That's home entertainment

By GREG DIXON

Three experts answer the home entertainment questions that need to be answered this holiday season.

Why bother with a CD player any more? Shouldn't I just buy a DVD with speakers?

Phil McIsaac, owner Smiths Sounds, Auckland: "If your interest lies in music, buy a CD player - it will perform significantly better than a DVD playing CDs. A CD player offers a lot more clarity and separation of the sounds. It's noticeably clearer. If you're into movies, then definitely buy a DVD player that will play CDs adequately."

Matt Greenop, editor, Tone magazine: "DVD players tend not to reproduce music as well as CD players because they have got their circuitry divided between video and audio reproduction."

Simone Illes, marketing manager, Noel Leeming: "Like any appliance, maximum performance will be delivered out of the primary function."


Are those little speakers that come with the home theatre systems any good?

PM: "It depends entirely on the quality of the small speaker system. With the $600 to $1000 take-it-away all-in-one-box home theatre system? No, they're rubbish. They don't last and they don't sound any good. But we have some very high quality, compact, sub-woofer
systems that add to separate components (DVD player and home theatre amplifier) and they sound great. Typically one of those systems would be between $3000 and $10,000.

MG: "For what they are, they're very good. But realistically if you want speakers to sound like speakers, you buy speakers made of wood just like God intended."

SI: "Listen to the sound system before you buy, turn the system up and make sure the sound doesn't distort and that you are happy with the sound that is produced."


Where the hell am I supposed to put that home theatre system sub-woofer box? It's so damned big and ugly.

PM: "With good-quality systems it doesn't matter too much where you put it. You can stick it behind the couch, behind a chair - anywhere it's out of sight. It's non-critical. But with the cheaper ones it needs to be near the little speakers."

MG: "Oh come on, sub-woofers are glorious things. But they can be put just about anywhere because they're omni-directional. But bass does load up in corners so you don't want it pointed towards a corner."


Are those DVD players below $500 any good?

PM: "I would say from 500 bucks and up, for a reputable brand, you're getting stuff that's good. Below that we know from talking to several service companies that they've had an awful lot of trouble with the cheap ones. A friend of mine has had five in six months, all with different problems."

MG: "Absolutely. Obviously you get what you pay for, but they're fine.

Some brands are better than others and you can't expect a $400 DVD player to perform as well as a $4000 job."


How long before DVD-Rs are affordable? Ditto wide-screen televisions?

PM: "About another year to 18 months and DVD-Rs will be under $1000-$1500. With wide-screen TVs, when the high demand ceases. They aren't costing the manufacturers significantly more to make, but due to demand [they're still pricey].

SI: "This is the second season DVD recorders have been available in New Zealand. Last year the prices started at $3000, this year the price is a more affordable $1900. As with most new technology, over time it will become more affordable as sales and production increase. Same with wide-screen TVs."


Which is the better DVD player, a PlayStation2 or an X-Box?

MG: "I prefer a dedicated DVD player. [PS2 and X-Box] are a compromise. But they're a very cost-effective games centre and DVD player all in one little box."

SI: "Most gaming machines will allow you to play DVD movies. However, the quality will not be as great as that delivered by a purpose-built DVD player."


How do those 5.1 sound systems make your CDs Ñ or even your old vinyl records Ñ sound?

PM: "CD and vinyl still sound better on a high-quality two-channel system because you can't make five out of nothing. They try to do it but they just muck it up.

MG: Realistically, music is best enjoyed as two channels if it's from a two-channel source. I'm not a huge fan of multi-channel audio. Stereo is stereo and most material is recorded in stereo.


CDs, cassettes, mini-discs, portable MP3 players: for godsake which portable system do I buy?

MG: Which one do you like? Cassettes, don't bother. Mini-disc is very useful for portable music, as is MP3 for mass storage of music.

SI: "If you have a large music collection in any one format, ie CDs, you should purchase a system that allows you to play your collection."


Why do remotes have to have so many buttons? Surely on, off, and volume are all you ever use?

PM: "Some systems come with an advanced and a simple remote.

MG: "Because they're vital. If you find a remote has too many buttons then you're either a Luddite or a woman."


Should I fork out now or go for that interest-free, no payments for six months lark?

PM: "Interest-free and no payments is a great choice for people as long as they're capable of budgeting. The disadvantage is that you'll get a better deal if you come in and show me Charlie-Ash."