● A collection of interesting articles:

High End Audio

• Music Formats & Music Collections
• High Resolution Digital Audio Formats
• Silent Music Servers
• Media Monkey Music Server Software Installation and Optimization for Windows XP
• Lynx AES16 PCI Digital Audio Card Installation and Optimization for Windows XP
• Info on Internet Radio
• Info on HD Radio
• Info on Satelite Radio
• Updated: Audio Formats: SACD and DVD-Audio. And Blu-ray?
• Keith O. Johnson: Recording and Audio Engineer Extraordinaire
• A Product Overview of the Spectral Audio DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Reference Amplifier
• A Design Overview: The Spectral Audio DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Reference Amplifier: by Keith Johnson
• HDCD Overview
• A Product Overview of the Spectral Audio DMA-100S Series 2 Amplifier

High End Home Theater

• Video Screen Size Comparisons
• HDMI 1.4
• Movie Collections
• Home Theater System Design
• Progressive Scan DVD Players Explained
• How to enable Tivo's 30-second commercial skip feature

Music

• Transferring Music from your library of CD's to a Music Server
• Info on high quality CD-R blank discs
• Music Collections
• Classical Music Collections: for ReQuest Music Servers
• Jazz Music Collections: for ReQuest Music Servers
• NAS (network attached storage) pre-loaded Rolling Stone Top 500 Rock Albums
• Another Classic Rock Collection
• Music on SACD
• Music on DVD-Audio
• Classical Music Eras
• Composer Timeline Listing
• Glossary of Tempo Markings used in Classical Music

More Articles

• Bibliography of Recommended Reading
• Systems: Articles about component matching and various types of systems and installations.
• Room Design: Articles about the various aspects of designing and building rooms for music, recording, live music, and home theater.

● High Resolution Digital Audio Formats

Starting around 2000 there was a lot of talk about both the DVD-Audio and the SACD audio formats that promised to offer much better sound quality than the existing ("Redbook") CD format. We have heard both of the contending formats and have been thinking about what ramifications their evolution might have on our clients' investments in digital technology.

When the CD format was introduced in the early 1980's, the music industry was able to quickly introduce a great deal of recordings (often called "content") by re-releasing their existing catalog. They went back to the original analog master tapes (some of which were quite good) and then remastered the recordings for the compact disc. During the 80's and 90's, and into the 21st century, the majority of all new recordings have been done digitally, either at or above CD-quality resolution. Today, there are large inventories of high resolution digital masters to use in remastering high resolution discs. So high resolution discs can be either old or new recordings made at high resolution, or reissues of old analog recordings.

To complicate matters further, two incompatible formats were battling to become the new standard. Manufacturers and music companies were divided into two camps, with most supporting only one of the two formats. This delayed the broad acceptance of a high resolution format—and broad acceptance was needed to bring equipment prices down and content availability up.

Therefore, as of 2003, we at Goodwin's High End expect that the selection of high resolution recordings will be small and the availability sparse, at least for a while.

We are advising our cutting-edge clients to invest in high resolution equipment only after they understand the risks involved in format standardization and content availability.

Furthermore, we are advising all of our clients that are interested in the highest possible digital performance to consider investing in high performance CD digital front ends (if they have not already done so). We expect this equipment to have a very long service life, both for existing music collections and for new CDs released in the upcoming years.

We are monitoring the unfolding story of new digital formats and will post further updates at events transpire. So stay tuned...

UPDATE:  Now in 2009 high resolution audio files are finally starting to become available either as downloads or on DVD-R's. For more information on this exciting development click HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE! Then call us with any questions you may have. To us this is the most exciting development in high quality music reproduction for the home in decades! Of course at this point it still remains a niche format like SACD and DVD-A currently are. We still have to wait and see when and if a large library of titles emerges. As with any format, the key thing is to have a wide variety of music available in that format to listen to!

● Music Formats: SACD and DVD-Audio. And Blu-ray?

We discussed above our thinking about the merits of investing in high resolution digital components. As we mentioned that there are two disk-based high resolution formats: DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD.

Here is a link that lists over 5500 available SACD titles. As of 2009, there are still some SACD titles being released although it is obvious that it will remain a niche format. Irregardless of what happens in the US market, it does look like SACD will remain viable going forward because SACD demand continues in certain European and Asian countries especially Japan and Germany. Other countries including Holland and Belgium also have a devoted fan-base. In addition China is also embracing the format.

