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The following is a series of questions and answers that represents
a range of the most common inquiries we receive from our customers.
If you are unable to locate an answer to your question please feel free
to email us or call us
at (903) 236-7755. In addition, please refer to our
Glossary
of common terms.
This FAQ sections serves as a learning tool. Use this section in
combination with our Glossary to educate yourself. Educating yourself
will help you to ask the “right questions” when you begin to shop for
equipment, ultimately enabling you to make the best equipment choice
for your audio and/or video application.
Questions About IQ Integrated
Systems:
Q: What brands does IQ Integrated Systems represent?
A: IQ Integrated Systems prides itself on representing brands that have demonstrated
the ability to manufacture high quality, durable equipment. Please
click here to view our entire line sheet. Please feel free to
contact
us if you have any questions.
Q: Will IQ Integrated Systems share the personal information of its customers?
A: No – absolutely not. IQ Integrated Systems is dedicated to maintaining the
privacy of our customers. To this end, we will not share or sell our
email lists or client information with anyone. We will only use this
information to contact customers directly. WE WILL NOT SPAM OUR
CUSTOMERS. Please feel free to read our
Privacy
Policy for more information.
Q: What kind of warranties come with the equipment sold at IQ
Integrated Systems?
A: Every manufacturer has its own warranty policy. Please review
the Warranty Information list that
we have compiled for your convenience. IQ Integrated Systems offers extended warranties
for many of the products that we offer. Please
contact
us for more information about extended warranties.
Q: Does IQ Integrated Systems accept trade-ins of used equipment?
A: Yes. However, we only accept trade-ins when they are directly
associated with the purchase of new equipment. In addition, we will
only accept trade-in equipment that has resell value. Meaning, we are
not interested in purchasing outdated, undesirable equipment.
Q: What is custom installation?
A: IQ Integrated Systems offers custom installation as a service to our customers.
This is an after-sale process, where the A/V system you have purchased
is assembled and installed into your home. This can be as simple as
delivering and hooking-up a new TV, or a complex process that involves
running in-wall wiring as part of a complete home theater installation
or whole-house system. Regardless of the complexity of the installation,
IQ Integrated Systems has the skills and experienced required to complete your job
successfully.
The key thing to remember with regard to custom installation is that
IQ Integrated Systems has its own team of on-staff, experienced installers. We
are dedicated to providing impeccable customer service and support throughout
the entire installation.
Q: I already own components. Can IQ Integrated Systems incorporate these into
a new home theater or listening system?
A: Yes. We can design an audio or home theater system that incorporates
your existing equipment – doing our best to maximize the synergy between
the new and existing components.
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General Equipment Questions:
Q: Do I need to spend a lot of money to get a high-quality system?
A: No. “High-quality” does not necessarily mean “high-end.” There
are many excellent component options available in a wide range of price
points. The key to getting a quality piece of equipment is to do your
research and trust your senses. If it looks good to your eyes
and sounds good to your ears – that is the correct component for you
– regardless of its price.
Q: Is there such thing as the “best component” to buy?
A: No. In the same sense that price should have little to do with
your choice of equipment, there is never a best piece of gear.
Every application calls for a different component. For example, a speaker
that sounds great in one room may not sound as good in another. Do
your best to match your equipment choice to the specific application
or need you are trying to fulfill. And again, do your research. The
more information you can provide to your salesperson, the easier it
will be for him/her to find a unit that matches your requirements.
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General Technical Questions:
Q: Can I control all of my gear with one universal remote?
A: Yes, a universal remote (one that learns the infrared codes
of your other remotes) could be used to operate your entire system,
however it still requires you to understand how your system works.
Q:
I have a universal remote control that uses macrosand I still have problems.
Namely, my TV is ‘On’ but not to the correct input – or I have a picture
on my set but no sound. What’s wrong?
A: Through the use of macros (multi-step sequences) you can automate
the process of turning on/off your equipment, but this requires that
you maintain a constant line of sight between your remote and your components.
