TommyK

Yes I use ZP80s. Couldnt be happier. I try to keep all my files as FLACs, though the occasional MP3 leaks in. I still have lots of SHNs which were/are the standard for live recorded Dead. IMHO Drobo + Sono = digital bliss. My Meridian Azure allows me to use its DAC. My comparisons between the 2 has been limited, and my intial conclusion was that the Sonos DAC held its own. I use MAC C2200 pre balanced MC 250 mrk iv amp powering '76 Belles with Extreme slope x-overs. Peace, TommyK

I have an Azure 840 for CD playback, great player. For digital playback, I first tried Squeezbox, but ran into trouble with large numbers of files. I have @ 4 terabytes of wavs. I am now using Sonos, and am very happy. I couldnt tell the difference b/w the Sonos dac and the Azure's, but this was probably a limit of getting the sound levels in sync - louder almost always sounds better to my ears. I also recommend drobo for NAS. peace, TommyK

Oh brother, Adam Duritz of Couting Crows covers Caremlita on a disc the I-10 Chronicles, that nails that tune on the head. I am big Zevon fan, but Duritz juices Caremilta just right. peace, TommyK

in 1971 RR was bailed out by the British government. At teh time it was insolvent. Later split, privatised, sold and resold. TommyK

I remember the MX130. Stereophile recommended in 1995. When did they stop making them? I have had to wait for MAC glass as well. Longest was about 1 year. I dont know of any other MFG that still supports 10-15 yr old gear; or would re-order glass once their stock goes out. We all know what happened to Rolls Royce - they went belly up. Good luck. TommyK

30 minutes from the Tap. zip 07405. I had Cornwalls, but went with Belles. Similar sound. But the Belles look much nicer, according to my wife. Powered by an MC 240. Email me if you want to drop by. peace, TommyK

So much depends on what you want the speakers to do. At some point, it becomes the trade-offs you prefer. Best speaker for the 75 x 120 room in the McMansion? or 20x20 townhouse? Best speaker that does 50% HT & 50% 2 channel? Best speaker that only plays Summer 1972, Spring 1977 and Fall 1979 Gratefule Dead 1 gen FOBs? Best speaker that wont strain the marriage? Best speaker that makes Mary Gautheir stand 3 feet from you so you can smell the Black Label JD on her breathe? Best speaker that sings with 3 watts? peace, TommyK

I have used breakout box soundcards for my pc based tunes, and they all work, but for ease of use, SONOS rocks. I also tried the squeezebox but had too many wavs for it to handle. Peace, TommyK

I hear a big difference with my Heresey 2s with the grills off. Keep em on if there are kids or cats around. Peace, TommyK

reasonable price, but not a great deal. They will sound great! a little weak in the bass. Your digital amp will sound fine. But try a tube amp and be prepared to melt. peace, TommyK

My commute is by bus to NYC everyday so no chance for extended Cirrus listening. I have also spent years putting together my own dead archive. But I am sorely tempted to let someone else take the reigns and spin some bliss. peace, TommyK

if I recall, my MC 275 mk ivs have varaible output for balanced input. So if u use RCAs in, u need a preamp. If you use balanced inputs, you can use the potentimeters. i use balanced with c2200. great combo with my Belles. TommyK

I have 2 tb of wavs. I have lost data before. After my research I setteled on Drobo and Squeeze Box. Squeeze Box is cheaper than Sonos. I have since learned that Squeeze Box does not do well with over 10,000 albums. I will be switching to Sonos. Peace, TommyK

I'll open the window and point my Belles west. I'll turn the MAC up to "5" and you should be able to hear them. TommyK, Northern New Jersey

Alan, saw your addy in your tag line. I work in the Lincoln bldg on 42nd. My Belles and MC250/c2200 are in the burbs of jersey where the missus and I fled when the kids came. Thought I drop a hello. Peace TommyK

