Which channel is more important in Home Theater

 In a typical home theater setup, it will be ranging from 5.1 channel to 11.1 or even more. What does all this channel means ? Each channel is referring to one of the output from receiver or processor to the output to of a speaker. From picture we can see that each channel is also called with specific name. The Center, the stereo left / right, the rear left / right with 1 subwoofer. This is so called the 5.1 where the 5 channels are the center, stereo and rear. The point 1 mean is referring to the subwoofer. 

Taking this simple 5.1 setup, what do we want to pay more attention to ? Especially when you have limited funding or space, what will you go with first. The very first or most critical speaker is the center channel. It is quite obvious that center channel is the one producing speech or dialog in any movie. It will be impossible to watch any movie without dialog. This become apparent this is the critical channel. I will spend my budget as much as possible for the center giving the critical of it. Many a times people will also complaint about not able to hear what the dialog during a movie. So a good center channel will be even more important. 

Center channel is also usually a speaker is design to be place horizontally. This allow clearance of display to have the channel as closely as possible to screen. Having a center channel very close to the center of the screen is also crucial. You do not want to be looking at the screen and the dialog is coming from the bottom or the top or any where else. The sound should be coming from center of the screen. It will certainly be awkward if the sound is coming from other direction.

After center channel, which should be next on the list ? This is the tricky question. As we called our front channel channel as stereo right / left, the reason for this is sometimes it is use for stereo purpose like music. So now we need to take into consideration the stereo purpose of your home theater or simply this purely home theater only. The other consideration is also the front and center channel matching. In surround sound setup, the panning effect is very important. The coherent of the sound will be lost if the sound travelling from one speaker to the other is not right. So now I will say that given the importance of the sound continuity the front channel will be the second on the list.

The next obvious option is the boom box. How can any home theater be without the beast (subwoofer). We are not talking about just the size but any setup of home theater will be needing it to fill in the ambient. Probably will be even more important for some bass lovers. Although LFE or Low Frequency Effect might not be always there is in a movie but when the time comes for it to rock, it will be totally amazing how much ambient will change with the kick of bass. Of course we do want to have proper blend of the subwoofer with the rest of the 5 other speakers. So we need to take into consideration what is the capability of all the speakers to choose the right subwoofer. 

Last but not least will be our surround channels. Surround speakers is also known as filler to the ambient sound. There won't be surround sound without this speakers. Although this is kind of taking the back seat but for some with really big budget this is something that will be good to have to get the best speakers as well to enable the blend in. Remember we talk about panning effect, it will still play an important role as not to loose the sound travelling around the room during the movie. In typical home locally, surround speakers can't be too big as well with limited space. Usually it will be comprise. In ideal situation all speakers should be in the same model and range. 

In the current surround sound format of course now we have atmos or DTS X with in ceiling for the top surround. This is different from the older tech of height surround. This top surround will give the actual feeling of sound over head which can be really exciting of actually knowing a plane or helicopter flying over your head like in real environment. Not many people typical home locally has the luxury of over head speakers. There is so called atmos enabled speakers which is using the same concept of soundbar reflecting sound to create the effect. This will be more to nice to have rather than must have in surround sound given the limitation of homes. 

In summary the center channel play the most important role that will be top priority and the second will be a little more subjective if is either the front or subs dependent of the objective on the home theater setup. So it can be sub first or front channel first. Next step will be the surround which can be back surround or side surround or even both. This is more dependent on room size and the area of coverage. Finally the atmos which is more to nice to have. Hope this little tips helps for someone who is starting out the journey to get you going.

First dedicated room setup

 After years of setup in my living room on the upper floor, finally I got a chance to get into my own dedicated room (Man Cave). It's a bit of a luck I found a house with good space to have a home theater room. The room size is about 10 feet x 17 feet. First thing was getting rid of all my old gears of Pioneer. Than came this white colour pair of B&W CM8 with matching center of CMC. Got it from the B&W showroom which is now located in the "Garden Mall". Back in year 2009 the set of speakers cost about RM12k, the price had gone like 40% up since than. Somehow I got a thing of white coloured speakers. Even till now , every speakers that I own are white.

