Deang

The only person I would trust with this is Brent Jesse -- of Brent Jesse Recording. I found all the tubes you need -- provided I read the schematic correctly. email Brent here , and tell him you would like to buy the following: One 5Y3/GT@ $11.00 each One 7F7@ $8.00 each One 7A6@ $3.00 each One 6SQ7@ $4.50 each Two 7C5@ $5.00 each Two 6SN7@ $17.00 - $20.00 each Shipping will be $4.80 with Priority Mail. So you are looking at $75. Not bad. I'm not 100% sure which 6SN7 you can use. Clipped & Shorn, or someone else from this site probably knows for sure. Brent himself probably knows too. It may not even matter, hell, I don't know. It will be one of these two: RC7 6SN7GT/A/B RCA blackplate, short glass envelope. or RCA6SN7GT blackplate Greyglass Various USA Brands (RCA or GE made) - older style 6SN7, mid to late 1940s. Medium glass envelope, grey inner glass coating (RCA made) or black coating (GE /KenRad made). Good luck! ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-16-2002 at 03:50 PM

clean it up nice and replace the tubes it's perfect for a la Scala center channel ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

I finally got around to plotting my in-room response for my system. The meter was 8 feet away, right where my chair sits. Very revealing. I found out I must really like bass I took the readings after watching a movie, and was quite surprised at what I found. Jeesh. The setting for the SVS sub is only a notch more than where I set it for music. I will post the graph again as soon as I have made the proper adjusments and factored in the additional values necessary to make the Radio Shack readings accurate. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-29-2002 at 07:32 PM

I remember the Hafler thing and I am interested in trying it. What do I need? 2 speakers, another amp (with a volume control), and wire the speakers out of phase? Just flip the wires at the speaker right? Or is that polarity? Jeesh...I think I've lost some brain matter over the years. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

Ed said How do you have the Sony hooked up? Video out to the TV and 2 channel out to the Line 1? Do you have a HDTV and what video out method are you using (component out?)? Sorry for so many questions. Yes, I have the Sony going straight into the preamp. I leave the S-video cord plugged into the back of the Sony, and when I want to watch a movie, I roll the TV in front of my rack and plug the other end of the S-video cable into the TV. When I done, I roll the TV back out of the way for music. I don't have HDTV. All my money goes into 2-channel. Maybe someday. At any rate, I'm not totally sure -- but I think HDTV requires that the component outs be used. I'm pretty excited right now about another product I fell into. I bought the HSU electronic crossover with the really nice parts so I could get the cleanest signal possible on my high pass using my sub. What a great product. It's the first time I have ever used a high pass without noticing some signal degradation. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-07-2002 at 08:51 PM

mace I'm pretty sure it's region 1 only. There is a hack to get into this thing and make it play all regions, but I'll be dipped if I know how to do it. It's also 60Hz/120V only - sorry. craig your killing man -- you still doing this? ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

see you on the other side Mr. Klipsch thanks for everything ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

In that case -- since you already have the investment into the RF3's, and taking the time and money to make what you consider to be an improvement in the cabinet structure resulting in improved sound... ...why not stay with Reference and get some RB3's and wall mount them? If you can afford it -- add the RSW-10, which you might be able to slide out of the way somewhere. Your options may be limited -- but you can still get some really good sound. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

thats exactly what you do just get some nice 12 gauge speaker cable and make your own straps ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

How 'nearfield' do you want to be? I sit 8 feet away. Just use your RF3's! ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

$150 X .03 = 154.50 -- you ain't gonna stick me with that paypal fee are ya? Shipping will be $7.50 to where you're at, and so that will be $162 total. Cool? ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-04-2002 at 12:00 PM

Hi Craig, Your choice really. You can do paypal with my email address -- dean.wescott@wpafb.af.mil -- or you can do check or money order, makes no differnce to me. Email me and I will send you my mailing address if you need it. The MIT's come terminated with ends that allow various 'screw on' options. I opted for the bananas at $15 for a set of four. I also have the large spades, but they were $25 for a set of four and I'm using those on the AE-25. If you want those, the cables go up to $100 and I'll just keep the bananas. It's your choice. Thanks, Dean ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-03-2002 at 11:58 PM

Marantz DV-7010 DVD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/CD-V player. Original Retail was $899.00 - I got the unit less than 9 months ago at a clearance price of $599.00 plus tax, after Marantz released the DV-18. The unit has primarily been used for the occasional DVD since I used my Anthem CD-1 for CD's. Mint condition and like new. $400 NOS East German Siemans EL-34's, Two sets of matched pairs. I just recieved these from Triode Electonics less than two weeks ago. They have less than 30 hours on them. I've decided I prefer the higher output and slightly better controlled low end of the KT-88 in my Cary AE-25. It's a very clean sounding tube with a very smooth midrange. Shipped to me for a little over $130. $90 I'm selling off my current interconnects so I can upgrade to Cardas. One set of Monster 550i's in the 2 meter length. Less than a year old and mint. $35 Another set as above except in 1 meter length $25 Monster Interlink® Datalink 100 Low-Loss S/PDIF Style Digital Coaxial Cable. Again, like new. I have two of these. $20 each Signet interconnects in 1 meter length. These are about 6 years old. Signet used to make speakers, and then they jumped into the cable thing with a dynamite product. These were my first 'high-end' cables. I am a bit of a cable loon and these are still in excellent condition. I have still been using these in conjunction with my Monsters. I have two sets of these. I paid $175 for them. $65 Same as above except 2 meter length. I Paid $200 for these. $75 MIT 4 speaker cables. This is the new version with the improved components and outer sheathing. I upgraded to the MIT Biwire 2 and no longer have any use for these. If you still believe cables all sound the same, buy these. They are 8 feet in length. Paid $150. $90 ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-03-2002 at 11:59 PM