Here is a link that lists over 1500 available DVD-A titles—and and here is another link with title listings.. As of 2009 however, we are unaware of any new DVD-A titles being released.

So that you can understand the differences between the SACD and DVD-Audio formats, here is a comparison between them.

Blu-ray

Blu-ray is another potential high resolution format in that the Blu-ray 3.0 profile is an audio only format. However it remains to be seen if any substantial content will actually ever be released.

There are of course a growing number of great Blu-ray concert discs now available which have high resolution audio encoded—as well as a 1080i or 1080p video. Obviously 1080p is preferable! Of course to see and hear these you need a home theater set-up. To learn more on that topic click here and here.

● Bibliography of Recommended Reading

Audio & Acoustics

Stereophile

Audiophile-oriented magazine.

 

The Absolute Sound

Audiophile-oriented magazine.

 

The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

by Robert Harley

Introductory Guide to High-Performance Audio Systems: Stereo - Surround Sound - Home Theater

by Robert Harley

 

The Master Handbook of Acoustics 3rd Edition

by F. Alton Everest

 

Concert and Opera Halls: How They Sound

by Leo Beranek

 

Acoustics

by Leo Beranek

 

Sound System Engineering

by Don Davis & Carolyn Davis

 

Click here for links to other on-line research.

Books on Classical Music

Piano Notes: The World of the Pianist

by Charles Rosen

The Inner Voice: The Making of a Singer

by Renee Fleming

 

Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony

by Arnold Steinhardt

The Great Pianists: From Mozart to the Present

by Harold C. Schonberg

 

What to Listen For in Music

by Aaron Copland

The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven

by Charles Rosen

 

Classical Music Repertoire & Recording Guides

The Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music 2009

by Ivan March, Edward Greenfield, Robert Layton; Paul Czajkowski (Editor)

 

The Essential Canon of Classical Music

by David Dubal

 

Gramophone Classical Music Guide 2009

by James Jolly

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians: 29 volumes with index
          by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell

The Norton/Grove Concise Encyclopedia of Music

by Stanley Sadie; Alison Latham (Editor)

 

Classical Music Websites

AllMusic.com - Classical (Note: click the 'works' tab on a composer's page for 'highlights' of their oeuvre)

Classical.net (another good source for basic repertoire)

Gramophone

Andante

Books on Indian Classical Music

Raga Mala: The Autobiography of Ravi Shankar

by Ravi Shankar

My Music, My Life

by Ravi Shankar

Classical Music of North India: the First Years of Study: The Music of the Baba Allauddin Gharana As Taught by Ali Akbar Khan at the Ali Akbar College of Music

by Ali Akbar Khan and George Ruckert

 

---

Indian Classical Music - Web Links

Ali Akbar College of Music

Indian Classical CD's

Music Websites - Multiple Genres

All Music.com  

SmithsonianGlobalSound

● HDMI 1.4

There is a forthcoming HDMI 1.4 spec which will be incorporated into future product generations. The range of cables will be expanded around the same time as follows:

• Standard HDMI Cable – supports data rates up to 1080i/60
   
• High Speed HDMI Cable – supports data rates beyond 1080p, including Deep Color and all 3D formats of the new 1.4 spec
   
• Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet
   
• High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet

A data channel will be added to the HDMI cable to enable high-speed bi-directional communication. Connected devices with this feature can send and receive data via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet—thus making them ready for any IP-based application.

The HDMI Ethernet Channel will allow an internet-enabled HDMI device to share its internet connection with other HDMI devices without the need for a separate Ethernet cable. The new feature will allow HDMI-enabled devices to share content between devices.

HDMI 1.4 will also add an Audio Return Channel to reduce the number of cables required to deliver audio upstream for processing and playback. In cases where an HDTV is directly receiving AV content, the Audio Return Channel will allow the HDTV to send the audio stream to the AV receiver over the HDMI cable—thus eliminating the need for an extra cable.

In addition 1.4 defines common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices. For 3D Over HDMI, the spec will standardize the input/output portion of the home 3D system and will specify up to dual-stream 1080p resolution.

HDMI 1.4 devices will be able to support higher video resolutions up to 4K x 2K including the following formats:

• 3840x2160 24Hz
• 3840x2160 25Hz
• 3840x2160 30Hz
• 4096x2160 24Hz

In addition 1.4 will support color spaces specifically for digital still cameras, including YCC601, Adobe RGB, and AdobeYCC601.