Universal remotes do not receive feedback information from the equipment
they control. Therefore they do not know if the correct group
of components is on or off. Using a universal remote requires that
you understand the signal flow between all of your gear. If you want
to remove the guesswork, you may want to consider incorporating an automation
remote control into your system.
An automation remote utilizes feedback from the components it controls
and can be programmed to manage the entire system without your direct
intervention.
Q: Can
I control equipment that is hidden or concealed behind cabinet doors?
A: Yes. You will need to use an RF (radio frequency) remote control,
instead of a remote that utilizes IR (Infrared) technology. IR remotes
require the components you are controlling to be in the line of sight.
Q:
Will using a surge protector and/or power conditioner improve the performance
of my audio and video equipment?
A: Yes – most definitely. Isolation of audio and video equipment
will provide your system with improved component-generated noise rejection.
The result is the best possible sound and picture from your components.
You'll enjoy a more natural sound with increased dynamic range as well
as the most vivid image possible. Power coming through the AC line
is full of interference and line disturbances that degrade audio reproduction.
Using a power conditioner will clean up the AC power before it reaches
your equipment.
In addition to improving the performance of your equipment, a surge
protector will guard your equipment from power spikes and surges that
are common on AC lines. The problem is even worse if you live in an
area plagued by lightning or power blackouts. Extremely high voltages
can travel through the power line, seriously damaging or even destroying
your components.
Q: How
important of a role do interconnects and speaker cables play in the overall
performance of my audio and video systems?
A: Using high quality cabling is very important to the overall performance
of your audio and video systems. In many ways, your system is only
as good as your cabling. This is because the cables are responsible
for carrying the signal between the various components in your system.
The efficiency with which your cables perform this task directly affects
the clarity and brilliance of the video and audio quality in your home
theater and stereo listening systems.
Higher quality cabling has shielding that is designed to reject RFI
and EMI interference (Radio Frequency and Electromagnetic Interference).
These waveforms, created by standard household appliances as well as
your A/V components, are everywhere and can cause degredation in the
audio and video performance of your system.
The type of conductor used is yet another important factor in the
quality of a cable. Solid core conductors have a distinct advantage
over stranded or braided cables. Stranded cables oxidize quickly because
of the tiny air spaces between the fine strands of the conductor. Oxidation
creates electrical irregularities in the conductor where high frequency
signals cannot pass easily. Oxidation in the conductor shows up in the
sound as noise and distortion, and can cause a loss of sharpness or
color definition in the picture.
Another aspect of quality cabling to consider is the insulation used
to keep the conductors separated within the cable. Most insulation
materials cause some form of distortion, by absorbing the signal as
it passes through the conductor, releasing it again out of phase with
the original signal. This results in a loss of clarity in the audio
signal and distortion of the video signal. Ideally you will want to
use cables that minimize this type of interference and distortion.
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Audio Technical Questions:
Q: Will SACDs
play back on my standard CD player?
A: Hybrid SACDs will. The SACD format offers three disc configurations:
single layer disc, dual-layer disc and hybrid disc. The hybrid disc
is a two layer disc, consisting of one CD layer, and one high density
SACD layer. The CD layer has playback compatibility with the over 700
million CD players worldwide. Standard audio CDs will play back on
SACD players.
Q: What is the difference
between DVD-audio and SACD?
A: DVD-audio was developed based on the video format (DVD video) while
the Super Audio CD was developed based on the audio format (CD). DVD-audio
is based on PCM recording technology of the past but offers improved
sound quality by using a higher sampling frequency and longer word lengths.
The SACD, however, is based on a superior recording technology called
Direct Stream Digital (DSD) that more closely reproduces the shape of
the original analog waveforms to produce a more natural, higher quality
sound that more accurately captures the nuance and atmosphere of the
source material.
Q: How is DVD-Audio
different from CD? Does DVD-Audio sound better?
A: The audio fidelity of DVD-Audio far exceeds the quality of conventional
CD's and audio on DVD-Video.