Forest, Yes -- I am a right wing moderate conservative with a somewhat right of center liberal catch in my hip. I walk funny. Jethro, I did not sense Forest was defending TM's actions. He was only trying to point out some of the differences in focus regarding targets when comparing 'soldiers' to 'terrorists'. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-03-2002 at 08:19 AM

I do. After all, it is a DVD player It puts out a great picture. Reviews are usually centered around its sound capability simply because that is what folks are usually most concerned with. The unit was actually engineered by Sony's Video Team as opposed to the 777es, which was engineered by the Audio Team. I think the in-house audio engineers could learn a thing or two from those video engineers -- the unit sounds really great. You do realize that it is a two-channel only unit? ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

I have never, nor will I ever align myself with the so called 'Moral Majority', or any other right wing religious organization. I prefer to think for myself. Neither do I line up with loud mouths like Rush Limbaugh. Again, I prefer to think for myself. I'm actually a moderate, and believe both sides have good things to offer the country. I have to concede you make some good points otherwise -- but is not necessary to resort to personal attacks. If I am mentally challenged it's because I had to deal with you on four hours sleep ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

Mike, Please tell Kelly I said 'hi' ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

Max We are for the most part in complete agreement. I would only like to say that when I say "apartheid state", I mean it in it's most basic sense. Israel is a land by the Jews, for the Jews, and exclusive to anyone else. Forrest >>...all it showed too me is that you ignorantly take the writings of the bible as History instead of the folklore that it is. << 50 years ago archaeologists thought the Bible was a joke too -- now they use it as a reference. The Bible is certainly filled with allegory and a host of other literary devices, however - 'folklore' is not one of them. Since I am a devoted student of the Bible and most things related to it, it is not likely that I am ignorant. >> Then you love jews and dont say one thing in their favor proving your a hypocrite AND antisemite. << I was attempting to balance the perspective a little. Religiously speaking, the Jews are the root and the Gentiles are the offshoots. Gentiles are grafted into the root and share in the promises of Israel. Anyone who comes to Messiah is adopted into God's family. Without the Jews, God's family is incomplete. I love the Jewish people because my whole faith is based, and rests on their experiences with God. I love the Jewish people because God loves them. What I said in 'their favor' was that God desires them to come to Messiah. I could not have given them a greater compliment. Politically speaking, The Jewish Nation is engaged in illegal action that relegates the Palestinian people to the status of 'refugee'. The illegal confiscation of personal property is theft. It's very simple. You look at the actions and call them for what they are. "You will not steal". As far as me being antisemetic -- the accusation is not worthy of a response. >>Israel is a sovereign state by UN Resolution and it was the 8 or so arab countries that attacked Israel in 1967 and thats how they lost their land.<< Not quite. There were three countries not eight. The war 'started' when "Egypt closed the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping and began mobilizing its forces to attack Israel. Syria and Jordan also mobilized against Israel. In response, Israel launched a strike. Starting June 5, the Israeli air force destroyed Egypt's planes on the ground. Enabled by air superiority throughout the region, Israeli tank columns and infantry captured the Sinai Peninsula in three days. Elsewhere, the Israelis overran the Golan Heights, the West Bank of the Jordan River, including the Old City of Jerusalem (which Israel later annexed), and Gaza. The United States called on the Israelis to withdraw from occupied territories..." The Palestinians were caught in the middle as the war was fought out in their territory - land they lived in for thousands of years. The land Israel 'took' was from a people who had absolutely nothing to do with the agression. >> Israel obvious needed a security zone when surrounded by barbarians and terrorist murderers. << The best 'security zone' is the one dictated by the U.N. and the United States. Getting out of land that does not belong to you is a great way to gain security. "...barbarians and terrorist murderers." Nice verbiage here. It's nice when people can put labels on actions, and the labels themselves determine the validity or acceptability of the actions. When we perform actions that cause the death of civilians, we call it "collateral damage". So what do we call the annihilation of the civilian populaces of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? As twisted as it seems, the Palestinians are waging war the only way they know how. To try and apply moral standards to actions in war -- is ludicrous. War is horrible. Period. The first American victory of The Revolutionary War was fought on Christmas morning after Washington's Christmas night crossing of the Delaware to capture Trenton. What is not much discussed is why Washington chose Christmas morning for this battle. If truth be known - he knew the enemy would be sleeping off a good drunk from the previous nights Christmas celebration. Half of them were killed while still sleeping in their bunks. The Colonists were considered 'immoral' because of the way they fought -- because they would not subject themselves to the British rules of warfare. >> Im not all antipalestinian and admit that Israel has encroached...<< Why not leave it at that instead of rationalizing the actions? << >> See in this list why Liberals support the Pallys and hate the Jew. And this is just a partial list. LOL << I'm not laughing. You are now going completely off topic. Political affiliation has very little to with where one ends up regarding this particular subject. At any rate, I am actually a conservative in the purest sense -- believing in the original articles as put forth by Lincoln. Where did you get what follows? From the Rush Limbaugh site? >> At the most basic level, the liberal is an adolescent forever in search of a world without moral consequence.<< Yea right. Liberalism brought us workers rights and a host of other concepts protecting people from the abusive practices of business. Many more examples, but I'm stopping with that one. >> Freedom from moral consequence can only be secured by a collectivist, totalitarian state. << On the political scale, Communism is to the far left of liberalism, but OTOH - Fascism is on the far right of conservitism. This statement is extreme to say the least, and so means very little. >> Liberals use moralistic tones and catch-phrases like "social justice", but their only moral is the accumulation of power. << And of course, us conservatives never use 'catch-phrases' to ever misrepresent anything, do we? I'm not even going to bother with the rest of it because it so general. Most of it is actually quite ridiculous. Many of my friends are 'liberal' -- but none of them believe the things you are applying to them. Putting people into categories only puts up barriers and tells us nothing about the person. >> And just a reminder, Israel is the only democracy meaning civilized country in the whole of the Middle East. Now see a link why the Liberals support the Pallys? They Cant help but to agree with their ideology. Poor innocent people not personally responsible for their own actions. Anybody else see the connection Here? << I'm sure convinced. So how do explain the fact that most Jews also happen to be liberal? Your point is completely invalid. Also, since when does a particular political slant guarantee correct moral behavior? I find it amusing that you would equate 'democracy' with 'civilized'. The democratic system may be orderly in nature, and so gives manageable form to civilization -- but a good look around will see that most democratic societies have serious moral issues. Whatever connection you are making is purely in your imagination. "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem." -- The Apostle Paul, A.D. 56 ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-02-2002 at 10:32 AM

