FEEL THE NOISE: Dolby versus dts for DVD - Technology Information

Emedia Professional, July, 2000 by Michelle Manafy

The Parasound power amp and A/V controller should not be cloaked in a rack, though of course they can be, They are pieces of art. The power amp is outfitted with cooling fins on three sides, giving it an ominous look. Anyone who has to lift the 87-lb beast will appreciate the well-placed handles in each corner. The controller is of comparable beauty--its simple face is home to 11 buttons and one rotary knob, which serves a number of tasks. The Parasound power amp and controller generate some of the cleanest, crispest sound I've ever heard.

I Got the Hook-Up

I've always invested in good cables purchased at my local high-end audio/video shop, thinking that was enough to satisfy my sound standards. However, when I unpacked Sound Connections International's Vampire Wire ST-1 speaker cables and the CCC (continuous cast copper) series 2 audio interconnect cables, I questioned that premise. The sheer girth of these connections is impressive, but the quality and precision of the terminations demonstrate an exceptional level of workmanship. Stuart Marcus, president of Sound Connections, says, "A good rule of thumb for cable purchases is 15 to 20 percent of the entire system." That number may seem high, but now that I have had the chance to compare and hear the amount of bass that can reach the surround channels, I'm a convert.

The cables are directionally marked and employing them was pretty straightforward. Though the 90 possible connections on the back of the Parasound AVC-2500 stunned me, they are grouped together in an intuitive layout that left me feeling a bit foolish for reading every word of the manual.

Unlike some, the Onkyo DV-C600 six-disc DVD changer has a complete compliment of connection options on the back to support any system configuration (Sound Connections suggested and supplied a Vampire Wire toslink connection, which I chose over possible analog or digital coaxial). Though you can plug the DV-C600 in and use it right out of the box, it also provides extensive setup options for both audio and video interfaces.

Two days after the boxes arrived (overhaul of home complete), I plugged the last cord into the outlet. Ever looming in the background was the daunting prospect of a two-hour minimum setup time for the AVC-2500 once I finally turned it on (or so I guessed given the manual's description of the process).

Absolute Power

Both the Parasound A/V controller and Atlantic Technology-powered subwoofer and center channel have easy-to-understand default settings that conform to THX certification. Each input has a level control on the HCA-2205A with THX noted at the proper knob position. Much to my surprise, the entire process of setting up the A/V controller only took 15 minutes. Parasound provides a microphone so the "smart system" can hear test tones it plays and adjust for speaker location, room shape, and listening position to calibrate channel levels and delay times--resulting in one hell of a sweet spot.

Then I loaded 13 hours of entertainment into the Onkyo DV-600 and, with remote in hand, dug in for some listening pleasure. The Onkyo remote makes navigating easy--audio track selection and menu access are available right off the remote, rather than wading through on-screen menus.