DVD-Audio takes advantage of the large storage capacity, speed and
flexibility possible with DVD. DVD-Audio provides for audio in stereo
and in multi-channel surround in a wide range of specifications. In
addition to audio, a DVD-Audio disk can contain a limited amount of
video, which can be used to display text, such as lyrics or notes; or
stills such as a photo album. Up to 16 graphic stills can be associated
with each track and on-screen displays can be used for lyrics and disc
navigation.
However, real advantage of the DVD-Audio specification over DVD-Video
and CD is in the significantly increased quality of the PCM audio format.
PCM or "Pulse-Coded-Modulation" is the audio format standard
for CD’s.
DVD-Audio supports a significantly higher quality of PCM audio than
is possible on CD. DVD-Audio PCM can be recorded with a range of frequencies
that are more than four times that of a CD; giving instruments a liveliness
and expression that is not possible on a CD. DVD-Audio PCM also has
a much greater dynamic range that possible on a CD - making “louds”
louder and “quiets” quieter. The greater storage capacity of DVD’s allows
for much more music to be recorded than possible on CD's.
The following table outlines the technical specifications for PCM
on DVD-Audio and standard CD’s:
|
Specification |
DVD-Audio |
CD |
|
Audio Format |
PCM |
PCM |
|
Disk Capacity |
4.7Gb - Single layer 8.5Gb - Dual Layer
17Gb – Double Sided Dual Layer
|
700Mb |
|
Channels |
Up to 6 |
2 (stereo) |
|
Frequency Response |
0 - 96kHz (max) |
5 - 20kHz |
|
Dynamic Range |
144db |
96db |
|
Sampling Rate - 2 channel |
44.1, 88.2, 176.4KHz or
48, 96, 192KHz
|
44.1kHz |
|
Sampling Rate – multi-channel |
44.1, 88.2KHz or 48, 96KHz
|
n/a |
|
Sample Size (Quantization) |
12, 16, 20, or 24 bits |
16 bits |
|
Maximum Data Rate |
9.6 Mbps. |
1.4Mbps |
With PCM, the ability to accurately represent an analog signal in
digital form is mainly dependent upon the "Sample Size" and
"Sampling Rate". The combination of Sample Size and Rate are
commonly represented as two numbers such as 24/96 meaning a 24-bit sample
size taken at a rate of 96,000 samples per second.
Sample Size or "Quantization" is the number of data
bits used to represent the analog audio signal each time it is sampled
when being converted from an analog signal to a digital form. A larger
number of bits allow the amplitude of the audio signal to be represented
more accurately.
Sampling Rate or Sampling Frequency is the number of samples
taken per second when converting the analog signal to digital. A higher
"sampling rate" allows for higher frequencies to represented.
Data Rate is the number of bits-per-second that can be processed.
A data rate of 9.6Mbps is 9.6 million bits-per-second.
The greater the number of bits used for Sample Size and the greater
the number of Samples per second (Sample Rate) the more accurately the
analog signal can be represented in digital form. With a Sample Size
of 24 bits and a Sample Rate of 192KHz (24/192), DVD-Audio is capable
of recording an audio signal with a frequency range of 0 to 96KHz with
a dynamic range of 144dB.
Q: Do I need special
speakers for SACD?
A: Not necessarily. As with any high performance product, the end result
will be no better than the weakest link in your audio system, however
SACD will maximize the results from your current loudspeakers. They
may very well sound better than you ever thought possible! Having said
that, the superior performance characteristics of SACD and its DSD technology
will be most fully realized with very high quality loudspeakers.
Philips Multi-Channel SACD can be used in a simple 2-speaker system
for superb stereo reproduction, or in a multi-channel speaker system.
Your multi-channel speaker system can be the same as your home theater
5.1 surround system or, in order to fully maximize the SACD capabilities,
you should strive to have 5 identical speakers to deliver each full
range channel.
Q:
Can my DVD-Video player, CD player or PC play DVD-Audio discs?
A: DVD-Video Player
Most DVD-audio discs are compatible with DVD-Video players. To provide
compatibility, most DVD-Audio discs are including Dolby Digital (some
also include DTS) audio tracks that satisfy the DVD-Video specification.
