The OneCall Blog » Chad G

No picture from the DVD player with a Denon AVR-1612 receiver

Chad G — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:38:33 +0000

A customer called and explained they had finished connecting and setting up their new Denon AVR-1612 home theater receiver and discovered they could not see the video image from the DVD player on the TV but they could hear the sound from the DVD playing through their speakers. After some troubleshooting we were able to diagnose and fix the problem and here is what we found.

First we needed to determine how the DVD player was connected to the AVR-1612 receiver. After reviewing the connections and cables the customer explained he was using the analog audio and composite video connections. No, using the yellow, red and white analog connections is not the best quality connection you can use with this receiver but they will work.

Once I knew how the equipment was connected I reviewed the connection and setup details outlined in the owner’s manual and found there were a couple of quick input assignment changes that needed to be made. The AVR-1612 receiver is set from the factory to look for the video signal from HDMI 2 input when you select the DVD source input. Using the composite or yellow video cable from his DVD player he needed to access the setup menu of the receiver and select ‘Input Assign’ and then choose ‘HDMI’. Next he chose DVD source settings and switched it from ‘HDMI 2′ to ‘NONE’ and wala! He can now see the picture from the DVD player on his TV.

The Denon AVR-1612 receiver is factory default set to auto detect the audio signal source which explains why he could hear the sound from the DVD player even without being able to see the video image on his TV screen. For more complete details this information is also available on page 68 of the Denon AVR-1612 owner’s manual.

Chad G

How long have you been working with OneCall? 5 yrs What do you think has been the greatest consumer electronic advancement that has come in your lifetime? Wireless internet What is your favorite thing about working at OneCall? Learning about new technologies.

Polk SurroundBar 3000 reviewed

Chad G — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:06:12 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to take home the Polk SurroundBar 3000 for a demo. A convenient 5.1 channel speaker bar with wireless subwoofer and overall this is an excellent choice for anyone with a newer flat screen TV that wants a surround sound experience without all the wires and clutter.

The unboxing
Polk does a great job of packaging the unit and the instructions are on a single page with clear step-by-step setup instructions on the quick start guide. In the box you’ll find the SurroundBar 3000 speaker bar, Subwoofer, a power cord for the subwoofer as well as a 20v power supply for the SurroundBar 3000. Polk also includes a 6 foot optical digital cable for connecting to your HDTV and a guide for programming the included remote control.

Installation
It is very easy to get going with simple installation and easy to follow instructions. Start by connecting your SurroundBar 3000 to the digital audio output from your TV with the supplied optical cable. The wireless connection between the SurroundBar 3000 and subwoofer further simplifies the installation process and you can place the subwoofer virtually anywhere in the room. Once you’ve decided where you want the subwoofer and connected the SurroundBar 3000 and subwoofer power cords to an A/C outlet you’re done. The included remote control is handy for adjusting the volume and the level of the subwoofer to match whatever you are watching or turn it down while the baby is sleeping. The remote functions can also be programmed into a universal remote control for added convenience.

The sound test
The first thing I tried was Madden11 on XBOX360 and as soon as I turned the XBOX on, I could tell I was going to be impressed. The opening XBOX logo sound did give me a feeling that there were speakers behind me and a nice bass note from the subwoofer. Sound quality for the game was incredible although some minor audio adjustments in the game menu were necessary to balance out the sound of the announcers, cheering crowd and sound effects. From there I moved on to one of my favorite movie scenes of all time which is in Matrix, when Neo and Trinity hijack the helicopter to save Morphius. So, I skipped forward to that scene and Neo was operating the minigun from the chopper. The bullets casings were falling from the copter and you could hear each little casing falling with detail from the SurroundBar 3000, while the blades of the helicopter cutting though the air above could be heard from the subwoofer. I was so enveloped by the sound that I ended up watching the movie the rest of the movie.

To sum it up the sound quality is incredible and the SurroundBar 3000 does a great job delivering a 5.1 channel experience and the illusion of having speakers behind you. If your TV does not have an optical output then you will need to use the red/white audio out on the TV with a mini adaptor to the SurroundBar 3000. I also tested it mounted on the wall with the two keyhole mounts on the back of the bar. It looked great but definitely sounded better on the shelf with something solid below it.

Chad G

The Peachtree Audio Nova Sounds like a Peach

Chad G — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:54:54 +0000

Arriving in the age of digital music where our music is crammed into bytes on our computers or portable electronic devices we have sacrificed the sound quality of days gone by from high-end CD players for the convenience of immediate play back with the click of a mouse of whatever song pops in our minds.

