Sky Hits

In the short term, cover it with some tape. The landlady gave me permission today to cut a hole.

Michael, thank you for the reminder email. Unfortunately, it is looking unlikely like I will be able to make it. My schedule is still very much up in the air for the weekend and I haven't recruited a fellow Chicagoan (with a vehicle) to travel with me. There's still hope, I'll be in touch if any good news comes thru. Thanks, Seth

Well, mystery solved! I used an exacto knife and cut a rectangular hole on the side of the thing. Inside there is an air duct that connects the heat from the basement to the air vent in the bedroom on the other side of the wall. I forgot about that vent or I probably could have figured it out without cutting the hole. It's a shame this thing has to route through the living room but, oh well. Now I know.

Bart, I commend you on your sensitivity for reminding me to move the turntable. Your advice is golden as always.

Which, as a Klipsch-head, makes me wonder what a lot of C4 would do! [^o)]

Ha! Leave a thread alone for a couple hours and look what happens? Don't worry everybod, I've got the Catepillar and the pneumatic drill ready to go. My current plan is to just take a teensy peek. If there's nothing there I'll forge ahead myself. If it looks complicated, I'll ask my landlady to send over one of her men. Stay tuned, there could be some votes from previous elections hidden in there...

The funnier version of this great Cole Porter song is Louis Armstrong's, but the lyric is the thing.

Hi both of you. Nothing on the other side of the archway. Behind the wall is a bedroom and there is no evidence of anything there. If my landlady is right, and it is for an old heating system, I suppose it may lead to pipes under the floor. The concensus is to proceed with caution, so I will. I'll attempt to make two small holes, one for my eye and one for a flashlight. I'll try tonight and report back. Thanks, Seth

Third view. Would love some advice!

Second view.

So, I have roughly four cubic feet of very old dry wall in the way of having two great corners available in my listening room. Please see the following three pictures. I just spoke with my landlady about this strange box that my turntable is currently sitting on. She thinks it was probably for the old heating system in the building. She has given me the go-ahead to remove it. So...what is it and how best to remove? That archway wall leads to the living room on the other side. Behind the other wall is a bedroom....no vent system right there. Below it is the small lobby for the apartment building (a 6 unit, three floor graystone.) Should I smash the thing with an axe? Poke a hole and peak into another world? Burn it with a penetrating gaze?

My friend's Klipschorn 2 channel system (with Mark Levinson electronics) has always been my sought-after ideal sound-wise. I bought my La Scalas two years ago and have been enjoying the similarities they offer at a price I was able to afford. Nevertheless, it wasn't until I picked up a Velodyne VPX-10 a few weeks ago off of craigslist that I confirmed to myself how far I had to go. This model is very much an entry-level sub, but it doesn't take much to dial it in and fill-in the lower frequencies that La Scalas can't provide. I can only imagine what a better sub (or two) would do, properly placed and dialed-in. I'm definitely a convert.

I'd like to tentatively throw my name on the list, plus one! I'll be having some company for part of that weekend here in Chicago, but should be able to make the pilgrimage for at least one day or night. I would also like to mention my thread in the garage sale section: http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/120513.aspx If anyone coming to the Pilgrimage has interest in my Ninja Scalas (new marketing-minded name, Hope you like it) I could certainly find a way to bring them Best, Seth.

Thanks for doing this James. I'm looking forward to hearing your systems.

Thanks for weighing in, fellow Chicagoan. I'm still enjoying a satisfying new plateau if you know what I mean.

Hi Chuck and Gary, thanks for chiming in again. Breaking news: I got lucky on craigslist yesterday and brought home a good-as-brand-new Velodyne VX-10 for under $100. My fiancee was looking very skeptically at me when I hauled it through the door but she felt better when I tucked it inobtrusively to the right of the right channel La Scala. The results/imrpovements are incredible. We were listening to dub reggae in the wee hours last night at volume levels that satisfied Tracy (she doesn't enjoy The Loud and Full as much as I do, oh well) and the low frequencies that are available now are SO satisfying. It's a whole new world. This was a big step for the sound at a very low price.

I'm sure there's someone at Grado or at a shop that sells your cartridge that could describe to you over the phone which of the four contacts is which.

Don't hesitate to contact Grado directly. I have had excellent experiences with their customer service: www.gradolabs.com

Finally, I would be remiss not to include my treasure in the next room over: A restored (at least internally, new strings and tuning pegs) 1922 McPhail grand piano.

What I was listening to while taking pics: All Horace Silver Quintet / Sextet with Vocals: The United States of Mind / Phase 3

Sorry for the focus issues here and throughout. But this is basically the view from the sweet spot.

Panning out...added bonus appearance by Earl Grey the Cat.

Panning out...

n/m

Hi James, Nice to hear from you, thanks for your response. Also thanks for sharing the link. I do not have the noise/rumbling with the platter off. Not sure how old the belt is. It doesn't seem to be worn but I'm far from an expert.