To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Nothing beats having a home karaoke system to brush up on your singing skills or to make a party more alive. If you have your own system at home you don't have to go out weekends and spend money to sing.
Further, having your home karaoke system allows you to have fun without necessarily spending cash for drinks if you were at a bar. It is a great way to bond with the whole family by competing with each other and seeing who has the highest score from the machine's scoring system.
To be able to set up your home karaoke system, you need to buy the following components:
1. Multi-format Karaoke Disk Player
This is much better than the CDG Player only, which can only play songs in CDG format. You want to make sure your player can play songs that are in VCD, DVD, and mp3 format as well. The only features that you need though are key controls, play, and a quick and easy to operate song selector. Don't buy models that have feature names you don't even understand because chances are you're never going to use those features.
The technologically inclined can use their laptop or PC as a disk player.
2. Microphones
Make sure that you buy a pair of these for those times you want to sing duets. The choice of buying wireless or wired is up to you however you have to keep in mind the positive as well as negative attributes of each of the two. Many are inclined to use the more expensive wireless mic. The problem this type of microphone is
that it has to have noise canceling filters for you to avoid feedback when the mic loses signal. Also you need to have fresh batteries handy because when the power drains, no more singing.
You don't really need a microphone with out of this world features for simple home use. Any good quality mic whether wired or wireless that has good audio pick up and can handle high and low voice ranges does the job pretty well.
3. Monitor
Any flat screen TV can be used as a monitor and it's better its a bigger screen so you don't miss out reading the lyrics.
4. Heavy Duty Stereo Speakers
Not all speakers are designed for a home karaoke system. Karaoke speakers must be able to make you sound like a pro and allows you to eliminate feedback. You have to choose your speakers carefully because not all speakers sound great when you crank up the volume..
5. Mixer / Amplifier
No I'm not referring to the mixing boards that have sliders because they are of more use to a recording studio. What you need is a high quality mixer/amplifier that has controls for channels as well as it has a graphic equalizer.
6. Music
What's the use of a karaoke system without of course, music? Days before the party, you have to acquire karaoke music stored in discs. If it's party for the kids, you can stock up on nursery rhymes and songs for kids and the adults can collect songs from their favorite artists then its fun time.
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Kate Winslet, NUDE In 3D!
Tube. Duration : 11.55 Mins.
Kate Winslet, NUDE In 3D!
NEW CHANNEL: The Movie Night Archive -- bit.ly Rate Next Episode's Films: • Superman (1978) -- micropoll.com • Batman -- micropoll.com • X-men -- micropoll.com * Tweet a review with the #JPMN hashtag, and have it featured on the show! * Tonight's Films: • Titanic -- Wonderfully grand achievement. Emotionally exhilarating, 10/10. • Titanic II -- Laughably terrible mess, awful effects, 1/10. • FACTOR FACTS • Enjoyment -- How enjoyable is the film? Story ---------- Is it interesting, are the characters well-written? Technical ---- The editing, directing, and sound. Acting -------- Convincing, or just a script-reader? Visuals ------- Cinematography and special effects. Impact -------- Does it make you laugh/cry/feel? Pacing ------- Tempo appropriate within run-time? Validity ------- Given the environment, is it believable? Mood --------- Music, costumes, art-design. Re-Watch --- Good enough to watch twice? ~~ Movie Night ~~ Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May). Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web ...
Kate Winslet, NUDE In 3D!
Kate Winslet, NUDE In 3D!
Kate Winslet, NUDE In 3D!
Kate Winslet, NUDE In 3D!
No URL Kate Winslet, NUDE In 3D!
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
How would you like to have a home music system that sounds so fantastic you would think the performers are playing in your home right in front of you? Choosing just the right home audio amplifiers can make a dramatic musical difference in how well your home theater and home music system will sound.
Use these expert home audio tips for selecting your home entertainment and music system components and you'll create an exceptional sounding home audio experience without having to spend a small fortune.
Here's how to get the best value with your home entertainment music system
o Your largest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers
o Specific brands of AV receivers are known for having exceptional music fidelity
o You need a specific minimum power capability to achieve great audio sound
o Why you want a 2 channel stereo music system
o Stereo music and home theater surround sound need completely different power amplifiers
o AV receiver vs separate audio power amplifier components
o What makes up the heart of your home theater and music system sound?
The problem is that you have so many choices and there are so many brands available to choose from that it's very difficult to know where to start. If you shop at your local electronics stores these days, you probably won't find an expert in home audio entertainment who is knowledgeable enough to really help you. Most online forums and review sites are largely too biased.
The biggest difference between a good sounding home music system and having a fantastic sounding home entertainment system is the synergy of your components. Basically, how well all the separate pieces sound together like your speakers; your AV receiver, your home audio amplifiers, DVD/ blu-ray players, game consoles, ipod, DAC and so forth.
The heart of your entire music entertainment system will be the home audio amplifiers that you are using. Home audio amplifiers are like the engine of your car. They are a major factor in the musical synergy that you will hear throughout your home entertainment system. Your second biggest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers.
Select your audio amplifiers based on what you are most interested in for your home entertainment. Do you primarily want to listen to stereo music (2 channels) or do you want your music system to be part of your home theater movie system 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system?
In general, the most realistic live performance music sound that you can experience in your home will be listening through amplifiers which are 2 channels stereo only.
If you want the best value in stereo music choose a stereo integrated amplifier with a power per channel of at least 75 watts to 150 watts into 8 ohms. If your budget is higher, you will hear the best stereo music using a separate stereo power amplifier or individual mono power amplifiers and a matching stereo preamplifier together. Home audio amplifiers with at least 250 watts per channel will give you the best deep bass and overall warmth and sound stage depth and width from your music listening.
If your main interest is enjoying a home theater surround sound movie experience or playing video games and not just listening to music, you will need a home audio system with 5.1 or 7.1 multi-channel capabilities to experience fantastic sound in your home.
You will find the best values in home theater amplifiers by choosing a multi-channel AV (audio/video) receiver. You have many choices in selecting an AV receiver. They all have about the same features today but only a few have the higher level of hi fidelity sound that will create musical synergy for you. Choose an AV receiver that has at least 120 watts per channel for all channels. Marantz makes some of the best sounding AV receivers that you can buy and Marantz quality is first class.
When budget is not a concern, you will hear the most incredible sounding home theater systems using separate muti-channel high power home audio amplifiers with a matching audio video processor/preamp. You'll want to consider multi-channel home audio amplifiers with at least 150 watts to 350 watts per channel. Some of the top brands in this category are from: Marantz, Krell, Paragon, Lexicon and Mcintosh to name a few. For a significant step up from an AV receiver, separates like the Marantz AV8003 and MM8003 are both affordable and have outstanding musical sound quality making an excellent value for a first class home theater and home audio system.
Just remember, when putting together your home theater entertainment system or home audio music system, the heart of your sound system will come from the quality of the home audio amplifiers that you are using.
