Jimmy James

---------------- On 6/13/2005 8:35:17 AM Parrot wrote: The French have attempted to rewrite history to make it seem like just about everyone there was a member of the Resistance, fighting the Nazis. The reality is the not so romantic opposite. After the Surrender Monkeys quickly gave up in 1940, Vichy France, the French government from 1940-44, actively collaborated with the Nazis. Many many thousands of Americans died to liberate France, and often had to fight French Nazi collaborators while doing it. That is why Gen. Patton famously said: "I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." Still, the day France was invaded, Germany's eventual defeat was already foreordained, because that was the day Winston Churchill became the leader of Britain. ---------------- Thanks for making that often ignored point. As far as those of you blinded by French generosity and the "Statue of Liberty", they only helped us during the Revolution when they were reasonably sure what the outcome would be.

---------------- On 6/10/2005 11:17:09 AM Parrot wrote: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050609/od_afp/afplifestylefrance_050609191745 ---------------- There you have it, anything for a buck, that's why their economy is dong so well: Eighty-six percent of the fathers queried said they were ready "to take a paternity leave of several months to live their fatherhood more intensely," provided it caused "minimal financial impact."

---------------- On 6/12/2005 6:15:51 PM sputnik wrote: OK. I know it's fun for some people to bash the French, maybe it's like telling lawyer jokes. I hope that the French members of this forum aren't offended. Too many of us have forgotten the strong bonds between France and the US. France was the first nation to officially recognize the US after our revolution. France has always been an ally of the US and never an enemy. I can't think of another world power with that distinction. Our Statue of Liberty was gift from France as was much of the philosophy that is the basis of our democracy. The French still honor Americans buried in France who gave their lives fighting for liberty. After 9-11, Jacques Chirac stated that "We are all Americans." As far as an unwillingness to engage in war, are you forgetting about Afghanistan? France initially sent over 5,000 troops and has over 1,500 troops still there. Check this link. As far as the war in Iraq goes, it looks more and more like the French were right after all while our administration looks pretty foolish to have mounted an invasion of a country based on bad or even contrived foriegn intelligence with no occupation or rebuilding strategy. Don't forget that the French KNOW the tragedy of war better than most of us - they have lived with it. Major theaters of operation of two world wars were on French soil - I doubt that you can find many French families that were not directly affected and still know that pain. The French have known victory and defeat and more importantly learned the folly of imperialism. ---------------- Yeah, they know the pain all right. The pain that comes from going which ever way the wind blows. Don't forget the deals with Berlin and being the first to fire on us when we "liberated" them. The French: they fight with their feet and XXXX with their face.

Seems there's plenty of sour grapes and Napoleonic complexes here to go around.

---------------- On 6/10/2005 1:10:29 AM jazman wrote: I OWN an RB600 and an RB300 and they both have adjustable bias. You, Sir are a liar. ---------------- Jimmy James, This post was about offering my VPI Scout for sale, which btw, has a superior arm and wiring compared to the RB300 or RB600. Please post your own topic to extol the virtues or lack thereof concerning the RB300 and RB600. The stock wire used by Rega sucks. That is a fact. They even rec that you use different interconnects if you buy one of their CD players. Enjoy both of your Rega arms, but not in my post. Klipsch out. ---------------- Dude, I'm not the one that brought up the subject.

---------------- On 6/10/2005 12:28:07 AM Guy Landau wrote: It has been a while since I've used one of these so I re-read the manual and you're right. Now don't tell me that there's a way to adjust the VTA on stock arms, too. ---------------- Sorry for the word liar, that was a little over the top.

---------------- On 6/9/2005 7:43:51 PM Guy Landau wrote: ---------------- On 6/9/2005 7:39:01 PM Jimmy James wrote: You obviously don't know anything about Rega arms except the opinions you've read. They all have anti-skate adjust, I can't understand why you insist on saying they don't. And again I ask you, the stock wire in WHICH arm? ---------------- I have experience with the RB300 & RB600. You can adjust the weight (vtf) to suit each cartridge but not the antisketing. That's a fact. ---------------- I OWN an RB600 and an RB300 and they both have adjustable bias. You're fibbing.

---------------- On 6/9/2005 7:14:05 PM Guy Landau wrote: still, the stock wire is mediocre and there's no provision for anti-skating adjustment. ---------------- You obviously don't know anything about Rega arms except the opinions you've read. They all have anti-skate adjust, I can't understand why you insist on saying they don't. And again I ask you, the stock wire in WHICH arm?

---------------- On 6/9/2005 4:17:56 PM Guy Landau wrote: ---------------- On 6/9/2005 4:10:29 PM Jimmy James wrote: Which one are you talking about? ---------------- Rega RB250/RB300/RB600. ---------------- All three of those use different wire, all three have a bias adjust. Rega doesn't make the RB600 anymore.