DNTBY4N - You're point of view in the referenced thread is understandable -- but you take it to an extreme that is a little unrealistic. If one of them saved your butt you would certainly be glad they chose the profession they did. As for the rest of this thread -- only Max seems to have his act together. I feel if you find the thread objectionable - avoid it. Good debate means knowing how to agree to disagree. If you don't know how to back up your point of view without resorting to personal attacks then find something else say on another thread. The problem is not the topic of this thread. After 911 we had several threads about that -- and no one objected. Now someone comes in trying to represent the Palistinian point of view -- they need to shut up? All Palistinians are not Muslim. Many are also Christian. Israel is an apartheid state. Where else in the world do we sanction this? This is not an anti-semetic statement -- it's just a fact. Imagine someone comes to your house and says you have to go to a refugee camp. They bulldoze your home. They bulldoze your schools. What would your reaction be? You have no true representation on an international level. You have no standing army. What recourse do you have? What tools do you have at your disposal? Israel is currently in violation of two U.N. mandates. They have been in violation for 40 years. They must revert to the pre 1967 borders. There must be a formulation of a Palestinian State, and Jerusalem must be shared. What I find frightening is the propensity for Americans to throw all Arabs into one dish. This is a terrible mistake. The rhetoric and half truths in support of the Israeli position do not line up with the historical facts. At the heart of the matter is the fact that the United States has NO clearly defined Middle East foreign policy. None. We only back Israel come hell or high water because of the pressure on Congress from domestic Zionists and Christian Evangelicals who believe 1) God sides with anyone who sides with Israel -- 2) The land was promised to Israel by God and so it belongs to them. The Bible actually teaches that "God is no respector of persons and shows no partiality". He judges objectively based on behavior -- Jew and Gentile alike. The purpose of Israel was to bring forth Messiah through which God would join Jew and Gentile together. God is on the side of those who act with compassion and mercy -- who do right. The land promise was fulfilled under Joshua when he led them into the land of promise. The Bible is very clear on this. Joshua told the people: "The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord 's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." Later, as Joshua is about to die, he says: "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. God is not interested in a piece a geography that fulfilled it's purpose thousands of years ago. The only geography He is interested in is the geography of the human heart. As far as the land goes now -- it is important to realize that along with God's promise of inheriting the land -- there were also curses attached if Israel failed to live righteously. God said he would take the land away if the fell into unholy living. Read the beginning of Joshua #23 in context. 1 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, 2 summoned all Israel-their elders, leaders, judges and officials-and said to them: "I am old and well advanced in years. 3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain-the nations I conquered-between the Jordan and the Great Sea <1> in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you. 6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now. 9 "The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God. 12 "But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you. 14 "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. 15 But just as every good promise of the Lord your God has come true, so the Lord will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. 16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord 's anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you." Most of the Old Testament is the story of Israel's utter failure at keeping their end of the bargain. It culminated in Jeremiah being directed by God to take a clay pot to the people -- and drop it. Jeremiah says, "and so shall this people be." God said he would scatter the Jews to the "four winds". So, we have German Jews, Polish Jews, Russian Jews, English Jews, American Jews, etc.. God loves the Israelites and so do I -- God's will is that they return to Him through Messiah. However, God loves Arabs too -- and Israel is wrong. On another note. The Zionist and Christian Evangelical postion is that the Temple must be rebuilt as the Bible prophesied. This is a misrepresentation of Scripture. The Temple prophecy was fulfilled under the direction of Ezra and completed under Nehemiah. Anyone reading these books and not comprehending this is being intellectualy dishonest. Jesus pointed to the Temple and said: "Tear this temple down and I will rebuild it in three days." I could go on forever, but suffice it to say -- any political discussion not including historical and religious references is fruitless. I'm going to bed now. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-02-2002 at 08:19 AM