For more information on the HDMI 1.4 spec go to http://www.hdmi.org/

● Progressive Scan DVD Players Explained

Much has been written about new, upcoming progressive scan DVD players. In progressive video, an entire frame of video is output at one time. Each horizontal line in a frame is called a scan line. In interlaced video, first the odd-numbered (i.e. the first, third, fifth, and so forth) scan lines are output. Then the even-numbered scan lines are output. These halves of a frame are called "fields."

Why is progressive scanning better than interlaced scanning? Well, if the image moves in between the odd scan lines and the subsequent even scan lines, the image is blurred, distorted, or "torn". This is one type of "motion artifacts"— defects that appear when motion is displayed.

You may have heard that the data on the DVD disc itself is progressively scanned. Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. The real story requires knowing a bit more about how film is transferred to video.

File to Video Transfer: 3-2 Pulldown and the Telecine Process

Film is transferred to video using a "telecine" process that digitizes the frames of the film and transfers them to videotape as interlaced data. For historical reasons, film is made at 24 frames per second ("fps"), whereas video is made at 30 fps. In the film world, each frame is displayed twice, so that the resulting 48 fps images don't flicker. The same thing is done with standard NTSC video, except that fields, not full frames, are displayed at 60 fields per second.

By cleverly repeating the information in the film, the frame rates between film and video can be matched. Three fields from one frame are displayed, then two fields from the next. So after 5 fields have been displayed, 2 complete film frames have been displayed. 5 / 60 = 2 / 24. Clever, huh? This is called 3-2 pulldown.

When 3-2 pulldown material is displayed on a high-quality home theater system, you may notice "judder" — a jerky unevenness to motion caused by one frame of the movement being displayed for 50% longer than the next frame. This is a consequence of the telecine process, and nothing can easily be done about it if the image is to be displayed on a NTSC system (60 interlaced fields per second).

The DVD bitstream

The DVD (and HDTV) formats use a computer compression system to reduce the amount of information required for a given resolution. This system slightly reorders the fields of the telecine process so that they can be conveniently compressed by 20%. This 20% reduction is because 1 out of every 5 fields is a duplicate. 1 / 5 = 20%.

Progressively Scanned DVD Players

Progressively scanned DVD players can recombine the fields of the DVD bitstream so the one complete frame of the original film is output at a time. Because the material originally came from film through the telecine process, the reconstructed frame is identical to the original film frame, without any additional tearing or blurring distortions. However, there is still judder because, to match the 60 fps rate, one film frame is output three times, and then the next film frame is output twice.

If, however, the display device can handle a display rate of 72 fps, then one film frame can be output three times, and then the next frame is output three times as well. 3 x 24 frames/second = 72 frames/second. Because each film frame is output the same number of times, motion is smooth, and judder is eliminated.

Conclusions

• All other things being equal, a progressively scanned DVD player would tend to have better quality than an interlaced DVD player using a line-doubler because the frame reconstruction is performed before the frames are converted to analog, rather than after.
• All other things being equal, video that was transferred from film will tend to look better at 72 fps than at 60 fps.

UPDATE:  As of 2008 Blu-ray has clearly become the chosen high resolution movie format. With some stunning 1080P transfers and uncompressed surround sound audio, movies have never been so good in the home. In fact once you live with a home theater that we have installed for you, you'll probably be way too spoiled to go out to a movie theater ever again!

● The Spectral Audio DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Reference Amplifier: A Product Overview

The new DMA-360 Series 2 Reference is the new version of the original DMA-360 which was the first monaural reference amplifier from Spectral Audio. The DMA-360 Series 2 Reference is also the most powerful high-speed amplifier ever developed for high-end music applications. An impressive array of engineering "firsts" in the DMA-360 Series 2 culminate over two decades of high-speed FET design to produce the "ultimate" Spectral amplifier.

Spectral engineers pioneered the invention of high-speed FET audio amplifiers in the early 1980s with the wideband DMA-100 Class A instrumentation amplifier. From these innovative beginnings, Spectral has evolved increasingly powerful and sophisticated megahertz amplification for  applications in the Spectral component system. Today these high-resolution amplifiers feature greater speed and settling capability combined with higher voltage and current than previously possible. The DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Reference is now the ultimate realization of this quest to achieve uncompromising amplification true to the live musical experience.

