Home Video Asylum

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Re: info on ADA?

163.119.252.74

I got the ADA from a local dealer -- you can call ADA and find out if they have someone local in your area (I don't know if they allow for internet/mail order sales). The ADA processor was $400 as I recall (there is an alternative made by Circle Surround, I think, that is $300 -- check Widescreen issues from last spring because they did a full review of the Circle Surround unit) and it is very simple to use and install. You just take your surround outputs from the 5.1 system and run them into the processor, and it provides outputs for two side surrounds as well as 1 or 2 back channels (they run in mono in any case -- I use 2 backs just to get a bit more uniform sound) that are then routed to your amp. The ADA even has a relatively simple calibration procedure so that you can set the levels of the sides and back using a sound (spl) meter. Once it is set, you can just forget it although there is an option to turn it off and then you'll just be running a straight 5.1 system (it routes the signal to just the side surrounds as I recall -- I just leave it on all of the time).

The sound? It is very nice and a reasonable improvement beyond 5.1 for the coherence and wrap around of the soundfield. On a few disks like The Haunting it is VERY effective (a 5.1 ex disk), and you even get some nice "over the head" (sound seems to come from directly behind over your head to the front channels) effects (e.g., Austin Powers 2 scene in the disco).

I had this contrasted with a 7.1 Meridian system that I used to have (the Meridian did an extra set of side surrounds several years ago) and the Krell-ADA system is much more convincing in my view. Mind you, I use 2 pairs of Martin Logan SL3's for my side and back speakers and they are very good at creating the enveloping effect.

Is it worth it? It depends if you have the extra 400 to spend -- I find it worth it on all disks, not just ex ones because it creates this more comprehensive field.


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