I also have a very strict program which I adhere to. No pain, no pain. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmpf>s> - Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research elec. crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-01-2002 at 08:37 PM

The Reference Line is above the Synergy Line (SB or SF) The RB5 sounds bigger than most people realize until they get it in a room, get it on some decent stands (about $100), and back them in a little - close to the walls, to bring up the bass. One of the best values in Audio. http://www.audio-deas.com/reviews/loudspeakers/klipsch-rb5.html ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmp - f>s>- Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's - SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research electronic crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

I do not believe Sony made the 9000es I believe it was made by Elves living in the Black Forest ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmp,f>s>- Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's - SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research electronic crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c>

I wrote this review last week and posted it on the Asylum. AUDIO PHILOSOPHY: I do not subscribe to the idea that just because something is 'great' to one person -- that it will be 'great' to all people. Audio is completely subjective in form. I have heard many a 'great' thing that did not involve me on an emotional level. There are simply too many variables to account for in order to make any real definitive statements about any piece of gear. We can talk about build quality, parts employed, and the wonderful design of the circuits -- but until we drop that piece of equipment into our system and into our room -- we really don't know the true value of the piece. It is true that each individual piece has it's own sonic signature, and it is good to know this -- but what we really want to know is this: how does that signature integrate with the whole. Simply put -- I believe in component matching, finding the proper balance between the parts in order to complete the "perfect" whole. BACKROUND INFORMATION: I believe most of us here are familiar with the wonderful 'homogenized' sound of the Sony decks of the 80's and 90's. I had one of the 3rd generation Laserdisc/CD players running with some Magnepan 1.5QR's and Luxman equipment in the middle 80's. It was all I could afford, and with some music it could sound quite satisfying. Most of time however, it left me aching for an upgrade. I have never cared for any of the Sony decks I have heard in the past -- even ES. I tried several times, but always found the Philips based machines to always sound more refined in my systems. I gross $62,000 a year. I have 4 kids living with me, a huge mortgage, a car payment, and a wife who went part time to home school the kids because private school tuition was bankrupting us. I no longer have the luxury of disposable income. I have just completed upgrading my complete system, and this latest incarnation will have to do for some time to come. The only piece I had not upgraded was my Anthem CD-1 -- which I was still very happy with. To upgrade that piece would necessitate selling it off -- which I did not relish doing. Everything I considered was beyond the price point I was comfortable moving to. Rega (jupiter), Arcam, Cary, etc. -- just too much money. I had spent $1700 on the Anthem back in '96 -- and that left my stomach upset for 2 days. Not because I didn't like it, but because when you have kids and a wife you love -- you know this money should probably go towards things to benefit them as well. My wife does not *****. She takes all this in stride. She thought I was nuts, but took it like a trooper. No, my problem is always with my own demons. So, how do I get better than the Anthem for around a $1000. I figured almost five years had past since I bought the Anthem, and that advances in this period of time might net me better sound for substantially less money. I decided it might not be possible -- but started lurking here at the Hi-Rez Highway. I had pretty much decided I would give up a little quality on Redbook playback (regular CD) to get SACD into my system. I did not go with DVD-A primarily because I wanted a well built machine, and I did not believe anyone except Sony was building anything to a standard that I could appreciate. The Denon DVD/CD/DVD-A looks nice, and has a little heft -- but it's not like ES. I also didn't care for multi-channel, and didn't like the fold down or 'dumb down' concept for 2 channel. My main issue with mult-channel is money. If I had the money I would love to go full blown multi-channel. However, given a choice between spending $2200 on one set of speakers -- or $2200 on 6 sets of speakers. Well, I think you see my point. The same goes with the processor. To get one that is made and sounds to a standard I can accept, would necessitate a 2nd mortgage. I did not need multi-channel playback capability, and therefore saw no point in paying for it. Build quality aside -- I also felt that whether to go DVD-A or SACD was also going to be dependent on musical tastes. SACD is catering mostly to those who like Classical & Jazz. The bigger recording labels don't appear to be doing much of anything with SACD in the Rock/Pop area -- with the exception of Sony Music. Most SACD releases are coming from the smaller labels. DVD-Audio does have sufficient choices in the Classical & Jazz department -- but also has much more in the Pop/Rock area, and obviously appears to have more support from the bigger labels. In spite of this, I decided to give up some Rock/Pop choices in order to get the better built machine. Again, I also felt SACD was the better standard for two channel playback. At any rate -- I believe both formats will survive, and don't see it so much as a format war, as two technologies that are slicing into different parts of the market. I see SACD becoming the de-facto standard for the high-end, and DVD-A catering more to those in the mass market -- who have grown comfortable with the term 'DVD'. IMHO. ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT: I use the Cary AE-25 Super Amp with the oil filled caps upgrade, NOS East German Sieman EL-34's, Amperex 6922 PQ's in the driver stage, and GE 6CG7's as the current source. The preamp is the Sonic Frontiers Line 1 with the stock Sovtek 6922's. Amperex Orange Globes are on the way -- but for this review, it's the Sovteks. The Speakers are the Klipsch Reference RF7's. Like all my speakers I have ever owned -- they are two ways. The RF7 employs two anodized 10" drivers and a tractrix horn loaded titanium dome. The crossover is 2.2Khz. The sonic signature is not the same as the Klipsch Heritage or Legend speakers -- which I do not care for. I wanted the resolution of a Magnepan and the dynamics of a horn. The RF7 does both admirably. Certainly not as fast as the Maggies or the with the extreme dynamics of an exponential horn loaded system -- but enough of both to bring it to the middle, producing a very satisfying sonic experience. For more info, see the recent issue of Sound & Vision for a review. You can also see the review of the RB5 bookshelf here: http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/loudspeakers/klipsch-rb5.html This will at give you an idea of the sonic signature for the Klipsch Reference line. Included in the review are some nifty charts plotting both frequency response and impedance curves. Klipsch LF-10 Subwoofer: Klipsch was plagued with production problems trying to get this thing out on the market. Many units were sent out that had air leaks around the amp plate or one of the passive radiators. This resulted in spyder slap and/or the amp overheating and shutting down. However, just as many were sent out that had no problems. I have one of those. It's not a Carver Sunfire -- but does well in my small room. I have just sold it and am waiting on a SVS 20-39PCi. For this review -- no sub was used. REVIEW PART I: REDBOOK PLAYBACK The more you spend the more you get. However, I also believe in the Law of Diminishing Returns. When I read that a $1200 unit does not sound as good as a $3000 unit -- I understand. When I also read that 'it comes close', I understand that it is usually much less than a stone's throw away. If I can get within 95% of the mark for half the money -- I'm elated. I do not have a Redbook playback system employing the 'Hyper Extreme Super Power DAC' in line with the 'Maxibit Jitter Killer III' -- the only thing I have to compare the 9000es to is my Anthem CD-1 and my Marantz DV-7010 DVD combo player ($799). The Anthem had detail in spades. Nice shimmer on the upper treble and a good full-bodied bass. The unit was not well received by The Absolute Sound when it was reviewed. They felt it had too much bass, poor rhythm, and was too laid back. I on the other hand -- always felt it totally rocked. It didn't have the 'haze' I heard on the many other players I listened too, and it really did a good job of taking off the digital edge. It worked well with my all solid-state gear, creating a good soundstage with some decent depth and warmth. There was always a little space between the instruments, and the background was reasonably dark. The only complaint I ever had was with the Sony changer it employed -- which always sounded like it was loading torpedoes. I did not want to sell this unit. Before I made the decision to sell it -- I spent almost a week comparing the Redbook playback to my much newer Marantz. The Marantz had a little touch of that 'haze' or 'filmy' quality, but it really had a nice extended top end with very little splash. The bass was extremely tight as compared to the Anthem, and it certainly had a bit of that toe tapping quality. The downside was that I didn't feel it put any space between the instruments. It was certainly open sounding, but it just didn't produce that quality of putting things in their place. The music was just...there. I even caught myself trying to move my chair back a little -- like I needed to give it some room to do it's thing. I knew that part of this experiment involved my ears adjusting to the sound. It did get better towards the end of the week -- and I decided that it was certainly much better than units I had heard previously between the $300 - $500 price points. In this shoot off the Anthem won -- but not by leaps and bounds. They just did things differently. The only thing that really bothered me about the Marantz was the digital haze. There wasn't much, but it was there nonetheless -- always calling attention to itself. However, it was SACD I was after, and I reasoned that with the kind of music I listen to -- I could live with it if need be. If you are wondering why I was so concerned about the Redbook capability of the Marantz -- it is because I was simply expecting the Sony to sound horrid, and I wanted a fallback position. UPS arrived at my doorstep with the unit yesterday. The unit came double boxed from J&R Music World for $929 shipped. It was cold and rainy yesterday here in Ohio -- and when I opened the boxes, the Sony was very cold to the touch. I decided to let her sit for about a 1/2 hour so that any moisture accumulating because of the temperature change would have time to evaporate. I waited 2 minutes, unwrapped it, picked it up, grunted, put it in the rack, grunted again, ran my wires, and fired her up. I waited a few minutes, just admiring it. It's really a gorgeous piece of equipment. I had heard about the lack of ergonomics with the buttons on the front panel. I guess some have trouble with them. It took me about 10 seconds to figure them out. The buttons are great. What else can I say? Very nifty little soft touch devices. For those that have difficulty with them, I can only think they have never used an old fashioned cassette deck. The buttons are set up quite similiarly. I pushed the button for the drawer. It slid out, smooth as a baby's butt. It wasn't plastic. It was aluminum. It was quiet. It was cool. I reached out and took hold of the tray. I moved it around a little. Sure, a little play. Actually less than my Anthem had. A little play does not mean loose. A little play is a good thing. The last thing I want is the drawer hosing up with age, if a little dust accumulates in the mechanism, or if the lubricant runs dry. I started with Fuel's first release. It's a good Redbook recording. I pushed the button again (right there), the drawer pulled back in. Again, very quiet compared to what I am used to. I am already mentally preparing myself and bracing for disappointment. It is after all -- a Sony. I head to my chair thinking, "as long as it sounds as least as good as the Marantz -- it'll be O.K. I pick up the remotes for both my SF Line 1 and 9000es. I sit. I press play. Nothing happens. I stare at my remote like a well-trained audiophile. I am an expert -- just ask my wife. The Sony is a lemon. What a POS. My non-audiophile wife asks me if I put batteries in the remote. I yell "yes" and start looking for the batteries. I put them in the remote and sit back in my chair. I hit play. Music. Pretty good sounding music. Not as warm as the Anthem. But not sterile either -- not by a long shot. It's a rich, 'all there' kind of sound, but a little on the 'cool' side of neutral -- just as I had read in another review. I should mention here that I have what I refer to as 'sissy' ears. I like clarity -- but not the associated 'brightness' that sometimes comes with it. I need to state here, that in my system -- the Sony is not 'bright'. There is clarity without 'edge' or undue forwardness. This is not what I expected. I then become aware that there is no 'haze' or 'filmy' quality. The sound is simply clear and actually better than the Anthem in this regard. I am really surprised by this and my hopes begin to climb. In spite of being so clean, the treble is a little splashy on top. Maybe a touch more than the