Now the hardware that is going to be driving the speakers are non other than the famous EMOTIVA. This is my first experience with pre pro setup. The processor is the UMC-1 and the power amp is the XPA-5 gen 1. Bought it direct from EMOTIVA in the states and had it Fedex to KL. Currently it will be a lot easier to get EMOTIVA from Max Audio in Seremban. The processor is a 7.1 supporting DTS-MA and TrueHD with 3D passthrough. It uses the first generation of DIRAC auto calibration. Very good software I will say, although I know nuts about auto calibration still. The XPA is a 5 channel power amp with 200 watt per channel (All Running). Its definitely a power house. 

Now on the left side of the picture , standing tall is the non other than the SVS PC-12NSD subwoofer. Its a 12inch subwoofer down firing. Its cylinder just like a tall drum with its driver at the bottom of it. The sub is driven by 400watt of sledge amp of SVS. This sub had quite a small foot print as it is standing rather than a square box. Nevertheless it is a capable sub in rattling the ceiling. Will speak more about the ceiling rattling , which is definitely a mistake. Another topic to discuss next time.

On the back of the room is the surround speaker of KEF IQ-8. Its a di-pole speakers bought from highway laser. I couldn't find white colour on this one, so have to live with it. Being at the back of the room, unfortunately I don't have enough space to mount them on the wall so ended up on speaker stand. Also due to the narrow room, I have to put the case behind the room for all the movies. Many DVD still but the BD collection is slowly growing. Eventually all this DVD are dump few years later. 

From my previous living room setup still what it is now in this room certainly it has change significantly. Now I really love my home theater. Well the only thing didn't change was my old plasma TV. Eventually I got it upgraded as well from 50" to 65" plasma. Will share more upgrades next time.

Best Of 2012!

Odiosleuth did his countdown of the best gears of 2012 last month. Here's my belated list, due to high work load, poor health and the need to finish all the reviews before I write this. Un-like the previous years, we didn't quite get an optimum mix of equipments in all categories to list a top 3 followed by other notable mentions in each particular class, be it digital or analog source, amplifiers, or speakers. We did, however got an overload or cables to write about. You know what they say about the hifi industry, when the going gets though, sell 'em more cables!

So this year, I'd just list down 10 of my most memorable hifi experiences, followed with a few notable mentions, which though some not officially reviewed or previewed in this pages, we have strong reasons to believe that they are of notable sound quality and product of substance, worthy of your time to further investigate, should you be shopping in those categories.

Here goes, THE BEST OF 2012!

Eggleston Works Ivy Signature.

The Eggleston Works Ivy Signature speakers are now on demo in Centre Circle Audio. To me these are almost the perfect big boy speakers that can be had in an imperfect world. Beauty, brain and brawn, the Ivy Signature has it all. Bass, bass, bass, the Ivy's got plenty of it, tight, accurate, and with no overhang. The highs have the best of silk dome smooth qualities in the air too. The mid range fully fleshed out vocals, with plenty of presence and bite. It's got some of the best bang slamming dynamics in the business, yet able to handle the small things, such as truth of timbre, harmonic texture, tonal colour with aplomb. The Ivy is also one of the most transparent speakers out there today, exposing recording flaws and imperfect musical performances as they are only meant to be, yet the Ivy take no hostages, and you never have to pay the price of exposed imperfections. It just gives the whole essence of listening to music that much more value. It's a do it all speaker with potential stunning performance, but they do demand the best front end components and all else connected before it to give their all. Priced On Application only. Consider this as the preview that qualifies it being here too.

dCS Puccini CD/SACD player

The dCS Puccini charmed it's way in to our hearts and mind, not quite the way we remembered it to be. I always thought dCS had a house sound that is full of details and resolution, but can be musically underwhelming. That is until the kind folks at A&L Audio Station had us putting the Puccini thru it's paces right in the comfort of our own homes. The dCS had details in spades for sure, but within those details, also lie the musical intent and emotional content of the playback performance. One can put the "entry" level dCS with the SOTA likes of TAD-D600 or the Wadia 9 Series stack of components we rated so highly last year, in the same ring on a three corner fight, and the Puccini won't disgrace it self, even if the odds of winning are stacked against it. It kinda reminds me of the Jaguar automobile motto not too long ago, it's got Pace, Grace and Space!