From much listening and design experimentation, Spectral has consistently pursued component systems having ultra-fast settling, high-speed circuit architecture. These have invariably out-performed more traditional often cumbersome high-end design methods to achieve superlative detail, staging and listener involvement. Indeed, test methodology by simulating music waveforms and hearing acuity confirm that quickness of response and rapid signal extinction when reproducing complex dynamics are mandatory for accurate music reproduction. Only when can one preserve instantaneous waveform accuracy to prevent cover-up of delicate musical signals by previous events. Construction and performance of the DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Reference Amplifier for this demanding criterion and resulting sonic resolution are unmatched among contemporary high-end amplifier designs.

Unparalleled Resolution, Unprecedented Power

The very high-speed launch and enormous current reserve of the DMA-360 Series 2 are possible with the use of Spectral's proprietary " Focused Array" construction. This breakthrough topology aligns high-current vertical FET output devices for rapid, pistonic signal launch. The output section is comprised of eight individual V-FET amplifier modules paralleled to achieve a minimum 300 watt RMS output with 90 amp capability. With this "Focused Array" configuration of parallel FET amplifiers, full rated power is delivered with absolute load stability at an unprecedented 1 MHz. Output current is approximately double that of any previous high-speed amplifier design.

The "Focused Array" output section design of the DMA-360 Series 2 makes possible the practical use of ultra-fast vertical FET devices for the first time in a high powered audio application. Each device, having vacuum tube like operation character, is energized from its own dedicated high energy storage capacitor, rectifier, and individually powered from an isolated ultra-low coupled transformer winding. Individual Teflon bias trimmers calibrate each V-FET output device separately for maximum linearity and precise alignment. Groups of these individual powered output sections utilize field folded RF type construction and electronic shielding to banish noise and eliminate low level propagation of stray interference. The resulting "Focused Array" of eight individually powered output sections performs as one with virtually no cross-coupling or energy storage artifacts reflecting between output devices. During extreme program dynamics, this arrangement can launch an instantaneous high-current drive of over 90 amps to the most sophisticated loudspeakers with unprecedented waveform tracing precision. Gone are performance damaging magnetic and electrical field propagation problems of conventional high-powered amplifier construction. Without stray radiation, critical small signal paths within the DMA-360 Series 2 can perform with lowest possible distortion and settle to signal extinction in millionths of a second. Hence, the DMA-360 Series 2 works with high power and great speed yet behaves inert to other electronic system components. Reproduction is extremely articulate and naturally resolving yet has all the powerful unlimited sonic character of the most brutal high power amplifier designs.

Premium Discrete Circuitry

Small signal circuitry is based on Spectral's proven discrete circuit multiple cascode double push-pull FET technology. Premium silicon array construction is applied to the DMA-360 Series 2 to achieve enormous internal dynamic range capability. This reserve is linear Class A with many times greater dynamic capability than program demands. It allow high current drive for quick controlled response from the very large output FET's as well as isolation from their internal electronic activity. Unhindered by interferences and slow cumbersome response of conventional practice, these parts operate with unyielding control and exacting precision. Reproduction is clean, effortless and highly holographic. Intertransient silence is unrivaled.

Audio amplification paths through the DMA-360 Series 2 are direct, inherently linear and simple. These minimalist configurations have always sounded and measured best but normally become ponderous and overburdened when protection and support functions are added. The DMA-360 Series 2 takes a different route to solve the sonic problems of amplifier protection circuitry. To maintain the pristine signal path, a sophisticated analog computing ancillary system is thermal and opto-coupled within the amplifier. This "hands off" operational management system observes device loading and power dissipation as well as speaker damaging out of range signals. It takes control without circuitous cross interfering connections to electronics in the signal path, leaving the musical signal pure and totally untouched.

In the Final Analysis

Radical improvements in high-current FET topologies, power supply design, and innovative new protection systems are combined in the DMA-360 Series 2 to advance the art of amplifier design. Until now, amplifiers could not offer both powerful speaker control, and the lifelike sonic transparency possible only with high-speed, fast settling discrete circuitry. The DMA-360 Series 2 defies the status quo, achieving extreme high-power with the fastest most delicately detailed signal reproduction yet attained. This ultra-fast dynamic response and unique high-current capability allow the DMA-360 Series 2 to demonstrate tremendous performance advantage over other large high-end amplifiers, especially in terms of overall transparency and aliveness. Now that the traditional trade-off between sonic refinement and power is transcended, music enthusiasts need not compromise. The DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Reference is the ultimate Spectral amplifier revealing new levels of accuracy and realism from all of today's finest loudspeakers.

