The JBL Control Cinema

[JBL4645]

You might say I like to be in control of things.

My listing so far…

AVR/AV

Kenwood KRF-9050D THX select main decoder for all Dolby/dts features

Yamaha DSR-7Pro acting as preamp for additional left right extraction of centre phantom left and right fronts or just in plain simple bypass mode, depends on the type of presentation I put on.

Also supports low pass filter for sub bass centre

Yamaha DSP-100 acting as centre preamp that also has the line feed from DSR-70Pro for centre phantom to me meagre together or separately if I wish.
Also supports low pass filter for sub bass centre

Pioneer VSP-200 this is the decoder that I use for extracting centre back surround plus it has a matrix rear that can be put to some usage.
Also supports low pass filter for sub bass centre

Crossover system

Behreinger DCX2496 this is used for the JBL control 5 left centre right fronts for full protection and shaping the tone for more easy listening over the complex LCR fronts

EQ

There are assorted EQ models some of which will be replaced with DEQ2496 as soon as I get the money saved up for several models. In the meantime this will have to suffice.

Behringer FBQ2496 40 band
Technics SH-8055
Technics SH-8058
Maratnz EQ551 10 band
Genexxa 10 band
JVC SEA-E30 10 band

Amplifiers

More Alesis RA300 and RA500 will be added soon and will replace the vintage Marnatz amps that have served very well over the past 20 years.

Alesis RA300 LFE.1 bridge mode
Alesis RA300 LF left/right front
Alesis RA300 LF centre front
Marnatz 1050 HF L/R
Marnatz 1050 HF C and centre back surrounds
Marnatz 1030 sidewall surrounds

Loudspeakers fronts

I have no intention of replacing the control 5 as they fit nicely into small rooms where space is limitedly tight. The same goes with control 1 they are versatile easy to install in matter of minutes and provided excellent all-around sound.

JBL control 5 modified for B-chain five sets of control 5 for the LCR plus inner-left and inner-right LF powered by Alesis RA300 HF powered by Marnatz 1050

The fronts are critical for timbre matching of tonally HF and LF thou that doesn’t necessarily make it so? It takes a few hours to adjust since the speakers are spaced apart from one another and the tone pink noise changes its signature slightly. That slightly needs to be adjusted and takes hours. It’s all good fun.

Loudspeakers surrounds

JBL control 1 custom surround x3 per each sidewall x4 for centre back surround and x2 for overheard surround

Loudspeakers Subs

x1 JBL diy version of JBL 4645 for LFE.1 powered by x1 Alesis RA300 at present time
This sub will play plenty loud enough and I’ve seen it respond below 20Hz and that’s good enough. The slam impact of fabricated sound effects on the LFE.1 track is marvellous.

Depth is nice on openings like Cloverfield even thou I dislike the rest of the film for its annoying camera jittering! Should pack a punch of Star Trek this month!

I have no complaints about this sub in the 12 years I’ve had it.

x1 Eltax A-12R for sub bass extension LCRS
This is small yet plays loud enough thou I don’t want to smear the rest of the LCRS upper bass mid. It plays handsomely down to 30Hz thou I’ve seen it sneaking slightly lower to 25Hz any lower will result in reduce output and possible cuffing at the port.
30Hz is average at best, thou lower would be nicer as most action takes place over the LCRS most of the time.


DVD/Laserdisc/VCR

The blow players well you get the idea, except for the VCR that’s being used as an audio limiter for the surrounds. Didn’t you know most VCR, are fitted with an audio limiter.

