skonopa

Leprous - Bilateral: However, this an awesome album, though. Seen these guys at least twice (and a third time when they play ProgPower XV next year). I am actually pretty good friends with the singer as well.

My Pioneer Elite N-50 has a USB port right on the front through which I can plug my iPod. The Pioneer's DAC is actually surprisingly good, often compared to DACs costing much more than the $700 I paid for that thing. However,for two bills, that Renni II DAC in that link over in the "Garage Sale" is definitly worth picking up, though. Seems it is still available. Here's link again, this time I made it "live": http://community.klipsch.com/forums/t/176656.aspx

Gotta admit, that is pretty cool. I could only imagine what some of those discs end up going through at the library. Like that other post, I am curious if they are like new. Also, I would imagine that there is a limit to how much a disc can be restored. After all, just how much of the polycorbonate can be polished off before it gets to thin?

Being the long time proud owner of the original RF-7s (I've had mine for over 10 years now), I will say for half the price, you will not go wrong with going with the originals. I've not had the chance to hear the II's, though, so I cannot comment directly on them, but seems everything I've been reading is that yes, they are an upgrade to the old ones, but not worth paying twice as much. I would love to get a chance to hear the RF-7 IIs next to the original RF-7s, though. Are you able to listen to both of them side-by-side? If not, I'd say save the cash and get the originals.

That is cool when they launch rockets from Wallops (or as we effectionitly called it at work - "Wally World"). I could actually see the launches from there from my house on my back deck! However, I was in Atlanta when this one occured, so did not get to see it.

I guess kinda like that one time I left a bit of a "surprise" for the next folks while leaving the elevator at the MGM Grand at a recent trip to Vegas. [6]

Well, I was out today surveying some more cell towers for work, and my route took me near the Salvation Army store here in town. I had a little time to kill for lunch, so I figured, what the hell - lets go check it out! Found this JVC Super-VHS VCR (Model HR-S3800U. Paid all of $5 for it! The think works perfectly. I did take the cover off to inspect the inside and it looked clean (no dust or anything). My old Sanyo VCR crapped up ealier this year and wanted to keep something handy to be able to still play some of these VHS tapes I still got aroun, as well as on numerous occasions, had people ask me to transfer VHS home movies to DVD. Unfortunatly, it is missing the remote and the manual. Downloaded the manual from JVC site, but didn't think to go searching for the remote to this thing while there. I'll have to run back there and see if I can find the remote. Hopefully, at the least, I can download the remote codes to my Harmony One remote: Also found this nifty little gadget for all of $15 (I remember when these things were going for $800 brand-new back in the day). I still need to hook it up and see how and (hopefully, if) it works. This is an Archos AV320 video recorder/mp3 player. I checked the contents and it is complete (except it is missing the headphones, but I don't care as I got plenty of good headphones on hand here anyway). And lastely, scored some vinyl, at the princely sum of 20 cents each! Checked each of the records and they looked to be in excellent shape. Will be nice to get my two-channel rig back in order so I can listen to them... The titles are (starting at top left): Handel Messiah - English Chamber Orchestra and Chorus with Raymond Leppard conducting (RCA Red Seal - 3 Record Set) Mozart - Concert in E Flat (for Piano and Orchestra) - Tchaikovsky - Selections from Nutcracker Suite. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra w/ Sergin Comissiona conducting. A Winter's Solstice - Windham Hill Artists. This looks brand-new. The Archos AV320 device again The Musical Magic of Christmas - Organ and Chimes. This also looked brand-new.

