HOT!!! Alive again...DigiTheatre DTS speakers

[sumrtym]

Amazing....I posted this quite a long time ago, and I know they sold out and raised the price by $36, but now back down to $299!!!! Worth every penny. Bought one for myself, and a friend bought it off me first time he heard it. Ordered a second (replacement for me), and a third for my parents. Here's a few specifics:

* NO REAR ANALOG INPUTS, thus no 4 channel in EAX games UNLESS USING THE NFORCE MOBO which does realtime Dolby Digital encoding (expect more games to start using Dolby Digital rather than EAX in future...Doom III and Deus Ex II come to mind as confirmed, as well as Carmack's emphasis that he believes games should go in that direction)
* Comes with nice little remote
* VERY nice balanced sound, but not earth-shaking bass
* Can be hooked up via SPDIF or optical to computer, DVD player, Playstation, or X-Box (believe a lot of their games are 5.1 Dolby Digital)
* Dolby Digital / Dolby Prologic / DTS hardware decoder
* Hall and Theatre mode available for stereo sources
* 220 W (don't let that fool you...sound quality is unbelievble and can be VERY loud)

To my ear, these were MUCH better than Klipsch. Not as much bass, and MUCH, MUCH better balance and on the highs. Crystal clear. Great choice for music/dvd.

Read the net for reviews. ICUII is a small company, but will work through any problems with you. In other words, sometimes kind of micky mouse seeming, but will get you your product without any fear.

Here's the link:
VideoLogic DigiTheatre DTS

 

[m1ke101]

these any good? haven't heard of this brand before.

 

[sumrtym]

Manufactured in Europe, and well known over there. Only distributer in US is Cybration (also known as ICUII). Here's a link(s) to review(s):

August 2000 from 3Dsoundsurge - best computer audio review site on net

March 2001 - Anandtech (heard of that one, yes?)

April 2000 - Another one

December 2000 - yet another

December 2000 - Still another

December 2000 - Gamer's Depot weighs in

Can't be another one?

Yet another from the UK

August 2001 - Good review from "Chick's"

Even Sharky reviewed it....

Well, think you get the idea.

 

[NewSc2]

yea i got on this deal really early. wonderful speakers, i'm thinking of buying a 2nd one for my tv setup.

 

[wshtb]

From their spec they use Audax(European brand) driver. As I know Audax are one of the best sounding drivers in the speaker-DIY world. Personally I am planning to build a central channel speaker for my HT setup with those nice driver, which cost $180 just for 3 mid-base drivers and one tweeter and crossover.

 

[sygyzy]

Was tearing my hair out last week looking for a US vendor. Thank you!

Question - How would this work on a tv set with an xbox? How would it be able to give me dts surround effects if it does not have rear inputs? I don't undertand audio terms well but what I want to be able to have is say I am watching a war movie, I want the effect of the helicopter flying around me. Possible with these speakers?

 

[wshtb]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Was tearing my hair out last week looking for a US vendor. Thank you!

Question - How would this work on a tv set with an xbox? How would it be able to give me dts surround effects if it does not have rear inputs? I don't undertand audio terms well but what I want to be able to have is say I am watching a war movie, I want the effect of the helicopter flying around me. Possible with these speakers?

You need to use the DIGITAL cable (COAX or TosLink), it transmit 5 channel in one cable.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Oh well...I took the bait and ordered a set. Hope these are as good as you guys say.

 

[anonymouschris]

how long did it take you to recieve these speakers?

 

[sygyzy]

Does it use regular speaker wires? What gauge would I need to get and what is the best way to connect the ends? I need to be able to run it up on my ceiling to get it behind my couch. I dont have a small entertainment room where I can run it along the walls. My little apartment has a living room that connects directly to the kitchen. I don't want cables on the floor.

 

[BladeWalker]

Ok, I've been looking for surround sound speakers that will act as an "all-in-one" solution. Can be used for the following: computer, dvd, cd, and tv. I'm more picky about sound for dvds and music cds than computer games. Most computer speakers are great for games and decent for dvds but are not that great with music cds when compared with home stereo. The Klipsch and Logitech are bass thumper but don't really impress me for general music playing.

The VideoLogic DigiTheatre DTS sounds like it might fit the bill. Does anyone know how well it compare to the Midiland 8200?

S4 MidiLand 8200 v2.0
http://www.midiland.com/proddetail.asp?linenumber=57&category=

Since neither speakers are mainstream, unfortunately, I can't test them out.

 

[sumrtym]

Wow, I need to read my threads more often to fill in questions. Sorry guys!

In no particular order:

KeyzerSoze: You'll love them!!!

wongsoongpak: SHOULDN'T take more than 2 weeks, and more like just over a week. HOWEVER, if you have ANY questions, call the hardware line (800 #) listed on the contact info at the ICUII web page. There's a couple of gals...Pam is the main one for VideoLogic and can get you tracking #s or kick the distributer (warehouse in CA) in the butt to ship them out. I got mine next day air.

sygyzy: The speakers include a proprietary flat ribbon cable between the front center and base box, a coax cable, rca cables, and...yes, speaker wire. The wire is pretty long, but I didn't measure the two for the rear speakers. Just see if it's long enough for ya, and if it isn't, pick some up at the store. The only cable not included is an optical, but I don't think you gain anything over the coax myself (others would argue, but I think they are more problems than any measurable benefit). They are regular speaker wire, not sure of gauge.



