QuestionHello,
I recently received a video projector (Sony Cineza LCD Front Projector - VPL-HS51) and surround system (Sony Dream System FR10) for my birthday. I have learned a lot over the last few days, but I still need to know what is the best thing I should do to make things work for me. The problem I am facing is that there are not enough inputs (outputs?) in the back of my surround sound receiver to accept all the audio that I want to put into it. The people at Tweeter / Circuit City said I have a horrible surround system and that I should toss it and buy a new receiver with speakers.
However, I've heard of AV switchers that will allow me to add on multiple things to my receiver (ie my computer, VCR, camcorder, DVD, etc). When posing this fact to clerks at the big stores they told me the sound would be ruined and it is not worth it.
Can anyone clarify for me what is the best thing I should do? Does the quality of audio really diminish so much that it is not worth getting an AV switcher? Do you recommend any switcher that will keep quality high? Anything?
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Gustave Hebert
AnswerDear Gustave,
The Sony FR10 is made for the home theater user. It is, perhaps sadly, not made to accommodate all the audio inputs that you would normally find on an A/V receiver. The FR10 lists for US$1,000.
Although I normally distrust salespeople--they're in the business to sell you stuff, not to meet your needs--in this instance, given what you've said you want the receiver to handle, I tend to agree with them.
A cost effective alternative would be a Sony STR-DE697 receiver, which has 3 analog audio inputs in addition to a wealth of digital audio and video inputs, far more than the FR10. Add to these PSB Alpha B (front channel: US$249/pair), Alpha C (center channel: US$229), and Mirage Omnisat Micros (US$180/ea. x 2 for surround channels; x 2 more if you want rear channel speakers) speakers, and you have a system whose sound will beat that of the Sony FR10, and will have more flexibility. Total cost: US$1,138 without the rear channel speakers.
Now, on to the question you asked. I have not personally observed that input switchers make any appreciable audible difference in sound performance. They *do* add another connection to the input chain (between the input component and the receiver), but unless the switch box is a real piece of trash with loose, cheap wiring, you should be okay. I would recommend a fairly high quality switch box from a reliable maker (mine's from Radio Shack, but there are more), so you'll have some confidence that the component is solidly built.
I used a Radio Shack input switch box for a couple of years between two turntables and only one phono input on my preamp. After I installed an outboard phono preamp, and then had two phono circuits on the preamp, I can't say that the audio improved dramatically if at all. In other words, removing the switch box didn't noticably improve the input signal.
So, you have a couple of options here. Either way, you're going to come out ahead.
Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!
Kindest regards,
Kevin