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
Butterfly Effect -- Review
Video Clips. Duration : 1.45 Mins.
Butterfly Effect -- Review
Butterfly Effect (2004) -- Emotionally powerful and thought-provoking, 10/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May) on the JPizzle1122 channel. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd Channel ------------ bit.ly Movie Night Show ----- bit.ly FAQ Video --------------- bit.ly T-Shirts ------------------- bit.ly ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ...
Butterfly Effect -- Review
Butterfly Effect -- Review
Butterfly Effect -- Review
Butterfly Effect -- Review
No URL Butterfly Effect -- Review
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
How would you like to have a home music system that sounds so fantastic you would think the performers are playing in your home right in front of you? Choosing just the right home audio amplifiers can make a dramatic musical difference in how well your home theater and home music system will sound.
Use these expert home audio tips for selecting your home entertainment and music system components and you'll create an exceptional sounding home audio experience without having to spend a small fortune.
Here's how to get the best value with your home entertainment music system
o Your largest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers
o Specific brands of AV receivers are known for having exceptional music fidelity
o You need a specific minimum power capability to achieve great audio sound
o Why you want a 2 channel stereo music system
o Stereo music and home theater surround sound need completely different power amplifiers
o AV receiver vs separate audio power amplifier components
o What makes up the heart of your home theater and music system sound?
The problem is that you have so many choices and there are so many brands available to choose from that it's very difficult to know where to start. If you shop at your local electronics stores these days, you probably won't find an expert in home audio entertainment who is knowledgeable enough to really help you. Most online forums and review sites are largely too biased.
The biggest difference between a good sounding home music system and having a fantastic sounding home entertainment system is the synergy of your components. Basically, how well all the separate pieces sound together like your speakers; your AV receiver, your home audio amplifiers, DVD/ blu-ray players, game consoles, ipod, DAC and so forth.
The heart of your entire music entertainment system will be the home audio amplifiers that you are using. Home audio amplifiers are like the engine of your car. They are a major factor in the musical synergy that you will hear throughout your home entertainment system. Your second biggest investment after your HDTV should be in your home audio amplifiers, not your speakers.
Select your audio amplifiers based on what you are most interested in for your home entertainment. Do you primarily want to listen to stereo music (2 channels) or do you want your music system to be part of your home theater movie system 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system?
In general, the most realistic live performance music sound that you can experience in your home will be listening through amplifiers which are 2 channels stereo only.
If you want the best value in stereo music choose a stereo integrated amplifier with a power per channel of at least 75 watts to 150 watts into 8 ohms. If your budget is higher, you will hear the best stereo music using a separate stereo power amplifier or individual mono power amplifiers and a matching stereo preamplifier together. Home audio amplifiers with at least 250 watts per channel will give you the best deep bass and overall warmth and sound stage depth and width from your music listening.
If your main interest is enjoying a home theater surround sound movie experience or playing video games and not just listening to music, you will need a home audio system with 5.1 or 7.1 multi-channel capabilities to experience fantastic sound in your home.
You will find the best values in home theater amplifiers by choosing a multi-channel AV (audio/video) receiver. You have many choices in selecting an AV receiver. They all have about the same features today but only a few have the higher level of hi fidelity sound that will create musical synergy for you. Choose an AV receiver that has at least 120 watts per channel for all channels. Marantz makes some of the best sounding AV receivers that you can buy and Marantz quality is first class.
When budget is not a concern, you will hear the most incredible sounding home theater systems using separate muti-channel high power home audio amplifiers with a matching audio video processor/preamp. You'll want to consider multi-channel home audio amplifiers with at least 150 watts to 350 watts per channel. Some of the top brands in this category are from: Marantz, Krell, Paragon, Lexicon and Mcintosh to name a few. For a significant step up from an AV receiver, separates like the Marantz AV8003 and MM8003 are both affordable and have outstanding musical sound quality making an excellent value for a first class home theater and home audio system.
Just remember, when putting together your home theater entertainment system or home audio music system, the heart of your sound system will come from the quality of the home audio amplifiers that you are using.
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System Review & DISCOUNT Sale
Video Clips. Duration : 2.18 Mins.
Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System Review & DISCOUNT Sale
Visit: HTE550.HotSaleAlert.net to see LOWEST price w free shipping. Watch this in-depth review of the Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System... HTE550.HotSaleAlert.net
Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System Review & DISCOUNT Sale
Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System Review & DISCOUNT Sale
Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System Review & DISCOUNT Sale
Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System Review & DISCOUNT Sale
No URL Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System Review & DISCOUNT Sale
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Nothing beats having a home karaoke system to brush up on your singing skills or to make a party more alive. If you have your own system at home you don't have to go out weekends and spend money to sing.
Further, having your home karaoke system allows you to have fun without necessarily spending cash for drinks if you were at a bar. It is a great way to bond with the whole family by competing with each other and seeing who has the highest score from the machine's scoring system.
To be able to set up your home karaoke system, you need to buy the following components:
1. Multi-format Karaoke Disk Player
This is much better than the CDG Player only, which can only play songs in CDG format. You want to make sure your player can play songs that are in VCD, DVD, and mp3 format as well. The only features that you need though are key controls, play, and a quick and easy to operate song selector. Don't buy models that have feature names you don't even understand because chances are you're never going to use those features.
The technologically inclined can use their laptop or PC as a disk player.
2. Microphones
Make sure that you buy a pair of these for those times you want to sing duets. The choice of buying wireless or wired is up to you however you have to keep in mind the positive as well as negative attributes of each of the two. Many are inclined to use the more expensive wireless mic. The problem this type of microphone is
that it has to have noise canceling filters for you to avoid feedback when the mic loses signal. Also you need to have fresh batteries handy because when the power drains, no more singing.
You don't really need a microphone with out of this world features for simple home use. Any good quality mic whether wired or wireless that has good audio pick up and can handle high and low voice ranges does the job pretty well.
3. Monitor
Any flat screen TV can be used as a monitor and it's better its a bigger screen so you don't miss out reading the lyrics.
4. Heavy Duty Stereo Speakers
Not all speakers are designed for a home karaoke system. Karaoke speakers must be able to make you sound like a pro and allows you to eliminate feedback. You have to choose your speakers carefully because not all speakers sound great when you crank up the volume..
5. Mixer / Amplifier
No I'm not referring to the mixing boards that have sliders because they are of more use to a recording studio. What you need is a high quality mixer/amplifier that has controls for channels as well as it has a graphic equalizer.
6. Music
What's the use of a karaoke system without of course, music? Days before the party, you have to acquire karaoke music stored in discs. If it's party for the kids, you can stock up on nursery rhymes and songs for kids and the adults can collect songs from their favorite artists then its fun time.
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Men In Black 3
Video Clips. Duration : 105.83 Mins.
