Home Theater Hacks. 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools Brett McLaughlin

Spis treści książki

• Home Theater Hacks
  • SPECIAL OFFER: Upgrade this ebook with OReilly
  • Copyright
  • Credits
    • About the Author
    • Contributors
    • Acknowledgments
  • Preface
    • Why Home Theater Hacks?
    • How to Use This Book
    • How This Book Is Organized
    • Conventions
    • Using Code Examples
    • How to Contact Us
    • Got a Hack?
    • Disclaimer
  • 1. Buying Gear
    • 1.1. Hacks 18
    • Hack #1. Master Theater-Speak
      • 1.2.1. Televisions
      • 1.2.2. DVD Players
      • 1.2.3. VCRs
      • 1.2.4. Satellite and Cable Receivers
      • 1.2.5. Receivers
      • 1.2.6. Separates
    • Hack #2. Audition Before You Buy
      • 1.3.1. Prepare Your Ears with AM Radio
      • 1.3.2. Bring a Favorite DVD and Audio CD for Auditioning
      • 1.3.3. Avoid Switch Boxes
      • 1.3.4. Evaluate the Whole, Not the Parts
      • 1.3.5. Always Look at the Manual
    • Hack #3. Buy from Chain Stores with Skepticism
      • 1.4.1. The Pitfalls of Chain Stores
      • 1.4.2. Dress for the Best Service
      • 1.4.3. A Limited Inventory
    • Hack #4. Buy in Person from Electronics Boutiques
      • 1.5.1. Understand the Pricing Model
      • 1.5.2. Prepare First, Shop Second
      • 1.5.3. Shop for the Complete Package
    • Hack #5. Shop Intelligently at eBay
      • 1.6.1. What Should I Get Online?
      • 1.6.2. Avoid Scams
        • 1.6.2.1. Insist on pictures
        • 1.6.2.2. Pay attention to feedback
        • 1.6.2.3. Email, email, email
    • Hack #6. Find High-End Equipment Online
      • 1.7.1. Be Careful of Auctions
      • 1.7.2. Retail Prices Are Useless
      • 1.7.3. Always Call Dealers
    • Hack #7. Buy Cabinets for Your Gear
      • 1.8.1. Starting Out "On the Cheap"
      • 1.8.2. The Real Deal
      • 1.8.3. Cable Management?
      • 1.8.4. Avoid Glass Like the Plague
    • Hack #8. Plan Your Room Décor
      • 1.9.1. Paint and Carpet
      • 1.9.2. Lighting
      • 1.9.3. Posters
      • 1.9.4. Seating
      • 1.9.5. The Little Things
  • 2. Video Components
    • 2.1. Hacks 920
    • Hack #9. Get the Right TV
      • 2.2.1. Look for Dim Lighting
      • 2.2.2. Consider the Source
      • 2.2.3. Connectivity
      • 2.2.4. Size Is Everything
      • 2.2.5. Which Brand?
    • Hack #10. Your TVs First Steps
      • 2.3.1. While the Delivery Van Is in the Drive
      • 2.3.2. Prevent Early Burn-In
    • Hack #11. Move Your TV Safely
    • Hack #12. Fix Panasonic's Picture Glitch
      • 2.5.1. Entering the Service Menu
      • 2.5.2. Fixing the Picture
      • 2.5.3. What Happened?
    • Hack #13. Figure Out Aspect Ratios
      • 2.6.1. From the Big Screen to the Small Screen
      • 2.6.2. Prevalent Aspect Ratios
        • 2.6.2.1. 1.33:1 (4:3)
        • 2.6.2.2. 1.66:1
        • 2.6.2.3. 1.78:1 (16:9)
        • 2.6.2.4. 1.85:1
        • 2.6.2.5. 2.35:1
      • 2.6.3. What Does This Mean to Me?