I've been through the water rescue/training and had lifeguard credentials myself. I agree to a certain point what you are saying. While out kayaking, I won't be listening to music, as I don't want the distraction. Same even just swimming at the river or in the ocean (the beach is only a couple hour's drive from here). However, when simply swimming laps back-n-forth at the pool here at the local Gold's Gym, which is maybe 5 feet deep at the deepest point, I have qualms of wanting to have some tunes on. In that enivornment, I do feel comfortable and confident enough that I could safely enjoy some tunes while exercising. Along these same lines, I also don't wear/listen to music while skiing (eventhough I see plenty of people do now-a-days. Heck, you can even get helmets with earphones/speakers built in!) Same thing while trail-riding on my mountain bike. I like to be able to hear what is going on around me, such as somebody else coming up behind me, for example. Granted, the argument could be made while driving a car why I should have the radio on, but at least in a car, I have all the mirrors and everything that I can watch for surrounding traffic, plus, unlike in skiing or moutain biking, there are established rules and laws that everybody must follow, thus if car is behind me, I don't expect them to suddenly zoom past on a narrow trail or coming up on a cross-road, I would expect the car on the side to stop at the stop-sign, wheras there is nothing like that while skiing and biking. Yeah, there are certain etiquette rules, such as the "Skiier's Reponsibility Code", but seems more people than not either don't know it or if they do, they don't abide by it. Yeah, that horse has been pretty well beaten to death on here. I still find plenty of music that is brand-new and still has excellent reproduction and worthy of sitting down for the performance itself. At the same time, why cannot I have some tunes on to help keep me entertained while engaging in some mundane exercise such as on the eliptical or the afore-mentioned swimming laps in the pool? I don't think it is "trivializing it" at all and if anything, at least it allows me to both enjoy the music at the same time trying to keep in some resemblance of shape. Amazing what a good pair of earbuds (in my case, Klipsch s4i), and good MP3 player with high-bit-rate MP3 files can do for motivating me at the gym! [H] Plus, I would rather listen to my own tunes instead of the crap they usually have piped in at the gym anyway (basically top-40 pop crap - nothing kills a workout faster than having to suffer through a Justin Bieber song. [+o(] ).

Another one that I really like the sound of on my rig.... David Arkenstone - Quest of the Dream Warrior : Kyla's Journey:

I like to swim laps at the pool, and it does tend to get boring. I seriously looked into getting a waterproof rig so I can at least have some tunes while swimming. Thus, I don't find this any stranger than listening to an iPod while jogging, for example.

Very nice! [Y]

That sucks. Hopefully you will get your reciever back online. My two-channel Denon DRA-397 reciever that I use for my outdoor rig recently took a dump. It would play audio, then get all scratchy/staticy and such. Basically just sound like complete crap. After 'googling' the issue, it seems that the DSP board in my unit also went bad. I still need to call Denon and find out if this thing is worth getting repaired. It was a $500 reciever brand-new, so if it costs more than say $300 to repair it, I will end up junking it and perhaps get one of those Emotiva two-channel integrated deals or something similiar. In the meantime, I cannibalized my Cambridge Audio Azure 640A integrated amp from my basement two-channel rig (which is dismantled until I get off my *** and do the renevations that are so desperately needed down there). However, on the flip-side I have a Denon AVR3802 in my main rig that is going on 10 years or so that is still working like the day I first brought it home. Granted, I am using outboard amplification, but still. Probably what will actually happen with regards to the two-channel reciever is that I am looking to upgrade my AVR3802 to a newer pre/pro and then repurpose the 3802 for the outdoor rig (and just leave it in "direct stereo" mode), since it is only just the two AWR-650 "rock" speakers out there. I would like to put the Cambridge Audio unit back in the dedicated two-channel rig. Still would like to see what it would take to repair that Denon DRA-397 reciever. And speaking of my HT rig. I did have an "oh-$#!+" moment with regards to that a couple years ago. The left front channel quit working one evening. After much investigation, including even dismantaling that RF-7 speaker to make sure that something inside did not work itself loose), it turned out that I popped a fuse on that channel in the amp. A quick trip to the rat shack and a couple of bucks later to get a new fuse, got it back on line. I think what happened was that I had to move that speaker as I was replacing the window right there (part of a full renavation of the exterior of the house), and then having to repaint the window trim. While moving the speaker, may have accidently shorted the connection and caused the fuse to pop (I should've made sure the amp was powered off.). At least tha was a simple fix, and I keep a couple of spare fuses on hand in case something like that happens again in the future.