Pioneer CLD-1750 laserdisc player
Pioneer CLD-2950 laserdisc player
Pioneer DV-525 DVD player
Sony DVP-S366 DVD player
Cello DR-810 DVD-RW
Ferguson Hi-Fi NICAM VCR

Miscellaneous gear

Behringer MIC100 preamplifier
Behringer ECM8000 calibration microphone
Soundlab UD 236 microphone
Realistic SPL db meter analogue model
Tripod for SPL db meter
Microphone boom stand

Realistic Audio Mixer 6 channel, that’s used for LCRS and LFE.1 as fader controller.
The inputs 1 is used for summed left/right front with its pan pot set to hard-left
The inputs 2 is used for centre channel and its pan pot set to hard-left
The inputs 3 is used for summed left/right surround channel and its pan pot set to hard-left

With the pan pots set to hard-left they’d only output on the left output of the mixer that is feed to the Eltax A-12R sub bass

The input 6 is used for LFE.1 with the pan pot set to hard-right

The output will only sound on the right output and its sent to the Alesis RA300 but not before passing into filter to reduce some hiss that is generated by the Realistic audio mixer where the hiss is virtually been eliminated.

Monitoring TV/video projector

Panasonic widescreen 32” can’t be asked to pull it forwards for the model number. Nice colour brightness and contrast range

Hitachi CP-X430 LCD video projector gets very little use, only with new film DVD titles or the odd golden oldies now and then very rare usage it gets.

Additional loudspeakers not in use

x1 JBL HT-1F
x2 Eltax Symphony 6.2 towers need new 6 ½ bass mid drivers HF drivers are intact

I found these strays and brought them in cleaned them up
x2 Awia SX-77
x2 Awia SX-N7
x2 Panasonic SP-BM15

[JBL4645]

more

[JBL4645]

DVD and Bluray

Too think that most of the DVD will be upgraded toBluray, no, that’s not the right word replaced, no, that’s not the right word.

An extension to the collection as some DVD titles have totally different mixes that have been replaced with mix on some Bluray titles that is not original to the theatrical mix release.

So I’ll be holding on to them!










My cat Sooty mugging for shot

[JBL4645]

more, more, more DVD and Bluray well only few good Bluray titles as of now, still collecting them.

[JBL4645]

more...





Over the past 3 week brought 6 Bluray titles some of which I already have on DVD region 2, and few new titles well only one Star Trek. I had to take that Lemon Terminator Salvation back because the menu was cowed up!

[JBL4645]

The Matrix is cool thou I have the region 2 DVD with a few minor head-butting cuts as head-butting was banned in the UK around mid 1990’s to around 2000? The BBFC is more f5)_ked up than I thought they where!

Excellent audio commentary which doesn’t exist on the region 1 or 2 DVD until now I think its on the blu-ray! Wow so I had to wait all these years 10 years until some Muppet got his head out of ass to do it right!

I’ll think I’ll wait for buying Blu-ray since the studios have been taking the piss with consumers!

Brainstorm too bad it can’t be presented the way it looked in the cinema and it is possible to format the film with narrow like W/S 1.85:1 centred in the middle of the screen and for the all the POV shots scope 2.35:1 where the image should expand outwards would work a treat on DVD.

All you need is two dual versions of the film one for those idiots who like vertical expansion of the fame that looks really naff because it just flattens the films impact!

The other version would be the way it seen and I haven’t seen this in the cinema I’ve only read about it in Cinefex magazine years ago.

Enemy Mine is somewhat different in many ways over the region 2 DVD its PAL laserdisc its got difference in the opening when the spaceships have an out of space battle (dogfight). There’s a music score that has nice pulsating beat that isn’t accompanied on the region 2 DVD Dolby 4.0 discrete.

Men In Black well its kinder hardly played anymore great Dolby stereo 4.2.4 mix too bad I wasn’t running Dolby AC-3.

Stargate I like this version theatrical over the extended cut region 2 DVD. Why can’t they just add both versions rather than wasting money and pissing me mighty off!

“There can only be one” Highlander why does some Muppet want to remake this!? This version p&s is awful looking and the Dolby mix seems a bit botched up on this transfer, kinder reminds of third generation VHS copy.

West Side Story wow I like the interdiction with Robert Wise briefly talking about the transfer from 70mm to laserdisc it’s the kinder thing that turns me on.

