|
The images
below show our computer-based, audio/video hardware and software
evaluators. A description of our home-based evaluator system is here.
Our computers:
-
Self-built Pentium IV 2.8MHz/ RAM 1.0 GB. Using
an Antec Sonata Tower w/380 watt power supply, isolated with Dynamat
insulation. Additional cooling via internal 80 mm Papst 8412NGL Quiet-Case
Fan. Tower rests on Audioquest Sorbothane feet with two VPI Bricks
on top of tower to further damp and curtail power-supply-based electromagnetic
distortion. Video card: ATI Radeon 9600 with 256 MB video RAM. Sound
card: M-Audio 24/96 Audiophile. Motherboard: Asus P4800 Deluxe. Hard-drives:
Two Hitachi 160 GB Deskstar drives in VIA Raid 0 configuration. Drives
currently used: BenQ DW1640; Sony DRU-530A; Lite-On LTC-48161H.
-
"Souped up" Quantex 800MHz/Win 98SE
system: Video Card: ATI All-in-Wonder 64 MB video RAM. Ultra 400
watt power supply. Sound card: Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS.
DVD/RW drive: Sony DRU-530. Other DVD and CD-R/RW drives by Toshiba
and Sony.
Audio system comprised of:
- Headphone System 1: Sennheiser HD 650 driven by a Meier
Audio Headamp 2
- Headphone System 2: Sennheiser HD 600 driven by a HeadRoom
Little (using premium processor) w/More Power (power supply)
- Speaker System 1: Monsoon Audio Sonigistix MM-1000 Speakers
- Speaker System 2: Cambridge SoundWorks MicroWorks II Amplified
Multimedia/Computer Speaker System
- Speaker System 3: Cambridge SoundWorks PC Works
Video Display:
- Samsung SyncMaster 1100DF 19" CRT monitor
- Samsung SyncMaster 900DF 17" CRT monitor
- EIZO FlexScan L367 14" LCD monitor
- ViewSonic VP191b 19" LCD monitor
Software:
- InterVideo WinDVD
- CyberLink PowerDVD
- Adobe Audition (for audio analysis)
Other equipment and accessories used with the PC-based
system:
- Musical Fidelity A324 192 KHz Upsampling Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi CD/DVD-A/DVD-V/SACD player (connected up to
computer monitor via HDMI to DVI cable adapter from RAMelectronics)
- Meier Audio CORDA Headamp 2 (headphone amplifier)
- Sennheiser HD-650 with Cardas Cable
- Marigo Stealth 3-D Ultra Thin DVD / CD Mat
- Panasonic PV-GS200 MiniDV camcorder
- Pantone ColorVision SpyderPRO color analyzer
- ADS Tech Pyro A/V Link
Notes:
All monitors' gray scale, among other parameters, were calibrated to
D6500 using the ColorVision SpyderPRO color analyzer and the Digital
Video Essentials and Avia DVDs.
The self-built computer is our
main video-quality-assessing evaluator. Why did we build it ourselves?
Quite simply, there was nothing available on the market that could come
anywhere near the performance level we wanted...well, nothing less than
$5,000. High-performance is a critical issue when it comes to playing
back PC-based high-definition programming, such as Microsoft's
WMV-HD in 1080p mode. On this PC, we have deliberately installed
a minimum of software -- i.e. only the essentials -- to keep the video
applications (software DVD players) running smooth. This includes the
non-usage of virus protection (the unit is almost always "un-networked").
The PC drives are defragmented regularly, and all components' drivers
and firmware are updated when a new/improved versions become available.
This PC is almost exclusively used for audio and video tests. |
