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Trim their claws (carefully - NOT into the quick!) Scratching is a natural and necessary behavior. Give them a more attractive place to scratch! If they are using your furniture or something else, it simply means that your alternative is not as attractive ...and that's your responsibility to provide. Sisal rug material securely velcroed around the corner of an open doorway wall from the ground extending up to about 3.5 feet high (>the height of a stretched cat on their hind legs) works great.

The Etymotic ear plugs are the best low cost solution. Caught without 'legitimate' hearing protection, a quick 'cheap' set of 'emergency' earplugs can be made from the (unused!) filters of cigarettes that are all too common in most venues.

You might consider a cardiod sub that does feature directional LFs. If you need more info, PM me.

I am afraid you are asking an emotionally loaded question. First, distortion is quantifiable! Second, I am a bit amazed at the responses you have gotten about the LF extension of the LS. In other threads here folks run out of the woodwork to lament the LaScala's LF response as they tout the KHorn! But here you hear the exact opposite. The fact is that for most traditional music utilizing acoustic (meaning traditional non-electrified sources) the LaScalas are fine. But in respect to 'modern' sources where synthesized LFs have become the norm, they are not. Short of the 20Hz-20KHz Kinoshita's, I know of few speakers who by themselves are capable of such an extended frequency response at higher SPL levels - including whatever your 'friends' are touting. So in general, a subwoofer is normal fare to reproduce the lower 2 octaves. In that sense the LaScala, and even the KHorn benefit substantially (gee, a pun!) from the addition of a capable subwoofer. Does that invalidate them? Heck no! But I am curious to know what speaker your friend likes that would not also benefit from a subwoofer to reproduce the lower 2 octaves? And debating the lower cutoff frequency of a fullrange speaker will not change the issue unless he can afford a pair of Kinoshita monitors. And they are anything but a 'regular' pair of 'home' speakers. And if he doesn't have a pair, complaining is like someone whining that most airplanes are totally insufficient as they are not as fast as a MiG-25R Foxbat-B or an SR-71 (YF-12) Blackbird. In other words, his objection is meaningless and the point moot as all (even the Kinoshitas) will benefit from a dedicated sub. And as far as the "the only acceptable reason to keep speakers with 53hz-17khz response was the low distortion they offer", not to mention the sensitivity, is a compelling reason! A reason FAR more significant than the specious issue of frequency response. LF extention is easily addressed. On the other hand, I wonder just what magical solution he has for reducing the distortion of his 'preferred' speakers, aside from turning them off and listening to the LaScalas with a sub....probably magic wires...

Kinoshita

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I would steadfastly maintain a percentage of not more than 2.375638652%, allowing for a fundamental limitation in the measurement equipment and reiterative rounding error... []

And then there is the small task of matching the proper tool for the job. If you consider an amp designed for limited duty 'public address' system use the same as a 'full range' amp designed for a greater duty cycle and broader response, allot of responsibility needs to be taken off of the amplifier and borne by the person choosing it! Gee, it sure it taking a long time to cut this redwood with my super duper deluxe titanium custom made Swiss Army knife designed to produce world class tooth picks... As Duke said: "I'd present that the Power amp, makes the least difference in the signal chain .."... with the speaker along with its acoustic interaction with the room being the most significant.

Hey, that Heyser guy is talking about Minimum Phase Networks in 1969 when only a couple of months ago still others here were giving me credit for inventing the entire notion! Hmmmmmmm. I suspect someone has doctored the Heyser document! As Don Davis has oft observed: "The ancients are stealing all of our inventions!" ROFLMAO! PS. As always, the docs are most welcome!

I can't help but get a kick out of so many complaining about the "boom' of a subwoofer in their HT. If the movie audio content simply has allot of LF content, that says you are listening to the soundtrack! This manufactured issue is all the more curious as a properly set up HT should not differ to any significant degree from a properly setup 2 channel system. And nothing should preclude you from simply selecting the appropriate playback format...be it 2 ch stereo, 5 channel stereo, or whatever is appropriate for the source. So if you are complaining about the boom due to your sub's gain structure/setting, it simply says that you have set the sub up incorrectly! It is not the fault of the sub (unless it is simply ill-designed!). A properly set up sub should not be apparent except for extended LF response, as gain levels should be identical at the transition/crossover point. That said, far too many simply boost the sub for effect. And while you may like it, it nevertheless qualifies as 'operator error'.

Boom, may I suggest that you suggest that they flip the LaScalas upside down. This would enable the LSs to better couple and benefit from the room gain - as the way they are oriented will result in a loss of well-behaved LF coupling at >=72 Hz, compared to raising it to an improved >=153 Hz.

It is simply an easy tweek that most are not too intimidated to try... The problem I have is that it is a solution in search of a problem, instead of identifying an quantifying a real problem and then developing a verifiable method to address it.

Its a simple experiment in social Darwinism. Are we really discussing this?

Wouldn't it just be easier to add inductors and/or capacitors to vary the reactance?

