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Need advice on Sound Bar selection and setup/ lipsynch issues

post #1 of 15
3/4/09 at 9:28am
Thread Starter 
I want to add external sound to an LCD TV. I don't want to run wires all over the place, so I'm looking at soundbar solutions.

I was looking at the Marantz ES7001 SSX Sound bar (happened to be a good deal at Big River). http://us.marantz.com/Products/2241.asp

For slightly less, there is the Sony HT-CT100 which, believe it or not, has gotten good reviews. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361523

The Marantzt has two hdmi 1.1 ins and one out. It also has a built in amp and can decode Dobly Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II. It can receive PCM audio.

The Sony has 3 HDMI inputs and 1 out (1.3 I think). It can decode Dolby and DTS surround. It can also accept uncompressed PCM soundtracks.

I don't know much about how to hook this stuff up. I have a Fios HD-DVR and a PS3 (will use for gaming and BluRay).

From what I understand, the PS3 will process the audio and send it to the speaker as PCM. In the case of the Marantz, since it is an HDMI 1.1 connection, the audio will not be automatically lipsynched to the video image. Also since it is 1.1, there will be no support for deep color.

With the Sony, the audio and image should be synched.

Quesitons:
Are either of these sound bars decent?
Does HDMI 1.1 affect image quality a lot?
How out of synch will audio be on the Marantz?
Is there some other way to hook the Marnatz up that will avoid lip synch issues?

Thanks
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post #2 of 15
3/4/09 at 10:34am
I was in a similar situation. I have a home theater in my basement but I just bought a new plasma (panasonic) for our family room and the TV speakers were terrible. I went with the Sony because of size and price. I didn't expect a lot going into it because I'm used to more high end gear but it's not too bad. I will say that's it's not real powerful. The sub has plenty of boom but the speaker isn;t going to break any records but I would buy it again.



I just stuck the sub behind this fake wall

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post #3 of 15
3/4/09 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viche View Post

I want to add external sound to an LCD TV. I don't want to run wires all over the place, so I'm looking at soundbar solutions.

I was looking at the Marantz ES7001 SSX Sound bar (happened to be a good deal at Big River). http://us.marantz.com/Products/2241.asp

For slightly less, there is the Sony HT-CT100 which, believe it or not, has gotten good reviews. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361523

The Marantzt has two hdmi 1.1 ins and one out. It also has a built in amp and can decode Dobly Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II. It can receive PCM audio.

The Sony has 3 HDMI inputs and 1 out (1.3 I think). It can decode Dolby and DTS surround. It can also accept uncompressed PCM soundtracks.

I don't know much about how to hook this stuff up. I have a Fios HD-DVR and a PS3 (will use for gaming and BluRay).

From what I understand, the PS3 will process the audio and send it to the speaker as PCM. In the case of the Marantz, since it is an HDMI 1.1 connection, the audio will not be automatically lipsynched to the video image. Also since it is 1.1, there will be no support for deep color.

With the Sony, the audio and image should be synched.

Quesitons:
Are either of these sound bars decent?
Does HDMI 1.1 affect image quality a lot?
How out of synch will audio be on the Marantz?
Is there some other way to hook the Marnatz up that will avoid lip synch issues?

Thanks

Answers to your questions:
1. Not sure as I haven't heard these particular ones. But generally the sound bars that I have heard do very well when they fit an application. A lot does depend on the room setup though.
2. Don't worry about it...virtually nothing in the video field even takes advantage of HDMI 1.3 (and may never).
3. Impossible to know...lots of factors come into play with lip sync issues....but you may not have any problems.
4. You might be able to split the audio and feed the display and sound bar separately...may or may not help and you won't know until you try.
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post #4 of 15
3/4/09 at 10:50am
I know lots of people like sound bars, but I am not a big fan. My parents have a Yamaha (don't know the model number but it was over 1K), and my refurbished budget Denon receiver and Energy Act 6 speakers (which cost me a collective $400) sound way better to me.

I understand that looks are a big factor though.
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post #5 of 15
3/4/09 at 10:53am
I would look at these also.
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post #6 of 15
3/4/09 at 11:43am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies. Sony is coming out with a beefier version of their sound bar, so I might wait for that. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665793620

My set up is not idea. The TV has to be in a corner, so I don't want a sound bar that uses angled drivers to create the surround effect. The sub will probably go behind a cabinet in the corner.