BladeWalker: See what I said about 4-channel gaming. Since there are no rear analog inputs, you have to be using a Soundblaster 5.1 with the LiveSurround (I think) feature, or better, an nforce mobo since it does real-time Dolby encoding. Otherwise, you won't get true surround in games unless they have Dolby surround soundtracks (which is just starting to be used in games now). For movies and music, they are VERY nice!!! I'm not sure how the compare to the 8200's, but I know they kick the crap out of the Klipsch (to my ears). The bass is not boomy, but nice on old swing music or jazz, and the highs are crisp, clean, and distortion free (don't grate on you like the Klipsch).

Think about it, they're better than the Promedia 5.1's (better sound), come with a remote, and a DTS/Dolby digital decoder. They easily justify a $500 price, if not higher. $334 shipped is a steal!!!

I personally can't believe this sale is back on.

By the way, sygyzy, Cybration (ICUII.com) IS the only U.S. vendor. Glad I could help you out!!!

Again, if you have any problems, call Pam. She helped me out a few times as their team was new early this year and I encountered a few shipment problems. Nothing to be worried about though, they were very helpful and friendly. I blame the screwups on VideoLogic not having a good distribution network in the U.S.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: sumrtym
Wow, I need to read my threads more often to fill in questions. Sorry guys!

sygyzy: The speakers include a proprietary flat ribbon cable between the front center and base box, a coax cable, rca cables, and...yes, speaker wire. The wire is pretty long, but I didn't measure the two for the rear speakers. Just see if it's long enough for ya, and if it isn't, pick some up at the store. The only cable not included is an optical, but I don't think you gain anything over the coax myself (others would argue, but I think they are more problems than any measurable benefit). They are regular speaker wire, not sure of gauge.

Which of the many typs of cables that you listed do the rear speakers use? I assume speaker wire. What gauge would I need to get and how would I connect it on the end? I know I can just twist it but I am sure there is a clean/"correct" solution that audio nuts use right?

You said that there is no benefit from using optical over coax. By coax do you mean the red and white rca's? I want to hook it up to my xbox and tv so it can output dts. My tv has only rca outputs but my xbox can use optical with some special accessory. What would the best setup be then? Xbox output to digitheatre + tv output to digitheatre?

 

[sumrtym]

sygyzy:

The rears use regular speaker wire. It's the standard clamp onto bare wire connection. Nothing fancy. But mark my words, these are nice clean speakers...the sound is crystal if you've got ANY kind of decent source. The digital connection is a coax cable, or optical, but a coax is included. By coax, I mean an s/pdif cable. I don't own an xbox, but I ASSUME you have an s/pdif connection. Most DVD players do, and I assume they wouldn't force you to use an optical. The s/pdif (or the optical if you choose) will allow DTS and Dolby Digital full 5.1 surround (digital lines). Using RCA won't allow 5.1, just stereo or some simulated surround, so you want to use your s/pdif connector.

Hope that clears up your questions.

 

[paulieside]

nice of you to answer all the questions

 

[KeyzerSoze]

$334 shipped? Hmm...and you say they're warehouse is in CA? I'm in freakin CA and my shipping was $65. Total shipped for me was $364. I'm in between LA and SD a lot. Wonder if they'll let me pick up if it comes outta CA?

 

[sumrtym]

Maybe they raised shipping. I nearly fell over when I got mine because it came next day air (all of them did). At the time, shipping was $35 to me in Kansas City, making it $334.

edit: I should say they SHIPPED next day air, but I cetainly didn't receive them next day from when I ordered them. At least a week, maybe two, but when they left CA they left next day air.

Kind've strange to be working that way. Again, I think VideoLogic has a ways to go with their distribution and responsiveness to US customers. Just glad ICUII was so helpful. I don't have anything bad to say about them.

 

[hevnsnt]

confused..... Is this for a computer setup or for a TV setup?

 

[merlink]

Hmmm... I just tried to order 3 sets of DigiTheatre DTS Speakers + 3 sets of speaker wall mounts ($1196 shipped), and for some reason, trying two different credit cards, I got a sales error everytime.. I even tried not spacing the cc #s. weird. Guess i'll be giving them a call tomorrow -- I need these speakers, as i'm making my new 3 story house dolby enabled.

-Merlin

 

[sygyzy]

Show off!

 

[sumrtym]

hevnsnt: Either / Or....You can use it on a tv, dvd, or out of your computer. They're marketed at computers, but definately aimed at the living room.

merlink:Hmmm...think I remember I had that problem as well. Seems like it was because I didn't have my address EXACTLY as appeared for my statement, or something of that ilk.

 

[Bluesloth]

Can you connect multiple devices to these speakers? They look really great, but I'm wondering if I can connect them to a vcr,replaytv,dvd,ps2... Any ideas? Thanks

 

[NewSc2]

Bluesloth: If the speaker setup is connected to a receiver, then everything else should be connected to the receiver; so it should play dvd/vcr/tv whatever else you have set up.

These speakers can be connected to either a computer or a tv/receiver - they give you a digital coaxial cable, right/left audio cables, and the cable that goes into your sound card... 3.5mm? (i don't remember off the top of my head)

 

[Bluesloth]

Good Idea. I checked my receiver, but I don't have any pre-outs... Can you convert speaker signal or maybe use the Tape-2 Monitor? Would this convert all signals to analog?

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Did anyone order this time around? Man, for $65 shipping, they sure take a long @ss time. Its been about 2 weeks since I ordered and i haven't got $hit yet. :frown: