DaleR

All present and/or accounted for, sir! Just been really busy with life... Dale

Collinsville is just a short drive northwest of us...O'Fallon is right on I-64. Dale

Lived in Vacaville, CA...Was stationed at Travis AFB. Got promoted, and of course had to move. The local Ultimate Electronics sells Klipsch, but other than that, not much audio-wise. There appear to be a few audio/video shops in StL, but I haven't have the opportunity to hit any yet. We have a finished basement in the new house, so I have a dedicated (sort of) listening room. Now I'm looking to put together a small system for the living room... Dale

I haven't been on the forum lately, because the Air Force saw fit to transfer me again, this time to Scott AFB. I'm living in O'Fallon, IL, 30 min due East of St Louis. Any Klipscher's around these parts? Dale

I had the same problem with my Dual TT. When I would connect the ground wire as specified (painted metal), I got nothing but hum...So, I connected the ground to a screw that fastens the metal case, so that the wire is sandwiched between the screw and a bare washer. Not a hint of hum now! Dale

triceratops, You have a PM. Dale

My 5.5s are the only KG speakers I've ever heard, and they still look and sound as good as the day I brought 'em home in '94! [] Dale

All I've ever found at garage sales are old crappy records [] Fltecherkane, where in Michigan are you? I was born in Rochester, and grew up in Jackson. Dale

I too consider myself lucky to have a wonderful, understanding wife who indulges my audio habit. In fact, after auditioning countless speakers, we bought our Kg 5.5s because she thought they sounded the best! She never complains when I crank up the volume, especially if she likes the music. She used to enjoy reading the old Stereophile column Astor Place, and could empathize with the author and "her audiophile's" eccentricities. Thanks Honey! Dale

Tommyboy, As a member of our beloved Air Force for the past 22 years, I have "survived" my share of drawdowns, and I can empathize with you to a certain degree. However, even though it appears you might be "layed off" from the service, you do still have a lot of control over your destiny. I do not know your specific situation, but I'll assume that you are coming to the end of your first enlistment and you are trying to secure a career job reservation in your field. I'll spare the "AF-speak" for the rest of the folks, but as you mentioned the Air Force, like the other services, has a Congressionally-mandated "cap" on the number of personnel who can serve on active duty at any one time. The need for people to perform certain types of jobs ebbs and flows with mission changes, and therefore the Air Force must make adjustments to stay under our cap. This has happened several times since the 70's. The Air Force is currently looking to "right-size" about 40,000 people from the force. I don't know where you got your 70,000 figure from. Because of the cap, the Air Force can only retain so many personnel per year in each field, and I understand you might feel like you're "competing" for your job. I went through the same process during my first enlistment. Unfortunately, the sad fact is not everyone can stay in the Air Force who wants to. Sometimes we have to let good people go. If that happens to you, I hope you take your experience, coupled with your G.I. Bill, and chart a positive course for your family's future. Having said that, you still can control your situation. If you are in an "over-manned" field, you might consider retraining into another field that is under-manned. The Air Force is critically under-manned in several fields, and retraining may be a way to prevent being forced out, as well as ensure you continue to receive the benefits you've come to depend on to support your family. I would ask you to harken back and consider why you joined the Air Force in the first place. If you joined to do a "job" then it's understandable you might feel the Air Force is pulling the rug out from under you. However, if you joined to serve your country, then being open to the needs of the Air Force and retraining into a critical field will show that you are a team player; someone we can count on when the chips are down. As for being separated from family, I have been separated from my family more times than I care to admit, including long overseas tours, remote assignments where I couldn't take family along, and, most recently, serving in Iraq. At the risk of "preaching", that's what you signed up for, bud! Remember our core values, the second one being "Service Before Self." The needs of the Air Force come first. If you can't abide by that principle, I submit that it may be time you do seek a career change. You hit the nail on the head when you talked about not taking loved ones for granted. Money is a large consideration, to be sure, but I'm not sure I would forgo seeing my family on the chance I might be leaving the service. Some things in life are worth more than the money they cost. I want to close by saying a heartfelt "Thank You!" to you, and your family, for your service and the sacrifices you've made and will make in the future. It takes a special kind of person to serve our country. Whether you do get out of the Air Force, or serve an entire career, I hope you continue to serve our country honorably, and always be mindful of the reason we wear the uniform, to keep America strong and free. Dale

Mister Z, I have a pair of 5.5s, and I can tell they will be great for jazz. Both Diana Krall and Mr. Frank Sinatra sound awesome on these speakers! Your room should be large enough; the 5.5's footprint is about the size of a speaker stand base. There is a pair just like mine on e-bay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/Klipsch-KG-5-5-Tower-Speakers-in-Dark-Oak-LIKE-NEW_W0QQitemZ290082702050QQihZ019QQcategory Z61378QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Dale

I'm not a fan of either team, and the weather could be a factor, but I'll pick the Bears by a touchdown, 28-21. Dale

I might be interested in your preamp...Does it have a phono stage? If so, is it MM or MC? I couldn't find any info on Rotel's site. Thanks! Dale

Oops, double post! Dale

Yep, that's the one! I wish now I had never sold it... Dale