System Notes - 11/02/2011

11/02/2011

After reading several reviews and comments about the use of a component cable for the Nintendo Wii I had mixed feelings about the outcome. When I located a high quality cable on Amazon for $3.89 I figured for the price it was worth a try. I now wish I had purchased the cable a long time ago. It really changed the image quality and clarity of the games. We play a lot of the Lego franchise games and the dark scenes now actually show detail.

On November 2, 2011 I purchased the Onkyo UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter to stream internet radio to the system. This is a great addition to the OnkyoTX-NR609. I can easily stream internet radio and all my music on my PC. The purchase of the UWF-1 caused a tipping point to purchase a new router. I went with the D-Link DIR-655 and I am very impressed. Connection quality has increased from an average of 30% to an average of 50%. Getting to 50% caused no drops in audio and for now I am pleased.

Notes on system changes since last post:
Since my last post the focus has been fine tuning and organizing my system. Turns out the Onkyo TX-NR609 created quite a bit of system tweaking. I have run the Audssey 2EQ for Room Acoustic Correction and with the settings defined by this process my old HTIB RCA speakers really show their limitations. While movies and television do project and create a soundstage, you can hear the audible hum due to loudness correction.

The removal of the RCA Subwoofer has a dramatic drop in low end performance throughout the system. Not that the old subwoofer really did much for low end effects, but it did provide that simple and subtle reminder that an explosion has a low frequency sound.

I posted a question here on Home Theater Shack about replacement front left, center and front right speakers. A solid recommendation of the NHT SuperZero 2.0 and other options. I think after careful consideration I might go with the NHT's because I would be able to get these and the component rack and new cables for under a budget of $750. I plan on visiting the NHT factory showroom to audition the SuperZero's.

With that said you can tell that I have adjusted my anticipated upgrade sequence noted in the 10/09/2011 post. What else is new. Upgrading and planning are all part of the fun.