I hear the Definitives are really nice, but I'd like to spend under $500.

Look does matter, but do you think I could get more bang for my buck with a 2.1 setup. That would mean I'd have to buy a receiver as well. I notice that on my TV, when I view DVDs that are in 5.1, the center channel is lost amidst the music and sound effects. Would't this be the case with a 2.1 setup?
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post #7 of 15
3/4/09 at 12:26pm
I think the majority of people that buy these do it because of space issues and wiring. My area could only fit a speaker 4 inches tall or less. Your options are pretty limited. Plus my expectations are low.
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post #8 of 15
3/4/09 at 1:55pm
For $1300, you can easily get a receiver and good bookshelf speakers. If you need small speakers, you can 3 NHT Absolute Zeroes and a sub for that price.
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post #9 of 15
3/4/09 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rogmatic View Post

For $1300, you can easily get a receiver and good bookshelf speakers. If you need small speakers, you can 3 NHT Absolute Zeroes and a sub for that price.


I said under $500, not over.
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post #10 of 15
3/4/09 at 2:37pm
Oh - I just saw the cost of the Marantz bar. I'm not saying you shouldn't get a sound bar - I just would not spend over 1K on one. You might also consider the zvox systems.
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post #11 of 15
3/4/09 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rogmatic View Post

Oh - I just saw the cost of the Marantz bar. I'm not saying you shouldn't get a sound bar - I just would not spend over 1K on one. You might also consider the zvox systems.

Can't talk price, but the Marantz was within my budget. I'm worried about the hdmi 1.3 stuff now though, so I'm thinking of cancelling my order.
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post #12 of 15
3/7/09 at 11:03am
Thread Starter 
Okay, I have 3 days left to cancel the Marantz. I'm still worried about the whole HDMI 1.1 thing. I want to be able to use this in the future, and I still think 1.1 won't support Deep color in video, which should become more prevalent eventually.

More importantly, since there is no external amplifier involved, and 1.1 doesn't support lip-synching, I'm afraid I'll notice synch issues.

Question though, let's say you had a 1.3 system, which portion is slowed down for lip synching, the video or audio? If it's the video, that would introduce more game lag. If it's audio, it wouldn't matter.

Also, what happens if you just feed optical digital audio from the TV back to the sound bar, would things be synched?

Thanks guys.
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post #13 of 15
3/7/09 at 6:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viche View Post

Are either of these sound bars decent?
Does HDMI 1.1 affect image quality a lot?
How out of synch will audio be on the Marantz?
Is there some other way to hook the Marnatz up that will avoid lip synch issues?

Viche,
I have the PS3 and FIOS HD DVR. Go with CT100. It works great with PS3 with proper PS3 configuration (Dolby TrueHD with LPCM). FIOS will give you good sound over HDMI on HD and movie channels. If HDMI upconversion is important to you, wait for the CT500, but the CT100 will give you good sound for 1/2 of the CT500 price.
Marantz HDMI 1.1 technology is old. I don't know that kind of display do you have, but HDMI 1.1 can have a lot more sync issues compare to newer HDMI 1.3a.
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post #14 of 15
3/9/09 at 7:29am
Thread Starter 
Thanks edik. I'm going to cancel the Marantz. I'm not sure what you mean by HDMI upconverting. All three speaker sets have HDMI inputs and outputs. Do you mean for sources that don't have hdmi video outs? What would I possibly want to hook up that doesn't have HDMI out? The FIOS box does HDMI video out right?

Also, are you saying that the CT100 doesn't do HDMI upconverting because it has limited inputs besides HDMI?

What's the benefit of HDMI upconversting anyway?
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post #15 of 15
3/10/09 at 8:46am
Thread Starter 
GRRR I can't decide. It's coming today and I need to make a decision. I keep changing my mind. The Marantz retails for so much more than the Sony that I can't believe it doesn't sound better. It gets great reviews. It has 2 woofer, 2 mids, and 2 tweeters vs Sony's 3 speakers (mids/highs?).

the only issue is this HDMI 1.1 thing. If it affects image quality I could just send the hdmi cable directly to the TV and then use optical out back to the speaker right?

All I can imagine is that the synch will be so bad that It'll kill the deal.

What should I do?
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