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A little late to the party, but I drink a lot of coffee, which doesn't make me an expert, just opinionated. If your water isn't clean I don't care how much you spend on coffee or gadgets so RO water or distilled is really where you should start unless you're on a well that happens to be 0 grain water and even then I would at least run it through a carbon filter, it takes great water to make great coffee, or anything else. I've used Bunn's for ever, with a basket, not a paper filter ( I just don't want to wait for my coffee and 3 minutes is acceptable) I've been addicted to Dunkin coffee for as long as I can remember and you can buy it and grind it yourself.

Man...somebody done brought up the copper Klipsch keeper colophon clamp caper? Cool! Dave

Oh how I miss the days of Chris Schenkel when we used to be able to enjoy the actual Olympic sports without having personal opinions and incessant droning commentary injected into the presentations. It is more of a soap opera these days. Bob Costas should employ his complexion to market Silly Putty and otherwise be put out to pasture so the cows can ignore him - like the rest of us. IMHO.

http://stockton.craigslist.org/ele/4279021899.html Im now getting flack for posting too many craigs list deals, most hicktowns don't have what I have, 2.2 million people within a three hour drive. Ill just keep the deals to myself from now on.

Post the excellent & unusual that you can't take advantage of, or don't need.

Good Lord, OT, watch your language! It's "Moby Penis" now. Dave

If you had read the Audioholics articles describing their cable tests and the conclusions they drew from those test results you would find that they agree with what you wrote that I highlighted in boldface. Basically, they can hear differences in some of the wires they tested and the differences can be explained by the wire's electrical characteristics that they measured. http://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/skin-effect-relevance-in-speaker-cables http://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/cable-distortion-and-dielectric-biasing-debunked http://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/top-ten-signs-an-audio-cable-vendor-is-selling-you-snake-oil http://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/speaker-cable-gauge Their recommendations of the Kimber and Blue Jeans speaker cables are based on science and either of these cables would be a good choice. Neither of these cables are through-the-roof expensive. I would certainly trust what these guys say before I would believe what the snake oil peddlers claim regarding their products. This is back from page 2. Don is basically agreeing with me and I'm basically agreeing with Don. Mark was forced into expanding on the topic of subjective analysis because we somehow went from agreeing on these measureable differences being audible to a discussion of the cost/improvement ratio. So let's back up. A pair of nice 8' Kimber 8TC braided cables will set you back about $300 or so. Don says that's not too expensive. Five years ago I would have agreed with him, but today, that's a lot of money to me, I simply can't afford to do that kind of thing anymore. Does this cable improve the sound of the system, and do I think it's $300 worth of improvement? Yes, I do, and I'm praying I can get the same dielectric/geometry from Blue Jean Cable. This thread has morphed quite a bit and we are now covering a lot of different ground. I THINK we agree that there are measureable differences that can be heard, though not always. I THINK we agree that you don't have to go broke buying wire, but that it doesn't hurt to use something with a good reputation, that both measures well and has a reputation for producing good results with most equipment. I THINK we agree that spending six figures on wire is absurd, but if someone chooses to do it, who cares? They may or may not hear a difference. We HAVE TO AGREE that it's okay to use all kinds of different words to help us help each other get to where we are trying to get. If you like a system that provides a lot of detail and clarity without feeling like someone's drilling a hole in your ear -- I can't help you get there unless I use words that encompass that realm. If you like gritting your teeth and wincing while listening at live listening levels, I highly recommend "the perfect standard" 16 AWG electrical lamp cord from Home Depot.

For a nice "cheap but good" coffee I like the Kona Blend from Aldi. Runs about $7 and it is already ground. I figure it is much more blend than Kona but it was a nice surprise. My burr grinder has been sitting on the shelf unused for a couple of years now.

Blue Mountain via french press

I can remember looking forward to seeing the skiing guy wipe out every week in "the agony of defeart"

It's relevant because it made a point I agree with one that just happens to be true. Specifically, the point was that a playback system is a reductive exercise to access the art, not the art itself (unless it is by virtue of being it's own visual art). It's the false attribution of artistic qualities to passive things like speaker wire where the confusion lies. I have yet to see any supporting evidence of how speaker cables would create a more compelling soundstage or liquidity, for example. Yet all of Mark's arguments assume this is the case, and roll with it. It's called 'begging the question' and it's a logical fallacy.