Men In Black 3
Agent Jay travels back in time to 1969, where he teams up with a younger version of Agent Kay to stop an evil alien from destroying the future. 2012 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Hemisphere - Culver Picture Partners I, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Men In Black 3
Men In Black 3
Men In Black 3
Men In Black 3
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How To Use Multiple Speakers On One Home Theater Or Stereo Amplifier
This is ultimately easy, but before explaining the process I feel it is necessary to provide a warning. Multiple sets of speakers usually can not be hooked directly to a standard audio amplifier without some sort of impedance matching device. This is in reference to those persons whom might want to run speakers in several rooms at the same time (distributed audio). If several sets of speakers are run from one set of speaker terminals the amplifier will usually overheat and shut down, and may blow the output stage (see footnote 1). These remarks do not apply to PA style amplifiers with 25 or 70 volt outputs, which require special speakers with transformers.
The correct solution is to use either an impedance matching speaker selector with the protection enabled, or use impedance matching in wall volume controls. Notice the underline in the sentence above. This is because most speaker selectors are made with a dangerous feature: a button, right in front, to disable the protection. If the switch was in back to prevent accidental deactivation of the speaker protection it would be much better. If the protection is accidentally switched off while running multiple pairs of speakers the amplifier will shut down, may blow output fuses, and very well may damage the output stage of the amplifier. There are really only 2 reasons to turn this switch off, the most relevant being that impedance matching volume controls are being used on ALL pairs of speakers. The other reason would be if only one pair of speakers are being run, making impedance matching unnecessary. In this event, though, leaving the protection switched in will make only a very small difference to the sound, so why not leave it on?
Remember it this way: only put one speaker per pair of terminals (usually red and black) on the amplifier. Do not try to use a surround amp to feed several rooms with one room on the center, one room on the rear surrounds etc. This is due to the way a surround receiver distributes the sound as you may end up with only the voice in one room and only the music in another! The correct hookup for a surround receiver puts surround sound in the main room and sound from the left and right main speakers is distributed. My recommendation for hooking up a surround receiver is as follows. Run the speaker selector from the front left and front right outputs on the amplifier. Hook your front left & right speakers to the first speaker switch on the speaker selector. You will need to re-balance your surround system by running the pink noise test as the speaker selector will decrease the output to the left and right speakers by a small amount. This allows running the main speakers & the other speakers connected to the speaker selector without one set being louder than the others. If your speaker selector has volume controls, you need to make sure when you use your surround system for movies the volume control is at the same setting it was when doing the pink noise test. You may hook the speaker selector to the 'b' speaker switch on the amplifier if speaker volume balance between your main left & right speakers and the rest of the speakers is not an issue.
Another variation is amplifiers with a direct speaker output for zone 2, 3, etc. These are set up to drive 1 pair of speakers, and must be used with impedance matching if more pairs are to be used. The zone outputs allow a second (or third etc) source, for example CD in one room and radio in another.
An impedance matching speaker selector provides multiple outputs from one input, and protects your amplifier from damage. Speaker selectors come with 4-12 outputs. As long as your amp has enough power, you can push as many sets of speakers as you want. Simply connect the speaker selector to your 'A' (or 'B') outputs and the rest of your speakers on the speaker selector. You can purchase speaker selectors with volume controls for each individual speaker. Another option is in wall impedance matching volume controls, which require no speaker selector. Most of these are set with jumpers at install time, providing the correct matching. If you want to run more pairs of speakers than the speaker selectors or volume controls are made for (usually 12 pairs max. depending on the hardware) you probably want a second amplifier to run the second set of volume controls (or speaker selector) from.
So, what is impedance and impedance matching? (Warning: semi technical material ahead)
The music signal to your speakers is called alternating current (or AC), because it varies polarity and voltage. This is in comparison to a battery, for example which produces a steady, or direct current. You may picture current as the amount of water flowing in a pipe (the wire) and voltage as the water pressure. Alternating current can be imagined as a flow that reverses direction and direct current as a steady flow in one direction. The analogy is not exact but is close enough to get a picture of what is happening. Standard house current in the US reverses direction (polarity) at an interval (or frequency) of 60 times per second, measures as 60 Hz (Hertz). If you visit our site you can see this article with explanatory diagrams included.
Your speakers have a certain amount of resistance to current. Imagine the resistance as a constriction in the pipe, limiting the flow. They have a DC resistance, termed the voice coil resistance, and resistance to AC is called impedance. Resistance and impedance values are measured in Ohms. Impedance is a complex sum of dc resistances, plus the resistance to various AC frequencies caused by capacitance and inductance (normal properties of electrical and electronic devices). It is usually specified for speakers as nominal impedance, and is referenced to particular frequencies . However, Just think of it as resistance to AC for practical purposes. This is usually rated at either 8 or 4 Ohms. Most home amplifiers prefer an 8 ohm impedance. Each time another speaker is added in parallel the impedance is reduced. Visualize several pipes connected together to the same pump, obviously the flow from the pump increases (up to the limit of the pumps capability). The amplifier is the pump. Two 8 ohm speakers reduce the impedance to 4 ohms, four 8 ohm speakers reduce the impedance to 2 ohms, and so forth.
An amplifier expects (most require) a certain amount of resistance to current flow. The lower the impedance, the more current flows through the output stage of a typical amplifier. This usually flows directly through a transistor (or other amplifying device) and damages the transistor or protective resistors in the output stage. If you get lucky it only blows an output stage fuse. The moral of the story is always use an impedance matching speaker selector, (or volume control) and your amplifier will always see a safe impedance load.