● A design overview of the Spectral Audio DMA-360 Series 2 mono reference power amplifier: by Keith Johnson

Spectral audio components share creative uncompromising use of state-of-the-art technology, dedicated precision manufacture, and experience with live sound at recording sessions. From much listening and design experimentation, Spectral has consistently pioneered component systems having fast settling, high-speed circuit architecture. These have invariably outperformed more traditional often cumbersome high-end design methods to achieve superlative detail, staging and listener involvement. Indeed, test methodology simulating music waveforms and hearing acuity confirm that quickness of response and rapid signal extinction when reproducing complex dynamics are mandatory for accurate music reproduction. Only then can one preserve instantaneous waveform accuracy to prevent cover-up of delicate musical signals form previous events. Construction and performance of the Spectral DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Amplifier for this demanding criterion and resulting sonic resolution are unmatched among contemporary high-end amplifier designs.

The DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Amplifier is a high performance instrumentation design created for use in the most demanding Spectral component systems. The ultra high-speed and high power capability of the DMA-360 Series 2 surpass that of all other high-end amplifier designs and set the foundation for a new level of realism and musical resolution. A wide array of engineering innovations contribute to the superiority of the DMA-360 Series 2 as well as painstaking tuning for the ultimate in reproduction accuracy.

The DMA-360 Series 2 is designed to achieve full capability from all components in the sound reproduction chain. Its internal layout is carefully structured to provide quick, precise, non-interactive loudspeaker drive and tight control from almost unlimited power reserves. These features create an unyielding constant impedance that preserves critical tuning of loudspeaker drivers and crossover response independent of signal conditions. Loudspeaker performance becomes more timbrelly correct yet tough and full weight with effortless dynamics.

To help accomplish these ends, magnetic and electrical fields from this powerful activity are carefully and strategically isolated and shielded within the DMA-360 Series 2. Such stealth design prevents load related waveform error as well as propagation of unwanted interferences through cables, power cords and interconnect cables. Without such contamination, each component in the sound system operates to its best unimpeded design capability thereby providing overall enhanced listenability.

Inside the DMA-360 Series 2 output section are powerful and ultra-fast MegaFET devices. Each, having vacuum tube-like operating character, is energized from its own dedicated high energy storage capacitor and powered from an isolated ultra low coupled transformer winding. Groups of these parts have field folding construction and electronic shielding to further impede propagation of stray interference. During extreme program dynamics, this arrangement can launch an instantaneous high current drive of up to 90 amps to the most sophisticated loudspeakers with assured precision waveform tracing. Gone are performance damaging magnetic and electrical field propagation problems of conventional multiple device heavy construction. Without stray radiation, critical small signal paths within the DMA-360 and other sound system components can perform with lowest distortion and settle to signal extinction in microseconds. Hence the DMA-360 Series 2 works with power and speed yet behaves inert to other electronic parts of the system. Reproduction is highly articulate yet has all the powerful unlimited character of large unlimited capability amplifiers.

Small signal circuitry is based on Spectral's proven discrete circuit multiple cascode double push-pull FET technology. Premium silicon array construction is applied to the DMA-360 Series 2 to achieve enormous internal dynamic range capability. This reserve is linear Class A with many times greater dynamic capability than program demands. It allows high current drive for quick controlled response form the very large output FET's as well as isolation from their internal electronic activity. Unhindered by interferences and slow cumbersome response of conventional practice, these parts operate with unyielding control and exacting precision. Reproduction is clean , effortless and highly holographic.

Audio amplification paths through the DMA-360 Series 2 are direct, inherently linear and simple. These minimalist configurations have always sounded and measured best but normally become ponderous and over burdened when protection and support functions are added. The DMA-360 Series 2 takes a different route to solve the sonic problems of amplifier protection circuitry. To maintain the pristine path, a sophisticated analog computing ancillary system is thermal and opto-coupled within the amplifier. This "hands off" operational management system observes device loading and power dissipation as well as speaker damaging out of range signals. It takes control without circuitous cross interfering connections to electronics in the signal path, leaving musical a signal pure and totally untouched.

