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GROUP TEST
DOLBY PRO-LOGIC SATELLITE SYSTEMS
1 . PACE MSS-1000
£400 (inc. 60cm dish)
Over the past year the MSS-100 has become a top seller and
rightly so, this was the very first satellite receiver to feature an on-board Dolby
Pro Logic surround-sound decoder, and 4-channel amplifier, in one box. It also
has twin smart-card slots, two dish inputs, a 250-channel tuner, Wegner Panda 1
stereo noise reduction and a positioner
interface for a motorised dish, making it an able multi-satellite receiver, in
addition to being one of the best specified Astra systems on the market.
In spite of all that it’s very easy to use, with a well thought
out menu-driven on-screen display that shows channel number and name, favourite
channels and, if required, access to detailed tuning information and
adjustments. The tuner is pre-programmed, with all of the English-language Astra
channels occupying the first 20 slots, and they’ve also been grouped together
into categories (films, sport, news, children etc. ) for rapid selection. All
of the channel allocations can be re-organised if required. Other handy features
include a four mode ‘sound shape’ or tone control, sleep timer and
8-event/28-day VCR timer. There’s also a reasonably secure parental lock,
activated by a 4-digit PIN code, that can be applied to individual channels and
the set-up menus.
However, it’s the Pro-Logic decoder that sells this
receiver, and the fact that it can be used as a core component in a home cinema
system, processing surround sound and stereo audio from other sources, such as
a NICAM VCR. The built-in amplifier drives the front stereo and rear surround
speakers directly; speakers are not included in the price but Pace offer a Wharfedale
package as an option for an extra £150, though any reasonably competent speakers
will do. If the fairly modest amplifier (15 watts per channel) proves
inadequate there are line-level outputs for all of the main channels, (plus a
centre-front dialogue channel), for feeding to an AV amplifier. The
centre-front channel can be piped to the TV’s own speaker, alternatively one of
the surround sound outputs can be configured as a centre-front channel. As well as full-blown Dolby Pro-Logic and
Dolby 3 channel the processor has additional output modes that simulate
surround-sound effects, these are designated studio, club, cinema, concert,
stadium and cosmos; don’t expect too much, and you won’t be disappointed...
On-screen performance is excellent and even normally noisy
channels like UK Gold come in loud and clear. Stereo sound is very clean, there’s
some background hiss but it’s by no means intrusive. The Pro-Logic decoder is
quite capable, and once set it manages to resolve and localise detailed sounds
without too much effort. For small to medium sized set-ups it does really well,
it’s flexible, easy to use and set-up, though it has to be said that the built-in amplifiers lack guts and
it really needs to be connected to a beefy AV amp to do justice to the more
spectacular effects.
PLUS:
A neat and generally well-designed one-box solution for
surround sound. It looks smart and it is easy to use. The specification is
sensible rather than flashy, it’s
solidly built -- British too --
satellite AV performance is spot-on and the price seems very fair,
considering the cost of buying surround-sound components separately
MINUS:
Surround sound performance is a bit lightweight, the
on-board amps lack the power to make you sit up and take notice. The simulated
surround effects are best described as a novelty, one which quickly wears
off... Using it as the centrepiece of a surround sound system can become
complicated and/or involve a quality compromise
Picture quality: ****
Sound quality: ****
Build quality: ****
Ease of Use: ***
Features: ****
Value for money 95%
Pace telephone (01274) 53200
CRITICAL CAPTIONS
* Twin smart-card slots means no more getting up to swap cards
for subscription channels. The centre button opens the hinged flap and ejects
both cards for easy access, (though they’re still connected); the flap closes automatically
when the button is pressed a second time
* The small dial on the right side of the front panel has a
variety of functions. In normal use it steps through the channel memory. It can
also be used to adjust the output volume and change selections on certain items
shown on the on-screen display
* The highly informative display panel contains a
ten-character alphanumeric readout which shows channel name as well as number,
plus a variety of other mode and status indicators. The display also shows the surround
and sound processor mode, parental lock and how many smart cards are in use
* As remote handsets for satellite receivers go this one isn’t
too bad, at least the buttons aren’t all the same size. The labelling is clear
and frequently-used functions are quite well identified
* The back panel looks worse than it actually is. The bank
of spring-loaded connectors on the right side are for the speakers right and
left front speakers and two rear surround speakers. The phono connectors
beneath are line outputs for the stereo and surround channels, and the
centre-front dialogue channel
* The four SCART connectors on the back panel are for
connection to the TV, a VCR, auxiliary device (laser disc player etc.), and an
external decoder or dish positioner. It also has two LNB inputs, making it a
reasonably well qualified multi-satellite receiver
SPECS BOX
Features: 250-channel tuner, Wegner-Panda 1 stereo noise
reduction, Dolby Pro-Logic surround-sound decoder, pseudo-surround processor, pre-settable
sound ‘shape’ (tone control...), on-screen display with on-line help, 8-event/28-day
VCR timer, sleep timer, parental lock, pre-settable contrast and OSD background
colour, channel scan
Sockets: 4 x SCART AV/decoder/positioner, 4 x speaker
outputs, line audio out, centre-front line out, rear surround line out, 2 x LNB
inputs, UHF aerial bypass, mains
Power handling 2 x 15 watts (front stereo), 2 x 15 watts
(rear surround)
2. AMSTRAD SRD2000 £ 380 (inc. 60cm dish)
The SRD-2000 marks a distinct move up-market for Amstrad,
and it’s the first real competition for Pace who until now have been the only
company to market a satellite receiver with Dolby Pro-Logic surround sound.