If they did, the FTC would go after them. Magic peebles, magic outlets, magic fuses -either the world is knowable through reason or its not. In the audio industry, no one sheds a tear for the marks. 2001 - The marketers of the Super FuelMAX automotive fuel-line magnet, advertised as providing dramatic fuel-saving and emissions-reducing benefits, have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their claims were unsubstantiated. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 2000 - In an ongoing campaign targeting ads that tout motor oil additives with deceptive claims that they reduce engine wear or extend engine life compared to motor oil alone, the FTC has charged the seller of Motor Up Engine Treatment with making unsubstantiated and deceptive advertising claims, in violation of federal laws. Motor Up Corporation and its principal, Kyle Burns, face an administrative trial. 1998 - Blue Corral, the manufacturers of the Slick 50 engine oil additive, have been banned by the Federal Trade Commission from making claims about reduced engine wear, increased fuel economy and lower running temperatures in it's advertising in America. The Federal Commission found the company's claims of increased performance and reduced wear were unsubstantiated, and Blue Corral has agreed to pay upwards of $20M in damages to affected customers. TommyK

Trey rocks.

same here. I had one for several years. It worked well for dual pupose HT and 2 channel. It is a digital amp and put off no heat, which was nice for my HT set up. Over time it didn't hold my interest. TommyK

Everyone, thanks for the thoughts. Carl, I have been tempted by Al's Trachorns. Cost isn't as much an issue as time. I have a new rug rat to go along with the pair I already had and now seems like there is no time in the evening for audio projects. What is the real world time investment to install Al's trachorns? I am also thinking of trying Bob's tweets - but I have never disliked the t-35. Then again, I won't know until I try. Peace, TommyK

Fellow Audiophools: I have a beautiful pair of '76 Belles with ALK universal x-overs. I currently power them with a new Mc 275 and C2200 preamp. I find vocals and spartan combos to be just what I want. If I have a complaint, it is when the music gets complicated, say for example playing some of the orchestra heavy cuts from the Les Miserables 10th anniversary CD. Jerry Garcia can sound like he is in the same room when he is solo, but a hot and heavy Other One has sounded better on other speakers. Over the past few years a friend has persistently urged me to try a side-by-side with a pair of Altec Valencias or 19s. I have low-bid over the years on local ebay sales to see if I could scare up a pair, but with no luck. My question is to any that have both, am I just chasing my tail? or is it worth the marital grief of shlepping in Altecs to do a side by side? Thanks in advance for your input. TommyK, NJ

The Adcom has funky twist type connectors and has a protection circuit button so you can't play both at the same time. The Niles has connectors very close together, but if memory serves, always has the circuit on and mimics a load. Peace, TommyK

ended up going with the pig tails and an Adcom box. I have the Niles box too, but the Adcom looks fancier. Even the receptors on the Adcom box were very small. Haven't the engineers that built these leaned that you need fat cable with esoteric names to pass good music electrons? peace, TommyK

Perhaps I'll have to arrange for a stop by on my next trip to our Nation's Capital. I can see it now - "oh honey, remember how last month I let you stop off at that outlet off I95 and buy another pair of shoes, well mind if I stop off and listen to some new horns?" Thanks, TommyK

Greetings, I am thinking of breaking the piggy bank and spending my nickles on Al's Trachhorns for my '77 Belles. I'd like to listen before I buy, and to that end, I am inquiring if anyone in my area has a pair. Anyone in Jersey, Southern NY, Fairfield CT??? Naturally I'd rather hear and see them on Belles, but KHorns would do. Gratefully, TommyK, Kinnelon NJ 07405

Paul, the biggest jump has been made. That is to say going to a push-pull tube into a Horn is a sound that some people (like me) love. The *upgrades* you can make in amps from here will be incremental and improve certain things, but don't hold your breathe hoping to recreate the jump you just made. Its like the first time you down shift a 1972 911 into tight turn and accelerate out after you've been driving muscle cars. Buying a new 911 (for 20x the dough) isn't going to be all that better in recreating that feeling: the magic is in the slant six rear wheel drive 5 speed. Your Dynaco is like a 1966 912. Underpowered on the low end? yes. Are there better amps? Yes. But for recreating that **feeling**, you have to spend a lot more, and really only get an improvement on how it sits in traffic. And even then, for all the improvement, you lose a little of the feeling of the road. The two preamps I'd recommend to further the **feeling would be to get a Dynaco PAS and mod it with the Curio mods. There is a good forum for Dynaco on the AA website. Or, spend up now and get a McIntosh C22 and never have to worry that there is a better sounding preamp out there for recreating that special magic a KHorn can recreate. Peace, TommyK