Improvements in high-current FET technology, high-speed amplifier topologies and new protection systems are combined in the DMA-360 Series 2 reference monaural amplifier to successfully advance the art of amplifier design. Until now, amplifiers could not offer both powerful speaker control capability and the sonic transparency and life possible only with high-speed, fast-settling circuitry. Breakthrough circuits backed by Spectral experience have now brought together the necessary combination of speed, accuracy, control and stealth. The DMA-360 Series 2 Monaural Amplifier advances the Spectral tradition for musical resolution and sonic holography. The DMA-360 Series 2 offers remarkable sonic sophistication and drive precision for the most demanding system applications.

● The Spectral Audio DMA-100S Series 2 Compact Reference Amplifier

In 1982 Spectral engineers pioneered the industry's first wideband, high-speed audio power amplifier. The Spectral DMA-100 Class A Instrumentation Amplifier marked the origins of Spectral's unique fast-settling fet amplification topology and, in concert with the innovative DMC-10 Preamplifier, formed the first high-speed, high-resolution audio component system. Almost two and a half decades later, Spectral's precision approach to component system design continues to evolve and receive wide acclaim as the ultimate in signal accuracy and realism. High-speed amplifier technology was first made practical by the DMA-100 Class A amplifier and all subsequent Spectral amplifiers draw their basic engineering inspiration from this original benchmark design. To commemorate the introduction of the first high-speed instrumentation audio amplifier, Keith Johnson and the Spectral design team are pleased to introduce the DMA-100S Series 2 Compact Reference Amplifier. The DMA-100S Series 2  pays homage to the original Spectral amplifier while setting contemporary standards in musical performance and high value for the new millenium.

Inspection of the new DMA-100S Series 2  reveals many similarities with the original Spectral amplifier, including similar power and topologies. Although alike in many regards, the compact, cool-running design of the DMA-100S Series 2  attests to the many engineering advances made since the 1980s at Spectral. Conceived by Dr. Keith Johnson as a compact reference for recording work, the DMA-100S Series 2  features a magnificent combination of design elegance and convenient size mirroring the classic packaging of our SDR-4000S Pro reference CD player.

As with earlier Spectral compact amplifiers, little in the restrained appearance of DMA-100S Series 2  forewarns of the unusual performance potentials which exist within. For under the hood of the DMA-100S Series 2  lurks the heart of a Spectral Reference Amplifier with its proprietary "Focused Array" output section design. In this premium topology, each matched output device is mated to its own power supply, including individual filter capacitors, rectifiers, and transformer secondary windings. The enormous power supply regulation of the DMA-100S Series 2  rivals that of the high-current DMA-160S also, with 10,000 uf per output device available. This breakthrough topology aligns high-current FET output devices for rapid, pistonic signal launch, with full rated power delivered with absolute load stability at 1 MHz. The resultant output section response capability is unprecedented in an audio amplifier of this power. Speaker control with the DMA-100S Series 2 is startling, with transient and dynamic resolution of fine recordings equaled only in our most premium amplifier designs.

The high-value DMA-100S Series 2  makes premium discrete circuit topologies, which were only available previously in Spectral's high-current reference designs, available for a fraction of the cost. The DMA-100S Series 2  offers state-of-the-art performance, new design refinement and extraordinary value in the Spectral tradition. The DMA-100S Series 2  represents the innovative thinking and quality commitment of the original Spectral DMA-100 and more. We think you will agree, some good ideas really deserve an encore.

● How to enable Tivo's 30-second commerial skip

The DirecTV high-definition Tivo satellite receiver (HR10-250) lacks the convenient 30-second forward skip button that ReplayTV and UltimateTV users enjoy.. Out of the box, the HD/Tivo receiver lets you skip commercials only by fast-forwarding and then pressing play at just the right instant — possible, but not very convenient. With the following 30 second skip button feature, you can press the skip button once for each advertisement in the commercial break. We have verified this feature with the HR10-250, and believe that it works with other Tivo models. We offer this as a tip only, not as a guarantee as the feature could change in the future.

To enable the 30-second skip feature on this button:

1. Start any previously-recorded show playing.
2. While playing, press SELECT, then PLAY, then SELECT, then 3, then 0, and finally SELECT again.
3. Hear three bongs (assuming that you have Tivo sounds enabled).
4. To revert the button it its original function, repeat the process.

Note that this setup isn't permanent. You will have to repeat the process anytime that the receiver reboots, such as after losing power or after a software upload. You might want to make a label with these instructions and put it on the back of your remote control.

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