Friday, August 09, 2002
Eek. All that talk about cool toys yesterday got me thinking about how I really, really, really wanted a new surround receiver. So I went and bought one:
The Yamaha RXV-630 supports Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, Dolby Surround Pro Logic II, and has tons of connections for composite, S-video (Y/C), component video, analog audio and digital audio; one coaxial digital input and three optical digital inputs. It's 6.1 - three front speakers, three rear speakers, and subwoofer - and it looks very, very sleek-and-silver sexy. As all semi-expensive things should.
But how does it sound? After all, isn't that the important thing? Why yes, it is. However, I wasn't up-and-running with the receiver until a quarter past eleven last night, just in time to watch the latter two-thirds of The West Wing, so I can't really tell you much except that it worked. I couldn't put it through the paces with the neighbours sleeping.
Fancy-schmancy digital surround is cool, but plain old vanilla stereo is extremely important to me - after all, I play a lot more CDs than I do DVDs. As hoped, it sounds as though the Yamaha does an admirable job here (though not as good as my cheap & basic Rotel stereo amp from '95; the fewer digital components, the better!). The sound from my Tannoy speakers was warm and detailed with the receiver connected to my Rotel CD-player, spinning the very pleasant and subdued Norah Jones record Come Away With Me.
I know from experience that Yamaha receivers are excellent digital home theatre amps, with an aggressive, clearly separated, and punchy sound, so no worries there. I'm going to need a rear centre speaker now, but that can wait. I'm patient. And horribly, painfully broke. For the next eight years.
Still, good buy. I'm a happy camper. Yay me. And so on.
Listening to Philip Glass and reading a top-secret document.
Yesterday, I asked what you guys are listening to and reading, and Mitch was first out of the gates with this e-mail:
Listening to:
Hennessey - www.hennessey.ca (Buddhamatic, Slave to Fashion, Costa Del Sol, 50 Most Beautiful People, etc)
Great Big Sea - www.greatbigsea.ca (End of the World, Ordinary Day, Donkey Riding, etc)
There ya go, couple of Canadian bands you (and readers) may or may not have heard of but will hopefully enjoy.
-Mitch
I'm enjoying Hennessey right now, actually. Thanks! Send me your lists, and I'll try to post most of them here for everyone to read.
Finally - always remember to "keep on truckin'!". I dunno why. Just because.
The Yamaha RXV-630 supports Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, Dolby Surround Pro Logic II, and has tons of connections for composite, S-video (Y/C), component video, analog audio and digital audio; one coaxial digital input and three optical digital inputs. It's 6.1 - three front speakers, three rear speakers, and subwoofer - and it looks very, very sleek-and-silver sexy. As all semi-expensive things should.
But how does it sound? After all, isn't that the important thing? Why yes, it is. However, I wasn't up-and-running with the receiver until a quarter past eleven last night, just in time to watch the latter two-thirds of The West Wing, so I can't really tell you much except that it worked. I couldn't put it through the paces with the neighbours sleeping.
Fancy-schmancy digital surround is cool, but plain old vanilla stereo is extremely important to me - after all, I play a lot more CDs than I do DVDs. As hoped, it sounds as though the Yamaha does an admirable job here (though not as good as my cheap & basic Rotel stereo amp from '95; the fewer digital components, the better!). The sound from my Tannoy speakers was warm and detailed with the receiver connected to my Rotel CD-player, spinning the very pleasant and subdued Norah Jones record Come Away With Me.
I know from experience that Yamaha receivers are excellent digital home theatre amps, with an aggressive, clearly separated, and punchy sound, so no worries there. I'm going to need a rear centre speaker now, but that can wait. I'm patient. And horribly, painfully broke. For the next eight years.
Still, good buy. I'm a happy camper. Yay me. And so on.
Listening to Philip Glass and reading a top-secret document.
Yesterday, I asked what you guys are listening to and reading, and Mitch was first out of the gates with this e-mail:
Listening to:
Hennessey - www.hennessey.ca (Buddhamatic, Slave to Fashion, Costa Del Sol, 50 Most Beautiful People, etc)
Great Big Sea - www.greatbigsea.ca (End of the World, Ordinary Day, Donkey Riding, etc)
There ya go, couple of Canadian bands you (and readers) may or may not have heard of but will hopefully enjoy.
-Mitch
I'm enjoying Hennessey right now, actually. Thanks! Send me your lists, and I'll try to post most of them here for everyone to read.
Finally - always remember to "keep on truckin'!". I dunno why. Just because.