The mix is different to the later version region 2 DVD seems like someone has been messing with the mix for the wicked dialogue panning.

Con Air is very rare play here, thou I like the part when the guy gets tossed out the airplane and crashes into the window shield of car waiting at traffic lights, damn that’s that loud and funny at the same time.

Demolition Man you’re even better live than laserdisc not a bad transfer with picture and Dolby 4.2.4. The region 2 DVD would get more plays as its in six-track like the theatrical Dolby SR-D version.

The Ghost in the Darkness sounds wicked on PCM over region 2 DVD analogue track thou the Dolby digital track six-track mix shines with bit more loudness and kick.

Saw this in JBL equipped cinema ABC screen 1 Bournemouth which is now wet fish because they don’t have the bottle to turn the fader up to mark “7” or allow the proper kick from the screen stage to subs.

The Rockeeter thunders nicely on this CAV laserdisc with freeze step be step frame analyzing. The region 2 DVD being six-track Dolby or Dolby 5.0 hmm weird what no Baby Boom track now either someone is playing silly buggers and taking consumers as Muppets needs to sort this out!

Unforgiven wow wicked film gritty and cool musical score end credits.

The Professional sounds really neat on this laserdisc with a few cool off-screen dialogue panning it’s the guy he has gun pointing at me.

Twister is rip roaring wicked THX laserdisc. This was heavily played around the same time when it arrived on laserdisc while still playing in UK cinemas around 1996. Wonderful CAV transfer and PCM Dolby 4.2.4 thou I’m sure the Dolby AC-3 would be near or on the same par with the region 2 DVD. I have three versions of this now! Two editions on region 2 DVD and the THX laserdisc of course. -Cow! -Another cow! -Actually I think that’s the same one.

Earthquake not quite the same but for scope 2.35:1 its close. It’s the earthquake rumbling deep effects that was missing a tiny bit during the Big One! The region 2 DVD just goes nuts at chapter 8 and if you can stand to bare 8 minutes of this via the original theatrical presentation well done because it was frigging LOUD! And I saw it three times!

Picture transfer isn’t too bad for laserdisc and nice CAV side 3 is cool with theatrical trailer.

What it really needs is real large cinema PA stage LCR to play this with because most of the rumbles impacts would be playing in moderate levels while the LFE.1 adds a deeper lower frequency rolling rumbling effect that goes mute during the elevator/lift sequence then cuts back in after the strawberry jam files out and plasters the screen It would have looked good if a subtitle came up on the screen PUT YOUR 3-D GLASSES ON NOW!

[JBL4645]

Casper was perfect example for showing off the abilities of the Dolby 4.2.4 later version was dts six-track mix buti had to take backseat for a region 2 DVD which isn’t too bad the THX laserdisc did get more than few showings before settling down in its single laserdisc jacket.

Strange Days THX laserdisc with its P.O.V. opening sequence is neat for Dolby stereo 4.2.4 thou the region 2 DVD is fully isolated six-track discreteness is far more thrilling with voices panned behind and to (side to side LCR) cool end credits music.

DragonHeart THX laserdisc is another example of wicked panning like when Draco files around Bowen his voice swoops around the arrays of surrounds defused in Dolby stereo matrix 4.2.4 and clearer in six-track Dolby stereo.

Wicked LFE.1 effects when called for that would be missing on Dolby stereo 4.2.4 mix.

E.T. I could have kicked Spielberg for that naff 20th WTF edition! I think the guy is going senile walkie-talkies is the guy loosing the plot?

Thank god I still had the original theatrical version Dolby stereo 4.2.4 PCM PAL laserdisc.

The first edition 20th region 2 DVD I gave to a friend because he doesn’t know what to listen for so its no loss to me, besides he has naff sound system.

The three disc region 2 DVD was almost stepping in the right direction! It includes the (almost original theatrical with the a few noticeable clear stands out like sore thumb sly sound effects) I’ve pointed this out before and I’m sick of mention it.

