EdgarFigaro

No need to make fun of Best Buy and their employees. Nowhere in the training does it tell you that cables need to be replaced every month or so. He was either trained by an idiot, spun his own pitch to raise numbers and profit, or told by a superior that the numbers for home theatre are not good and to sell more accessories. I work for a big name electronics retailer. I have worked for two different ones. No need to spell the name out. There are knowledgeable associates and then there are ones who aren't. If he was earnest, then you should have told him to research the fundamentals of analog and digital cables, not mock him in an online forum. He was just probably an *** would doesn't really care about his position or upholding the company's name. As for the quality for Monster, no need to knock it. It is good cable. Say what you want about them, but they're the Sony of the cable industry, The lawsuit is totally ***, but no need to mock a decent company. People say that their marketing is *** and that a $10 HDMI is as good as the Monster $100 one. Well every cable company makes several styles of cables and they use dumb marketing and buzz words to sell the more expensive brand. Just don't see why everyone dogs them.

I would agree with the Apple Lossless Format. Although .wav format is the only REAL uncompressed format, the Apple format is pretty damn awesome. As a current home theatre salesman, I am so much more attuned to noticing hiss and compression especially on this sweet pair of AKG headphones. The Lossless does it fine AND it can find all the ID3 info and album usually without a hitch. Microsoft's player is utter trash honestly. iTunes is a little bloated, but for ripping purposes, it rules. You can specify other formats other than Apple Lossless. (by the way, the Sony PSP with my current firmware at least plays the Apple format just fine) Also since you're using the iPod and a PC, I don't see where'd you not be able to play your files. PCs have line outs, the iPod has a headphone jack or you can get a sweet dock for the home stereo. Oh and there are ALWAYS conversion programs out there to switch file formats, most are free. My two cents is worth a nickel.

Juno Reactor - Pistolero Shpongle - Dorset Perception Amazing string arrangement and it's promenent throughout both songs. Also a strong consistent hard bass line. Mix in the vocals and you can really push speakers.

Jeff Buckley is pretty damn awesome. The fidelity of his voice is incredible and the album Grace is regarded as one of the top 500 albums of all time by Spin and Rolling Stone If you really want to punish your speakers with bass, try Infected Mushroom. The bass is sooo deep yet still really clear. Hallucinogen, GMS, Astral Projection, and Celtic Cross are other good psy-trance/goa music with good bass and deep layered sound. I also like Joe Cocker, Pink Floyd, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, and Aerosmith too for all around testing.