These tracks are playable on DVD-Video players. A DVD album, which includes
these features, will carry the DVD-Audio and DVD-Video logo.
However, a DVD-Video player will not recognize and play the ultra-high
fidelity PCM and MLP encoded audio tracks on a DVD-Audio disk. To play
these tracks, a DVD player is required that meets the DVD-Audio specification.
These players can be identified by the DVD-Audio logo.
CD Player
Unfortunately, a DVD-Audio disc is NOT playable on a CD player.
PC
At present PC's do not support the DVD-Audio standard. Therefore, a
PC player will not recognize and play the ultra-high fidelity PCM and
MLP encoded audio tracks on a DVD-Audio disk. However, most PC's can
recognize and play DVD-Video compatible material on a DVD-Audio disc.
Q: Can
I play CD's and DVD-Video's in a DVD-Audio player?
A: Yes. Currently all DVD-Audio players are designed as "universal"
players that will be able to play DVD-Video disks and CD's in addition
to DVD-Audio disks. Some "universal "players will also be
able to play "Super Audio CD" (SACD) discs. However, some
manufactures may produce DVD-Audio only players for the high-end audiophile.
Q: How
do I adjust my TV to compensate for the shows with Black Bars? Or,
on some channels I lose the “Ticker” on the bottom of the screen…how
do I fix this?
A: There is usually a Screen / Mode button to adjust the screen
from 4:3 stretch to zoom. Although this will distort some images, it
will allow you to adjust for these instances.
Q: Should
I hear sound coming from all of my speakers in my surround sound set-up
every time I watch TV? My rear speakers don’t seem to be working except
when I watch a DVD. Why is this?
A: Not everything that you watch (on TV and otherwise) is presented
in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. A DVD most likely will be recorded
in this way, giving you discrete sound for the rear channels. Most
television programming is available in Dolby Pro Logic, which doesn’t
present a very strong discrete signal to the rear speakers. Another
thing to consider is that for most movies and TV programs the main action
is happening in the front and center speakers, with the rear speakers
used primarily for sound effects and ambience – not constant audio content.
Q: My CD player has a
digital output. Why should I use it instead of the standard analog
output?
A: CD players have built-in digital-to-analog converters (DACs)
so they can deliver a regular analog audio signal to the input of your
receiver. If your CD player has a digital output, and your receiver
is equipped with a compatible digital input, you can bypass your CD
player's DAC and send the digital signal directly to your receiver.
Depending on the quality of your receiver's DACs, this may result in
better sound for all of your CDs.
The two most common types of digital outputs are coaxial and
optical. Although coaxial connections usually have standard RCA-type
connectors, the cable itself is specially designed to handle the much
wider frequency bandwidth of digital signals. With optical connections,
the signal is transmitted as pulses of light through a cable housing
glass or plastic fibers. Optical transmission offers extremely wide
bandwidth, ultra-low signal loss, and immunity to RF (radio frequency)
interference.
If you are planning on making a digital copy of a CD, using a CD player
with a digital output as your source deck will help you greatly. Since
the music flows as digital data from your player to the recorder, you
will get the best possible sound quality. In addition, the recording
process will be much simpler – track ID’s and record levels are normally
pre-set in direct digital recordings and will be transferred to the
copy automatically.
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Video Technical Questions:
Q: What is HDTV? Can I watch HDTV programming
on my digital TV?
A: HDTV stands for High Definition Television. Digital TV
broadcasting has several levels of quality, and HDTV is the highest
level. All HDTV televisions are digital, but not all digital televisions
can reproduce HDTV. So, in order to watch HD programming you will need
a TV set that is HD enabled.
The following is a brief lesson on the various levels of digital television:
The ATSC identified 18 formats of digital television, giving flexibility
both to broadcasters and consumers. The 18 formats fall within three
key levels of digital television. They are, from lowest level to highest:
"Standard Definition TV" (SDTV), "Enhanced Definition
TV (EDTV), and "High Definition TV" (HDTV). You can think
of the levels as Good-Better-Best.