    • Hack #14. Avoid Cheap Projectors
      • 2.7.1. The Players
        • 2.7.1.1. Cathode-ray tube (CRT)
        • 2.7.1.2. Liquid crystal display (LCD)
        • 2.7.1.3. Digital light processing (DLP)
        • 2.7.1.4. Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS)
      • 2.7.2. Black Is Beautiful
      • 2.7.3. High-End Projectors
    • Hack #15. DVHS on a Budget
      • 2.8.1. A History Lesson
      • 2.8.2. Enter the Hackers
      • 2.8.3. Modding the VCR
      • 2.8.4. A DVHS Application
    • Hack #16. Cover Black Bars with Letterbox Mattes
      • 2.9.1. Widescreen TVs, Take Notice
      • 2.9.2. Creating the Matte
      • 2.9.3. Attaching the Matte
    • Hack #17. Improve the Picture on Rear Projection TVs
    • Hack #18. Paint Your Theater a Neutral Color
      • 2.11.1. The Munsell Neutral Value Scale
      • 2.11.2. The Munsell Book of Color
      • 2.11.3. Putting It Together
    • Hack #19. Backlight Your TV
      • 2.12.1. Some Nice Side Effects
      • 2.12.2. My Light Is Too Bright!
    • Hack #20. Add Metal Plating to Support a Center Speaker
    • Hack #21. Squeeze Your TV into Your Basement
      • 2.14.1. Remove the Speaker Grill
      • 2.14.2. Wiggle the Grill Off
      • 2.14.3. Remove Vented Rear Cover
      • 2.14.4. Remove the Screen
      • 2.14.5. Detach Wiring from the Screen Assembly
      • 2.14.6. Remove the TV's Top Housing
      • 2.14.7. Move It!
      • 2.14.8. Reassemble
  • 3. Audio Components
    • 3.1. Hacks 2227
    • Hack #22. Get the Right Receiver
      • 3.2.1. Choosing a Brand
      • 3.2.2. Spending Some Money
    • Hack #23. Watts Are Meaningless Without Context
      • 3.3.1. Getting a Handle on SPL
      • 3.3.2. Relating Wattage to SPL
      • 3.3.3. Factoring in Distance
    • Hack #24. Amplify the Front Soundstage
      • 3.4.1. Connecting the Amplifiers
      • 3.4.2. Where's the On/Off Switch?
      • 3.4.3. But That's a Lot of Equipment
      • 3.4.4. Experiencing the Difference
    • Hack #25. The Mythical Burn-In Period
      • 3.5.1. Warm Your Components Up, Don't Burn Them In
      • 3.5.2. Cable Burn-In Is a Waste of Time
    • Hack #26. Use Gain Offset to Regulate Volume
      • 3.6.1. Understanding Dynamic Range
      • 3.6.2. Dynamics Between Playback Formats
      • 3.6.3. Gain Offset
        • 3.6.3.1. Sample procedure: Lexicon MC-12.
        • 3.6.3.2. Sample procedure: Pioneer Elite VSX-49TXi.
    • Hack #27. Use Dynamic Range Compression to Regulate Volume
  • 4. High Definition
    • 4.1. Hacks 2835
    • Hack #28. Ensure You Can Get HD Programming
      • 4.2.1. The Telecommunications Act of 1996
      • 4.2.2. Should I Buy an HDTV?
        • 4.2.2.1. Can I afford an HDTV?
        • 4.2.2.2. How much programming is available?
      • 4.2.3. Terrestrial Broadcasts
        • 4.2.3.1. Cable TV.
        • 4.2.3.2. DirecTV.
        • 4.2.3.3. DISH Network.
        • 4.2.3.4. VOOM.
        • 4.2.3.5. CBS national stations.
        • 4.2.3.6. C-band 4DTV.
    • Hack #29. Get the Right Type of HD Set
      • 4.3.1. Display Technologies
        • 4.3.1.1. CRTs.
        • 4.3.1.2. Plasma.
        • 4.3.1.3. DLP.
        • 4.3.1.4. LCD.
        • 4.3.1.5. LCOS and D-ILA.
      • 4.3.2. Set Types
        • 4.3.2.1. Direct view.
        • 4.3.2.2. Rear projection.
        • 4.3.2.3. Front projection.
      • 4.3.3. Set Configurations
      • 4.3.4. Burn-in
      • 4.3.5. The Rainbow Effect
    • Hack #30. Add a Set Top Box
      • 4.4.1. STB Video Output Options
        • 4.4.1.1. More on DVI.
        • 4.4.1.2. Avoiding (most) risk.