It’s obvious these retards don’t know the meaning or understand what the meaning of (original) means [sigh]!

Go and listen and I mean really listen!

Sneakers its all about the information cool flick with cool Dolby stereo 4.2.4 not sure when six-track Dolby stereo version will surface on region 2 DVD thou it doesn’t matter the film was released internationally in Dolby stereo SR I think.

I transferred the film to DVD-RW I think a few years ago, haven’t played it since. I’m sure I made DVD-RW hmm???

Cutthroat Island THX laserdisc talk about Cutthroat because the BBFC went batshit on the region 2 DVD and hacked it up badly with really silly cuts for 15 certificate that really does take the piss!

Well at least I have the illegal version so I can stick my fingers up at the BBFC and call you every foul word under the sun because I don’t like it when ******s take the piss with the consumer!

Robocop 2 more bloody gore and this had few creepy moments and plentiful of laughs. Mayor Kuzack: F&ck you, you old senile bastard! This is bullshit! F&ck you!

Wicked bass LCRS/sub bass extension on the footfalls bangs and crashes explosions etc.

Natural Born Killers wired flick and why on Earth did I buy this!? because it was controversial at the time of release in UK cinemas at the same time I had the laserdisc and really what a load of fuss.

Not a bad Dolby stereo mix with cool CAV side so you can playback (Robert Downey Jr) Wayne Gale death sequence That’s a f&cking joke right? [Bang! Bang! Bang-bang- bang!!!]

The English Patient THX laserdisc must have only seen this less than 10 times played fully including the region 2 DVD. Saw this at UCI screen 5 in Dolby stereo SR as they didn’t install the Dolby CP500 till around 1997 I think?

Mighty Joe Young was recently played on region 2 DVD last month in six-track Dolby stereo thou the laserdisc is encoded in Dolby AC-3 the PCM isn’t too bad plenty of loudness and soft jungle sounds of birds tweeting all around.

Congo wicked THX laserdisc this bugger I saw a few times at the ABC screen 1 which is now called a wet fish because back around the time it came out, it wasn’t a bad sounding cinema. Must have saw this two or three times in Dolby stereo A type because they where too tight ass to buy Dolby SR cards for the Dolby CP200 in screen 1 and they’d rather use Dolby SR with some films in the naff still to this day screen 2 WTF!

Anyway this bugger really crackles nicely. The region 2 DVD sparkles a bit more with isolated six-track Dolby stereo.

Clear and Present Danger THX laserdisc was one of the first Dolby AC-3 arrivals on laserdisc to exhibit six-track Dolby stereo discrete must be worth a lot of money now, one of those rare things.

The region 2 DVD allows me to hear it the way it was heard in the cinema thou the ABC screen 1 didn’t install Dolby digital fully until around early 1998 I think?

Seven or Se7en wicked cool tense thriller. What’s in the box? The region 2 DVD with its Dolby –EX wow seems to work will all films with decent spilt-surround stereo surrounds mix!? [Sigh]

Blue Planet cool CAV laserdisc IMAX with bombastically loud PCM thunders with roaring ripples of low frequency sound waves as the space shuttles lifts off or the thunder lighting effects and some earthquake effects oh, volcanoes as well!

The narration track can be switched off on this laserdisc leaving only the music and effects playing.

The region 2 DVD six-track Dolby stereo has variable language tracks and its isolated discreteness is so choice for listening too.

Basic Instinct is different to the region 2 DVD where I forget which I think it’s the laserdisc theatrical version that doesn’t include a Jerry Goldsmith score when (George Dzundza) Gus questions (Michael Douglas) Nick about the possible motives that (Sharon Stone) Catherine Tramell is the killer she’s coming after me Gus.

Anyway we had ice pick titanium HF piss taking jokes a few days ago with this one.

