InnerTuber

I use a Monster HTS 3600 and like it. It turns on a couple jacks sequentially which lets other things power up before amps. I think it's really a glorified surge protector rather than a super clean power conditioner, but it works fine for me and is easy to use. It has some triggers that I hope I can get around to setting up. I know I could have found something at lower cost. I don't use all the satellite phone TV stuff since at this point we have no phone and use bunny ears for TV. It's probably a little over the top for a surge device, but it beats digging around to find the switch on a box buried under cables on the floor! Quality is nice. Think I paid ~$350 w free shipping on Amazon. The HTS 5100 was too much $ for me.

Lordy I'm gonna have to study this a lot. FLAC/DAC I got. MAC/FLAC/DAC not sure about. Sounds like I need to start with a sound card and work from there. I'm going to re-read all this a few times then contemplate. Did I mention I have an IT degree? How embarrassing. (I know enough about computers to really screw em up periodically). Thanks very much for sharing your experience.

Over the years I've had various shades of natural wood, sunburst, blacks, gold top guitars and basses. I went with blue (teal sunburst) on my last bass because I just loved the shade and it just seems to go well with maple to me. Course we have a lot of blue, green and tan in our living room! Frankly I don't see many guitars or basses that I dislike the color or look of. Even if they are beat to crap they have character. Enjoy your choice when you get it!

Note – this author (aka me, myself, I, Innertuber) does not endorse illegal music sharing and doesn’t pretend or even care to understand the RIAA’s position. Author just wants to be able to create a playlist, drink wine and chase his wife around the house. Sadly, if you come over and want to listen, he will have to charge you royalties to remit to “The Man”. However, if you stand outside and listen that is ok, i.e., free. If you actually look at the device producing music you must pay the royalty even if it’s not playing anything. Since it’s inherently capable of playing and the RIAA cannot really tell if it played or not, the fee must be collected. He will remit the fees for looking to RIAA. Standing indoors, but not looking, is a gray area and if you agree to indemnify that risk is acceptable. Remember, you must agree to not look at the music. Oh, he must also charge state tax. You must provide a vendor ID and tax number to listen (again, unless you stand in the driveway). Don’t worry, he can turn it up loud. If it gets too loud and we injure (or disintegrate) any pelicans, egrets or other various Florida fauna or wildlife we must agree to jointly settle with PETA. Now that that’s out of the way - I know this pops up often, but the technology does change rather quickly and I would love to come close to getting it right! I want to understand how to create a good, stored, stereo digital music feed. Currently, I am using a Dell laptop and iPod for testing. I just plug into the headphone output and split that into the receiver or preamp inputs. Also feed using a PC a 128 kps, Sirus internet feed which has great WAF, but not the greatest sound. I’ve tested a variety of rip settings after a lot of helpful reading here and elsewhere, and to me, using WAV files, 320kps, 44.1 sample rate, stereo, sounds the closest to original. I’m not sure it sounds exactly the same, but I think it should. I’m guessing the differences (I think I hear) are differing output gains between our CD player and the laptop. The headphone jack or sound card may be limiting, I’m just not sure. Now for the hardware I’m considering –Mini Mac (no fan and bonus hook-up to TV).Hook up a Drobo (http://www.drobospace.com) for lots of redundant storage.Load up iTunes (since it’s easy and I just don’t know of a better solution). Considering this Marantz 8001 CD player (http://us.marantz.com/Products/1644.asp). If required, this Benchmark DAC (http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac1/). Do I need a DAC between the PC and preamp? I know I can make it work w/o this, but would it improve sound quality? The Mini and Benchmark can use a USB connection which might be better than my headphone jack? I am not hung up on any of the above components, so feel free to set me straight. What would you do different, how would you approach this? The digital storage I mean. I know there are lots or ways to disintegrate pelicans.

