Geo1

I'd be crying in my beer right now if I could only remember where the refrigerator is. Wait a minute, what's a refrigerator???

---------------- On 8/15/2003 1:27:55 PM pinipig523 wrote: my mom has told me several times that she is glad that the Two Towers is coming out the week of her recuperation! she is a LOTR buff! ---------------- How's this for a reality check: Whenever someone mentions someone like "my mom," or other person in his/her life, naturally, I think in terms of my own mother, or that other person in my own life. My own mother is in her 70's, and probably has no idea of what the LOTR is. So when you posted about your mother being a LOTR buff, I thought that was pretty cool (thinking in terms of my own mother) that someone that old would be a LOTR buff. Then it occurred to me and I looked at your profile. You're 21 years old, so your mother is not only, most likely, much younger than my own mother, she is probably younger than I am! Man, suddenly I feel real old.

When I first started looking into this, I couldn't understand why the tools were so expensive. I think it becomes cost effective when you are a business and you construct hundreds of cables. For my purpose, and I think your purpose, a razor blade, or sharp knife is fine. The key is: Stripping off the correct lengths of the various layers so that the RCA connector makes proper contact with the conductors.

Actually, it's three layers which have to be cut. First is the exterior black sheathing, then is the braided silver/copper conductor and then is the dielectric around the center core. Because of the three-piece configuration of the Canare connector, each layer has to be stripped to a very specific length.

Hi Doug: Yes, Radio Shack sells a stripper for about $10 which can be set up to strip the insulation for F connectors, but for the lengths you have to strip specifically for the Canare RCA connectors, you have to either buy their custom stripper, or strip the insulation layers individually by hand. You can't use the Radio Shack tool for these connectors.

I've had as many as four subs at one time. When I had four, I had a Def Tech PF15tl at each front channel; a Def Tech PF15 connected to the surrounds; and a Paradigm PS-1000 connected to the center channel. This, I reasoned, simulated five full range speakers in a DD 5.1 system. I ran each speaker in the "Large" setting and that directd the bass to each channel. It was overkill in my 19' x 18' room. I sold off the rear channel and center channel subs and kept the two PF15tl's. I then experimented with a single PF15tl and got a lot of standing wave boominess and wild fluctuations in in the bass response around the room. Now I have both of the PF15tl's connected into the LFE channel and this has given me the best result so far. My receiver does full bass management, so when listening to DVD-Audio, or SACD, through the analog inputs, the bass is directed to the LFE channel. This has worked best for me.

The Canare equivalent to the Belden 8241F RG59 is model L-4CFB. Either one should work fine.

Hi JamesDL, I've been making my own cables for a couple of years now, using Belden 8241F RG59 coax and Canare true 75 ohm three-piece, crimp-on RCA connectors. The Belden coax is, of course, 75 ohm and it has a fairly low capacitance rating and is suitable for analog audio, digital audio and video. I've used it for each of those functions. It also has a stranded center conductor, so it is very flexible. The Canare connector is the RCAP-C4F. Canare also manufactures an RG59 which is the equivalent of the Belden, but I don't know the model number offhand. The Canare website has the measurements for how to strip the RG59, or you could buy a stripping tool for about $50 which will strip the two layers of insulating material automatically. I use a crimping tool that I bought from Radio Shack for about $15.00. I've bought my materials from Markertek. I'm convinced that it's the best way to go and can't see myself going back to store-bought cables.

IMHO, the Panasonic SA-HE100 is one of the best kept secrets out there in an entry level receiver. 6 X 100wpc into 6 ohms. Excellent sound quality. Runs about $250.

A couple of years ago, I bought a spool of about 200 feet of Belden 8241F RG-59 coax. It is 75 ohm and low capacitance and has a flexible center strand. I buy Canare 75ohm crimp-on RCA connectors as I need them and cut the coax to length and make my own cables. I bought a good crimping tool from Radio Shack and the cables look good and are great quality for analog audio, digital audio and video, including component video connections. The RCA connectors cost under $3.00 each from Markertek and the cable probably comes out to less than $.20 per foot. Construction effort is minimal and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to do it. This has worked out very well for me.

Thanks, boomac. I just assumed they were 8 ohms and it never occurred to me to ask. I'll check this evening.

---------------- On 8/4/2003 8:03:45 PM William F. Gil McDermott wrote: I assume your amps have a 4 ohm tap. I suggest you start with that. Gil ---------------- Gil: I have Quartets as well. Are they 4 ohm speakers? I have mine connected into the 8 ohm inputs of my Jolida. Should these be connected to the 4 ohm input? BTW, there is a pair of Quartets on eBay right now, for about the next 7 hours or so, which are presently at $226. I asume they will go higher, but could be a good buy.

MBM135: I remember when you posted about the Jolida 202 not having much output in the bass department. I read one review of that amp that corroborated what you said. The 102B has excellent punch with the Quartets. I assume it would also be good with Forte's.

boomac: That's right, I had heard La Scala's and Heresy's years ago and, at that time, a friend had bought the Heresy's. La Scala's are out of the question due to size, so I was leaning toward the Heresy's. You called the Quartets "Heresy's with bass." So true. Thanks again.

Here's a shot of the whole space with the listening chair in place. It's nice and quiet and enjoyable.

Thanks for the comments. I just love those Quartets. I can't remember who it was who pointed them out to me on eBay (Was it you, boomac?), but whoever it was, if you're ever in the neighborhood, the beer is on me. The DVD changer came out of the bedroom surround system. I have a JVC changer in my main system which does DVD-Audio. I just ordered a Pioneer DV-563A from OneCall to take care of both DVD-Audio and SACD. That will go into the main system and the JVC will go into the surround system in the bedroom. Actually, I like using the DVD changer in the two channel system, even though it might compromise the sound of CD's, because I can use it to listen to the PCM tracks of multichannel audio discs such as DVD-A and DTS multichannel discs. I love the sound quality of those tracks. So far, the tube system is very modest, but I'm really enjoying it.

WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU. SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE IS DRIVING RF-35'S WITH A 70 WPC ROTEL. SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE NEXT COUNTY.

Please bear with me while I try that in a lower resolution for future reference.

Quartets in oiled oak, Jolida JD-102B and Toshiba DVD changer. This has gotten me back into two-channel listening.

I say Forte's. The proportion of height to width doesn't look like the Quartet. Tell you what, go ahead and send them to me and I'll be able to tell for sure.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if we all invited our MILs over to watch this? (JK, easy, I couldn't resist.)

---------------- On 7/29/2003 10:19:45 AM Geo1 wrote: Win, I'd love Chorus II's, but shipping to AZ would be prohibitive. Just out of curiosity, what would you be asking and what is the finish?---------------- Sorry, I see that it's medium oak.

Win, I'd love Chorus II's, but shipping to AZ would be prohibitive. Just out of curiosity, what would you be asking and what is the finish?

Yes, you would just always have the H/K receiver set to 6 (or 8, if you used all 8 inputs) channel direct, or audio. That's the way it would be on my 525 anyway.

My MIL was in her 40's when my wife was born. When we first met, in college, my wife would want to go home and visit her mother during school breaks because, "...she's in her 60's and probably won't be around much longer..." Well, SHE'S NOW IN HER 90"s and, from the looks of things, ain't going anywhere, anytime soon. Not that I'm complaining. Actually, things have mellowed greatly over the years, but I'm convinced that the distances involved have only been a good thing.