Skogrand SC Air Markarian 421 cables

Another memorable product experienced recently is the Skogrand SC Air Markarian 421 cables. It's a SOTA cable that not only lives up to it's name by price, but actually matched by performance too. Some say they heard god speak to them when listening to their hifi with this cable, others that have not experienced the connection, but still nothing short of audio nirvana if such a place existed?

Can't afford the Skogrand but want a taste of today's SOTA cable performance? For a smaller outlay, one can consider the Wywires Gold range, which gives a Skogrand like musical experience, but the only difference being, the Wywires does not quite have the fully developed mid range density of the more expensive cable, all other performance parameters being near equal.

Wywires till too expensive? Fret not, the latest Taralabs range of budget cable, namely TL-2/14 speaker cable. The sound is very much in mould of Skogrand and Wywires, except that it lacks the bandwidth and transparency of the two, but not the bass slam! Highly recommended!

All the above three cables share the same sonic DNA's and in some way or another, they might as well be cousins from the same family tree just a few generations ago. The only difference is rich relative, middle class uncle, or poor cousin just starting out in life.

SVS PC12-NSD vs PB12-NSD sub woofers

When it come to low, low bass, can't go wrong with SVS Sound. Be it the trouser flapping experience of the top woof PB13-Ultra, or the entry level PB12-NSD. For the budget conscious AV enthusiast who still cares about the slamming "low down" experience, there's not much in the market that can compete with the PB12-NSD.

Aesthetix Calypso pre amp

I love tube pre amps for their beauty in tonal colour. The Aesthetix Calypso comes as fine as tube pre-amps do. They play in the same sonic levels of ARC LS-26(now 27!), yet beats the LS-26 with much more pronounced dynamic contrast and burst of musical transients. For those who love the convenience of having phono stage and pre amp all in one box, there's the Janus(twin of the Calypso) to consider. And finally, Aesthetix offers greater value for performance ratio too, brand power aside. Odiosleuth highlighted why he was impressed with the Aesthetix Atlas 200W hybrid power amp, and I share his enthusiasm, plus what a fine pre/power combo the Calypso/Atlas would make.

Rega Apollo R CD player and Brio R integrated amp

It's hard to ignore the shoe box sized Rega R series components, as musical reproduction, NOT hifi goes! They're god sent to those starting their journey on hifi, or some one coming down to earth from the orbit of upgrade stars. Also perfect as a second system that doesn't take up much space. However, it's the Rega Apollo R that deserves most of the accolades as it will not make a fool of it self, even when inserted in to a system costing many times it's own price! If you believe in the almighty, the Rega R series component's only sins are of the omission kind.

KE blade speakers

The KEF Blade is a technological tour de force show case for the company's 50th Anniversary in business. It's a speaker with designer elements and high WAF(Wife Acceptance Factor), yet sounds like an audiophile's pair of dream speakers. By today's crazy high end speaker prices, the KEF actually seems like a pretty realistic buy too. It's only weakness? Bass doesn't quite go as low, nor as hard as some American speakers.

IsoTek EVO3 Polaris PLC

I think this IsoTek EVO3 Polaris is the finest effort ever by the company, yet it's asking price is not astronomical either. It's honest to goodness British way of doing business which will endear them to the market for a long, long time to come! I am still thinking about it, now that it's gone, if that's any indicator of how good it was. Most times, you'll only miss a good thing after it's long gone.