1 (footnote)
Why does the amplifier output stage blow? This is due to the nature of a typical amplifier. It must first be clear that an amplifier does not actually make the input signal bigger. What it does is recreate a larger (higher current and voltage) copy of the original signal, and puts that out to the speakers. It makes this copy from the power supply voltage, which is derived from the AC from the wall outlet. This voltage must be first converted to DC. If not done efficiently the amplifier will hum (because it doesn't know the words). The amplifier controls the power supply voltage by a sort of valve that controls the output voltage and current. These valves (transistors are usual, but may be integrated circuits, vacuum tubes, or other devices) are controlled by the input signal. In response to the input signal, the amplifying device allows more or less current (and/or voltage) flow through it to the output in an exact (hopefully) replica of the input signal. In order to have the majority of speakers work well with an amplifier, it needs a low output impedance (see the text above for a discussion of impedance). If the output impedance is too high, the frequency response will vary with the impedance of the speakers. This means that some sounds will be accented and some diminished from the levels they should be, and this effect will be different with every different set of speakers. In practical terms this means that, with the most commonly used circuit design, when the transistor (or other device) is fully on, it needs to pass almost all the power supply current available through it. This is the tricky part. The current flow is determined largely by the impedance of the speakers connected. Most amplifiers are designed to work with 8 ohm speakers, and may work into 4 ohms reasonably well. Some so called high current amplifiers may work well into 1 ohm. In other words, the amplifiers are designed that when the output transistors are passing the full current and voltage they can take, they are working into an expected value of impedance. When the impedance (ac resistance) of the connected speakers get too low, more current is allowed to pass through the amplifying device than it can take. It either burns up, or blows a fuse, or burns up emitter resistors, or some other form of damage occurs. Fusing often does not react fast enough to save the circuit. So why not design all systems to work into low impedances? Without going too far into it, this can result in huge cost increases. For example, for theoretically ideal performance into most of today's speaker systems, an amp should double it's power for every halving of impedance. So for 100 watts into 8 ohms, it must put out 200 into 4 ohms, 400 into 2 ohms, and 800 into one ohm(Remember,this is theoretically ideal, and almost no amplifiers can accomplish an actual doubling of power for a halving of load impedance). Most decent amplifiers today have significantly less than .5 ohms output impedance, so as to perform well with speakers that may drop to low impedances at some frequencies. Our theoretical amp, if made to operate into a .5 ohm load would need to have the capability to put out 1600 watts per channel without damaging anything (in the amplifier!). As you can imagine the cost of a good quality amplifier with this kind of capability is substantial. Now think about this: The average user of this massive amp, with 8 ohm speakers, will only see an average output wattage of 100 watts RMS (RMS stands for Root Mean Square, and is basically an average power measurement which is approximately 70 percent of peak power). For most users this would price the amp out of reach. Some amps are built to this type of standard, for the reason that there are speakers that drop as low as one ohm that sound much better if driven by a very high current amplifier. One such example is the Krell Evolution One, which is a monoblock. This means you need two for stereo. They will only set you back about ,000 dollars each. For those who might think I am making this up, use Google to find prices on Krell monoblocks.
Copyright © 2006-2008 Seafawn Enterprises, LLC
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How To Use Multiple Speakers On One Home Theater Or Stereo Amplifier
127 Hours -- Review
Video Clips. Duration : 2.05 Mins.
127 Hours -- Review
127 Hours (2010) -- An epic struggle of determination, 9/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May) on the JPizzle1122 channel. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd Channel ------------ bit.ly Movie Night Show ----- bit.ly FAQ Video --------------- bit.ly T-Shirts ------------------- bit.ly ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ---------- Panasonic ...
127 Hours -- Review
127 Hours -- Review
127 Hours -- Review
127 Hours -- Review
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The Top 3 Problems With Plasma TVs
It's easy to be instantly drawn to a plasma TV screen, especially one that is displaying full HDTV programming. The visual beauty is amazing. And plasma TVs tend to be among the lower cost thin screen technologies that are available today. But there are a few problems inherent to the design and you should at least be aware of them before making a buying decision.
The first is that plasma TVs use inert gases that are illuminated to display colors on the screen. The way that this is accomplished makes for very high contrast, vivid images on the screen, but it also can be affected by high altitudes. If you live above 6,000 - 7,000 feet above sea level, you should know that plasma TVs have to work much harder to produce the same image than they would at lower altitudes. This may not cause an immediate problem, but over time the monitor wears out much faster due to the extra work load. So if you happen to live in high altitudes, just bear this in mind when buying a plasma TV.
The second problem that plasma TVs can exhibit is a susceptibility to screen burn-in. This happens whenever any static image stays on the screen for a very long time and is still faintly visible even when the image changes. It is said to have been "burned-in" to the screen, and can be very irritating to see a ghost pattern still visible as you watch TV. The easy way to avoid this problem with older plasma screens is to make sure that you don't leave the TV on when you are not watching it, and especially when pausing a video game for a very long time. Thankfully though, newer plasma screen TVs have technology built in to address this problem that subtly shifts the image to surrounding pixels as you watch and essentially keeps the image moving although your eye does not detect it.
The third plasma TV problem that we will discuss is the heat it generates as it runs. Plasma screens often cause so much heat inside the unit that manufacturers usually install a fan to cool it down while operating. This actually works very well, but on some models the noise that the fan makes can become an annoyance. So listen for this problem carefully before you buy.
None of these problems are major enough to say that you shouldn't buy a plasma screen TV, but they should be understood beforehand so you can use the equipment properly, and choose the right plasma TV when you buy.
The Top 3 Problems With Plasma TVs
Surrogates -- Review
Tube. Duration : 3.03 Mins.
Surrogates -- Review
Surrogates (2009) -- 6/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases,...
Surrogates -- Review
Surrogates -- Review
Surrogates -- Review
Surrogates -- Review
No URL Surrogates -- Review
Wireless Surround Sound Systems - Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System
The Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel home theater surround sound system is a 7-piece system with 5 compact speakers and one sub-woofer. The audio is powered by a hefty 1000 watts that is more than enough for any room and household. This audio system has all the contemporary features. It is Bluetooth enabled, wireless ready and also comes with an iPod dock. There is also a strategically located USB port where you can just plug in your thumb-drive and enjoy instant audio playback.
Setting up the Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel home theater surround sound system was relatively easy. It took me just over 15 minutes to get the whole thing hooked up. It cable connections were surprisingly easy. Unfortunately, the instructions in this manual makes things more complicated than it seems. Its better that you try to set up the system without using the manual.
The price of the Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel home theater surround sound system will have to be one of its biggest selling factors. At just a little over 0 (at the time of writing), it is just an unbeatable bargain. The audio quality on this system is also quite impressive. I play a lot of dance music so it is important that I get a strong bass. The bass on this Samsung model is just astounding! I swear I saw cracks on my walls that were never there before!
If you have a Samsung HDTV, you must get the Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel home theater surround sound system. All Samsung devices can share the same remote. You can control the volume of the sound system through the controls of your TV. Neat! For the price, the audio quality and features that you receive in this model will exceed your expectations. In short, this sound system provides an amazing value for your money.
Wireless Surround Sound Systems - Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System
Piranha 3D -- Review
Tube. Duration : 3.15 Mins.
Piranha 3D -- Review
Piranha 3D (2010) -- Ridiculously graphic entertainment, if corny, 8/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May) on the JPizzle1122 channel. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd Channel ------------ bit.ly Movie Night Show ----- bit.ly FAQ Video --------------- bit.ly T-Shirts ------------------- bit.ly ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ...
Piranha 3D -- Review
Piranha 3D -- Review
Piranha 3D -- Review
Piranha 3D -- Review
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To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Nothing beats having a home karaoke system to brush up on your singing skills or to make a party more alive. If you have your own system at home you don't have to go out weekends and spend money to sing.
Further, having your home karaoke system allows you to have fun without necessarily spending cash for drinks if you were at a bar. It is a great way to bond with the whole family by competing with each other and seeing who has the highest score from the machine's scoring system.
To be able to set up your home karaoke system, you need to buy the following components:
1. Multi-format Karaoke Disk Player
This is much better than the CDG Player only, which can only play songs in CDG format. You want to make sure your player can play songs that are in VCD, DVD, and mp3 format as well. The only features that you need though are key controls, play, and a quick and easy to operate song selector. Don't buy models that have feature names you don't even understand because chances are you're never going to use those features.