[JBL4645]

Some more gatefolds laserdiscs

[JBL4645]

I’m thinking about transferring the laserdisc edition of 2001: A Space Odyssey to DVD-RW as I just can’t stand to bare the rubbish version region 2 DVD with its pants re-mix and botched-up original dialogue panning well almost because its not like blu-ray can present true 5 five screen fronts so WTF!

Grease wasn’t a bad makeover with its re-release and the THX laserdisc kicks nicely so does the region 2 DVD in wonderful six-track Dolby stereo so really neat sound engineering mixing.

Forrest Gump I seem to recall the naff reviews on its sound by some magazines stating its fantastic or has lots and lots of surround sound? A Dolby stereo 4.2.4 will do that and with no real way of telling what is a surround rear because the front effects like stereo rain or music will filter into the surrounds making them sound constantly active. Its only when you do hear an effect panning you go wow.

Listen to it in six-track Dolby stereo it’s a totally different ball game entirely thou I only have the region 2 DVD along with PAL laserdisc PCM. Most of the rain effects are placed over LCR while the surrounds remain mute in the six-track Dolby mix as intended or mixed by the re-recoding mixers.

There is way to make the six-track constantly surround you or be active from start to finish.

Use stand-alone Dolby pro-logic decoder for the stereo surrounds and second Dolby pro-logic decoder for the L/R fronts and switch the front one to Dolby pro-logic while feeding the outputs from different output and send it to the surround preamp decoder and plug it into one of the two inputs that will also allow the now and then normal surround effects to play while keeping the surrounds activated from start to end of the film.

It takes a bit of juggling to get the balance correct but it does work a treat and your friends or guest wouldn’t know the damn difference.

Escape From New York "He’s dangerous sir". "Call me snake". I rather liked this when I brought this privately many years ago nice audio commentary track and additional extras. The region 2 DVD discrete isolated six-track Dolby stereo has but one pisses me right off sound mix!

He’s dangerous sir is originally mixed for right front as the guard is off-screen to the right. What the f%()king mixers have done is mixed it and placed it in the centre and that deserves a kick in the bollocks who ever they are because they don’t fool me for one second!

Starship Troopers I think I already mentioned this?

Cape Fear wicked once you heard it at the Empire in THX JBL 13KW plenty of the same here with the NTSC laserdisc. The region 2 DVD isolated six-track Dolby stereo mix is spot on with some cool discrete 100% sounds or music placement over the LCRS with a few now and then LFE.1 track effects.

Striking Distance transferred this bugger to DVD-RW for quicker viewing some wicked cool Dolby stereo mixing too bad there isn’t six-track Dolby stereo mix available on region 2 DVD as if yet.

[JBL4645]

Some more gatefolds laserdiscs.

[JBL4645]

Star Wars originals with new George Lucas interviews on the end of each film.

Also a rare PAL Star Wars analogue audio that works with the CX noise reduction system laserdisc was produced around (1992) this was before digital PCM encoded laserdiscs came about.

Also Japanese Star Wars episode 1 this was more or less the last Star Wars film produced for laserdisc. Its Dolby-EX encoded, nice gatefold cover. Cost a bomb I think it was $139.00 or around £75.00.

Also special edition Star Wars that was released early around 1997 in cinemas and on laserdisc around December that same year.

[Hammie]

Dude!!!!

I cannot even think of where to start to comment.

Those are a lot of speakers you have running there. It also looks like a used AV gear store (not a bad thing ).

You certainly have a unique setup. I'm sure the sound is quite enveloping.

[gates70]

If this were in the gallery I'd give you a 5 on 10 for lack of speakers

[SeanMF]

Yea I'd post the pics to a gallery. Also give pics of the whole room instead of closeups to give a better idea of your setup. Sure is a lot of speakers..equipment.

[saprano]

JBL is that you????

What happened to AVS? haven't seen any waterfall charts from you in a long time. did something happen over there? some people were saying something about the reason, but knowbody gave me a real answer.