The story illustrates several simple facts of business. While competition is good, R&D is expensive, and the recovery of their non-recurring engineering (NCE) costs presents a significant hurdle before they can even imagine making a positive return on their investment. On the other hand, the advantage of the economies of scale of production is significant and cannot be overestimated. The question that will be interesting to note will be the degree that Pioneer's technology will be licensed and integrated into the subsequent manufacturing process, as it remains a valuable current asset that will diminish in value over time. The other significant factor to consider is also fundamantal. The recent boom in TV sales will NOT continue. In large degree, the current boom is artificially generated as people are forced to migrate to digital reception - a fact not of their own choosing but rather artificially imposed. Recognizing this fact, the companies that will persist will be those with the lowest overhead who can leverage lower production costs coupled with volume. As such the effective minimization of development and production costs can most easily be accompliahed via the outsourcing of R&D and production on the way back to televisions being a commodity market. What will be really interesting is to see who can sufficiently reduce their NCE/R&D costs and production/sourcing costs sufficiently to maximize their return on investment. In the process we will see a significant reduction in independent producers. And as technology transfers will increasingly occur and competitive processes shake out, this is not necesarily a bad thing as there will continue to be the competition between quality and price.

Pioneer to halt production of plasma screens March 4, 2008, 6:22 PM http://www.betanews.com/article/Pioneer_to_halt_production_of_plasma_screens/1204669193 Japanese consumer electronics maker Pioneer, makers of what many consider to be the best plasma panels on the market, is reported to be ceasing production of its own plasma screens, according to Nikkei. Pioneer is known for producing what many consider to be the best plasma panels on the market. The Japanese business news service Nikkei reported today that as early as this year, Pioneer's Kagoshima production facility could close, and its Yamanashi and Shizuoka plants will shift focus to assembly. It appears Pioneer is stopping production because it can actually save money by just buying its plasma screens from another company. Pioneer is reportedly working on such a deal with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, the company from which Pioneer recently said it would buy its 42-inch and under plasmas. Pioneer recently dropped its projected 2008 plasma sales by almost 40% to 480,000 TVs. Matsushita projected 5 million for the same period.

Judging from the comments, I assume the first two releases are similar in structure. And if that is the case, I need to check them out. Ultimatum is cut close and fast, and the movie is smart without being overly 'cute'. It was quite a ride. I quite enjoyed it.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover the 3 DVD director's cut of Hellboy by Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) at WalMart for leSs than $10. A steal. A great movie, a great package, and a great price. And rated PG-13 to boot! And season 4 of Wild Wild West comes out later this month on the 18th. Now if they would just get the 4th season of Have Gun Wil Travel out and the African Queen released on DVD! Also Hellboy 2 is scheduled for an early July release!

ROFLMAO!!![] My guess is that it was the white 'insulation'.... LOL! []

Sort of like the myriad pages of testimonials ( oooooooh! aaaaaaaaah!) claiming to absolutely prefer tubes over SS, this over that, and that over something else. Here is a reference to the 2006 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest published in Audio Express (also referenced on Roger Russell's (of MacIntosh Labs) Audio Distortion website at http://www.roger-russell.com/truth/truth.htm#goodamplifiers) where all of the golden ears there couldn't establish any clear pattern in recognizing and distinguishing amps! Ooops. Oh, and don't check out Vilchur's article on the audibility of different speaker cables referenced on Russell's website either unless you don't mind watching as your exotic cables devalue before your eyes. Sure different pieces of equipment and cable can sound different. But is the presumption enough to make simplistic generalizations regarding wire where the reactances do NOT vary significantly and the resistance is close? Nope. cordell2765. RockyMtnAudioFest.pdf

Here's a good source with a wide selection: http://www.besthangers.com/hangers/159/metal_hangers/?source=gg&keyword=metal+hangers&gclid=CLaj8pSw8pECFRsmIgodk2zIpQ As far as the defensive reaction to the term "audiophile" ...one might suspect a case where "thou doest protest too much"... Nah, who am I kidding!? Just try to keep a straight face while saying that! [*-)][]

As mentioned, you want to first determine the cause of the separation and address that. If the issue is determined to simply be a stabilized gap. the best most permanent fix is Bondo. Just be aware that it will not accept stain

Absolutely! Without it, you simply lose out on ALLOT of content that most CDs contain! Listen to a Sarah Maclachlan or Peter Gabriel CD with and without and be amazed at what you are missing without a sub. Note: In many threads, especially in reference to HT use, many folks complain that they do not like the "boom" of the sub. If you are experiencing such a phenomena, it says that you have set the sub up incorrectly! It is not the fault of the sub (unless it is simply ill-designed!). A properly set up sub should not be apparent except for extended LF response, as gain levels should be identical at the transition/crossover point.

Bare wire or banana plugs. The available connectors pretty much dictate this. Don't make this more difficult then need be.

Hmmmmm. There are many songs that are gender based and best sung from that perspective. A classic example is Linda Rondstadt singing Warren Zevon's Poor Poor Pitiful Me Oh, its purty alright! But anyone familiar with the song as written knows how utterly castrated the song is by having a woman sing it! The verse "I met a girl at the Rainbow Bar... she asked me if I'd beat her....She took me up to the Hyatt House........................I don't want to talk about it......" just doesn't sound right if a woman sings it - which she conveniently didn't...And ALL of the wry humor is completely lost! (And to my knowledge its also the only case where a lyric is blown off mid-verse and it adds to the song!) But then, it all begs the question as to why anyone would want to listen to someone else doing Zevon songs if you can her him performing them. (And despite his being gone, we can still listen to him!)