YG Carmel speakers

The YG Carmel is perhaps the company's most captivating speaker in it's line up. I would consider it to be a serious rival to Magico's V3 speakers in every way. It's the exquisite small speaker for modern quarters(i.e. small rooms) given today's sky rocketing real estate prices, many well heeled folks have less space for hifi. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them and may some day aspire to have them as my permanent daily reference too!

TAD CR-1 speakers

The TAD CR-1 is certainly one the best, if not THE BEST, small high end mini monitor ever. Need I say more? I congratulate Odiosleuth for his fine speaker choice, but now, herein lies the problem, the CR-1s are so revealing, that it's exposing all the short comings fo the poor guy's front end components, be it, even if they are already mighty good to start with. Here's to another round of up grade orbit, buddy. Ha! Ha!

OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS:

Pioneer BDP-450 Blu-Ray player

The Pioneer BDP-450 is an excellent Blu-ray player, especially in 3D mode, no doubt about it. What surprised me however, is that it makes a mighty impressive CD/SACD transport too, accessed via it's co-axial audio output, for connection to an external DAC. It's built like a high end audiophile CD player too, with rigid all aluminium and steel casing, equipped with weighty proper metal feet, not make believe plastic feet. The transport drawer action is smooth like a high end CD player too! Sound is detailed, smooth, coherent, noise/jitter free, and most of all, musical rhythmic flow, accompanied by big-big sound stage, deep and wide.

Wilson Audio XLF speakers

No, I didn't hear Wilson Audio XLF speakers yet, there's only one pair in Malaysia now. My sources are based upon people(whose ears I trust) who have heard them in action, and they rated the mighty Wilson  as the BEST speakers they've ever heard(and these are true blood high enders who have listened to nearly all the top hifi systems in the region), period! I wish to congratulate the proud owner fo the Wilson Audio XLF, you know who you are!

New B&W 802D speakers

I was never in love with any of the previous incarnations of the B&W 800 D series speakers, despite their high tech diamond tweeter and kevlar mid bass driver calling card with 1st order x-over topology for the smoothest hand over frequency point. They were very good on the hifi performance parameter, but they always struck me as being rather business like in their musical presentation. If diamonds are a girls best friend, then some degree of musical beauty is to be expected, and in it's latest form, the B&W 802D actually delivers them in spades. Looks like they'll be around for a little while more!

ASI Super Tango speakers

These Frank Tchang designed Super Tango speakers are nothing like you've ever heard in high end dom! They will never be another pair of speakers that sound like the Super Tango. They are definitely not shy and rockers will love their explosive dynamics with gutsy and big hearted musical delivery. Viva la de France! They an enigma, if they ever was one.

Marten Design Django speakers

Marten Design Django XL is a scaled down version of the Getz, but with beefier bass, tuned for American taste. All the sonic goodies offered by the Getz are there with little down side, at only half the price! Marten Design just launched the Django L, which is a smaller brother, trickle down technology have never meant better than this!

Well folks, that's the end of our adventures in HiFi-Unlimited. Stay tune for some last words before we call it a day.

Perfect Hi-Fi To Launch Sonus Faber Aida & KEF LS-50 At KLIAV 2012.

Sonus Faber Aida.

Folks, KLIAV 2012 show is only a week away, starting next Friday, 20th July, at the JW Marriott hotel Kuala Lumpur. I've learnt that most hifi dealers will be using this year's show as a platform for domestic launches of hot new products.

First up is Perfect Hi-Fi. They will be launching the latest luxury speaker design from Sonus Faber called Aida. As you can see that Aida is a beautiful speaker, and I wonder how they will sound like powered by top grade ARC electronics?

KEF LS-50.

Perfect Hi-Fi will also be launching the KEF LS-50 speaker, a product celebrating KEF's 50th Anniversary in the business. Also on demo will be the mid-line R-Series speakers and wait, the cutting edge Blade will be on demo too.

More hot news on KLIAV 2012 to come!

On The Cutting Edge, KEF Concept Blade Arrives!

The KEF Concept Blade speakers represents the company's state of the art design philosophy with cutting edge technology.

