Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by OrangeStreet

Can I connect 2 phone outlet to 1 modem & 1 phone?

OrangeStreet — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:24:06 +0800

My new house got 2 phone line outlets (1 in 2nd floor and 1 in living room downstairs). I only have 1 telephone account.

I thought I can connect 1 to ADSL modem in 2nd floor and 1 to telephone in living room, but my modem cannot sync with DSL in this case. I have to disconnect the telephone, then modem can connect to Internet. I have tried to use a splitter to connect my modem, but still the same problem.

Anyone know how to connect 1 phone outlet to modem and another one to telephone? Or I have to use only 1 phone outlet and a splitter? Then I'll have to run a long telephone cable from 2nd floor to my living room downstairs, so that I can put my telephone there, which is not very convenient. Thanks.

Need advice on Denon vs Yamaha receiver + Speaker

OrangeStreet — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:11:22 +0800

Currently, I'm looking for receiver & speaker to setup my first home theater (budget of cause). I come across the following AVR:

Denon AVR-1908 (RM 1620)
Year: 2007
Power: 90w/ch
HDMI: 1.3a with deep color
HDMI Audio: LPCM 7.1 max 96KHz
Video Processing: Can convert composite/s-video to component, but NOT HDMI output
Multi zone: Yes
Direct mode: Yes
Auto calibration: Audyssey MultEQ

Denon AVR-1909 (RM 1899)
Year: 2008
Power: 90w/ch
Decoder: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD Master Audio
HDMI: 1.3a with deep color
HDMI Audio: LPCM 7.1 max 96KHz
Video Processing: Can convert composite/s-video/component to HDMI output (with Faroudja DCDi video processing for analog video)
Multi zone: Yes
Direct mode: Yes
Auto calibration: Audyssey MultEQ
Extra EQ: Audyssey Dynamic EQ & Audyssey Dynamic Volume

Denon AVR-2307 (RM 1890)
Year: 2006
Power: 100w/ch
HDMI: 1.1
HDMI Audio: LPCM 7.1 max 96KHz
Video Processing: Can convert composite/s-video/component to HDMI output
Multi zone: Yes
Direct mode: Yes
Auto calibration: Yes

Yamaha V563 (RM 1399)
Year: ?
Power: 90w/ch
HDMI: ? version
HDMI Audio: LPCM 7.1 max 96KHz
Video Processing: Can convert composite/s-video to component, but NOT HDMI output
Multi zone: Yes
Direct mode: No
Auto calibration: YPAO
Extra EQ: Cinema DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Night mode

Yamaha V663 (RM 1800)
Year: ?
Power: 95w/ch
Decoder: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD Master Audio
HDMI: 1.3 with deep color
HDMI Audio: LPCM 7.1 max 192KHz
Video Processing: Can convert composite/s-video/component to HDMI output
Multi zone: Yes
Direct mode: Yes
Auto calibration: YPAO
Extra EQ: Cinema DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, DRC mode (heard that it doesn't remove bass like Night mode in 563 does)

At a glance, Denon AVR-2307 is a bit too obsolete, but still expensive. So no go.

Denon AVR-1908 is very near 1909, but don't have Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD Master Audio, Faroudja DCDi, Audyssey Dynamic EQ & Dynamic Volume. Price difference is only 279, not really worth it, especially it don't have Audyssey Dynamic Volume. I hate switching volume level frequently.

Based on the feedback from AVS forum, Yamaha AVR seems to clip HDMI video, while Denon is OK. Sound quality wise, seems like it's Denon also. Not sure how true is this.

From the spec above, I'm leaning towards Denon AVR-1909 because it got most of the features I want:
- HDMI 1.3a with deep color
- HDMI LPCM 7.1 24/96
- Analog to digital video conversion, meaning that I only need 1 HDMI out to TV for all different video input, but Faroudja DCDi processing only apply to analog video
- Direct mode
- Audyssey MultEQ calibration
- Audyssey Dynamic EQ & Dynamic Volume (Only 1909 have this among all models listed above)
- Cinema EQ

Get Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD Master Audio decoding as bonus, since I don't really watch any Blu Ray for now.

Another candidate is Onkyo 606, but I can only find it at RM 2400, too expensive. So, is this a good decision? I would like to know:
- Got other model price at around 1899 to recommend?
- Any special issue/problem to take note for Denon AVR-1909?
- My budget for 5.1 speaker is now reduced to 1000-1100, can't afford Jamo S606. Any recommendation to pair with Denon AVR-1909?

Thanks.

Sharp vs LG LCD TV

OrangeStreet — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:34:53 +0800

I'm currently looking for 32" FullHD LCD TV for the following purposes:
- DVD/MKV and other HD movies viewing (not for Astro)
- XBOX360 and other PS2/PC games
- Web browsing and other normal tasks using HTPC

I've looked around at Best Denki and Harvey Norman

LG
32LH70YR (Spec) RM2899
32LG80FR (Spec) RM2799
32LG53FR (Spec) RM2499

Sharp
LC32A66M (Spec) RM2766 retail, RM2300 Garage sales

Overall, LG got more nice features than Sharp, but I haven't find lower price for LG yet.
I wonder if I should choose Sharp for its quality? Or got other recommendation?
Thanks.

Is HLA Promise package good?

OrangeStreet — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:50:53 +0800

First of all, I'm not good in investment and such, so posting my question here to get more opinion.
Recently, my insurance agent told me about this package. The brochure show something like this:

Assume 1 year deposit is around RM 21,550, you need to deposit for 6 years = RM 129,300
The 1st 10 years, you'll get RM 6,000 every 2 years. Meaning that RM 6,000 x 5 times = RM 30,000
The 2nd 10 years, you'll get RM 8,000 every 2 years. Meaning that RM 8,000 x 5 times = RM 40,000
The 3rd 10 years, you'll get RM 10,000 every 2 years. Meaning that RM 10,000 x 5 times = RM 50,000

Total 120,000 in 30 years. In addition to this, you also get back your original saving, plus dividends and mature bonus, so it can be more than double after 30 years. It contains 3 accounts: Saving, insurance and investment. That's where you get the additional dividends and mature bonus.

RM 21,550 is just example. It is possible to lower the deposit, but get less return. Sounds like a sweet deal at first sight, but I know bank wouldn't be so nice to give you money. What I would like to know:
1. Is this better than going for fixed deposit or unit trust alone?
2. This method has less liquidity, since you need to deposit for 6 years and keep your money there for a long time. Is this worth it?
2. Got any better alternative plan?

Product page
http://www.hla.com.my/ourproducts/product_...life_hlapromise

More discussions in Chinese
http://cforum1.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?...2&extra=&page=1
http://cforum2.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?...9&extra=&page=1

Thanks.