I'm still really excited about it all. The Blueberry arrived last Sat., so I should be able to hook everything up this weekend. So far, I have been listening via a old Yamaha, then hooked up an Outlaw 2150 and the sound at any volume is just effortless and rich. The Outlaw lets Gail have some simple steps for CD's and FM. Guess I'll get a Giles A/B of some sort once I figure out what we really need. She's gonna get downgraded away from the KHorns this weekend tho for the VRDs. Shhhhhh, don't tell her. Thanks again Mark, I know you invested a ton of thought and other things which made it simple for me.

Do they dry your hair yet or just demolish kidney stones and ear wax?

Hi Tom, Not sure it's easier or as accurate, but that's definitely an option that would work.

Just wanted to follow up with where this ended - From a forum member I bought two KHorns and also two VRD monoblocks. Thanks very much for all the suggestions and the informative discussion on flea dynamics.

OooOOOoo down 6 cents yesterday Down 4 this am Don't stop!

I drag Primus Tales from The Punchbowl along for checking things out. Mrs. Blaileen can make speaker salesguys turn green. Year of the Parrot works well too. It's funny when I yank out their Steely Dan and say let's try this. Wheeeeeee. Sounds like a nice find you scored! Well, I like Steely Dan too of course.

I need a good spec barf blowout on FCOJ futures. Cmon, no freeze, give it up .... specs lose! Ughhhhhh, well okay, they have another month to be right ... maybe.

Anyone have dimensions for KHorn tops to get some glass cut?

Lucky you Groom, I had a ticket for his Detroit show at maybe the Michigan Palace (?) back then (1974-ish)? With J. Dewar and I missed the show. I regret that to this day some 30+ years later. He's still plays Bridge of Sighs and it mesmerizes, it’s one of my all time favorite songs by anyone. At least he played it the last two times we've seen him. Bandmates seem to rotate round Robin, heh. I tied up and forced my wife to listen to the Bridge of Sighs album over and over so she could sing along. His playing is just incredible. I love to watch “how” he plays. Looks like 4 FL shows. I would love to see Jack and Robin too, I still have BLT on cassette and drag it out periodically. Okay now you've done it - gotta go dig out BOS and Twice Removed vinyl. "Takers' get the honey, Givers' sing the blues."

I've seen him a couple times in the past few years and he always amazes me. I wish it was somewhere other than Jannis Landing as thats not my favorite venue. Maybe a road trip will be in order. Thanks for the heads up.

I thought it had a nice quirky plot at the end. Think I saw a blooper in how the dancers bodies moved during shots. We liked it.

http://www.vizio.com/products/detail.aspx?pid=21 - This is 1080i, which may not be 1080p, but it's interesting. ~$2,500 for a 60 inch. Here's an interesting 65 incher - http://www.olevia.com/products/specs.aspx?pid=265T%20FHD for around 6 grand. 1080p w/tuner(s) I think. Pricey. Another w/o the built in tuner - http://www.olevia.com/products/detail.aspx?pid=565H. These are about $2,500 and here's a review - http://www.hometheatermag.com/rearprojectiontvs/207rptvface/index1.html. This is tempting, no internal tuner as I recall tho - should be okay with digital cable I would think. Note those prices are just quick internet searches - they may vary etc, etc. Happy hunting.

And the final answer is Pro-Ject RM5 and speedbox with Denon 103R. Went a little over budget and after lots of reading that's what I chose. Thanks for all the suggestions. Next ... the pre-amp (Bluberry due any day now).

I just ordered a 103R myself. Seemed the right choice for me. Can't wait to hear it!

I have a couple Yammyhammers about and they are old and faithful. Plus, we love Target and Walmart. Sam's and Costco too! IKEA - yee haw. New toy looks good to me.

Thanks all - searched a bit and found some other comments regarding Niles units w/12v triggers. Looks perfect.

How much degredation do these Niles type selectors induce, or are they fairly nuetral? Thanks for the tips.