Perfect HiFi has brought in two pairs of KEF Concept Blade speakers in to Malaysian soil. There's the white pair that SF Lam wrote about in his blog earlier which has since been sold. I arrived to Perfect HiFi's IOI Mall's first floor showroom over the weekend only to catch the piano gloss black finished pair in action, powered by Audio Research pre/power amp combo and DCS Puccini CD player as digital source.

The Concept Blade uses the distinctive Uni-Q Single Apparent Source mid range and tweeter drivers in front while utilising 2 pairs of push-push side firing woofer on the sides, which looks very much like those also used on the latest R series speakers! Study the interesting speaker design from the transparent cut out diagram above. 

The sound of the KEF Blade Concept was nothing like I've ever heard from the company previously. Feed by capable amplification and distinctly capable source, the Blade projected a wholesome natural sound field. The 2 pairs of push-push side firing woofers on each side panel put out highly accurate and distinctive bass quality, matched by the coherence of the Single Apparent Source of the latest Uni-Q driver in front, which takes care of the mids and high frequencies. Here is a pair of speakers that more than justifies it's high tech, flagship status.

Go on, sample the cutting edge of sound quality, call Andy Tan of Perfect HiFi at 019-2112566, for demo appointment.

KEF R Series Arrives! Now At Perfect Hi-Fi.

KEF's latest premium offering, the R series speakers have arrived and are now on demo in Perfect Hi-Fi. I spotted the interesting looking R 700, a pair of floor standing speaker in high gloss piano black finish on demo at perfect Hi-Fi's Amcorp Mall showroom.

Complete KEF R series on demo, including the center/surround packages.

This is one mean looking, high tech speaker employing the latest driver technologies, such as KEF newest re-designed Uni-Q integrated tweeter-mid range co-axial driver and two light weight, flat woofer cone, made from aluminium bass drivers.

The R 700 on demo is a sleek and high tech looking design. 

Please contact Jepson at 012-3930263 for more information, or demo appointment.

A Class Above, KEF's All New Q Series Speaker Range.

The latest KEF Q series range shown here also includes floor standers, complete with center speaker and sub woofer to make up a full AV/HT or just plain 2 chanel music system.

KEF launched the all new 8th generation Q series speakers at the Perfect Hi-Fi's Bangsar showroom last week. Members of the press and dealers were shown highlights of the new speaker.
An expanded view of the latest innovative KEF Uni-Q driver.

KEF's Q series is the most economical entry in to the level of high tech Uni-Q drivers. KEF has also incorporated many new and innovative technical features in to the new speakers. For the asking price, the really do pack a lot of high tech ingenuity.

The main reasons driving the all new Q series change is customers request for more bass response and smoother, more detail mid range frequencies. That resulted in the Q series going back to square box enclosure design for maximum box volume and an extensively reworked, updated Uni-Q drivers, based on those found on the latest mould breaking KEF Blade Concept speakers.


Also launched is the T series flat speakers for AV/HT lifestyle systems. Again, this speaker driver technology is trickled down from the KEF Blade Concept.

KEF also took the opportunity to launch a second speaker product in the form of a compact AV/HT 5.1 system called the T series. The T series inherits much of the Q series technology, but cleverly compressed to suit the speaker enclosure thickness of no more than 30mm! The drivers themselves measures just 27mm in mounting depth. The T series is designed to complement today's compact, wafer thin LCD/LED screen displays. A special design feature of the T series speaker's favours wall mount, which result in meatier, fuller sound. Table top mounting brackets are provided for those who prefer not to wall mount.

For those who favour the egg shaped KHT series AV/HT speakers, KEF will still keep those in production for now. "There's market for both ranges to co-exist", says Calvin Yeung, who is KEF's Business Executive.
The full range of KEF speakers on display at the Perfect Hi-Fi Bangsar showroom.


Franco Lock(Senior Business Manager for Asia Pacific) and Calvin(on the left) are the Kef's Representative present to officiate the launch.

We were also treated to impressive demos of 2 chanel music and AV surround effects of the KEF Q and T series speakers.
The latest KEF Q 700 floor stander on demo with matching sub woofer.