---------------- On 6/9/2005 5:01:31 PM neo33 wrote: "Believe it or not, the REGA website advises NOT TO CLEAN RECORDS." You mean my $600 needle hasn't been ruined yet? ---------------- Na, just well polished!

---------------- On 6/8/2005 11:20:41 PM st. patrick wrote: JJ, i assume your comments are well-intended, but as one who has monitored the prior postings being referred to herein, and being accutely aware of the historical contributions made by one of the members, and the nature of the diatribe previously hurled by a former member, i think you are premature in your judgment. Further, i am convinced that the assumption you made as to the perceived need or purpose (ie, to feel important) is way, way off base. JMHO,YMMV ---------------- I think you are mistaken, and you know what they say about folks that make assumptions.

---------------- On 6/9/2005 4:23:42 PM 3dzapper wrote: JJ you bought some of the Harlan Sanders collection? You lucky dog! Rick ---------------- They were all from the "Original Recipe" Series

---------------- On 6/8/2005 7:35:24 PM Guy Landau wrote: The arms are great for their price. They need some work in order to sound good (new internal wiring and counterweight). You can't adjust VTA (height) so you'll need to spend more on a VTA adjuster and there's no provision for antiskating adjustment. For the money you'll spend upgrading them you'd be able to find a better arm. ---------------- Which one are you talking about?

---------------- On 6/9/2005 2:46:52 PM DeanG wrote: There are some other products similiar to that, and I like them. The problem is that the stuff doesn't set fast enough for me. You let go of the part, and it tends to shift a little. It's a pain too when you have four boxes sitting behind you with networks in them, and you have to get things done and out the door. If you use it correctly, the hot melt can be a wicked adhesive. Mount a cap the way I described, wait 5 minutes and try to pull it off. ---------------- That's what I meant when I said when time's not an issue. What brand of hot glue sticks do you like best?

---------------- On 6/9/2005 12:40:43 PM Frzninvt wrote: Some silicones give of corrosive fumes during the curing process that usually do not set well with electronic components. Hot glue is faster and better, and cleaner! ---------------- I thought the GE stuff specified for electronic work gave off alcohol as it cured, which is noncorrosive? that's why I asked. I was just wondering since cured silicone would seem to give very good vibration damping.

---------------- On 6/9/2005 2:05:58 PM pauln wrote: Believe it or not, the REGA website advises NOT TO CLEAN RECORDS. Check it out... ---------------- I can believe it, they sell cartridges I've brought home stuff from thrifts that looked like the former owners were cutting and frying chickens while they were playing records, no way to avoid cleaning, little dried lumps of God knows what!

---------------- On 6/9/2005 1:53:36 PM Mark Hardy wrote: Many of the 1970's CBS labels (Epic, Columbia) produced some nasty sounding pop recordings. One of the worst, IMNSHO, was the first Boston album. Back when it was new (1977, IIRC), I had a cat named The Bear who liked to listen to the stereo... except if I put "Boston" on. At that point, she high-tailed it from the room. Very harsh and bright sounding. That being said, Heart's second album ("Little Queen"), on Portrait (another CBS label) was (and is) a very good sounding record. ---------------- Don't forget Aerosmith! I can't beleive just how bad some of those records sound now. Not the music, the sound of the records. Another great CBS record that really sucks soundwise "Born To Run". Even the Classic re-issue sucks, but not quit as bad.

Too many people went multi-track insane in the 1970s, it was all so new. Freddy Mercury got the hang of it pretty quick and produced some really impressive sounds using primitive technology by today's standards, but for the most part I guess there wasn't a lot of moderation in the '70s!

Phil has been committing musical murder for years. "Imagine" surely suffered a grisley fate, but not nearly as heinous as the hachet job he did on "All Things Must Pass", makes his work on "Let It Be" sound like a purist recording.

---------------- On 6/8/2005 8:00:01 PM D-MAN wrote: I was listening to Brian Auger's Oblivion Express last night, and the recording quality (your basically horrible variety) takes a while to get used to, but eventually the grooves win out. I noticed that most of the bass recorded in the 70's was pretty horrible, or at the very least, has "that 70's bass sound". Does anyone know what that is and what caused it? Seems like its pretty pervasive in the period. I've heard it on 70's stuff like Chicago (TSA through 5), Cold Blood, Tower of Power, Jeff Beck, oh, yeah, remember these guys: Focus, Edison Lighthouse (eventually they dropped the Edison), Sopwith Camel? The 70's may have been great for music, but it sucked on the recordings, IMO. There was some sort of a creativity thing happening back then that seems lacking today, although if it happened now, they could at least get recorded BETTER. Why can't it all happen at the same time?! DM ---------------- Yep, right you are! George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" leaps to mind, beautiful music, crap sound. Not even the re-issue remix could fix it. Phil Spector didn't help matters much either.

