Phil1624705739 Posted February 18, 2002 Posted February 18, 2002 CD player (CDP) – Source for stereo/HTS. Play CD only. Quality normally governed by the transport and digital/analog converter (DAC). Some comes with High Definition Compact Disc (HDCD) decoder to play CD in 18 to 20 bits resolution. DVD player (DVDP) – Source for a HTS. Play DVD-V (video), VCD & CD discs. 3rd generation players also support DVD-A (audio), 12bits/54Mhz video DAC, progressive scan & etc. DVD/CD transport - Player which does not comes with a DAC, used purely to extract digitally encoded signal from disc. Tuner - Source for stereo/HTS. For FM radio. Some comes with RDS which can display textual information about station, music, artist & etc. SG only support name of station. Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) – Source for HTS. Play VHS, SVHS, Hi8, Betacam tapes. Quality governed by the no of heads. E.g 6 heads refers to 2 video & 4 audio heads. Some comes with Nicam stereo decoding, auto cleaning, S-video input/output (rare) & titanium coded drum. Pre-amplifier (preamp) – Use for switching audio inputs & provide tone (treble + bass) management. Output low level audio signal to amplifiers. A/V version include video switching. Some comes with balanced input & ouput. Surround Processor/Decoder – Use for extract 4/5.1 DD/DTS /6.1 DD-EX/DTS-ES channel surround sound from digital audio signal. Output 5.1/6.1 low level audio signal to amplifiers. Some can be upgraded through firmware & add-on cards. Surround format include Dolby Digital (DD), DD-EX, Prologic II, DTS, DTS-ES, SRS CS5.1 & etc Power Amplifiers (Poweramp) – Comes in 2/3/5/6 channels. Provide amplification for the speakers. Normally comes with RCA inputs but some also comes with DB25 connector for 1 interconnect solution. Higher end model have high current outputs, toroidal transformer, 12V trigger & etc. Other variant includes monoblocks & integrated amplifiers (preamp + poweramp) A/V Receiver – All-in-one set which consists of Surround Processor + A/V Preamp + 5 Channel Amp + Tuner. A/V Amplifier are those without built-in tuner. Features include those for individual components like RDS, high current output & etc. Front/Main Speakers – Consist of 2 main types. Bookshelf & floorstanders. Critical for stereo system but secondary in HTS. 2-way systems are those with a tweeter & mid/low frequency driver. 3-way systems are those with extra low frequency (woofer) driver. Can be sealed, front or rear ported. Binding posts includes spring clips, banana & spade. Single, Bi or Triwire. Center Speakers – Most important speaker of HTS as dialogue is directed to it. Most design are 2-ways with 1 tweeter & 2 mid/low driver & designed as small speaker. Under such configuration, low frequency (bass) information is directed to main speakers or subwoofer. Surround/Rear Speakers – Mostly used for effects & ambience. Consist of 4 main types, direct radiating, bipole, dipole, tripole. Direct radiating refers to front firing speakers like the front speakers. Bipole’s drivers are angled & in-phase, designed to provide a wide localised soundfield. Dipole’s drivers are also angled but out-of-phase. Soundfield cannot be isolated using such design giving a all-around effect. Tripole is a hybrid consisting of front radiating + diople. Bass is normally redirected to subwoofer. Subwoofer – Can be passive or active. Passive need external amplifier & active have built-in class D poweramp. Provide bass effect. Input signal can be low level via processor/receiver subwoofer out or high level via speaker output. Use used with high level input, subwoofer will act like a filter & pass the upper frequency signal to the speakers connected to the speaker out. Crossovers are used to perform separation of the signals.
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