Marantz. The Sony does not have the nice shimmer on the cymbals like the Anthem did. The bass is a little lean also. Tight as hell -- but not room filling like the Anthem. More definition in the bass than both the Anthem and the Marantz. I could hear individual notes much better. At this point, I begin to relax a little. I pick up the remote to the SF (preamp) and decide to listen to the rest of the opening cut, and then I will put the juice to 'Jesus or Gun'. The song ends and I skip to the song 'Jesus or Gun'. This is a great grind it out kind of song with good drumming and wailing guitars. I decide to dump everything the little triode amp can muster into this song -- the entire massive 15 watts worth. I'm buying another SPL meter tonight. I lent my old one out and it was never returned and eventually lost. I do not know what I get at the listening position with 15 tube watts. The RF7's are rated at 102db/w -- but The Sound and Vision Review put it closer to 100db/w. Nevertheless, the output is substantial. The song breaks loose and I'm immediately blown away by the smoothness and definition. Folks, this machine's forte lies in the midrange. It is so smooth from top to bottom and completely free of any grain whatsoever. If it were there, the RF7's would find it. One of the downsides of the horn is it's propensity for pushing all the $hit up along with all that wonderful low level detail. There is no $hit . None. I move on to all my favorites. Stone Temple Pilots (Core), Some very old Judas Priest (Sad Wings of Destiny), Pink Floyd (Momentary Lapse of Reason), Moody Blues, Metallica (Black), Black Sabbath (Double Live), Asia's first, and a few others I can't remember right now. Each time it was the same clear, smooth top to bottom sound, with no discernable grain or film. Always a little forward, but with no edge. Just effortless sound. BREAK IN My feeling on breaking in a component is like buying and breaking in a new pair of shoes. You put them on your feet and they either fit or they don't. Sometimes they fit -- but are a little too tight. You buy them thinking they will break in and fit better. However, they never really do. They stretch some, but they never feel quite right. They end up sitting in the bottom of your closet. The shoe that fits best is the one that fits best right away. I believe equipment is the same way. You buy something and put it in your system. It doesnt sound quite right. You wait, hoping it will break in and begin to bloom. The sound improves -- but it never sounds 'right'. You then sit around waiting for it to completely break in. After a few months you realize you bought the wrong 'shoes'. Each piece has a basic sonic signature that it maintains even after it is broken in. Some of the rough edges may come off -- but never to the extent that the entire signature changes. If a unit doesn't basically sound 'right' in your system when you drop it in -- don't expect the miraculous. This is just my opinion on the matter, and I am sure many here will disagree. AFTER-THOUGHTS This machine integrated into my system well. I'm extremely happy. I expected anything but this. I think if you are using a tube-based system -- than this machine is probably a good choice. If you are using a solid state based system with speakers tending on the warmer side -- than this machine is probably a good choice for you too. However, if you are running all solid state, with speakers that run to the cooler side -- I think a careful audition is in order. I'm not so sure I would have liked this machine running with the Bryston 3b-st/bp-20 combo I had in my system last month. I think it would have been too much of a good thing. I would like a little more bloom from this machine, and I wish the bass had more weight. The very top end, like I said is a little splashy and not as transparent as it could be. The overall sound however is outstanding and I believe on a scale from 1 to 10 I would rate this machine an 8 for its resolving power ability and smoothness. I feel no real need to mod this machine, or to run it with external digital devices -- I actually like it just the way it is. I was fully prepared to send this machine back to J&R. It's not going anywhere. Going from the CD-1 to this machine was a substantial upgrade. At the original list price of $1500 this unit would be a winner. At the current list price of $1200 it's even better. At $929 shipped, it's a no brainer -- a complete steal, and this is my feeling on just its Rebook playback capability! With the right ancillary equipment -- very highly recommended. SACD Playback This is the 2nd part of a two part review of the Sony DVPS900ES. Part 1 dealt with general impressions and Redbook playback. The primary reason for the review being broken into two parts was because the SACD's from Elusive Disc had not yet arrived -- and I wanted to write my impressions regarding Redbook playback while they were still fresh in my mind. SONY DVPS9000ES AND SUPER AUDIO COMPACT DISC The only reason not to go with SACD is because it is very difficult to pronounce. It just doesn't come off the tongue very well. I was telling my Dad about SACD and he says, "What are they called again?" I say, "SAC-D." "SAC what?" he asks again. "Saaaac-Deeee". I'm sure at this point he thinks I have a speech impediment -- so I spell it out for him, "It stands for Super Audio Compact Disc, and it sure is different." Different it is -- and I will endeavor to describe it the best I can. My SACD's from Elusive Disc arrived on time yesterday on a beautiful Ohio afternoon. I pulled into my driveway and saw the ubiquitous FedEx box sitting on my porch like an abandoned orphan. Since I had to immediately take my son to soccer practice, I could only grab the box and go. I figured I could at least drool over the contents while I sat in the car watching him kick the ball around. While I was driving I said, "Hey Ethan, why don't you rip that thing open and let's see what we got in there." Ethan is 11, and watching him pull on the strip-tab was as bad as watching a 90-year-old woman trying to start a lawnmower. He finally manages to get it open, and the first thing that happens is all the Styrofoam peanuts begin floating out of the box, and flying out the windows. I felt bad, and wondered what expletives the folks behind me were engaging in as all the peanuts twirled in a trail behind my car. So, with most of the peanuts now inhabiting various yards in the neighborhood -- the SACD's come tumbling out. The Byrd's Greatest Hits: I bought this for one reason. I used to own the Redbook version. It was completely unlistenable. Awful. Just awful. It was so bad, I had it 2 days and gave it away. Alice in Chain's Greatest Hits: I was looking forward to this one. Their first recorded CD was great -- but fairly grainy sounding. Santana Abraxas: I'm a huge fan of Greg Rolle. Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow: I only like about 1/2 of this thing, but I was VERY familiar with the early vinyl version, and also own the Redbook version. Roger Waters - In the Flesh: Just because I hadn't heard it yet, and figured it would be the one to best represent what SACD could offer at its best. We pull into the parking lot and Ethan jumps out of the car for soccer practice. I jump for the discs. The packaging is nice -- each disc has a sleeve that fits over the jewel case. I wondered if it was really necessary, and how much extra the additional packaging contributed to the total cost of the disc. I guess someone felt the need to make me feel like I was holding something 'special'. We get back home and I immediately go upstairs. The system is already warm, as I had left everything on from the night before -- with the exception of putting the SF Line 1 and AE-25 in 'standby'. The Super Amp is throwing off waves of heat, and so I load the first disc. The Sony promptly gobbles up 'The Byrds'. THE BYRD'S GREATEST HITS It's listenable. Pretty darn good considering the age of the original recording. Definitely better than the Redbook version. It is however, obviously a remix, and I realize that it is going to take a while before I can know for sure what to attribute to SACD, and what to attribute to the recording. The first thing I do is turn down the volume. I then forward to 'Eight Miles High' -- which I've heard at least a 100 times on vinyl. Not because I love it so much, but because that's how many times I had to listen to it to learn my guitar part for our once upon time wannabe Rock band. At the lower SPL on this recording, it is very easy to tell what SACD is doing. The imaging is much better than Redbook, and I can tell the instruments are spread out from each other a little more. There really is more distance between them, and there is also a little bit of ambiance. On the whole, light years ahead of the Redbook version, and I remember thinking that it sounded much like I had expected the Redbook version to sound when I first bought it -- until I played it and had my ears assaulted. The tone of the guitars seems right on -- and I think this is important. Though SACD rendered the tones correctly, the remix has the guitars too up front, and the drum kit sounds like someone pushed it off the stage. It's a very midrangey sounding remix, but it's also very clean and open without any congestion. In spite of the forward midrange, it's not making me want to curl into the fetal position. JEFF BECK - BLOW BY BLOW I don't like fusion all that much with the funky offbeats and the band sounding like they are all on a different piece of sheet music. However, much of what is on this recording is pretty cool. I'm sitting back listening to it, and am impressed with drum work that has great transient attack. It is sharp, but at the same time, has a softness to the leading edge of the transients. Again, I notice the acoustical space expanded and more space between the instruments. This space adds to the illusion of having each instrument alone, occupying it's own space. Good Redbook does this too -- but not like this. Another old recording vastly improved. I had just recently, within the last month, listened to this same recording on vinyl at a friends house. He has a Rotel turntable, which is about 6 years old, with an Ortofon MM cartridge. Nothing fancy here. However, this record, on his Klipsch RC7's (identical to the RF7's I have, with the exception of having two 8's instead of two 10's, and a smaller enclosure), and two Boston PV1000 subs -- in spite of filling the room up, sounded fairly flat and very strident. I realize this is probably not the fairest of comparisons, considering he is using old Adcom 555's and a modest vinyl rig. However, now, instead of attributing the differences in our systems to being a matter of levels of refinement -- mine now sounds like it just underwent a major speaker upgrade. The difference is that dramatic. I can easily see vinyl sounding better than SACD, but it would take a considerable investment. Mark's Rotel/Ortofon rig did a somewhat better job I think, of pushing the music from this recording out into his room, than the same recording in SACD in my room. However, I also think the SACD rendering of 'Blow by Blow' on my system, in my room sounds much more realistic. The SACD recording of 'Blow by Blow' is superior to the Redbook version, and the vinyl version played on a modest rig ($800), in a system using old Adcoms. I might add here that the real limitation of these old recordings is the source itself, and even with a good vinyl rig -- you are more times than not, stuck with the old vinyl releases. It is more than possible for SACD to always sound better than the best vinyl rigs on these older recordings simply because the new rendering is so clean and uncompressed. Just something to consider. ALICE IN CHAINS' GREATEST HITS This disc is cool because the first song was recorded in 1990 and the last song was recorded in 1996. It's sort of like a mini time line of digital recording. The debut CD for these guys was great, but grainy as hell. The grain is all but gone on the early songs and towards the end it starts sounding mighty good. Again, an improvement over the original Redbook release. Roger Waters' - IN THE FLESH This one is the bomb. An absolutely outstanding and jaw dropping experience. I have nothing in Redbook that even comes close. Maybe Fleetwood Mac's 'The Dance', which sounds pretty damn good. This SACD however, pushed voices out to my chair. It is so incredibly smooth sounding that by the time I got to 'Comfortably Numb', I was pushing the volume to a level I would never have attempted with any Redbook recording in my possession. I kept waiting for the little triode amp to go up in flames, and every time I looked over, it was blowing me kisses. I will certainly buy some of my old favorites, if and when they are re-released. However, what I am really looking forward too is new releases of my favorite type of music on this medium. I would characterize SACD as extremely smooth and transparent. Dynamic, yet not sharp to the point of excess. There is a 'softness' to the leading edge of transients that stayed consistent throughout my listening regardless of recording (whether this is a characteristic of the Sony or SACD I cannot know for sure). SACD also does a great job of rendering instruments in their proper tone and acoustic space. It has a realistic quality to it, spilling out the naked truth more so than ever before. The Sony? It did A.O.K. It did its job. It drew me into the music, and let the music extend out to me when the program material allowed. It maintained much the same sonic signature it had with Redbook and this was much to my liking. ------------------ Dean Cary AE-25SuperAmp,- Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's - SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research electronic crossover - MIT/Monsters Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get out-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorance This message has been edited by deang on 05-30-2002 at 11:53 PM