The technologically inclined can use their laptop or PC as a disk player.
2. Microphones
Make sure that you buy a pair of these for those times you want to sing duets. The choice of buying wireless or wired is up to you however you have to keep in mind the positive as well as negative attributes of each of the two. Many are inclined to use the more expensive wireless mic. The problem this type of microphone is
that it has to have noise canceling filters for you to avoid feedback when the mic loses signal. Also you need to have fresh batteries handy because when the power drains, no more singing.
You don't really need a microphone with out of this world features for simple home use. Any good quality mic whether wired or wireless that has good audio pick up and can handle high and low voice ranges does the job pretty well.
3. Monitor
Any flat screen TV can be used as a monitor and it's better its a bigger screen so you don't miss out reading the lyrics.
4. Heavy Duty Stereo Speakers
Not all speakers are designed for a home karaoke system. Karaoke speakers must be able to make you sound like a pro and allows you to eliminate feedback. You have to choose your speakers carefully because not all speakers sound great when you crank up the volume..
5. Mixer / Amplifier
No I'm not referring to the mixing boards that have sliders because they are of more use to a recording studio. What you need is a high quality mixer/amplifier that has controls for channels as well as it has a graphic equalizer.
6. Music
What's the use of a karaoke system without of course, music? Days before the party, you have to acquire karaoke music stored in discs. If it's party for the kids, you can stock up on nursery rhymes and songs for kids and the adults can collect songs from their favorite artists then its fun time.
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Railroad Earth - Long Way To Go
Video Clips. Duration : 5.98 Mins.
Railroad Earth - Long Way To Go
Railroad Earth performs Long Way To Go at the Colonial Theater, Keene, NH, 2009-2-21. Brought to you by LESS THAN FACE PRODUCTIONS.
Railroad Earth - Long Way To Go
Railroad Earth - Long Way To Go
Railroad Earth - Long Way To Go
Railroad Earth - Long Way To Go
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LCD TV Problems - How You Can Fix Them Fast
There are many reasons you could be having problems with your LCD TV. The thing to remember is that these things are microprocessor based, just like your computer. That means that at the first sign of trouble you should do the same thing you do with your computer; reboot it! That's right, if your LCD TV is dead ir unresponsive, turn it off with the remote or power button, wait about 10 seconds, then unplug it from the wall. After about 1 minute, plug the power back in and turn the TV on again. With any luck, your TV is now fixed. The next thing that causes problems with all new TVs, not just LCDs is the HDMI connection.
You see, HDMI is a fantastic way to get high definition video, but it's so good that the content providers were worried their stuff would end up out on the Internet in pure form, easy to copy and distribute. To prevent such an occurrence, a copy protection scheme called High Density Copy Protection (HDCP) was developed. This is an electronic data handshake system where the source and display devices have to recognize each other and agree that it's okay to send video. If there is no handshake, or the process gets corrupted in some way, poof, no more video. This problem was extremely prevalent in the early days of HDMI, but has been steadily improving since about the end of 2007 or early 2008.
If you are having problems with your TV, it may actually be an HDMI related issue. Here are some of the problems you might encounter.
Problem 1: No Picture
If you see, or rather don't see this, then shut everything down and then restart the system. Make sure all the connections are in place first. Look at the screen. If you see a resolution notice chances are the DDC line has communicated between source and sink. Good news for you! The problem is likely video related.
Problem 2: Flashes, No Audio, Pink Screen
No audio accompanied by a pink screen is usually indicative of a DDC communication problem. What's that mean for you? To check this, power up the system while all the HDMI cables are connected. If possible, try using shorter cables. Here you need to see if the system works at all. If for some reason the system still fails to come on, try using different inputs. You may find that your cable box will work and your DVD may not or vice versa. This can happen because of stray capacitance on the DDC line inside the HDMI cable. This may actually be caused by the hardware itself. If you think it may be, try getting a DDC line conditioner. Normally, these types of problems completely go away when conditioning is introduced.
Problem 3: Sparkles in the Picture
This is normally a video data transmission problem. Typically data transmission problems with HDMI are cable related. It could be that the cable is underperforming due to its length. This is especially common with cheap cables. Remember the HDMI spec says cable length should not exceed 10 meters. Shortening the cable should improve the signal integrity. Another possibility in this situation is a bad connector. HDMI connectors are notoriously fickle anyway.Try a new cable at each position along the signal path.
Symptom 4: Picture Comes On, Then Goes Off
Typically, this is caused by one of two things. The first is when one or more of the video TMDS channels has a high bit error rate or is not working at all. Next is when the DDC line doesn't quite make it. In that case, the HDCP is not getting a new refresh key. Buy a in a better quality cable with larger wire. When it comes to wire gauge, smaller gauge equals bigger wire diameter. Hence 20 gauge is larger diameter than 24 gauge.
If you're having LCD TV problems, check these things before you call a TV repair company. In many cases you can easily fix the problem yourself without spending a fortune.
LCD TV Problems - How You Can Fix Them Fast
Eat. Pray. Love. -- Review
Tube. Duration : 2.60 Mins.
Eat. Pray. Love. -- Review
Eat. Pray. Love. (2010) -- A boring mid-life crisis, 4/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night Reviews ~~ Each "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New, full episodes of Movie Night are uploaded to the JPizzle1122 channel every Friday, November through May. Each "trailer review" is a short, 3-minute upload where Jon shares his thoughts, commentary, and speculation on an upcoming film's recently released trailer. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd ...
Eat. Pray. Love. -- Review
Eat. Pray. Love. -- Review
Eat. Pray. Love. -- Review
Eat. Pray. Love. -- Review
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Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater
What is a Receiver?
A receiver is that big, heavy thing that you plug your speakers and other components into (like a DVD player, TV, CD player, Xbox, PlayStation, iPod, and etc.). Its the "brain" of the show, really. The idea of connecting all your components to a receiver is the concept of audio/video switching, allowing you to switch to different video sources (like TV, DVD, camcorder) on your TV
and thus changing the audio source accordingly - all without touching anything but the receiver.
Of course, the main purpose behind audio/video switching with a receiver is to drive audio to external speakers, like surround sound or stereo speakers.
Most receivers have a plethora of inputs; up to 8 speakers and a subwoofer (more commonly, 5.1, or five speakers and a subwoofer), several video inputs, and even HDMI inputs. You could plug your Xbox, Plasma, and DVD player into the receiver and use one remote to switch between all the different video sources (games, TV, DVD video) and have your speakers pump out surround-sound. Let's start with inputs and outputs. If you don't understand something, read through the entire How-To as most of it will be explained in detail.
Keep in mind that a receiver is the hub of your entire home theatre, so this How-To will actually guide you through the basics of connecting your complete home theater.
So what the heck is all this 'stuff' on the back of your receiver?