So that was the crap the wife had on TV last night. As soon as she went to bed I changed the channel. I remember when the Olympics were something I looked forward to. Not the soap opera's they are now. John

You guys are funny -- the point is simple -- we spend a lot time here talking about things. Some of that time is spent, or should be spent, talking about our systems, and how the things we add or change, effect the sound. For better or worse, we are stuck with words, mostly adjectives, in an attempt to describe what we're hearing. The words fall short, but it's all we have. Are we really dealing with a situation here where people can't even use the most basic of terminology to describe what they like to hear in their systems? If you aren't capable of doing this, or don't believe subjective analysis or opinions have any merit, then can I suggest that you might be on the wrong type of forum. I mean, what is the point of an audio forum -- oh yeah, "hey dude, tighten them screws down a bit".

Dean, pump the brakes. He was clearly referring to audio equipment as visual art.

Music is art but the components and accessories to play it back isn't unless we are talking about visual art.

Dave? How about it? I have...I don't understand how it pertains to cables and speaker wire. In this analogy wouldn't it be like critiquing the paper these opinions were written on?

The deposit is a bad idea, I'll be surprised if you get any interest at all. I would use the least expensive model you build, and say goodbye to it. The idea behind a "Roadshow" is that you assume all risk and allow the community to experience your work at no risk or cost (except shipping). You shell out the money up front for the build, and it comes back to you in the form of positive reviews and these other things that you can't put a pricetag on -- trust and integrity. Your products will sell themselves as people get exposure to them, but none of these things happen if you complicate the process or put up barriers like large deposits. Just my 2 cents worth.

After going through a couple of Kurigs I bought my wife the Bunn My Cafe. It seems to pulse the coffee through the beans. She says it makes the best coffee she has ever had. I don't even drink the stuff.

I in Garage Sales, Under Alerts! because it is an ALERT! KG4 Floor Speaker Pair Vintage Klipsch Loudspeakers 3 Way Horn Loaded KLIPSCH LA SCALA Klipsch Corner Horns Fresh today! 2/7/14 I d rather post twice than have anyone miss a deal. Dam good thing I have a current project, those Lascalls look good.

Link?

Please Miner HEY! I was drinkin last night......I have "No Clear Memory"

ACM You are way more knowledgeable and dedicated than me about coffee by a lifetime by just reading that one post. I really love coffee but have never had the desire to go to for the perfect cup, if I tried it I may, who knows. Just happy to enjoy my plain simple method, and not knowing a great cup, probably my loss. So I have to agree with Quiet_Hollow and throw the red flag and plow thru my regular coffee. Just different hobbies, I could give up coffee MUCH easier than good sound. I'm not saying this because this is a speaker forum but because of the unbelievable enjoyment I get from music. The quality of reproduction of the music is like the difference between a funky instant coffee compared to what your making, not even close. But this is a good thing for both of us, could you imagine if either dedication were lost because of lack of interest, it would be very sad. Keep on getting it right !

I'd plough through a cup of Sanka for the opportunity to hear good sound.

Well, If I were forced to choose between a nice, hifi system or a nice coffee setup I'd choose the coffee setup and get by with the audio. Let's hope that day doesn't come. That said, I feel that you have to start with espresso (the method, not to be confused with the typical espresso roast label). From there, go with an Americano, Latte, Cappacino, whatever suits your taste. I use a Gaggia Classic manual machine and a Gaggia burr grinder. Probably the best investment I've ever made. Get the freshest beans available to you. Experiment with your grind setting and time the amount that gives the best tamp. Use soft water, not reverse osmosis, and descale your machine once a month or so. Let the porta filter get nice and hot before you pull your shot. I use a Cuisinart kettle with a thermometer to boil water if I am having an Americano. I prefer 175 degree water. If you don't have a 1/4" or so of cremma on top, keep practicing with your grind amount, tamp, porta filter temp, shot time, and water. The effort will be worth it. If you are on a budget and want great coffee and are willing to sacrifice conveinence for it, familiarize yourself with a french press. Common mistakes are pouring water that is at boiling temp and stripping the beans of their wax, giving a bitter coffee, and using too many grounds. Use course grounds, preferably from a high quality burr grinder so the grind is consistent. Grind just before use.

Need to go make more coffee, it's been a couple hours. Got to meet Bruce once, it was my pleasure, good guy ! I have not had a chance to meet Boxx, but I'm kind of intimidated, he is the most interesting guy in the world.