---------------- On 6/7/2005 7:51:05 AM DeanG wrote: I only use "copious" amounts of hotmelt with parts mounted on flimsy PCB's that are mounted inside a speaker, and sitting about 6 inches away from a pounding woofer. Believe me, I tried quite a few different adhesives early on with this, and a good quality hotmelt (they are not all the same), once it sets, provides great adhesion as well as some much needed damping. Lightly scuffing the mounting surface and bottom of the capacitors with some 180 sandpaper -- and they aren't going anywhere. Also, most people make the mistake of pressing the cap down into the hotmelt, which only serves to squeeze all of adhesive out from underneath the cap. The right way to do it is to scuff, lay down the hotmelt, and just drop the cap on top of it. The only thing you need to do is adjust the position of the cap so it's straight, and gently hold it for the 30 seconds or so while the hotmelt is settling and setting. If you're paranoid, you can also drill holes on either side of the cap and run a tie strap around it. You can also use tie strap mounts. I've use all of the different ways of doing it, not because I think one way is better over the other, but because when you do this day in and day out -- you get freaking bored and just want to do it differently! ---------------- DeanG, What do you think about GE Clear Electronic Silicone, when drying time is not an issue?

---------------- On 6/9/2005 10:40:30 AM tofu wrote: i read through everyone's posts. thank you all for trying to help me. don't get me wrong. they're better than the rf-3ii's, but the change is just SO subtle (aside from the bass). as for purchasing heresies instead... i really don't want to go through hauling these suckers again. and i'd feel like everything was a big waste of time if i did so. i'll definitely upgrade the crossovers. i just don't have much cash on hand at the moment. got a ticket from an nyc cop on a power trip, and had to pay for some unexpected plumbing services. as for the university drivers not being an upgrade. i may sound foolish, but i believe the guy when he says they improved the sound. he has loads of feedback and seemed to have sold/bought some pretty high end equipment. besides, the low end isnt the problem here. it's just the midrange not being as amazing as everyone made it seem like. which is odd. although i do hear that capacitor upgrades affect that area the most. as for these speakers being 1980's vintage, i doubt it. they have the metal horns with alnico magnets, and the grilles were the tan (i think it's called tweed?) that i see in a lot of the older speaker models. perhaps the first owner replaced the networks with ALs sometime down the line. oh, and i finally got those grills off. being the idiot that i am, i thought the grill was attached to the moulding. in conclusion, i hope to be able to afford network upgrades in the near future. i hate regretting purchases. ---------------- Relax. Turn everything off for a day or two. Avoid music systems in general, let all your old references kind of blur a little. I don't know when you can get "you" time, Friday or Saturday evening? Whenever it is that's when you need to relax with a few adult beverages, put on something you're very familiar with and then see how you feel. No installation ever sounded right to me right after I finished it, especially car installs. It's a weird sort of anxiety and fatigue.

---------------- On 6/8/2005 8:35:15 PM Allan Songer wrote: I would like to share with you a method for cleaning your LP records that was originally mentioned here by Analogman (who was banned from this forum several months ago) and recently brought to light again by Paul Parrot. Paul thinks that Analogman is THE great expert when it comes to all things LP and was touting this method in another thread, but I think it deserves it's own thread so that everyone can learn about it! Here you go: Since water pressure is key to this method, I have made a siginificant improvement recently that I'd like to share! GOOD LUCK!! ---------------- If anyone cares, this is what the guy really said, "And now the part that'll make the "experts" have a coronary-RINSE THEM with cold water in the kitchen sink, a HEARTY, MANLY, NO NONSENSE kind of a rinse, use a good strong stream of water, take the playing surface up as close as you can get it on an angle and let Mother Nature's finest solvent HYDRO-BLAST away all that particulate matter. With a bit of practice you can do this and not get a drop on the label, I personally rinse everything, label included, EXCEPT old Mercurys, They will bleed and you can de-value a nice disc quickly if you're careless. That is what the napkins are for, if you do get moisture on the label, use them to blot it up, they work much better than paper towels." It's not good to constantly misquote people to serve your own need to feel important, too much of that already going around.

---------------- On 6/8/2005 3:21:57 PM Coytee wrote: ---------------- On 6/8/2005 3:15:45 PM Jimmy James wrote: Can't comment about your SACDs, I'm strictly a 2-channel man. ---------------- Thank you sir, but so you and others reading will know, I'm not concerned about the 2ch/SACD comment on Miles Davis as I'm sure most of his stuff was on 2ch for decades. I'm just curious for a blind stab at something in the Jazz world, if he's a good example. ---------------- Hard to find a better example than Miles, if I'm understanding you. I'd suggest starting out with "Kind of Blue". You'll love the sound quality and the music too.

The new Sonys, even the inexpensive ones use decent chip sets. You'll be fine. I do think though that single disc players will have more money spent on the sound than the features. AudioXpress has always had positive things to say about the lower priced Sony CD players in general, that they were decent value for the money, in both build and sound. Can't comment about your SACDs, I'm strictly a 2-channel man.