I'm going to go over just about anything that you would find on the back of your receiver. The one I'm basing this guide off of is a Harman Kardon AVR-247 I'm going to start from the top left of the unit and work my way to the right, then I'll start at the left of the next row and so on.
The first three inputs are for antennas. An FM antenna cable would slide on to the first jack while two speaker wires would plug into the remaining slots for AM. Of course, you don't have to plug your antennas in, but if you'd like AM/FM reception through your speakers, you'll want to go ahead and do that. These are standard connections, so if you lose one of your antennas, just go buy another for a few bucks.
You've probably heard of composite video. Its a very basic video connection used by most any component (TV, DVD, VCR especially). Its common and its cheap. As such, its very low quality.
Composite uses an RCA cable for video (yellow) and two more RCA cables for audio (red and white, stereo). The problem is that a composite video cable combines luminance and chrominance in the same cable, reducing the quality of the picture. You lose a lot of sharpness, and the color begins to degrade from the original source. Its useful when you need the extra input or the device you're connecting only has composite video. Otherwise, use something else, like component video. Sounds similar; very different.
S-Video is next in line after composite. It uses a different type of connector (five pins in a circle) and gives you marginally better video quality. It is also a video-only cable, so you'll need to plug in audio separately. In this case, you'll probably use a pair of red and white RCA cables for your audio inputs.
Next up: a ton of composite audio inputs. These inputs use left channel and right channel RCA cables, typically red and white. They look just like the yellow composite video cable, and you could even use them for video and the yellow for audio, but let's keep the color scheme how it is ;) Composite audio is the bottom-of-the-barrel in audio. Its perfectly fine for most use, but if you're looking for high quality surround sound, you don't want composite. Game systems, like the Wii or Xbox, and very basic DVD players are a perfect match for composite audio.
The same goes to VCRs, CD players, and anything that only has a composite audio output. Plus, if you don't have surround sound, or your receiver is only two channels (2.1, stereo sound), you won't be able to use anything but composite audio. Note that there is a composite audio input under each composite video input so that it is easy to match them up. Plug them in the wrong inputs and you won't get sound when you're on that particular video input.
Here we have one of the least-used features of a modern receiver: 6 (or 8) channel direct input. This is only used for two purposes: SACD or DVD Audio. SACD is an acronym for Super Audio CD. It is a proprietary audio format developed by Sony for special CDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound. That means you need a CD or DVD/CD player that supports SACDs, a receiver with SACD support (as in the picture), and of course Super Audio CD's. DVD Audio is the same idea, different brand, different media (its a DVD, not a CD!).
DVD Audio discs are special DVDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound and can only be played by devices with support for them. These CDs go all the way up to 7.1 surround sound, meaning you would need to have two front, two rear, two side speakers and a subwoofer to enjoy full 7.1 surround sound. Most receivers support up to 7.1 now but you won't find DVDs with that kind of capability for movies. 5.1 surround is still the defacto standard, so don't run out and buy more speakers any time soon.
You could skip this next little item because it is unique to this brand of receiver (Harman Kardon). The Bridge" is a proprietary connection they developed for you to connect
an iPod. You need to buy a separate component that includes a docking station and special cables to connect the iPod. It fully integrates with the receiver, displaying
menus and songs on the front LCD screen of the receiver. This allows you to easily pump your tunes through your speakers, whether it be stereo sound or full surround sound.
Of course, the music on your iPod is stereo sound, so the best you can get is simulated surround sound or stereo surround; the same music playing in the front two channels
is put through the rear and center channels. Some receivers do this more intelligently than others, but more on that later.
Here we have our high-end sound inputs/outputs. Basically the same performance wise, you have fiber optic connections (with the square shape) and digital coaxial (just like an RCA cable).
Both of these are 100% digital, whereas composite is analog. The only way you can get true surround sound from any source is by using one of these connections (or the SACD/DVD Audio option)
Almost all DVD players these days have either optical or digital coaxial outputs (sometimes, both). Many high definition cable and satellite boxes also come with these
connections so you can enjoy 5.1 surround sound on high definition channels. Choosing between the two, there's really no different in audio quality, so feel free to use
what you'd like (or what you're forced to).
I don't think I need an image for the next plug. Its a pair of power inputs. One is for powering the receiver, the other for whatever you'd like. This way, when you turn
on the receiver, you give power to the other device (be it a DVD player, CD player, cable box, whatever). I don't necessarily recommend this unless it specifically suits
your needs. It is useful if you're running low on outlets, of course.
Something else you'll never use: D-bus RC-5 input/output. This is used for infrared remote controls to take over your home theater system. Honestly, its not something any of us will ever use. Some of the real high-end junkies might be using something for it, but I've never even come across a device that uses this technology. Stick to the remote that came with your unit, or buy a quality universal remote control. There's no need for this option. An alternate use for this may be a bit more common: if your receiver's front panel is blocked (like inside a cabinet), you could get an infrared transmitter to latch on to the front of it. This transmitter would hook up to another device somewhere in your room that will accept signals from your remote control. The receiving device then transmits the remote's commands to your receiver (via the transmitter you've attached to the front over the regular infrared transmitter).
Pre-outs , located right under the Remote in/out. Pre-outs are used when you'd like to add an amplifier to your system to boost the power (and hence volume/audio quality). Average
users will not use this for anything but the subwoofer preout. You'll want to run a subwoofer cable from your subwoofer to the subwoofer pre-out to provide it with
the right frequencies. This is the proper way to connect your subwoofer to your surround sound system. The other inputs won't be used unless you plan on adding
an amplifier. This is highly unnecessary for home use. You might add an amp if you're trying to fill a room the size of a small house with enough sound, but you're not, right?
Here we finally get to the meat of the system: the speaker inputs! Harman Kardon receivers use bind posts for connecting speakers, as seen in the picture. They
work by being loosened up as your turn them counter-clockwise, then you sneak the speaker wire in underneath the caps and tighten them back up by turning clockwise. This'll
give your speaker wire a nice tug fit that probably won't loosen up on itself over time. Other brands may use other types of connectors, but bind posts are very common.
You might have been able to tell this is a 7.1 channel receiver because of the speaker inputs.
You've got room for 2 front left and right speakers, 2 rear left and right speakers,
a center channel, and two left and right "surround" channels which are placed somewhere in between your front and rear speakers ("side surround", or 7.1). If you have enough
speakers, you can go ahead and plug in those extra 2 side ones, but they won't play any sound at all on a 5.1 DVD. You would need a DVD that supports 7.1
surround sound, and at this time, there just isn't a market for it. CDs will gladly blast stereo surround through all 7 speakers, though, so for some larger rooms, that's an
advantage.
Our final set of connectors for this receiver: component video . The best video you can get next to composite or s-video. You'll notice its a set of three cables (all for video),
usually Red, Green and Blue. Don't think that's what the cable does, though - it separates the video signal by luminance and two separate color channels. In the past, component
did it in fact represent R, G, B (splitting the primary colors in transmit and recombining them at the destination device), but that is not used in current component video
connections. Component video can carry high definition signals, all the way up to 1080p, so it is the most cost effective and readily available high definition input.