No problem. The other thing that hung me up with your original post, is that I don't consider things like the Pioneer Elite N-50 or that Marantz 7004 unit as "low tier". NAD and Cambridge Audio also have similair units at similiar price points, but people don't typically consider those brands "low tier" either. Yeah, you can spend some serious money on the boutique brands like the Linn or Krell. Just the same with speakers. I certainly don't consider Klipsch "Low tier". What I considered "low tier" where things like the Apple TV, those Roku boxes, the built-in "network capabilityes" of the cheaper "mainstream" blu-ray players, like the ones you get at Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc and that "Smart TV" functionality. The only exception there would be something like the Oppo BD-105 unit, which does contain some really nice high-end DACs and can support high-res audio. This reminds me of another reason why I like using my Pioneer Elite N-50 or similiar. It is not necessary to use a TV to get your interface like you would with blu-ray players, Roku boxes, etc. Some people will like using the TV, but many dedicated two-channel rigs that want to incorporate network streaming will probably not have a TV involved, and thus will more than likely want something like these network streamer components. Granted, if you have Apple gear and/or use iTunes, getting something like an Airport Extreme would work on a two-channel rig without a TV, but I don't think that includes actual high-end DACs or ability to natively support high-res audio files.

Kompendium - Beneath the Waves: Nightwish - Imaginaerum: Damnation Angels - Bringer of Light: Just to name a few of the best ones that I can think of in recent memory. There are many others that I got that I really think sound incredible on my rig. However, that Kompendium album is just absolutely stunning on my rig! I hear that that there is a 5.1 DVD-Audio version that is also available, and from what I understand from others that have heard it, it is just something to be believed. I will have to try to eventually get it myself.

most of those devices don't support hi-res FLAC/AIFF/WAV, which means your DLNA server would need to transcode to MP3, which means all of that dedicated storage for hi-res music is a waste. I used to have a Roku SoundBridge, which I actually really liked. I was using SlimServer at the time to feed the music, and yes, it would transcode on-the-fly from FLAC to MP3 to play. The unit was nice, and I loved that big bright VFT display on there. It was also fairly easy to navigate, but used the SlimServer web interface from a laptop to select and play the music. Alas, while I was away on a 2-week vacation in Wisconsin, a thunderstorm came through this area and pretty took it out amonst a few other pieces. Even though I had the rig unplugged from the wall power, I still had the network connected up and the lightening came through the network via the cable modem. Took out the cable modem itself, my router, and that SoundBridge. I think that may also explained why that DirecTV reciever was acting up at the time (which ended up needing to be replaced) as well. But I digress.... Pioneer provides a control app for the iPhone/iPad for the N-50. In fact, the Linn Kinsky app also works with the Pioneer N-50 (I tend to use that alongside Pioneer's own control app)! Also, it has AirPlay as well, which means that I could simply use iTunes and even the Apple Remote app on my iPad as well for that. I also like that fact that it is a very nice outboard DAC. I did end up using my old MacBook Pro and setup Pure Music on it, which also means I can use the Apple Remote to control that as well. I have plenty of options to navigate and find my music instead of just doing it on that tiny little LCD display. I do like that LCD display, though as it easily shows just what is going on and what bit rate/resolution the file is being played at. But yes, the thing can support high-res FLAC files natively, which many of those low-end or "built-in" things such as smart TVs or Rokus cannot do. A recent firmware upgrade for the Pioneer unit also now allows it to support Apple Lossless as well as now has gapless playback. Now, if you have a really high-end reciever or pre/pro that also can do network streaming with support for hi-res audio files (such as the Marantz AV8802), then something like this will be redundant, unless you absolutly want to keep everything "seperate" with stand-alone, dedicated components serving the various sources and/or functions of your rig.

I've heard about this. I wonder if some of those bogus calls from some of those bogus numbers that I've been getting and ignoring. If I see a number on my caller ID that I don't recognize or is obviously a telemarketer, I don't bother to answer. If it is that important, they can leave a message on my machine and I'll call back if I deem it is worth it. However, it is funny searching on YouTube (try something like "computer scammer gets owned") that some of these guys just drag it out, including one dude that did not even have a Windows machine (he was on a Mac). Funny as hell, especially when those low-lifes resort to cussing out the person they are trying to scam. where the guy really screws with one of those morons. Yeah, "wasting thier time", I do love the irony there (like my time having to deal with those jackasses is also not valuable as well, probably more so because I actually make an honost living?)