You can PM me if you want.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Dude!!!!

I cannot even think of where to start to comment.

Those are a lot of speakers you have running there. It also looks like a used AV gear store (not a bad thing ).

You certainly have a unique setup. I'm sure the sound is quite enveloping.

Think of it as a testing/demo room.

[BLURAYSONYES]

ah....well.....hmmmm...... too many speakers?

[JBL4645]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Dude!!!!

I cannot even think of where to start to comment.

Those are a lot of speakers you have running there. It also looks like a used AV gear store (not a bad thing ).

You certainly have a unique setup. I'm sure the sound is quite enveloping.

It’s no big deal about the surrounds, no conspiracy. They all wired in parallel and perform okay no distortion no clipping just wild surround, from the back of the room to the middle and upper front.

Each one is spaced 42” from the inside along the sidewalls.
Each of the back surrounds is bunched up closer as I noticed a hole in the sound due to being small room. I just stuck a few more in-between, it’s worked a treat.

Sounds neat on Hollowman R2 DVD on where Dr. Cain, enters the building car park and the doors close behind with boom.
Also the water-sprinkler during part where Linda, uses the fire extinguisher the water setting off centre front at several bursts and then centre back. Tone is spot on.

Each surround is easy to fit up within 5 minutes.
Drilling the holes for the mounting plate
Screwing up the plate
Attaching the mounting manoeuvrable arm on the speaker
Attaching it up to the mounting plate tightening up the threading screw to the angle which is downwards to the middle of the centre line
Attaching the cable…done!

Next thing is, testing on the (RTA and SPL) for equal level or any adjustments within the frequency response that might be slightly out. Aim is to get the tone to match one of the matching fronts.

All these surrounds is, not about loudness. It’s about coverage which is what I, want in the room. It sounds neat when muting the LCR/LFE.1. When I was projectionist I’d like to listen to (the booth monitor) which was attached to a Dolby CP65 type A/SR analogue.

In someway I’m preset for 7.1 but there not many Bluray produced in 7.1 its commonly 5.1 hasn’t changed much since Superman the Movie 1978, the first film to use split-surrounds or stereo surrounds.

I’m thinking of getting new AVR sometime soon not to replace my 9 year soon to be 10 year old Kenwood, as I can see ways of patching that up with a new ONKYO TX-SR707 priced around £599.00 I’ve looked around and found one reasonable supplier, now all I, need is just over £600 as P&P will no doubt be included.

[JBL4645]

Originally Posted by gates70

If this were in the gallery I'd give you a 5 on 10 for lack of speakers

Lack of speakers hardly so, because I’ll be adding in more soon and I’m quite sane. Its not about loudness its coverage.

The misconception with surround is two speakers. Wrong because most are placed in such a poor way around my friends its awaked to get involved with the surround experience, I’m purely talking about (the surround channel only).

Often its gabs with the sound in small rooms and that depresses me. In cinema its to cover the audience seated around the large or small in some cases. Some rooms are long and narrow yet only two speakers for each sidewall and two for centre back.

The back half surrounds in the cinema in the days past not sure if they’ve reconfigured it so only the arrays of sidewalls are active but some cinema processors are very smart over what we have.

A lot of us amateurs are always experimenting with the surrounds or the whole 5.1 I mean 5 because you can’t do much with the .1!

The stereo surrounds have centre phantom signal that can work between left and right and forwards towards the left and right fronts or centre depending on what these mixers have in mind.

So basically we can ether enjoy what so and so is doing with his/her set-up take on board a few tips that may have eluded us and apply it to our system as means of extending the entertainment and enjoyment of watching movies.

[JBL4645]

Originally Posted by SeanMF

Yea I'd post the pics to a gallery. Also give pics of the whole room instead of closeups to give a better idea of your setup. Sure is a lot of speakers..equipment.

I agree and that will take me a few hours!
Cheers