Not seen on this receiver are DVI and HDMI, the two all-digital video connections.
HDMI is the newest, fastest, sharpest video and audio connection available today. Its the only cable that can carry audio and video in one - not to mention, in high definition.
HDMI must be supported by the source and the display you're connecting it to to use all of its features. Not all DVD players, cable boxes, or receivers support both
audio and video in HDMI. Its becoming more and more of a standard now to support both. The advantage is clear: less cable clutter, higher quality audio and video. You can get up
to 1080p high definition video and 7.1 surround sound through an HDMI cable. Newer cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, high definition DVD players, and more expensive receivers
support the full capability of HDMI. Its the best you can get as all-digital goes.
The last connection for this article is DVI. DVI is also all digital like HDMI, but it cannot process audio signals. HDMI may provide a technically superior image,
but I don't think anyone could tell the difference. DVI supports high definition video all the way up to 1080p, just like HDMI. Its being used less frequently now,
but if you've bought a new computer or video card for your PC recently, it probably has a DVI (or two) port on it. Most computer monitors use DVI now and video cards
have followed suit. HDMI is edging its way into the PC market, but its dominance is seen in the home theater arena.
Now that you've familiarized yourself with common connections, let's plug it all together.
This part of the receiver How-To is going to guide you through hooking a 5.1 surround sound system(5 speakers and a subwoofer) with a high-definition TV, a high-definition cable or satellite box, a DVD player, and a 5.1 receiver.
Your TV & Components
Where you put your TV is dependent on how large it is, how large your room is, and where you will be sitting. If its 50 inches, don't sit more than 10-15 feet away; but no less, either.
A 60" set is perfect for 12-20 feet. If you have a 32 inch set, try to sit no farther than 8-12 feet away. Your receiver, DVD player, cable box, and other components should obviously be close together, but don't place them physically on top of each other. They all get hot, especially your receiver. If you have no other choice, slide a thin piece of plywood between the components to help dispense the heat.
Lay Out of Speakers
The first step is to lay out your setup. Different rooms call for different locations for your speakers and subwoofer. If your room is a typical rectangle, go ahead and place your two front left and right speakers somewhere flush with the television on that side of the room. Your left speaker goes toward the left corner, right speaker toward the right corner. Don't bother with speaker wire yet (unless your speakers come with speaker wire attached already; in that case, just let them dangle for now). Note that which speaker is left or right is solely dependent on how you connect them to your receiver. Your speakers aren't actually designated "left" or "right".
Depending on how you acquired your speakers, your front speakers could be larger than your rear speakers. That's how you know they're for the front. Otherwise, all your speakers are the same shape and size, and you can use each for any purpose.
One exception: the center channel. Usually, a center channel is much shorter and wider than your other speakers. It should only be used for the center channel. Sometimes, all 5 of your speakers could be the same, usually on a very inexpensive setup. You can use any of these speakers for any purpose.
Your center channel should always go either directly on top or under your television set. However you have to do this, get it done! It's not called the center channel for nothing, you know. Any movie will pump out almost 90% of the voices you hear and a majority of the rest of the sounds through the center channel. It is a vitally important component to your surround sound setup.
Your subwoofer should always be on the floor. If it is impossible to place it on the floor, get it as close to the floor as possible. Placing it behind objections or in closets will diminish its effects. In a perfect setup, the subwoofer would be on the floor close to the TV (perhaps off to the left or right) in your line of sight. Nothing should block the side of the subwoofer that air will come out of (usually covered by a grill protecting the subwoofer speaker itself).
When it comes to finding a good spot for your speakers, you might want to mount them. You can usually buy compatible speaker mounts online or in stores. You can also
use existing shelving, buy some shelving, or place them on tables or other objects. No matter how you do it, try to keep the speakers as close to ear level as possible. A speaker mounted at the ceiling of your room isn't going to give you the optimal aural experience.
The last thing to keep in mind about layout is speaker wire. You'll probably need at least 100ft of speaker wire, but you'll often find yourself using much more if you
try running wire through your ceiling, under carpeting, up through the basement, or around objects to conceal it. Take measurements and buy at least 10% more wire than
you think you need. You'll probably use it!
Cabling
You need to know the different kind of speaker wire available to you before setting up your home theatre. If you bought an HTIB (home theater in a box), it probably came with 100ft of horribly cheap speaker wire. You don't want that! Do yourself a favor: buy some high-quality, 14-gauge speaker wire. Anything higher than 14-gauge is just to thin and will be susceptible to interence, quality loss, and poor quality over longer distances. Fourteen gauge is a good thickness and suitable for most home theatres. Make sure its also not too thick - some speaker wire simply will not fit in to the speaker wire jacks on some receivers.
Some receivers use proprietary speaker inputs. Sony is one example. Many Sony receivers have special connectors for speaker wire and will not accept a standard speaker wire. You'll need to use either the Sony-provided speaker wire, take the ends off of Sony speaker wire and put it on your own, or buy some of these special connectors from Sony directly to place on your speaker wire. My recommendation? Avoid any receivers with non-standard speaker wire posts/jacks/connectors. Look for bind posts or other jacks that allow you to slide in and clamp down on a typical speaker wire.
Once you've got your speaker wire sorted out, you'll have to do some cutting and stripping if you opted to purchase your own. This is way easier than it sounds, so don't worry!
Measure out each length one at a time, cutting the speaker wire with either really great scissors or a sharp blade. Now you need to strip the ends of the wire. Use either a stripping tool or plain old scissors. You can place the scissors on the cable and gently apply some pressure as you twist the scissors around the cable, carefully slicing into the plastic coating. Eventually, it'll get weak enough that you can just slide it off by tugging on it with your fingers. You need at least 1/4" of exposed wire.
Now you can connect your speakers. Note on your speaker wire the difference between the two ends. You'll need to use one as your positive and one as your negative. Sometimes the coating is a different color between the two or there is text on one and not on the other. Keep track of this - whichever side you use for positive on your speaker, use it for positive on your receiver. Crossing the two can cause damage, either immediately or sometime in the future. It might work this way but you don't want it to!
Connecting the speakers is easy enough. Front left to front left on your receiver, center speaker to center on your receiver, etc... Your rear speakers may be referred to as "Surround" or "Rear Surround" instead of just "Rear", but keep in mind, if you have a 7.1 or 8.1 channel receiver, "Surround" may indicate side surround speakers, not rear speakers.
Subwoofers
Your subwoofer is going to be a little more complicated. There are a few different ways to do it and many variations of inputs/ouputs on the back side of subwoofers. I'm going to go with the most standard and efficient method first.
