Category Archives: Audio

How — and why — I measure home theatre receiver power output

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

A reader, Tony, suggested a couple of months ago, that I write an article on ‘The Steve Dawson method of testing Receivers’. I don’t think it’s worth an article as such, but I would like to outline my process, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Equipment, Testing | Leave a comment

Radical Technology – but is it for a niche only?

Posted on April 18, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

This article from MIT’s Technology Review discusses directional sound devices, based on using ultrasonic (above 20,000 hertz) emitters. The two separate developers are talking the usual junk about how they could replace loudspeakers. This is junk for several reasons. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, How Things Work, Rant | Leave a comment

Dictionary additions and dialog normalization

Posted on February 26, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

Rod, mentioned in the post below, has also suggested I include ‘dialog normalization’ in the Dictionary of Home Entertainment. Good point, and it was something I shouldn’t have overlooked, so here it is. Naturally this required some other additions, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio | Leave a comment

I’m back, plus a beaut link

Posted on February 10, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

What can I say? Sorry. But now the kids are back at school so I’ll try to be a bit more regular here. For those interested in the evolution of audio systems used in cinemas, have a look at Nick’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Admin, Audio, Codecs | Leave a comment

Abbey Road Studios goes DEQX

Posted on January 8, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

A few posts ago I mentioned the Sydney-developed DEQX speaker correction system. Now the famed Abbey Road Studios has installed three of the PDC-2.6 systems (each is stereo, so three provide six channels). The studios are apparently not availing themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio | Leave a comment

Tuggeranong finally fully digital

Posted on January 8, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

As of yesterday, the rather tardy Southern Cross Capital 10 TV station finally got its digital retransmission station for Tuggeranong running. Hurrah! That means that all five stations are now available (Prime 7 went on just before Christmas). It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, DTV, HDTV | Leave a comment

New article posted — home theatre receiver setup

Posted on December 26, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

This is a piece I did for Appliance Retailer earlier in the year. It ought to be useful for people who are totally lost when it comes to making the necessary adjustments to their home theatre receivers. Go here.

Posted in Audio, Equipment, How Things Work | Leave a comment

Another Australian Technological triumph

Posted on December 24, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

A couple of years ago Sydney-based Lake Technology developed audio processing algorithms and hardware to make headphones sound like they’re producing surround sound. The success of this enterprise is attested to by the fact it was was duly licensed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Equipment | Leave a comment

The CD jukebox syndrome

Posted on December 16, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

Get the rockiest CD you can think of where the music thereon was recorded in, say, the 1970s, and play it. Then get just about any modern pop recording. Which is louder? The latter. This is not for no reason. … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, CD, Music | Leave a comment

DVD Audio and SACD explained

Posted on November 20, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

I have just placed on this site an article I did for the March 2002 edition of Appliance Retailer on DVD Audio and SACD. Some thoughts since then: A new option for playing SACD and DVD Audio is using the … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, CD, DVD | Leave a comment