KEF speakers is now available at Perfect Hi-Fi and it's dealers, including Hi-Way Laser and Nova Hifi.

Please call Andy Tan at 03-58821693 or Alvin Tan at 03-21421693 for enquiries.

KEF Reference Series Speakers. Now Available In Colour From Perfect Hi-Fi.

Just some of the custom ed colour options available with the KEF Reference series line of speakers. There's a 15% price premium for the option of custom ed colour finishes.

KEF has been making fine hifi speakers since 1916. KEF has made many classic speakers in the past and was the sole driver supplier to classic BBC speaker designed models like the LS3/5A. The original KEF Reference series was launched in the early 80's, boasting CAD(Computer Aided Design) and stupendous sound quality(at the time).

For it's latest generation of Reference series speakers, in response to frequent request for custom ed coloured cabinets, KEF has finally relented, and has made available 12 custom colour range of automotive grade finishing for all their new Reference series line.

KEF's Asia Pacific Senior Business Manager, Franco Lock told me that today's high end speaker buyers not only want excellent sound, but also decor matching colour options. Now one can have it all!
A closer look at the Ferrari yellow automotive grade finish. Yummy!

Should you fancy one of these custom finished KEF Reference, simply contact Perfect Hi-Fi, KEF's Malaysian appointed dealer, ask for a demo, choose a model and colour of preference, pay a deposit for work to commence, wait 8-10 weeks for your speakers to arrive!

It's as easy as that.

Please call Alvin Tan at 012-6082168 or 03-21421693 for more details.

KLIAV 2010 Pre Show Sneak Peek. Let The Show Begin.

The KLIAV 2010 show organisers, have gracefully allowed me to do a pre-show sneak peek yesterday and some of what you can expect from the show. The show starts today!

Here are some show highlights and latest gear of interest!
24 hours ago. The main foyer at the Starhill rooms are still being prepared for the show!
CMY Audio Visual goes big on Clearaudio galore this year, presenting the full range of turn tables and accessories available, bar the "Statement" table.

Perfect Hifi debuts the Audio Research Reference Anniversary pre amp! This is a shockingly good sounding piece of equipment partnered with Goldmund power amps and Wilson Sasha speakers to match.

Another demo system from Perfect Hifi, featuring ARC CD Reference 8, Pass Labs XP-20 pre amp and X-600.5 power amps. Speakers are Kef Reference 207/2.
Guess who's back? It's Linn, presented by Perfect Hifi! This is Linn Klimax 350 speaker powered by full Linn Klimax range of amps and Klimax DS music server.

The Linn Klimax electronics.

More updates coming in sans pictures:

A&L Audio Station presents the VTL tube amplifiers in the form of TP6.5 pre amp and MB450 Signature power amps powering a pair of Dali speakers.

AV Designs will be featuring the latest TAD CR-1 stand mount monitors and TAD electronics, all powered by a Torus Power RM16A PLC. Demo is to be held in the main Pioneer room, NOT the usual AV Designs Starhill room(that's for AV only, I am told, but it's a still must visit as they do some of the most stunning AV systems around).

Sweedish Statement, via Audiomatic will be showcasing the latest EAT Forte turn table, powered by Vitus amplifiers and Marten Heritage Getz speakers.

Audio Note Malaysia and The Absolute Sound will team up to show case Meridian CD player, with FM Acoustics amplifiers powering Avantgarde horn speakers.

We will be there covering the KLIAV 2010 show reports.

Especially for hifi fanatics up north in Penang, for what ever reason if you cannot make it to the KLIAV 2010 show, fret not. CMY Audio & Visual has not forgotten about you. Franck Tchang of A.S.I. will be doing an "Experience Sharing" product demo at the CMY Audio & Visual Penang showroom, starting from 6.00-8.00pm, Monday, 26th July 2010. Finger treats and refreshments will be served at the casual event.

See ya all at the KLIAV 2010 show.

Be there or be square!