      • 4.4.2. STB Audio Output Options
    • Hack #31. Properly Size Your HD Image
    • Hack #32. Get the Right Antenna
      • 4.6.1. Antenna Basics
        • 4.6.1.1. The TV channels.
        • 4.6.1.2. Decibels.
        • 4.6.1.3. Noise.
        • 4.6.1.4. Signal amplifiers and preamplifiers.
        • 4.6.1.5. Receiver noise.
        • 4.6.1.6. Transmission cable.
        • 4.6.1.7. Receiver overload.
      • 4.6.2. Types of Antennas
        • 4.6.2.1. The dipole antenna.
        • 4.6.2.2. Stacked dipoles.
        • 4.6.2.3. Reflector antennas.
        • 4.6.2.4. Log-periodic dipole arrays (LPDAs).
        • 4.6.2.5. Yagi antennas.
        • 4.6.2.6. Comparing antenna types.
        • 4.6.2.7. Radiation patterns.
      • 4.6.3. Commercial Antenna Types
        • 4.6.3.1. UHF antennas.
        • 4.6.3.2. VHF antennas.
    • Hack #33. Erect an OTA Antenna
      • 4.7.1. Proceed at Your Own Risk
      • 4.7.2. Choosing a Mounting Site
        • 4.7.2.1. Diffraction.
        • 4.7.2.2. Trees.
        • 4.7.2.3. Is a higher antenna always better?
        • 4.7.2.4. Adding to the confusion.
        • 4.7.2.5. Attic antennas.
    • Hack #34. Don't Use Portable Signal Strength Meters
    • Hack #35. Resolve Problems After Buying an HDTV
      • 4.9.1. Bridging Component Video and VGA Connectors
      • 4.9.2. Understanding Subchannels
      • 4.9.3. Why Can't I Get My Local DTV Station?
      • 4.9.4. Picture Quality
      • 4.9.5. Determining Display Resolution
      • 4.9.6. Waiting on Local Networks to Broadcast in HD
      • 4.9.7. Grabbing HD Local Channels Through Satellite Providers
      • 4.9.8. Getting Rid of Artifacts
      • 4.9.9. The Problem with SD Programming
  • 5. Speakers and Wiring
    • 5.1. Hacks 3647
    • Hack #36. Organize Your A/V Racks
      • 5.2.1. Component Placement
      • 5.2.2. Label Your Components
      • 5.2.3. Use Banana Plugs for Connectors
      • 5.2.4. Use Velcro for Cable Management
    • Hack #37. Get the Right Speakers for the Job
      • 5.3.1. Understand Speaker Crossovers
        • 5.3.1.1. Crossover basics
        • 5.3.1.2. Digging into the technical details
      • 5.3.2. Choose the Speakers with the Best Music Playback
      • 5.3.3. Five Mini-Speakers Trump Two Towers
      • 5.3.4. The Importance of Brand Matching
    • Hack #38. Select the Perfect Rear and Side Speakers
      • 5.4.1. Monopole Speakers
      • 5.4.2. Dipole Speakers
      • 5.4.3. Bipole Speakers
    • Hack #39. Little Speakers Can Create Big Problems
    • Hack #40. Add Bass Shakers to Feel the Lows
      • 5.6.1. What Is a Bass Shaker?
      • 5.6.2. Buying a Shaker
      • 5.6.3. Sample Installation: Aura Systems
      • 5.6.4. Filtering
    • Hack #41. Lower the Resonant Frequency of Aura Bass Shakers
      • 5.7.1. Going Further
    • Hack #42. Use Subwoofers as a Poor Man's Bass Shaker
    • Hack #43. Convert In-Wall Speakers to In-Ceiling Speakers
    • Hack #44. Banana Plugs Trump Bare Wires
    • Hack #45. Use the Same Speaker Wire Lengths (Not!)
    • Hack #46. Use Thicker Wiring for Longer Runs
    • Hack #47. Bi-Wiring and Bi-Amping Speakers
      • 5.13.1. Active Bi-Amping
      • 5.13.2. Passive Bi-Amping
      • 5.13.3. Bi-Wiring
  • 6. Subwoofers
    • 6.1. Hacks 4854
    • Hack #48. Learn Sub Talk
      • 6.2.1. Subwoofer Parts
      • 6.2.2. Subwoofer Connections
      • 6.2.3. Miscellany
    • Hack #49. Choose the Right Subwoofer
      • 6.3.1. Displacement
      • 6.3.2. Power
      • 6.3.3. Subwoofer Alignments
        • 6.3.3.1. Sealed.