I did look online, but for something that expensive, I just feel more comfortable dealing locally.

Oh hell, yeah! I do indeed still have mine, and I friggan love it. You are correct that it does have a really clean and refined sound. I almost dare to say "tube-like", especially since within the first few watts (I forget at what threshold), the thing is running in pure Class A mode. I've listened to some really nice tube-based rigs with KHorns and other large Heritage speakers, and as impressive as they sounded, I still found myself still in awe at what my RF-7s with B&K 200.7 is capable of doing. As I said in that prior post, I am giving serious considering of replacing my aging Denon AVR3802 that I am still currently using with a top-of-the-line Marantz AV8802 pre/pro. I am going to see if I can talk the local dealer down from the $3,500 asking price, though. I honostly think that will take my rig up to the next level, plus that thing supports all the latest codecs, not only that, it is also 4K ready and other such future standards.

After you posted this reply, I made some edits to my post, including some links to reviews and articles, including one that compares the two. Since this thing can be used as an outboard DAC, I am repurposing my old MacBook Pro as a music server and starting to tinker around with Pure Music and connecting it via USB to the back of the N-50. Once I get it setup, will be interesting to see/hear how it works out and sounds. Alas, my trusty ol Elan Via!DJ music server is starting to fall by the wayside amongst all this fancy new technology to get/stream digital music into my rig. Also want to add. The Pioneer does not have bluetooth or WiFi built in. If you need that, you will need to get the add-on adaptors to add those capabilities. As for as WiFi, I did not need it as I have a wired network drop right at my HT rig, plus I found that streaming full lossless, hi-res FLAC files, a wired connection was much more stable then trying to do it via WiFi. The gigbit link just has more bandwidth than the WiFi does. I did go and get the Bluetooth add-on (found it on Amazon for like $70 instead of the full $100 that Pioneer themselves wanted through thier own website).

I have Pioneer's equivalent unit (Pioneer Elite N-50) that I now use to stream my music through. In addition, it can be used as an outboard DAC. I have been really impressed with how this thing sounds and performs. Between just using 'AirPlay' through iTunes as well as using it as an outboard DAC that I run the output of my CD player through, it really sound superb! It does have some features, such as "Auto Sound Retriever" or "ASR" that is supposed to help improve the music, especially lower quality MP3 files. Some of the reviews that I've seen on the Pioneer Elite N-50 seems to have difference of opinions on how well the "ASR" feature works. (here is another excellent review from 6moons.com of all places!) But, hey, if you don't like it, then set the thing to "Pure Direct" mode and you will get the audio exactly as it is feed through the thing. I found that I prefer the "ASR" mode for most everything. When I was orginally looking at getting a network streamer, it did come down between that Marantz unit and the Pioneer unit, but at the time, both of these units where $700. I went with the Pioneer as I just liked the feature set it offered better. However, at currently half the price, that Marantz unit does look sweet! However, I think NAD also has one as well. Also to add, somebody posted a PDF of a scanned-in magazine article that compared the two units, and the Pioneer seemed to have come up on top, but just barely. That Marantz really is a contender. One thing is that article indicated that the Pioneer does not support gapless playback. A recent firmware update now does support gapless playback, in addition of now supporting Apple Lossless and others. Still, that Marantz at $400 is friggan hard to beat. Not only that, here is a really nice writeup on the Marantz.

I would certainly agree a seperate, more powerful amp is going to be better than just running it straight from an AVR. Just like I would expect a Corvette to be faster and perform better than my Ford Fusion. However, the Fusion has plenty of power and performs plenty good enough for what I need a car for. Just the same case with 'tdkamerica'. Would using a seperate amp give him better performance than using just powering straight from his reciever? Physics would definitly say yes, and it certainly was the case for me. However, his more current Denon 4000 series AVR is a whole step up from my fairly ancient Denon 3000 series AVR. Also, as he already indicated, he is very happy with the performance and sound that he is getting from his rig and does not want to spend the money and effort to add an outboard amp. In my case, I did not mind spending the money, and cannot be happier. I am about to spend some more money to get a top-of-the-line Marantz pre-pro to replace my ageing Denon AVR3802 reciever. Some people will think that I am just going to be wasting money and don't need something that big and fancy, but hey, I got the money, and I friggan want it!