SDTV: Better Than Regular TV
Standard Definition TV broadcasting has eliminated those annoying
"ghost" images and "snow" sometimes seen in analog
broadcasts. SDTV's picture resolution can range from about the same
as analog TV to about twice the resolution-a noticeable improvement.
The audio is digital, too, so the sound is of higher quality than on
analog TV (like a CD compared to FM radio) and can even feature multiple
channels of surround sound.
EDTV: Really getting good
The next level of digital television is Enhanced Definition TV, EDTV.
EDTV features a minimum of 480p scanning lines, for a more detailed
picture than SDTV. You can see the difference. EDTV also can reproduce
Dolby® Digital audio.
HDTV: the best you can get
HDTV has all the benefits of EDTV, but goes far beyond it in picture
resolution and audio features. The HDTV specification requires a minimum
of 1080i or 720p scanning lines, far higher than EDTV and about five
times the resolution as analog TV! It's a level of detail that you've
never seen before.
1080i and 720p
How do 1080i and 720p compare? 1080i actually has higher resolution
than 720p, but doesn't render motion quite as well. 720p-with its progressive
scanning-delivers smoother motion (especially important for fast-moving
action, such as in sports) but has a lower resolution than 1080i. It
still has great resolution, but lower. (Don't worry; any HDTV receiver
can receive both formats, and a true HDTV television can display both
formats.)
Pixels
Another way to compare the two is by looking at their pixel count
(pixel is short for "picture elements", the individually addressable
areas of light and shadow on your screen). The 720p format creates an
image with 720 lines, each with 1280 pixels, so it has a resolution
of 1280 x 720. The 1080i format creates an image with 1080 lines, each
with 1920 pixels, so its resolution is a higher 1920 x 1080. Denser
pixels = a better picture.
When you're shopping for a new TV, remember this: at a minimum, an
HDTV television-whether it's a projection television, plasma display,
or traditional CRT type-must be able to display images at a minimum
of 1080i or 720p. A "digital TV" or "digital-ready TV"
or "EDTV-ready TV" that doesn't meet this spec cannot deliver
HDTV! You would still get the improvement of digital TV over analog,
but you wouldn't be ready for HDTV, which is the future of broadcasting.
The Hardware You'll Need for HDTV
HDTV is now being offered via satellite (like on DirecTV and others),
via cable (like Time Warner, Adelphia, and Comcast), and via over-the-air
broadcasts from NBC and other networks.
In order to receive and display HDTV, you'll need:
- A subscription to a satellite or cable TV provider, or an over-the-air
antenna, to bring the HDTV signal into your home.
- An HDTV tuner or set-top box, to decode and distribute the signal.
- A true HDTV monitor, to display the signal.
- And, it's not absolutely required, but to get the most out of HDTV
you should have a good surround sound system.
There are several configurations that will work, depending upon where
you live and your access to cable, satellite, and over-the-air signals.
Also, some HDTV televisions have built-in tuners, so you would just
connect this television to your HDTV source (such as your satellite
feed) and you're ready.
A good first step is to call your local cable or satellite provider
(or go onto their web site) and find out about their HDTV services in
your area. You can find their phone number on your monthly statement.
Ask which type of HDTV-capable set-top box or decoder you will need-you
may already have it.
Q: Is digital projection
really better than film projection?
A: This will be debated for many years to come, as was the transition
to Compact Disc from LP. Both digital and film projection are improving
technologically; however, digital projection has advanced rapidly in
the last few years, while 35MM film is nearing the end of its progression.
Film can reproduce exceptionally beautiful images, but because prints
degrade quickly with everyday use, few audiences experience its full
potential.
Film has unique characteristics such as jitter and flicker that some
filmmakers closely associate with the cinema experience. In fact, these
are unfortunate artifacts that we have grown to live with. On the other
hand, digital projection provides an exceptionally sharp and clear image
that does not scratch, fade, or otherwise degrade over time. In extensive
field-testing of DLP Cinema™ technology, 85 percent of viewers said
that the digital image quality was "excellent," and 80 percent
of viewers also decided that they would opt for digital projection over
film if given the choice.
