chucky7

The design for AD300 is somewhat different from ADS2000 since ADS2000 is more exclusively for 8200 or multimedia speakers that do not have woofers on the satellite speakers. ADS2000 then forces the bass signals of the center and surround speakers into the subwoofer. However, like I said before, AD300 is more compatible with audio speakers and does not have the limitations of the ADS2000.

Also, when you are playing music and games, you will get 5 channels as long as you have a 5.1 soundcard. This is so because you will only get 5.1 when you are running WINDVD or POWERDVD. When you play music and games, it is your soundcard that is actually working to give you 5 channels. Games out there only support 5 channel now. That is why when you play games with SBlive Value, you only get 4 channels. The above theory will only work if you have a 5.1 soundcard connected to a 5.1 speaker system WITHOUT a DTS/AC-3 decoder in between.

I know that when you check the specs for WinDVD 2.3, it does not say that it can decode DTS. However, when you pop a DTS DVD into the DVD Rom and run WinDVD 2.3, it will show "DTS." In a way, this is a trade secret, in that in order for WinDVD to advertise that it is DTS capable, it will have to pay DTS a lot of money for licenses. WinDVD and DTS are still negotiating on the terms while WinDVD is DTS capable zillions of years ago( any Version 2.3 or higher). PowerDVD, on the other hand is not DTS capable. This is the reason that I recommended WinDVD 2.3(You can save some the money AS LONG AS you have the 5.1 sound card)

The AD300 uses Motorolas chip to decode DTS and AC-3 signals, where as the ADS2000 uses Zoran Chip to decode AC-3 only. The only other difference is that the layout at the back of these decoder boxes are somewhat different: ADS2000 has a G9 and 1 line, 1 surround, 1 center and 1 subwoofer output that looks like earplugs but AD300 has a G9, and 6 RCA outputs designated for left, right, left-surround, right-surround, sub and center. This means that the AD300 is more compatible with stereo amplifier and speakers, as well as other multimedia speakers while ADS2000 is more compatible with 8200 only. What I really wanna know is how the 2.1 as center channel will sound. Also, has the new 4.1 got rid of the old problems such as crakling and interference on the V2-400 with the new CP-1??? Please help!!!!!!!

Besides, my solution is much more economical... You don't even have to have the DTS Decoder and you don't need to change your setup when you are watching DVD or play games or listen to music... Plus, you will get DTS for Watching DVD, 5 Channels for playing games and 4 or 5 channels for listening to music( this I am not so sure).

The reason why I suggested WinDVD 2.3 is that most of the decoder cards out there( I assume you are talking about the Mpeg Card??) have those "region protections" and there are still no ways around it. If you are very sure that you will ever have to watch DVDs from other areas then that is just fine. On the other hand, WinDVD 2.3 can output in DTS and is much easier to get around the region problem.. This means if you have a 5.1 soundcard and 5.1 system...then you're all set. Why don't you list the hardwares and any software DVD programs that you currently have?? Otherwise this is all just empty talk

I guess that I can help you on this... Well, you need a 5.1 sound card(any SBlive5.1s or Philips accustic edge..etc) and a 5.1 multimedia speaker system.. such as midiland S4-8200 or even S4-7100 or DTT 3500. Also you would need a DVD Software, like WinDVD 2.3 DTS. If you can find G9 to 6 RCA connectors and 3.5mm to 2 RCA connectors in your area, this setup can give you 5.1 for DVD, 5 channel for gaming, without ever having to unplug things... The idea here is you don't really need the ADS2000 decoder in 8200 to get AC-5... If you just connect your soundcard to the 8200 speaker via G9 to 6 RCA and 3.5mm to 2 RCA connectors, and use WinDVD 2.3DTS to run DVDs, you will get AC-3. when you play games, the 5.1soundcard will output 5 channels to 8200. If, however, you have S4-7100 instead, the setup is just like the above and the connectors are much easier to find in the states. If you wanna go for Promedia 4.1, you can still achieve 5.1 effect by buying another 2.1 for the center channel. But adding the cost of SBLive 5.1(you can get the value version now, which is about US60, if not go for 5.1MP3 or 5.1Gamer which would cost about US90) the cost of WINDVD 2.3DTS or later, which is about US50 and Promedia 4.1 US300 plus Promedia 2.1 US180, the total would be around US600. But if you go with 7100 for the speakers, your cost would be just around US300. Or if you go with 8200 for the speakers, your cost would be about US400. So it's your call...

UUUUrrrrrghhh!!!! It doesn't matter who the manufacturer is... But if you wanna know... www.minton.com.tw

Please read carefully... I did not say that I am getting ADS2000.. I said that I am getting a DTS decoder made by the manufacturer of ADS2000 The reason I said that is I am getting the DTS decoder in Taiwan and I am not sure if this product is available in the States. Regardless, thanks anyways... But can anyone really answer my questions???

I have been shopping for computer speakers for so long and thank god someone reminded me of the new and improved pro 4.1... Well, I was gonna buy midiland but after hearing that 4.1 have made huge improvements, I decided to get 4.1 and 2.1, and hook them up to a 6.2 I am also getting a DTS decoder, the one that is made by the manufacturer of ADS2000 for midiland. As many people have had the very same idea, what are the really drawbacks of such setup? I've always thought that this hookup (with the 2.1 hooked up to the center/sub) would give me a lot of bass and the possibility of having one front and one rear sub... But some other people have said that the 2 sats for the 2.1 would not make good center speakers and that the sub for 2.1 would become almost useless. Is this true? please help me!!!