Surround-sound modes, Comcast comes to Pittsburgh
Week 12, 2003
Q) I have an Onkyo surround sound system. I would like to have all my speakers playing when I am not playing DVDs. How do I accomplish this?
-Dorothy
A) For playing music from CDs, cassette tapes, and radio stations,, check the surround modes on your receiver. If you have one that says hall, club, or simulated surround, it will play all of the speakers. In these modes the speakers in the rear will play modified information from the front speakers to provide an artificially created surround sound. Remember that almost all music is designed to play in two-speaker stereo, not surround sound. The ‘simulated surround” will not represent the program material as the artists and producers originally intended. Some people like the artificial effect; most audiophiles and purists abhor it. You will have to try it yourself and decide if it is for you.
If you are watching television channels or VHS tapes, Dolby Pro-Logic or Dolby Pro-Logic II is the proper setting for surround sound. When your surround system is set to a Pro-Logic mode, the rear speakers will play only if the program is recorded in surround sound. If the rear speakers are silent when watching your television, you will have to change to a simulated surround mode if you want the rear speakers to play.
Be sure to check my website under recommended products for more info on surround sound.
Comcast comes to town: Special Section for Pittsburgh Readers
Recently I received a letter from Comcast raising my high-speed internet access rates by $15.00 per month, a whopping 35% increase. The letter offered to keep my internet access rates the same if I subscribed to any cable television package.
Those who read my column or correspond with me know I much prefer satellite to cable for subscription television. I have used Dish Network for almost seven years and have been 100% satisfied, and would be very reluctant to change. Curious, I went to J.D. Power’s website to see how Comcast stacked up compared to Adelphia Cable, Dish Network, and DirecTV.
J.D. Power rates all the satellite and cable providers under the categories of “Performance and Reliability”, “Cost of Service”, “Billing”, “Image”, “Offerings and Promotions”, and “Customer Service”. J.D. Power gave Comcast the lowest possible rating in every single category. (Given the fine start they are off to with me as a customer, I am not surprised!) Adelphia had higher scores than Comcast in every category but “Performance and Reliability”. Among satellite providers, DirecTV had the highest possible scores in every single category, with Dish Network a notch behind. You can perform the comparison yourself at http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/jdpa_ratings/FindCableSat.jsp .
No doubt about it, there was no way my dish was coming down! I called Comcast and found that if I had basic cable and high speed internet it would be a few dollars cheaper than having high speed internet alone. So, I could have cable TV, satellite TV, and high speed internet for less than just having satellite TV and high speed internet. I decided to pay the few extra bucks and keep my household totally cable TV-free. It’s a matter or principle, after all… and I don’t like to give in to such shoddy business practices.
If you are unhappy with Comcast’s pricing or policies, I heartily recommend you investigate Dish Network (www.dishnetwork.com) or DirecTV (www.directv.com) for the best in picture quality, product features, value, and customer service. Satellite has kept this consumer electronics columnist and serious video enthusiast very happy for seven years. I’ll bet you’ll be happy, too! Now, where’s that number to sign up for DSL internet?