This is also happens to be the first satellite receiver to be ‘digital-ready’
with an output socket for connection to an external decoder; hopefully Amstrad
haven’t jumped the gun as the detailed specifications for future digital video systems
are still being decided.
Of more immediate interest is the 300-channel tuner with all
of the current Astra channels, and an assortment of stations from other
satellites, pre-programmed into the receivers memory. Like the Pace MSS-1000 it
has Wegner Panda 1 stereo sound, two card slots, and twin LNB inputs, though at
the moment there’s no provision for a matching positioner, to drive a steerable
dish. It’s very well equipped to handle external AV sources with four SCART
sockets, plus a set of phono inputs for composite video and stereo audio. Other
noteworthy features include an
8-event/1-year VCR timer, favourite channel memory, channel ‘flip’ (to
quickly select a previously selected channel), tone controls, and a fairly
basic parental lock, that disables the front-panel channel change function for
designated channels.
Apart from power on, channel selection and pay-to-view authorise
buttons on the smart-looking front panel, everything is controlled by an
on-screen display, via the remote handset. Nothing unusual about that, except
the handset is not especially friendly. Most of the buttons are rather small
and not very well laid out, which makes life more difficult than it needs to
be. All tuning parameters, including channel name, and allocation can be
adjusted, and there’s good provision for multi-satellite operation.
The Pro-Logic processor has amplified outputs for right and
left stereo, rear surround and centre-front channels, each rated at 25
watts. It also has line outputs for
each channel, plus one for an active sub-woofer. Amstrad have put together a five-box JPW speaker package which
they’re offering as an optional extra for £100. The decoder has built-in noise
generator for setting the level of each channel, this can be sequenced, or each
channel selected manually. In addition to Pro Logic the processor has settings
for Dolby 3 channel, phantom centre mode and pre-settable treble and bass
controls.
Picture quality is generally very good, the tuner has above
average sensitivity and copes well with weaker channels. Noise levels are low, colours
look sharp and well defined. The stereo sound channels have a flat, even
response with only a modest amount of hiss. The Pro Logic decoder performs
well, picking out intricate sounds, though dynamic effects tend to lack drama
when heard through the on-board amps; connecting it up to an external AV
amplifier and decent-sized speakers brings it alive.
PLUS: A remarkably flexible and versatile design, equally
capable as part of a home cinema system, or as a multi-satellite receiver. Pro
Logic performance is okay and picture quality is better than average. It has good provision for connecting
external components and -- if Amstrad have got it right -- it should be reasonably
future proof
MINUS: It’s big and heavy -- for a satellite receiver. Some
menu routines can be a little tricky to navigate and exit, if you get it wrong.
The remote control handset is really horrible, the layout is careless; it has far
too many titchy buttons and they’re packed too closely together
Picture quality: ****
Sound quality: ****
Build quality: ***
Ease of Use: ***
Features: *****
Value for money 97%
Amstrad, telephone (01227) 228888
CRITICAL CAPTIONS
* Amstrad have put a lot of effort into this one, the
styling is smooth and individual. The flap on the right side opens to reveal
two smart-card slots, buttons for up/down channel change and pay-to-view authorisation.
The only other front-panel control is the on/standby button
* The main display panel shows channel name and number, as
well as surround-sound mode and various status indicators
* Four SCART AV sockets and more phono connectors than you
can shake a stick at; the top 3 three are yet another AV input. Below that
there are line-level outputs for the main stereo, rear surround, centre-front
and sub-woofer channels. The speaker outputs are handled by the bank of spring-loaded
terminals.
* Two of the three connectors on the left side of the back
panel are for the dish inputs, the third one is an IF output for an external
digital decoder, let’s just hope Amstrad have got it right the rest of the
industry standardise on this type of interface...
* How not to design a remote control handset! Far too many
tiny, badly labelled buttons, and whatever happened to the layout of the menu
cursor control? Try figuring that one out
in a semi-darkened living room
* It’s a surprisingly solid design. The quality of
construction both inside and out is generally good. The larger than average
ventilation grilles on the top panel are functional, so don’t cover them up, at
full tilt it puts out quite a lot of heat
SPECS BOX
Features: 300-channel tuner, twin smart-card slots, twin LNB
inputs, IF (digital ready) output, Wegner Panda 1 noise reduction, Dolby
Pro-Logic/Dolby 3 surround sound, tone control, 8-event/365-day timer,
on-screen display, parental lock, channel swap/copy, favourite channel memory
Sockets: 4 x SCART AV/decoder, AV input, 4 x speaker
outputs, right & left stereo, rear surround, centre front, sub-woofer and
digital sound outputs, 2 x LNB inputs, IF output, UHF bypass
Power handling 2 x 18 watts (front stereo), 2 x 18 watts
(rear surround)
COMPARISONS -- WHICH IS BEST?
The two receivers have a remarkably similar price and general
specification, moreover there’s almost nothing to choose between them on performance
grounds; the SRD-2000 has a slightly punchier sound though both models benefit
from connection to an external amplifier and big speakers, especially if they’re
to be used in largish rooms. The Pace MSS-1000 has a more refined feel to it,
and the Amstrad remote handset is a mess, but the SRD-2000 is marginally more
flexible when it comes to using it with other AV sources, and the digital
output offers some degree of future-proofing. On balance the SRD-2000 has a
very slight edge but in the end both are worth considering as a simple and
cost-effective alternative to full-blown AV systems, provided you’re happy to
put video and surround sound ahead of traditional hi-fi facilities.
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R. Maybury 1995 2303
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