        • 6.3.3.2. Ported.
        • 6.3.3.3. Bandpass alignments.
        • 6.3.3.4. Basshorn.
        • 6.3.3.5. Infinite baffle.
        • 6.3.3.6. Dipole.
      • 6.3.4. Hoffman's Iron Law
    • Hack #50. Match the Sub to Your Room
      • 6.4.1. Room Size Doesn't Limit Subwoofer Extension
      • 6.4.2. Subwoofer Orientation Doesn't Matter
      • 6.4.3. Analyzing Room Effect
      • 6.4.4. Going Shopping
    • Hack #51. Hook Up Your Subwoofer Correctly
      • 6.5.1. Set Speakers to Small
      • 6.5.2. Setting the Crossover Frequency
      • 6.5.3. Connecting the Subwoofer to the Receiver
      • 6.5.4. Defeating the Plate Amplifier's Crossover
      • 6.5.5. All That Other Junk
    • Hack #52. Optimize Subwoofer Placement
      • 6.6.1. Basic Principles
      • 6.6.2. The "Six-Pack" Method
    • Hack #53. Use Multiple Subwoofers
    • Hack #54. Remove Subwoofer Hum
      • 6.8.1. Hum Created by Coaxial Cable
      • 6.8.2. Ground Loop Hum
  • 7. Connectivity
    • 7.1. Hacks 5559
    • Hack #55. Cable Basics
      • 7.2.1. RCA-Analog Audio
      • 7.2.2. RCA-Digital Audio
      • 7.2.3. RCA-Composite Video
      • 7.2.4. S-Video
      • 7.2.5. RCA-Component Video
      • 7.2.6. BNC
      • 7.2.7. Optical
      • 7.2.8. XLR
      • 7.2.9. F-Connector
    • Hack #56. Watch Out for Entertainment Centers
      • 7.3.1. Problem #1: Overheated Equipment
      • 7.3.2. Problem #2: Impossible Wiring Access
      • 7.3.3. Problem #3: Unusable Remote Controls
      • 7.3.4. Problem #4: Bad Sound from the Speakers
      • 7.3.5. Problem #5: Bad Stereo Separation
      • 7.3.6. Problem #6: Inflexible or Unmovable (or Both!)
      • 7.3.7. Problem #7: Inconveniently Low Access
      • 7.3.8. Problem #8: Speaker Blockage
      • 7.3.9. Conclusion
    • Hack #57. Don't Be Swindled into Buying Overly Expensive Cables
      • 7.4.1. About Wires and Electricity
        • 7.4.1.1. Water pressure=electrical voltage.
        • 7.4.1.2. Water flow=electrical current.
        • 7.4.1.3. Water's sudden change in direction=electrical frequency/signal
        • 7.4.1.4. Pipes/corrosion resistance=wires and cables/corrosion resistance
        • 7.4.1.5. Pipe/watertightness=cables/shielding
        • 7.4.1.6. About electrical signals
      • 7.4.2. The Truth About "Wiring Upsell"
      • 7.4.3. Wiring Recommendations
        • 7.4.3.1. Speaker wires.
        • 7.4.3.2. Audio "line-level" signal cables.
        • 7.4.3.3. Video signal cables
        • 7.4.3.4. Antenna/broadcast cable connections
    • Hack #58. Use Your Receiver for Video Switching
    • Hack #59. Understand Component Video Switching
  • 8. Calibration
    • 8.1. Hacks 6074
    • Hack #60. Choose the Right Seating Distance
    • Hack #61. Get the Best Calibration Tools
      • 8.3.1. Types of Calibration
      • 8.3.2. Tools of Calibration
    • Hack #62. Choose the Right Calibration DVD
      • 8.4.1. More than a Tool
      • 8.4.2. Digital Video Essentials
        • 8.4.2.1. DVE pros.
        • 8.4.2.2. DVE cons.
      • 8.4.3. Avia
        • 8.4.3.1. Avia pros.
        • 8.4.3.2. Avia cons.