PeachTree Audio has come up with a solution to really enjoy your stored music and make your computer sound like a high end CD player. So, now you can dust off those high end speakers that have not played music since you found Pandora. The Nova Integrated Stereo Amplifier has a USB connection that is isolated from the amplifier section to help eliminate noise. It uses a very high end Digital to Analog convertor (DAC) to achieve the audio quality of a high-end CD player. The ESS Sabre DAC has a patented jitter reduction circuit that “re-clocks” the signal so that it sounds flawless when it is converted to an analog signal and sent to the Class A/B amplifier for connection to your speakers. The Nova is available in Rosewood, High Gloss Black and Cherry colors. It also has a Class A tube amplifier headphone output for the most critical of listeners.


Nova Rosewood	Nova High Gloss Black	Nova Cherry

Chad G

Why Samsung 3D HDTV?

Chad G — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:15:54 +0000

If your looking to purchase a 3D HDTV, then Samsung is the way to go. Samsung makes stunning TVs with superb picture quality and images that seem to jump off the screen with 3D. Their ultra thin TVs complement any decor. Plus Samsung’s Internet@TV feature lets you connect to the web with downloadable and customizable applications. You can connect with your family and friends, share photos, shop online and more. Through June 5th, if you purchase a 3D Blu-ray player (BD-C6900) with any Samsung 3D HDTV we will give you the 3D Starter Kit Free! The Starter kit includes 2 pair of glasses and a 3D movie.

There are 44 movies that will be produced in 3D this year for theaters in 2010. Also television studios will soon be broadcasting native 3D content through cable and satellite. So, 3D is here to stay, don’t get left behind, buy your 3D kit today!

Chad G

Great Deal on a White LCD TV

Chad G — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:08:27 +0000

For anyone looking for a white LCD HDTV you know they are hard to find. OneCall has a white 32″ Hitatchi LCD model UT32A302W in stock and at a great price. It is ultra thin at just 1.5″ thick it is designed to look modern and sleek. This is achieved by having the majority of the connections on a separate outboard tuner box model AVC08U. Having a separate tuner box makes installing it on the wall or any install much simpler with only one HDMI cable (included) to run to the LCD. The tuner box also has a built in over the air (OTA) digital tuner. For a limited time OneCall is including the tuner box for free.

Chad G

Link to your Music with Bose SoundLink

Chad G — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:00:09 +0000

Bose has released a new product called the Soundlink™ that will allow you to take all that great music on your computer and listen anywhere in the house. Incredibly easy to setup by simply plugging a USB link into your computer and synching it to the SoundLink with a touch of the remote. No software to add to the computer and it works with Windows or MAC operating systems. It is truly a plug and play device. It is also compact at just over a foot wide, 7 inches tall and about 4 inches in depth. So, it wont take up much room at your computer desk if you cannot break away from the mouse, but with a weight of about 5 pounds, rechargable battery, and convenient handle feel free to take it with you up to 60 feet! The battey will last 3 hours at full volume and even longer at lower levels. It also has an auxiliary input so you can plug other devices into it as well. Finally it is a Bose, so it has incredible sound from their famous waveguide technology.

See the complete details of the new Bose SoundLink™ now available at OneCall.

Chad G

The Next Generation of Digital Photo Frames

Chad G — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:10:30 +0000

Toshiba has introduced two digital photo frames that have Wi-Fi capability. They will be available in eight (8) (DMF82XKU Black or DMF82XWU White) and ten (10) inch (DMF102XKU) screen sizes. Now, easily send all the pictures that are hibernating on your computer to an attractive digital picture frame. The touch senor controls on the frame appear when touched and disappear after your done with your adjustments adding to the futuristic appeal. Not only can you send photos from your computer, but if you have an online account with a photo sharing site you can combine those into the mix as well. Buy two and send one to your favorite family members so they can have access to all your photos too on their wireless network. The photo frame can also play video MPEG 1,2 and 4 and has 1gb of internal memory to store photos or videos, so before you give one as a gift you can load it with a personal video message. Of course it also plays MP3 audio files so you can add a little music to your custom slide show. Toshiba did not stop there; they also gave you a clock and calendar built in plus a tilt sensor so it does not matter if you want to display it in the horizontal or vertical position. Starting below $200 it makes a perfect gift for those of us ready to avoid the Holiday rush.

Chad G

Mitsubishi Unisen TVs have arrived!

