Rick_Derris

I have a Samsung HD-841, and i'm not to happy with it. Most of the time it plays fine, but certain DVD's it has trouble playing, it kind of jumps/skips around and temporally freezes up. It isnt a problem with scratchs or anything, yesterday I open a brand new copy of The Wall, and it had the same problem. I brought my parents the OppoDigital OPDV971H, and they seem to like it. I had heard good reviews on it, so I figured I'd use them as guinea pigs. I've only been over to there place a couple of times to watch movies, but it seems to work great. The only thing that I've noticed with it is that it seems that it always defaults back to 480p, everytime the dvd gets shut off. Oh, also I dont think it plays SACD's. Sorry for only having knowlege about 2 dvd players. But, like oldbuckster said, make sure it has at least component output, I would also try to get one that has DVI and/or HDMI and an optical out. -Rick

Excellent, thanks again for the help. So I'll try and track myself down a pair of sb-3. and then I'll be all set. -Rick

yeap, now I'm more confused. So THX doesnt recommend the SS type speakers? I guess that would make sense, becuase they would probably throw the sound around a bit more, and then the sound is less localized. So Ideally I should have go with bookshelf for the surrounds? And the SB-3's will Timbre-match my other speakers right? Right now, I have an apartment with the worst layout ever for a HT system. my mains are 8 feet apart, and the surround are 11 feet back from my mains. So there currently is no way for me to sit 5 feet from the back rears,.. unless I sit 6 feet from the mains, and I'm not sure that is ideal. But like I said, I'm have these for a while, so hopefully after I get a new job and new place, I will have a better setup. So, if each was given there ideal setup, the bookshelves would be better then the surrounds? And say I put the bookshelves in the back, how high should I put them? Thanks, Rick

I currently have the old synergy series speakers. And I have a 5.1 setup right now with the sf-3's, sc-3, and ss-3's. I am thinking of going to 7.1, and I figure I need to do it soon, otherwise i wont be able to get the matching pieces. And, before you say anything, I know I should upgrade to the reference's,but money is tight, because i'm going to be quiting my soul sucking job, so I am probably going to have this for a long while, Which isnt too bad because I happen to like them, but I have never heard the reference series, so like they say ignorance is bliss. Anyway, I was wondering, if I should get the SB-3 or SS-3 for my second set of surrounds? What would be the difference between them, I know the technical stats, but sonicly how would they be different? Also, if I got the SB-3's, should I put them on the side position or the rear position? Thanks for your help, Rick

Thank you very much for the help understanding this all. So, just to get this straight, my reciever has 120w per channel. So at +18dB, it is outputting 120W, and then I just work backwards from there to find the spot where 1w is outputed? Then just one other little thing I noticed last night, I have the SF-3, SS-3 and SC-3. They are rated at 150w, 125w, 150w, respectively (if memory servers me correctly). But on the sticker on the back of the speaker, it says max input = 100w. If the speakers are 150w, why is it saying only input 100w? Is it just a safety type thing to help prevent you from destroying your speaker? Thanks again for all your help, -Rick

DrWho- "Yes. 1 watt is fed to the speaker and then an SPL meter is placed one meter away - so the rating is measured to be 97dB at 1 meter with 1 watt of power. -10 on your reciever is pretty loud, but probably not levels that will cause hearing damage; you're probably pushing 95dB, and at 0 you are pushing about 105dB. " I'm confused, what type of scale is the dB releative to watts on? From the above example I'm guessing that -5db is actually the point where 1 watt of power is inputed in to the speaker, is that correct? Oh, I guess while also sort of on the topic I have another question. When I'm listening to the Radio I typically have my receiver set to -41dB, music through my dvd player -45dB, but movies I have the receiver up around -25dB. Why is that? does it have to do with the signal coming from the source being stronger or weaker? And then how does that play apart in how high you can actually turn your reciever up to? -Rick

Thanks for the help. So as long as it wont damage my speakers, I'll keep them where they are for now, and then when I get a chance, I'll build a shelf, or another level on my entertainment stand, so that will elimintate the noise completely. And yeah, my tv is kind of small. It was a toss up, I could have gotten a bigger better TV, not that this on is bad, it is HD ready and everything, but it isnt really big enough, Or I could have gotten the speakers and audio stuff. And I decided to go with the audio stuff, figuring go bigger cause you can allways turn the volume lower, and the fact that the speaker will probably outlast the TV by many years, I figured getting a good audio system would be the better starting ground. And I guess on a little side note, my plans where between the Klispch and a smaller tv, or a bigger Tv, probably DLP, with bose speakers. And after listening and comparing the bose to the Synergy, I decided that the remedies to the respective scenerios would either be to buy binoculars or stab my ear drums. And buying binoculars is most certainly the least painful approach. -Rick