Q: What is DLP™ technology and
how does it work?
A: Digital Light Processing™, or DLP™ technology is an all-digital
technology used to project and display images. Invented by Texas Instruments,
DLP™ technology is based on an optical semiconductor called the Digital
Micromirror Device, or DMD.
Digital Light Processing™ technology is based on the Digital Micromirror
Device, or DMD, an optical switch semiconductor. The DMD is comprised
of a standard memory cell on top of which is mounted a rectangular array
of more than a million hinged, microscopic mirrors.
In a DLP™ projection system, red, green, and blue light is shone alternately
onto the DMD mirrors, which switch on and off in response to a video
or graphics signal being fed into the underlying memory chip. The mirrors
can switch at a rate of up to 5,000 times per second; the light they
reflect is directed through a lens and onto the screen, creating an
image.
In projectors for high brightness applications, three DMDs are used-one
each for green, red, and blue. Light from the lamp is split by a prism
into these three colors and directed towards the appropriate DMD. Recombining
these reflections from the corresponding pixel/mirror on each DMD then
creates the image.
Q: What is the difference
between DLP™ technology and DLP Cinema™ technology?
A: DLP Cinema™ technology is derived from DLP™ technology, using the
same Digital Micromirror Device semiconductor. While the typical DLP™
subsystem uses one DMD chip, a DLP Cinema™ projection system uses three
DMDs to deliver images of incredible clarity and a range of up to 35
trillion colors.
Both DLP Cinema™ and DLP™ technology are digitally precise; both can
reproduce fast-moving images because of their rapid pixel-switching
capabilities; and both use reflected light to deliver stunningly clear
and sharp images.
The differences between the two technologies lie primarily in the way
they are optimized. As any image buff will tell you, 'film' and 'video'
have very different looks. Our challenge was to develop DLP™ technology
in two directions: for DLP Cinema™ technology, our goal is to deliver
images that looked just like film so that the movie-going experience
could be precisely reproduced. For DLP™ technology, our goal is to deliver
outstanding video and graphic images for home entertainment and business
presentations.
Q: How does DLP Cinema™ technology
work?
A: A movie projector based on DLP Cinema™ technology transfers the
digitized image file onto three optical semiconductors known as Digital
Micromirror Devices, or DMDs. Each of these chips is dedicated to one
primary color-red, green, or blue. A DMD chip contains a rectangular
array of over one million microscopic mirrors.
The DMD mirrors tilt either toward or away form a light source up to
thousands of times per second to reflect the movie onto the screen.
Think of the DMD mirrors as the colored cards held up by an audience
in a sports arena to create a giant image. Each person holds up a single
colored card, yet when combined, these thousands of cards create a picture.
If the card colors are changed, the picture changes too.
Light from the projector's lamp reflects off the mirrors and combines
in different proportions of red, green, and blue, as controlled by the
image file, to create an array of different colored pixels that make
up the projected image. These images are sequentially projected onto
the screen, recreating the movie in front of you with perfect.
Q: What are the advantages of
DLP™ technology?
A: DLP™ technology enables business projectors, home theater systems,
digital televisions, and large venue projectors to deliver the clearest
and sharpest images available.
Because it's an entirely digital display solution, the performance of
a DLP™ projection system remains consistently outstanding throughout
the life of the projector, bringing exceptional reliability to the display
electronics you use every day.
And because DLP™ technology is semiconductor-based, its lightweight
nature enables manufacturers to develop products that are smaller, lighter
and more elegant than is possible with alternative technologies. Portable
projectors featuring DLP™ technology can currently deliver an output
of 1,000 lumens or more with a total weight of as little as two pounds.
And the new generation of wide screen tabletop televisions featuring
DLP™ technology are as shallow as twelve inches, with weights as low
as 55 pounds.
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