JohnQPublic
Premium
join:2002-03-22
Xanadu
| Home Theater Systems
I want to purchase a home theater system for my folks this Christmas. They have a 32 inch (or so) standard television, a Norcent DP300 DVD player, a Panasonic DVD recorder, and basic (analog) cable. All audio comes out of the front speakers of the standard television. They have no speaker system at present time.
Here's what I want to accomplish. Both of my folks have grown accustomed to watching television and DVDs with closed captioning on. When it's not available its a PITA for them to hear the dialogue usually. Will getting them a surround sound system enable them to adjust the center channel so they can hear the dialogue better and maybe turn down some of the other sound? If so, does this apply to both DVDs and standard television sources?
I've done a little bit of research on them and find some with a DVD player and some without. My preference would be to find one without... unless there is reason one needs to be included or the system comes with one and has excellent reviews.
They live in an average sized condominium and the living room is maybe 20 feet wide and 15 feet deep. I don't think they need very much wattage. If anyone has any recommendations I would greatly appreciate them. Especially if you could answer the question above about turning up the center channel a bit.
Thank you.
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-- Puppy TV -- |
Red_Menace
join:2001-11-03
Littleton, CO
| The center channel may be there, but it depends on how it is used - some titles use it only for dialog, but others mix in some of the other channels, as would the standard TV. Both receivers and DVD players can adjust the volume of the various channels (usually for balancing), but it is a matter of what components you use that would determine how easy the adjustment is. As an example, my Denon receiver takes a few button presses to cycle to the center channel, and a few more to adjust it, while my Sony DVD player has the volume adjust buried several layers deep in the setup. If your folks are anything like mine, you will need something with a simple interface, or route the center channel to the TV speakers (if it has the inputs) so that it can be adjusted with the TV remote. |