      • 8.4.4. Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-Up
        • 8.4.4.1. S&V pros.
        • 8.4.4.2. S&V cons.
    • Hack #63. Calibrate Speakers with a Sound Meter
      • 8.5.1. Positioning the SPL Meter
      • 8.5.2. Testing the First Speaker
      • 8.5.3. Testing the Remaining Speakers
    • Hack #64. Set the Receiver's Reference Level
      • 8.6.1. It's About Output
      • 8.6.2. A Moot Point
    • Hack #65. Avoid Using THX Optimizer
    • Hack #66. Avoid Using Internal Test Tones
    • Hack #67. Set Your Speakers to "Small" in Your Receiver Setup
    • Hack #68. Hack Your TV's Service Menu
      • 8.10.1. Hitachi
        • 8.10.1.1. The hard way.
        • 8.10.1.2. The easy way.
      • 8.10.2. Mitsubishi
      • 8.10.3. Panasonic
        • 8.10.3.1. Terminology.
        • 8.10.3.2. Entering Serviceman Mode.
        • 8.10.3.3. Accessing and modifying the service adjustments.
      • 8.10.4. Sony
        • 8.10.4.1. NTSC sets.
        • 8.10.4.2. PAL sets.
      • 8.10.5. Toshiba
        • 8.10.5.1. Service Menu.
        • 8.10.5.2. Designer Menu
        • 8.10.5.3. Navigation
    • Hack #69. Clean the Optics on RPTVs
      • 8.11.1. What Is Dust?
      • 8.11.2. The Effect of the Mirror
      • 8.11.3. Regular Maintenance Required
      • 8.11.4. Cleaning the Optics and Mirror
      • 8.11.5. Watch Out For
    • Hack #70. Reduce Focus Problems on RPTVs
    • Hack #71. Reduce Lens Flare on RPTVs
      • 8.13.1. Preparations
      • 8.13.2. Working on the Lenses
      • 8.13.3. Conclusion and Results
    • Hack #72. Focus Your Front Projector
      • 8.14.1. Mechanical Gun Aim
      • 8.14.2. Rough Optical Focus
      • 8.14.3. Electron Beam Astigmation
        • 8.14.3.1. Ovalness adjustments
        • 8.14.3.2. Centering adjustments
        • 8.14.3.3. Triangularity adjustments.
      • 8.14.4. Phosphor Grain Optical Focus Technique
      • 8.14.5. Focusing Lens Cap
      • 8.14.6. Final Beam and Optical Focus
    • Hack #73. Don't Mess with Odd Screws
      • 8.15.1. What's the Big Deal?
      • 8.15.2. Going in Through the Front of a Pioneer Elite TV
    • Hack #74. Annual Home Theater Tune-Up
  • 9. Do It Yourself
    • 9.1. Hacks 7583
    • Hack #75. Build Your Own Speaker Stands
      • 9.2.1. Basic Bookshelf Speaker Stands
      • 9.2.2. Sturdier Stands for Heavier Speakers
      • 9.2.3. Costs Involved
    • Hack #76. Add Rollers and a Stand to Your TV
      • 9.3.1. Required Materials
      • 9.3.2. Construction
    • Hack #77. Construct a Screen for Projection
      • 9.4.1. Frame It and Stretch It
    • Hack #78. Mask Your Screen
      • 9.5.1. Constant Area Viewing
        • 9.5.1.1. Constant width.
        • 9.5.1.2. Constant height.
        • 9.5.1.3. Constant area.
      • 9.5.2. Constructing the Masking
    • Hack #79. Construct Speaker Cables Using CAT 5
      • 9.6.1. Materials
      • 9.6.2. Construction
      • 9.6.3. Some Notes on the Design
    • Hack #80. Home-Grow Your Power Cables
      • 9.7.1. What You'll Need
      • 9.7.2. For Grounded Digital Components
      • 9.7.3. For Grounded Analog Components and Amplifiers
        • 9.7.3.1. Additional parts.
        • 9.7.3.2. Additional notes.
      • 9.7.4. For Ungrounded Components
      • 9.7.5. Some General Notes on Design
    • Hack #81. Build a 16-Bay UHF Antenna
      • 9.8.1. Gang Up
      • 9.8.2. Mount Types
        • 9.8.2.1. Side-by-side mounting.
