Video Asylum

Posted by woodduck on March 21, 2002 at 17:37:42

In Reply to: Best way to generate center-speaker. posted by jedinvest on March 21, 2002 at 16:37:58:

Well, this is simply not a productive approach to home theater, so save some money and effort. First, with a stereo preamp or receiver there is no benefit in purchasing a processor that merely creates a composite center channel. Anything more sophisticated costs more than a mid-level HT receiver. Second, adding a center channel with cheap amplification would be detrimental to the sonic performance of your system. Third, never engage the television sound system when you have nice equipment to use; TV amplifiers and speakers are generally very cheap.

The best that you can do without a HT preamp/processor or receiver is to utilize a very good hifi stereo VCR to provide video-out to the TV and audio line-out to the stereo preamp or receiver. Use the best possible video connection (e.g. component or S-video) to the TV and use excellent audio interconnect cables to the preamp.

Actively seek a nice pre-owned HT 5.1 receiver having DTS, Dolby Digital, and Pro Logic processing. Receivers are often sold as individuals upgrade to obtain units with additional features and/or processing enhancements. Good Luck.