Using the same 2 speakers for the front channel, what might be the best way to use a set of tube amps for stereo listening and then use S State for theater? Just wire both direct, use a selector switch of some type, swap wires (ugh) etc? Thanks much

Warning - if you have a lab do not use tennis balls. It is a proven fact that lab vision reproduces tennis balls as ducks in need of fetching. In the unfortunate event your lab elects to fetch your balls, first, you will likely replace your now drool soaked turntable. The following is a field procedure I found should you need ball replacement. If turntable fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Because of the delicate nature of this procedure, replacement of balls should only be attempted by properly trained personnel. Before proceeding, determine the type of balls by examining the underside of the mount. Domestic balls will be larger and harder than foreign balls. Ball removal procedures differ depending upon manufacturer of the cups. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop-off method. Domestic balls are replaced using the twist-off method. Balls are not usually static sensitive. However, excessive handling can result in sudden discharge. Upon completion of ball replacement, the turntable may be used immediately. It is recommended that each replacer have a pair of spare balls for maintaining optimum satisfaction, and that any listener missing his balls should suspect local personnel (see warning above) of removing these necessary items.Hope that helps …

www.barchart .com has candlesticks? for example try futures, softs, click on the far right "c" under links, custom chart, change primary study to candlesticks and voila. Not sure if thats the same as candle volume charting tho.

Hrm, a lot of advice here. Here's a tip - go pick up a $150 bass at your local music store and just play the thing on a stool, alone. Then grab a $3,000 one and play it. I am confident, even if you have no clue what you are doing you will feel the difference in the neck. Then the object, to me becomes finding a feel that you like at a price you can afford. As with most things you will get more for your buck used. Then you can wonder about investment grade versus quick to depreciate. But if you don't like the way it feels, you just won't have fun. You don't really even need to plug it in. I fiddle with them a long time before I plug anything in because you can change the sound, but not easily the neck, the weight, how it fits - that stuff. Another tip - wood necks are just that, wood. They are affected by lots of things including moisture, temp, storage methods and time as others have mentioned. Cheaper necks tend to have worse intonation, change faster and hold tune worse. Cheaper hardware - ditto. Not that that's always true, but when you press a string down, or bend, etc you will feel the differences in tension. As you move up the neck, lesser instruments go out of tune faster. When you do tune, you might find the open strings perfect and the fretted ones goofy. Point being you want a neck that will at least tune and adjust, if it's meant to be. So find one that fits your budget, feels right and tunes. Used is fine. Pawn shop basses that are decent, are not easy to find, at least basis my frequent visits hunting other junk. I always peek at the instruments. Usually, not always, things are knockoffs. Often more guitars. As previously mentioned, if you like headphones you owe it to yourself to check out the Line 6 Pods for bass, at least discover them if you are unaware. They make them for guitars too. These things model different amps and cabinets and you can use headphones and make yourself deaf while everyone else goes about their business. You get a few nice effects too if you like that. You can go online and check settings to help get tone like people you like which is probably a bit more useful in the guitar models, but just good fun. Amps are just as convoluted as chosing the instrument. I know a few guys that love little Hartke Kickbacks. They look like an old vocal monitor and are great for filling up garage size and a little bigger. I have a lowend Eden combo. Little bigger and a few more features. As mentioned I wanted Mesa, but too much $. Ampeg BA 115 pretty nice ~$350, I think. Watch the features, some let you plug in an Ipod or CD player - some don't. Just depends what you are after. Don't need twin Ampeg SVT's unless you, well just need them and don't have neighbors. So, I'd buy the cheapest amp be it headphone or speaker that you can find that works and you don't regret sharing space with. Use that till you get stronger opinion and then step up. Note the Pods don't work so swift with others unless you run a PA. Note your bass may irritate a vocalist in the PA. Isn't it gonna be fun? Yeah baby. Pawn shop amps that work are okay, but often not huge bargains. Might be somekind of knock-off cheaper Pod out there too - don't know about that. Happy hunting!