Here is a topic that I am all to familier with..... I was (actually still am, but really getting long in the tooth...) using a Denon AVR3802 as my reciever. I thought it actually sounded quite good with the RF-3s that I started out, only to immediately trade those in to the RF-7s. I was using that setup for a couple of years and thought it was awesome. However, the upgrade bug started to bite and I kept eyeing that B&K Reference 200.7 amp that I really liked the sound of that I saw in the show room. Ended up pulling the trigger on that baby and adding it to my rig. I immediatly noticed a marked improvement in the sound. Much better clarity, and more detail. I kept using the Denon as my pre/pro, and like mentioned above, I am still using it, although it is getting really long in the tooth. I will admit that it does really sound quite incredible to my ears. Now, looking at dropping some coin to get a Marantz AV8802 pre/pro at the local shop. Will also want to eventually upgrade my TV (still using a Mitsubishi Diamond series WS-55813 rear projection TV.) That being said, some of those high-end AVRs do have excellent amp sections and do indeed sound good.

I am doing well, especially after having undergone knee surgury last year due to blowing an ACL out while skiing the previous winter. I pretty much spend most of my time in these forums up in the "right this minute" section, or occasionally cruising the "general questions", the "home theater" and here. Especially as I am more into the music than the actual gear itself now-a-days. But, yeah, that was cool getting to hang-out with you in Indy. Was hoping for another pilgrimage in Indy, as Hope is just to much of a PITA for me to get to and just don't want to bother anymore.

What are novels about? Human relations. What happens on this forum? Human relations. Should we be less careful in the second case than in the first? I was reading through all this and I cannot help but find this whole argument to be completely rediculous. Yes, novels and essays are about human relations. However, in the case of a novel, the author is attempting to paint a story in ones mind. They are going to use language to setup the scene, the characters and the like to get a picture in the reader's mind. Once that is established for the reader, the reader should be able to know the characters well enough to be able to read from the context of the story and the setting at hand the emotions the characters are displaying. So, of course smileys/emoticons/what-have-ya, is not appropriate for such discourse. However, that does not mean that emoticons cannot be used in novels, especially if that is the type of communication the author wants to convey for the reader (i.e, conveying a conversation occuring over a computer link in the context of the story at hand). In the case of essays/whitepapers (and I've written plenty of those), the author is often attempting to explain some (usually complex) topic in a very formal and serious way. If any emoticons are used there, it is purely for illustrative purposes (for example, an essay on the emoticons themselves, and there are plenty - just google "emoticon"). However, I liken this forum as a more informal, conversational type of interaction, much like shooting the breeze around the water cooler/coffee pot at work, or while sharing a few drinks at the bar in the evening. As was already pointed out, it is not always easy to get the emotion of what the person posting is trying to convey, so throwing a smiley in her and there helps bring levity to the conversation and helps convey the emotion. For example, I am not going to explain to my co-worker/friend/brother/etc how I am feeling everytime I walk into a room, unlike an author would have to do in a novel to setup a scene for the reader. They should be able to get that from my body language and facial expressions. We don't have that luxury in a textual forum such as this, so the emoticons and even sometimes the cheesy cartoons are used to convey such in an immediate and concise way. I am not here wanting read or write a novel or essay, I want to come here to socialize with some friends and perhaps learn a bit about audio and/or some good music to check out. Now, sometimes when there is a "newbie" on here needing an explaination of how something works or how to get something setup to work the way they want, then I am more inclinded to go into "essay mode" and attempt to explain that topic in a more formal and serious way (but not so formal as to bore the poor guy).

Wow! What can I say that has not already been said by so many others on here? I lost my Aunt Susie a couple of years ago to pancreatic cancer, and to think that I just saw here the year prior at a family reunion. I can only offer my prayers to you and your loved ones and wish you comfort as you pass from this mortol coil. You raise my spirit to the sky above to fly away To fly on eagles' wings You lift the fallen back on high again to coronate The King above all kings All honor All glory Raised to Your Majesty on eagles' wings - "On Eagle's Wings" - Theocracy (Album: Mirror of Souls)