The Home Experience
I have a Sony Grand WEGA KF42WE610 42" using Comcast Cable reception w/o the box (analog reception).I wanted to give a bare bone truth if the HTS5000 is any good or not.After spending 1hr 30minutes properly installing my plugs, making sure my wall socket had 3 prongs (not use a 3 prong to 2 prong cheat which will void your warranty, the HTS5000 will not register as being grounded) and installing some copper wire to grounding the HTS 5000 itself (water pipe, iron/steel fixture tucked behind a wall or heater vent will do nicely) I was finally able to plug the HTS 5000, turn on the Sony STR-DE885 receiver w/ 150 watt preamp sub.I immediately noticed a better quality of sound and I was finally able to maintain its volume (as it would decrease and I would have to turn it up even more).It is the same sound quality as mentioned earlier with the Best Buy receiver.The picture is less pixilated and flesh tones are better (although nothing like Direct TV).Cartoon network has vivid, sharp colors (the colors orange and yellow, blue and purple, etc are distinguished.#1 noticeable difference pronounced even as I write this review is the TV's sound quality!It is as good as my STR-885 Sony Receiver!The sound volume remains the same and the bass is much richer then before.The voices are crisp, clear and audible.In the past I accepted the fact that my TV speakers were no good (reason for buying the STR-885) until today!Another positive trait is viewing Channel 2 via cable.In my area channel 2 is the worst channel, producing a series of thin horizontal to diagonal lines. The lines are very noticeable and distractinggiving a3d effect as you attempt to watch a program only having a 75% viewable screen.After installing the HTS 5000, channel 2 is now 95% viewable.You now have to look real hard to find them from 5' away! This is 2nd biggest improvement as I already have a 4 port, Electroline Drop Amp with single shielded RG-6 cable wire. The coax cable is connected to the HTS 5000 and a Monster top grade coax cable from the HTS 5000 to the TV.
SIDE NOTE
Although double shielded RG-6 coax cable would do better most that I have found do not have a solid copper core.As I was told that the signal travels around the circumference not inside.Regardless if you have solid copper core or not It is extremely important to check your cable connections to make sure the exposed copper wire does not have any marks or nicks around the circumference!If any are found there is a 100% chance you are not receiving the best picture possible.It is a MUST to cut the wire just below the connection,then buy $10-$18 "plastic" 2-Blade rotary coaxial cable stripper to properly strip it, place a coax connector then screw it back on your TV (This is intended for coax cable installed by your cable company.Monster coax cable and such are not part of this side note).
The Home Experience Voltage
When I first turn plugged this unit in Voltage was at 125V and did drop to about 115 volts using appliances in the kitchen.I did notice voltage as high as 125 volts until I turn the TV on then it would drop to 120 volts.I also have my computer, DSL and 18" monitor hooked up to the HTS 5000 and it remains 120 volts with the TV on!I did not notice anything better with the computer DSL or monitor.
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Monster Reference PowerCenter HTS 5000 MKII with Clean Power Stage 4 v.2.0 (MP HTS 5000 MKII)Product Description: The fact is, analog audio equipment is sensitive to a different type of noise than video, just as video is sensitive to a different type of noise than digital, and so on. In the past, manufacturers have used filters to combat the problem of noise introduced via power sources. Unfortunately, the filters were not optimized to attenuate at the different frequencies that are unique to digital, analog audio, and video realms. Products that managed to deliver truly cleaner AC power were thousands of dollars in price, out of reach for most people. Enter Head Monster Noel Lee. An uncompromising audiophile, Lee joined forces with Richard Marsh, the world's foremost expert on AC power, to develop affordable solutions to AC power problems. The result? Monster Clean Power.
I go this for my cable based home networks since you need to power up the modem, then the router, then the VoIP, etc in order and plugging and unpluging from the back of each device is messy and clumsy.
