-designs The center channel’s job is a tough one. The consensus is that around 75 percent of a movie’s content is routed to the center channel loudspeaker. Yet, the design criteria for center channels traditionally require that it fit as stealthily as possible around that big-box television, or that huge sheet of projection screen. The sound can’t go through your glass TV screen and projection screens are usually not acoustically transparent. Ideally, the sound should come from behind the image, through the screen as it does in the movie theaters. But while there are new options with acoustically transparent projection screens, this article will focus on the more traditional problem of what compromises result from the different approaches to center channel design. Chris Seymour 2007-07-20T12:55:06+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/glossary-of-electronics-terms Audio terminology can be very confusing and ambiguous. We talk about things all the time that our readers may not be able to fully understand. Back by popular demand, we've reconstituted our Glossary of Electronics Terms (with some very important updates) and included it here for all to reference as needed. We'll try to keep it updated as we expand our vocabulary and horizons and as technology coins new terms and phrases. clint 2007-05-25T10:04:56+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/education/acoustics-principles/building-great-bass-response-in-your-home-theater If you are searching for the utmost listening experience in your room with your system it is time you consider how your space is constructed. It is the purpose of this article to show you how the construction relates to your audio experience. There is an inverse relation between sound isolation (STC) and sound absorption (NRC). The greater the isolation of a surface the more sound energy is going to remain in that space. This applies directly below 200 Hz where the resonance of room modes is a primary factor of your systems character. It becomes compounded when you add multiple sound sources with low frequency information…you got it, your room. Jeff Hedback 2007-05-20T23:47:22+00:00 Editorial http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/whats-the-matter-with-hdmi HDMI, as we've pointed out elsewhere, is a format which was designed primarily to serve the interests of the content-provider industries, not to serve the interests of the consumer. The result is a mess, and in particular, the signal is quite hard to route and switch, cable assemblies are unnecessarily complicated, and distance runs are chancy. Why is this, and what did the designers of the standard do wrong? And what can we do about it? Check out this informative article from our friends at Bluejeans Cable. Kurt Demke 2007-05-16T21:10:19+00:00 Editorial