You will need a subwoofer cable for connecting your sub. If you don't have one or don't want to buy one, you can substitute it for a standard red or white RCA cable (or a pair, since they are usually connected; just let the other cable dangle). It will work, but its really not the best way to do it. You'll also need whats called a Y adapter. On the back of your sub, there should be a left/right input (red and white). You plug the Y adapter in to these connections and then your subwoofer cable (or RCA cable) in the other end of the Y (note: if you don't have a Y adapter, just choose the left or right input to plug into).
Now, take the other end of your cable and plug it into your receiver's
subwoofer preout. Hopefully you have a powered sub, meaning it gets plugged into an AC power outlet. All you need to do now is plug that in and your subwoofer is good to.
If you don't have RCA jacks on your subwoofer, or it only has speaker wire jacks (and its most likely not powered), you'll need to connect it the old fashioned way. Your front left and right speakers will plug into your subwoofer's ouput jacks instead of your receiver. You'll then run speaker wire from the left and right inputs on the subwoofer to your left and right speaker outputs on your receiver. This way, the subwoofer is powered by the receiver and will not work as well as a powered sub. You also take some power away from your front speakers with this method. A good idea is to buy a new, powered subwoofer with line in RCA jacks.
Connecting the Dots
You've got the hard stuff out of the way. Now finish it up by connecting your TV, DVD, and cable/satellite box. Always try using the best options first. If your DVD
has HDMI and so does your receiver, use it. If your DVD only has composite, s-video, and component, use component video cable. When it comes to audio, you absolutely need
to use digital coaxial (jacks are usually orange) or fiber optic (usually the jack is recessed into the unit and has a door on it; when the door is open, a red light is visible). If you do not use either of these two, you won't get true surround sound! When all else fails, resort to composite (red and white) audio connectors.
Note: Look closely at the connections on your receiver. Everything is labeled, like the first set of red, green, and blue component video inputs might be labeled "Comp 1". If you're using composite audio cablesfor your sound, you'll need to plug them into the jacks that coordinate with "Comp 1". This might not be clear by looking at the receiver, so refer to your receiver's manual to figure out which video inputs use which audio inputs. Most often, you'll be able to configure them from the receiver's internal menu using the remote control.
On some receivers, all the component video inputs, for example, are linked to a single composite audio input (usually "DVD"), so if you connect more than one of the component inputs, you will be competing for sound when more than one device is active. This is why you'd want to configure the component inputs to use different audio inputs.
Your manual is the only way to figure out how to go about it. Composite video will usually match up to composite audio inputs with naming conventions like Video 1 -> Video 1, Video 2 -> Video 2, etc., but cables like component and DVI may not. You should also configure digital audio inputs to match up with the video inputs you're planning on using. For example, if you're using a digital coaxial input (possibly "Digital 1"), and you use component video, you'll want to match "Digital 1" with "Comp 1". Again, refer to your users manual for how to do this.
Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (Leg. PT/BR)
Video Clips. Duration : 3.88 Mins.
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (Leg. PT/BR)
Música de 1993... Lembrança dos bons tempos de minha infancia :)
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (Leg. PT/BR)
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (Leg. PT/BR)
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (Leg. PT/BR)
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (Leg. PT/BR)
No URL Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (Leg. PT/BR)
Música de 1993... Lembrança dos bons tempos de minha infancia :)
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Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater
Home Theater
Eat. Pray. Love. (2010) -- A boring mid-life crisis, 4/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night Reviews ~~ Each "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New, full episodes of Movie Night are uploaded to the JPizzle1122 channel every Friday, November through May. Each "trailer review" is a short, 3-minute upload where Jon shares his thoughts, commentary, and speculation on an upcoming film's recently released trailer. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd ...
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LCD TV Problems - How You Can Fix Them Fast
Home Theater
Railroad Earth performs Long Way To Go at the Colonial Theater, Keene, NH, 2009-2-21. Brought to you by LESS THAN FACE PRODUCTIONS.
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To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Piranha 3D (2010) -- Ridiculously graphic entertainment, if corny, 8/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May) on the JPizzle1122 channel. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd Channel ------------ bit.ly Movie Night Show ----- bit.ly FAQ Video --------------- bit.ly T-Shirts ------------------- bit.ly ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ...
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Wireless Surround Sound Systems - Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System
Wireless Surround Sound Systems - Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System
Wireless Surround Sound Systems - Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System
Surrogates (2009) -- 6/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases,...
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The Top 3 Problems With Plasma TVs
Home Theater
127 Hours (2010) -- An epic struggle of determination, 9/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May) on the JPizzle1122 channel. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd Channel ------------ bit.ly Movie Night Show ----- bit.ly FAQ Video --------------- bit.ly T-Shirts ------------------- bit.ly ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ---------- Panasonic ...
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How To Use Multiple Speakers On One Home Theater Or Stereo Amplifier
How To Use Multiple Speakers On One Home Theater Or Stereo Amplifier
How To Use Multiple Speakers On One Home Theater Or Stereo Amplifier
Agent Jay travels back in time to 1969, where he teams up with a younger version of Agent Kay to stop an evil alien from destroying the future. 2012 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Hemisphere - Culver Picture Partners I, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Visit: HTE550.HotSaleAlert.net to see LOWEST price w free shipping. Watch this in-depth review of the Samsung HT-E550 HTIB Home Theater System... HTE550.HotSaleAlert.net
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Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
Butterfly Effect (2004) -- Emotionally powerful and thought-provoking, 10/10. Full episodes of Movie Night, every Friday night at: bit.ly ~~ Movie Night ~~ This "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May) on the JPizzle1122 channel. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Facebook ---------------- bit.ly Twitter --------------------- bit.ly Main Channel ----------- bit.ly 2nd Channel ------------ bit.ly Movie Night Show ----- bit.ly FAQ Video --------------- bit.ly T-Shirts ------------------- bit.ly ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ...
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Home Theater
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
Home Audio Amplifiers - 7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Home Entertainment Sound
NEW CHANNEL: The Movie Night Archive -- bit.ly Rate Next Episode's Films: • Superman (1978) -- micropoll.com • Batman -- micropoll.com • X-men -- micropoll.com * Tweet a review with the #JPMN hashtag, and have it featured on the show! * Tonight's Films: • Titanic -- Wonderfully grand achievement. Emotionally exhilarating, 10/10. • Titanic II -- Laughably terrible mess, awful effects, 1/10. • FACTOR FACTS • Enjoyment -- How enjoyable is the film? Story ---------- Is it interesting, are the characters well-written? Technical ---- The editing, directing, and sound. Acting -------- Convincing, or just a script-reader? Visuals ------- Cinematography and special effects. Impact -------- Does it make you laugh/cry/feel? Pacing ------- Tempo appropriate within run-time? Validity ------- Given the environment, is it believable? Mood --------- Music, costumes, art-design. Re-Watch --- Good enough to watch twice? ~~ Movie Night ~~ Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New episodes every Friday (November through May). Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web ...
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Home Theater
To Set Up Your Home Karaoke System Here's What You Need to Buy
Home Theater
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