Chad G — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:00:21 +0000

Mitsubishi’s second generation of LCD TV with integrated surround sound system has now arrived at OneCall. Mitsubishi has branded them Unisen which stands for the uniting of superior picture and superior sound. These LCD TVs are not only high end LCD panels and compete with any other manufacture’s top of the line models in color, contrast and picture quality, but include a sound projector. The sound projector is more than just a gimmick. It has 16 speakers in a cabinet directly under the TV that blends very well with the already sleek design of the TV. These 16 speakers work to provide an immersive surround sound environment, regardless of the size and shape of the room. This is because the Unisen LCD TVs include a calibration microphone to dial the speaker system into any listening area automatically as well as a very user friendly on screen display that lets you see and adjust each channel of sound to your liking. It works so well that you will be looking behind you for a speaker that is in the TV! They also have a subwoofer output so that you can add a powered woofer to complete the surround sound system. In fact, right now at OneCall we are including a wireless subwoofer at no charge with the purchase of this exciting cutting edge technology. The panels come in sizes 40, 46 and 52 inches. Here is a link to the models offered on our site: Free Polk Audio Subwoofer with Purchase of select Mitsubishi HDTVs

*Free Subwoofer offer expires September 7, 2009

Chad G

HDMI 1.4 What’s new and What you need to know.

Chad G — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:00:41 +0000

Oh No! Have you heard that there is a new version of HDMI coming out? Now before you run home in a sweaty panic and list all your current HDMI devices for sale on craigslist, you should know that 1.4 is going to add some capabilities to the cable functionality but not going make anything obsolete.

First, it will add shared ethernet capablitliy so if your HDMI devices are internet/network capable you will not have to run an ethernet cable plus the HDMI. So, for example you have a Blu-ray player with internet capability and a TV with Internet capability. You will only have to connect the Blu-ray with the Ethernet and then it will share that connection with the TV through a compatible HDMI 1.4 cable. (if they are both 1.4 devices) Cool and convenient but last time I checked Ethernet cable was a whole lot less expensive than an HDMI cable.

Second, HDMI 1.4 will allow digital sound to go back from your HDTV to a surround sound receiver. They call it Audio Return Channel. So, here is the scenario, you are getting HD content from an antenna over the air tuned by your digital HDTV. Some of this programming has 5.1 surround sound available. You have a surround sound system hooked to the Plasma HDTV with an HDMI cable and the surround system and TV are both HDMI 1.4 so now you can send that sound back to the Home Theater from the TV without using a optical cable. Bottom line; you do not need another cable to connect the digital audio.

Fittingly, third is 3D over HDMI. Here is what HDMI.org says about this capability:

“3D technology is evolving rapidly, with several competing approaches under development, so the HDMI 1.4 specification establishes protocols for a number of popular 3D display methods”

Key phrase there is “several competing approaches.” So, this technology is not even available yet. There is specualtion that you will need additional equipment plus a 3D ready HDTV and 3D capable source. So, dont throw anything out yet.

Next upgrade over HDMI 1.3 is the HDMI 1.4 capabiltiy to reach resolution capability of 4096 X 2160. So, new buzz word for you 2160P! The reality though is that you would have to have a very large display capable of this resolution to see a difference, a source that could play it and most importantly media that is recorded in that resolution, which there is not any and nothing in the forseeable future. Feeling a little calmer?

Next, it is going to provide additional color space for digital PHOTOs that are displayed on a compatible HDTV. So, your digital photos will look a little better, if both the camera and HDTV have the following capabilities:

sYCC601 color
Adobe RGB color
Adobe YCC601 color

Lastly, there are going to be some newer connectors with version 1.4. So, this means that some new smaller portable devices (cell phones) are going to have HDMI connectivity. Also automotive video system will start to get a connection that has a locking capablity to keep the connection secure in an automobile.

So, to sum it up, none of our current HDMI devices or cables are going to quit working. The real advantage of HDMI 1.4 is that it just eliminates some cables that are already connected and working fine. Also, keep in mind that to take advantage of these changes all the components will have to have the capability and there will always be a work around if one or more of the components are not.

For more information you can visit www.hdmi.org, call our experts at 1.866.919.4773 or post your comments here.

Chad G

Hot Links for OneCall.com

Chad G — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:38:54 +0000

Here is a quick note to pass along some great links given to me by a colleague:

Looking for the newest arrivals? Go here:

Looking for the deals of the day? Go here:

Looking for the hottest deals? Go here:

Thanks to Matt P. for the links.