"...What would be your comments on that speaker?" That anyone here using a 2" tractrix horn with a BMS 4592-MID, Beyma CP-25 tweeter, and a well engineered set of networks - already basically owns that loudspeaker for about a quarter of the money. It's a LaScala with a top section that was engineered by others and has been used around here for years. He made them pretty, and hauled them from one end of the country to the other until Dudley fell over them. Dudley has good ears and is an excellent writer, but after reading his response to ALK regarding the issue of intellectual property and credit - I no longer have any respect for the man whatsoever. Besides, the internal wiring looks like the cheap hookup wire from Parts Express.

Please Miner

What is that ?

Stopped right there. I AM an audiophile, by definition: I like good sound. Good sound is an audiophile issue. Are you saying that if a person doesn't add a hundred words when two will do that's a bad thing? Don't get it. As to Art Dudley, he's totally changed since Listener. It was observing the complete change in a person I really enjoyed reading when he appeared to be able to speak for himself to a person who appeared to have to speak for a magazine that caused me to begin to realize that mass market audio magazines must be read as one watches "reality" TV. Dave

Beg, barrow, buy or steal a tube amp, and your world will light up just a "Tad" more.........

I'm usually a walnut guy too and will probably still go with that but the cherry finish looks fantastic. Also, picking up the MAC 1900 tomorrow.

My life story Hope the unbelievably beautiful looking Amy isn't watching, don't want any warning points, hope that helps a tiny bit.

What's Red, and smells like Blue paint?

I havent been to Starbigbucks in a long time, last time i was in there i spent $16 on 2 of their fancy coffiees. Better at home anyways, hot coffee in the winter & iced in the summer. Like Burger king's slogan, have it your way.

Another happy LaScala owner. Looks like a nice home for them too.

Gosh, Carl. How did you come to be inducted? Didn't ANYONE try to impede you? I know you well enough to believe you had the capacity to resist. Dave

Looks like a capacity crowd .

great speakers! i sold mine once. didn't take long to realize it was a mistake. now i have another pair that won't go anywhere.

What the articles tell me is that the amplifier and the load at the ends of the wire have more effect on the measurements than the wire does. Put a resistive load on the wire and you see a much different test result. Also, the reactance caused by a passive crossover in combination with the different drivers' reactances has the greatest effect of all. Lose the passive and go active and the damage is minimized. Particularly telling regarding the Bateman articles is the revelation that he secured a patent as a result of his research, and the company making cables per the patent has an advertisement below one of the articles. BTW, those cables are a rather high capacitance design and could cause oscillation with some amplifiers if the cable is long enough. I wonder why Bateman didn't follow his own advice and use coaxial cable, which he demonstrated was the best option for speaker cable. Speaking of that, no pun intended, the best speaker cables a person could get if they wanted "the best" would be made of Belden 8514 coax with the appropriate connectors on the ends. That would cost $2/foot or less for the coax plus whatever the connectors cost. A person would have a tough time spending more than $150 for two 20 foot runs

So, he speaks with forked tongue? Where in that paper did he say anything like "...we definitely found one wire more accurate than another..." or anything similar? All I saw was .04db. So I'll turn it up a bit and save some money. Dave

What I want to know is why we spend so much time and energy on cables, drivers, transports, and amps but completely ignore the sound waves themselves? why are there no audiophile air purifiers to clean the air being pushed towards my ears?

I just received a book, The LP Is Back (2d Edition © 2000, available from Amazon), as a present. While I haven't had a chance to digest it fully, it appears to have interesting--albeit somewhat dated--articles. Note the ad for "WILLIAMSON LP RECORD CARE KIT" at page 159. I assure you the information is outdated. Old Colony Sound Lab is gone. AudioXpress no longer sells this stuff. Nonetheless, it's interesting to note the cost in 2000 for a whole kit: $9.95, or 3oz. of Elvanol: $4.95, or 0.5 oz of de-static: $4.95. One pound of Elvanol is currently available from ChemicalStore.com for $16.00. EDIT: 11/13/13 @ 8:26 PM EST Turns out the two Reg Williamson articles from The Audio Amateur are included in the book at pages 9-13. After further review, most of the articles are interesting but the information is genuinely dated. Save your money for records; pass on this book. The_LP_Is_Back.PDF The_LP_Is_Back_2.PDF

Well, then I need to start over then. Just so it gets done right. Now at point "B", I assume it will have to be greater than 2.5 inches to get the correct volume. It was interesting that last night I was noticing that the "fillet" at the first turn wasn't as wide as I thought it would be. In fact, it came out much smaller than the "splitter". I assume this thread is in favor of the same size fillet as the splitter to prvent loss of the high end. Does this make sense? jc