I've just been too busy to post anything worthwhile, but I'll have to make time with all the changes I've been making to my system. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>SuperAmp,f>s>- Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - Sony DVP-S9000ES - Klipsch RF7's - SVS 20-39 CS Plus - Samson S1000 - HSU Research electronic crossover - MIT/Monsters f>s> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>c>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 05-01-2002 at 02:22 PM

Ampzilla huh? Great American Sound Co. or GAS as they were known. I believe that amp had 225 wpc. I had the Son of Ampzilla with a modest 80 wpc. I used to run that sweet thing on some Old Original Advents. I have a friend named Scott who used to come over, and we would spend a couple of hours a week together giving my system a proper workout. Once, we were listening to Genesis 'Seconds Out' on the Thorens's turntable, and had the juice going pretty good. At one point, I very loud hum begins emitting from the speakers. We look at each other in complete bafflement, and I quickly go over and turn down the volume. Turning the volume down has no effect, and the hum is EXTREMELY loud. We stand there for a moment, looking at each other with that look -- that look that only hardened, trained audiophiles can exhibit. While we are looking at each, the right channel makes a horrendous popping sound, and as we turn towards the speaker -- smoke begins protruding from the woofer. Trained audiophiles do not panic, and we are trained audiophiles. Scott backs away into the kitchen and I open the front door. The woofer then bursts into flames. Scott immediately goes into the kitchen, and I hear the faucet running. I finally decide to kick out the power cord. The woofer is really going now, and the flames are lapping up the front of the baffle. Scott comes out with a glass of water and offers to 'douse' the flames. Instead, I opt for unhooking the wires, picking up the speaker, and hurling it into the front yard. Scott offers backup support by throwing the water on the speaker after it hits, and rolls across the yard. There's more than one way to get an upgrade. ------------------ Deanf>s> Cary AE-25f>s>c>Super Ampf>s>c> Sonic Frontiers Line 1 Sony DVP-S9000ES Klipsch RF7f>s>c>'s SVS 20-39PCf>s>c>ic> MIT/Monsters Toshiba 36"f>s>c> Inside every small problem is a large problem struggling to get outf>s>-- 2nd Law of Blissful Ignorancef>s>c> This message has been edited by deang on 04-28-2002 at 03:22 PM