        • 9.8.2.2. One-over-the-other mounting.
      • 9.8.3. Mounting the Antennas
      • 9.8.4. Connecting the Antennas Together
      • 9.8.5. Possible Problems
    • Hack #82. Ground Your Outdoor Antenna
      • 9.9.1. Types of Grounding
      • 9.9.2. Grounding the Antenna
      • 9.9.3. Risks of Damage
    • Hack #83. Build a Lens Hood for Your RPTV
      • 9.10.1. Taking the Last Part First
      • 9.10.2. Mocking Up
      • 9.10.3. Actual Construction
  • 10. Remote Controls
    • 10.1. Hacks 8489
    • Hack #84. Add a Programmable Remote
    • Hack #85. Program Your Remote with ProntoEdit
      • 10.3.1. Updating Your Firmware
    • Hack #86. Create Custom Graphics for Color Remotes
      • 10.4.1. Choose Colors That Work
      • 10.4.2. Smooth Out Images with Antialiasing
      • 10.4.3. Think Big, Finish Small
      • 10.4.4. Convert to the Right Colors
      • 10.4.5. Dithering Is a Must
      • 10.4.6. Tweak, Hack, Play
    • Hack #87. Learn IR Codes the Smart Way
      • 10.5.1. Press or Hold?
      • 10.5.2. Proper Spacing
      • 10.5.3. Replace the Batteries
      • 10.5.4. Lights Out!
      • 10.5.5. Software or Hardware?
      • 10.5.6. Right Side Up
      • 10.5.7. Two-Way Confusion
      • 10.5.8. IR Reflections
      • 10.5.9. Duck Blind
      • 10.5.10. The Flutter Effect
      • 10.5.11. Flyboy
      • 10.5.12. Out of Memory?
    • Hack #88. Work around Proprietary Remote Systems
      • 10.6.1. Sony VisionTouch
      • 10.6.2. High-Frequency IR Systems
      • 10.6.3. Pace Cable Boxes
      • 10.6.4. Parity Bits
      • 10.6.5. RF Satellites
        • 10.6.5.1. Tricking Sony DSS receivers.
      • 10.6.6. Other RF Equipment
      • 10.6.7. X10 Automation
    • Hack #89. Disable NetCommand for Faster Response
  • 11. HTPC
    • 11.1. Hacks 9093
    • Hack #90. Choose the Right Display Resolution for Analog-Input HDTVs
      • 11.2.1. Interlaced Versus Progressive Display Formats
    • Hack #91. Add Custom Resolutions with PowerStrip
      • 11.3.1. Getting PowerStrip
      • 11.3.2. Adding Custom Resolutions
      • 11.3.3. Tweak PowerStrip on an HDTV Set
        • 11.3.3.1. The computer image is too tall for the HDTV set.
        • 11.3.3.2. The computer image doesn't appear or is badly distorted.
        • 11.3.3.3. The computer image is flickering.
        • 11.3.3.4. The Windows taskbar is 100% chopped off at the bottom of the screen.
        • 11.3.3.5. The computer image is not centered.
    • Hack #92. Adjust the Overscan on Your HDTV Display
      • 11.4.1. Adjusting Horizontal Overscan/Underscan
      • 11.4.2. Adjusting Vertical Overscan/Underscan
    • Hack #93. Play Video Games in Custom Resolutions on HDTVs
      • 11.5.1. Force the Games to Run at 60 Hz
      • 11.5.2. Underscan Problems
      • 11.5.3. Fill the Whole Screen
  • 12. TiVo
    • 12.1. Hacks 94100
    • Hack #94. Must-Skim TV
      • 12.2.1. Sliding Straight to the Instant Replay
      • 12.2.2. The 10-FF40-10 Solution
      • 12.2.3. Speed Reading
    • Hack #95. Navigation Shortcuts
    • Hack #96. The 30-Second Commercial Skip
    • Hack #97. Streaming Internet Audio Broadcasts to TiVo
      • 12.5.1. The Code
      • 12.5.2. Running the Hack
    • Hack #98. Signing Up for the Home Media Option
    • Hack #99. Remotely Scheduling a Recording
    • Hack #100. Moving Shows Between TiVo Units
  • Index
  • Colophon
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