Ok, I got my center channel, the sc-3, and I love it. IT is great, and movies are much more enjoyable to watch. Well, I have the center channel sitting on top of my TV, samsung 27" crt. Well, I had my reciever off, and i had my tv volume really low, and I noticed sound coming from the center channel. Very quite, but a staticy noise. So, I checked the wires, and rewired it, moved the speaker wire so it wasnt picking up stray signals from the power wires, but the static still continued. Well, I went to my surronds, and they didnt make any noise. I went to my Mains, they are about 4", yes 4 inches, from the side of the tv, and I could hear a little static from them, I had to put my ear into the tweeter to hear it, but it definately was making noise. Then I realized, it must be interferrence from the TV. So I turned the TV off, and the static sound stopped. Now the reason everything is so close together is because I'm an apartment dweller, so i dont have much choice as to my setup. And I know I'm getting next to no stereo imagining from having my mains within like 4 feet of each other, and I'll probably rearrange my lay out one of theses days really soon. So that will fix the problem with the mains, but what should I do with the center channel? I think it would be best to keep it on top of the TV, so is there anything I can do to eliminate the static sound? Or do I just need to add a shelf on top of my Tv, and keep the center channel up there? Also, how much damage do you think that that static sound cause on my mains? I'm had them set up like that for about 3 months, and the TV is on for about 40 hours a week. The sound is really only coming out of the tweeter, as far as I can tell. Sorry for the long, and probably confusing letter. And thank you in advance for you help, -Rick

Thank you so much for your help. I played with the set up and removed the center channel. I also, aimed the speakers to my seat, and it did make a huge difference. Definately a massive improvement over what I was doing. I'll try to get the proper center channel asap, but until then this is a world of an improvement over what I was doing. I'll be honest, part of the reason I did get his recieve was because of the controller. I was pretty much sold on Denon based upon what everyone has said about it, and how most feel it is a very neutral sounding system, not bright or warm, just very neutral. And then looking at all the recievers, most of the controllers are very ugly. Not to sound like a __________ (fill in the blank with what ever you feel is appropriate), but I like my stuff to have a nice look to it. My chair and speakers are black, my TV, DVD, VCR, Receiver are all silver. So seeing that controller, I was like that is aweesome looking. And the reciever I've heard and read reviews on, so I know it was also good. I do really wish that they included the Mic. But you cant have everything. So I'll have to go and grab one next chance I get. Once again, thanks for all the help, Rick

Ok, then hopefully when I switch the center channel off in the setup it'll help with the voices. I didnt realize that it was capable of sepearting the center singal into the front channels, that's cool. And for the Micophone hook up, I dont have it. I was thinking about getting it, but I wasnt sure if it would really be worth it. Does it really make a big or at least noticable difference? If so, then I'll have to go and get one, because trying to properly set everything up is a pain, and if that thing will automatically do it for me, and do it better then I can, I'd imagine it is well worth the money. Have any of you actually tried it? And how did you like it? Also, thanks for the link to ebay, I'll have to bid on it. I tried a few days ago on one that same auctioner had, but I got beaten in the last seconds. So I'll have to be quicker this time around. And if I cant manage to get the SC-3, then I'll go for the RC-3. So I guess one last question, are there any other companies who's center channels will blend nicely with what I have? Thanks again, Rick

Shawn, I didnt even think of turning off the center channel. I'll have to try that. But being that the signal is coming in optically, in Dolby digital 5.1, Do I really have a choice on which speakers to make present? I assumed that that setup was for other play modes, and that you had no real options when it came to the Dolby digital. Because I know when I have a dobly digital source hooked up to the reciever, a different speaker digram of lights pops on. And I dont think I can control that. But I'll give it a shot when I get home. Thanks for the recommendations on the speakers. Unfortuanly I looked and see that the RC-3 and RC-3II are both out of production, so they will probably be difficult to find also. So I'll do what you suggest and look for the SC-3 fist, and if I cant find it I'll look for the RC-3's. But what is the difference in sound between the reference and the synergies? Will it really sound bad, or just not sound even with the other speakers? Has anyone run or tried that type of setup? Thanks again, Rick

OK, I have the SF-3's and the SS-3's, and a Denon 3805. I've had this set up for about 8 months now. I have no center channel. The problem was, I couldnt get the SC-3 at the time, and I sort of forgot about it. Well I just got a membership at a video store, and now I see I am really missing the center channel. I used to listen to only music, so everythign was fine, but watching a movie I have to turn the sound way up (-25 ish) to hear the voices, then I have to drop the sound when action starts (-35ish). SO I need to get a center channel. They stopped making the SC-3, so I am looking on ebay to get one, but I keep losing the bid wars. Well to my real point, I have never heard the referrence line. But I see that he RC-35 is sort of close to the SC-3 in specs. So how would that sound? I know if I mixed mains it would be ugly, but the center channel doesnt have a counter part, so I wouldnt really be compairing it directly to anything. Or would the C-3 be a better choice? I dont really like the way the C-3 looks, but I imagine it sounds different then the SC-3, but It probably would sound closer to the SC-3 then the RC-35 does. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rick