Yukon Jackass

I'd like to have a list of audio manufacturers who have their wares made in China. Any takers?

Here are some classics: Stegmaier Black Label Schlitz Schmidt's The Beast Golden Anniversary Keystone Natural Ice Hamm's Gennesee Busch Meister Brau Lowenbrau Crazy Horse Gibbons Dundee's Honey Brown (a better cheap beer) Red Dog Red Wolf Piel's Oh, the memories. Oh, the horror!

You consider Grolsch cheap?

While I am not new to computers, I am relatively new to MP3s, iPods, ITunes, FLAC, WAV, Apple Lossless, etc. I don't know whether to buy a new CD player, a DAC and Wadia dock combo with the iPod, or even a refurbished laptop as my digital source. Anyway, I have a question about buying music through iTunes. Let's say I wanted to buy an album digitally through iTunes. Is what I am buying uncompressed? Is it considered MP3, or other? Can I burn this download to a CD? Are there better alternatives to iTunes? If so, are they compatible with the iPod? What about a Zune (don't laugh, I am serious)? I have no idea about the differences between WAV, FLAC, Apple Lossless, or any other jargon. It's all alien to me. I am just interested in the best sounding of the bunch for when or IF I decide to jump into the iTunes world. Crazy me, I was perfectly happy with CDs. Gotta keep up with the Jonses, you know? Yup, gotta buy more plastic crap that's designed to be obsolete in a few years! How sturdy are iPods? What happens when the internal battery dies? Someone told me you cannot replace it yourself. The iPod is basically what, a cheap little hard drive that will sooner than later will die on you? Should I just get a Jolida tube CD player? Convenience vs. sound quality? This is why I am going back to vinyl - but I have a lot of CDs and I must do something.

Some guidelines: USA (lower 48, to be exact), and when I say "cheap," I mean the mainstream stuff like Bud and MGD, and all stuff priced in that range and under. Yuengling Lager is a PA beer, and costs the same as Miller does in PA, etc. However, in Vermont - where I attended college - it's not very common and was priced in the same range as Sam Adams and Pete's Wicked (R.I.P.), or at least it was a decade or so ago.

Good thread. I am also sick of buying CDs. I am anti-MP3, and I will not buy an iPod or download iTunes. I want to keep the computer as far away - literally and figuratively - from my listening room as possible. In fact, I keep my laptop at work, and will not bring it home. At work, I listen to public radio through a Tivoli. However, I own something like 500 CDs. I can't just start over with vinyl. Too expensive and time consuming. I was thinking about buying that Yamaha CD recorder with the hard drive to "store" all my CDs in a lossless format. Then, someone told me Yamaha stopped making it. Now, what the hell am I going to do, other than find one used? A toast to the future: horns, tubes, and vinyl! BTW, all the digital crap being made, all the cool plastic junk you own - it's doomed for obsolescence. Your laptops, iPods, digital cameras, flat screen TVs, HTIBs, smart phones, Play Stations, home theater processors, all that overpriced stuff you find at Best Buy will soon find a home in a land fill somewhere in New Jersey. Their shelf lives are only a few years. On the other hand, Macintosh amps will outlive you. My dad's old Nikon SLR still takes great pictures after about thirty years of ownership (I hope they still develop film in the future. If not, I'll have to learn to do it myself). Our old tubed Sony TV my family had when I was a kid lasted for close to twenty years! Maybe it's time to just say no. Stop being a super consumer. Stop keeping up with the Joneses. Live simply.

Mash Catch 22 The Dirty Dozen

The Band - The Last Waltz

I was a big metal fan "back in the day," and Anvil never got the props they deserved. I heard the album with "Metal on Metal (?)" on it, and it's OK, at best. Crappy production, etc. Live, they're supposed to be great. That's all I know about these guys. I saw the documentary, and I hope they finally cash in. They've hung around long enough to deserve the respect of the metal community, and I hope you all go out and buy yourselves a copy of this very well made documentary. BTW, the drummer is great.

Let me start this off: Yuengling Lager.

What's the Japanese stereotype for its gear? Let's see: Well made. Good value. Long lasting. ????? You can have all the NAD stuff you want, I'll take the Almarro integrated amp, Yamaha CD recorder, Nakamichi tape deck, and Technics Sl1200 turntable. Damn throw in a pair of Klipsch speakers, and that's one HELL of a badass system.

Too bad there's not a college football playoff. I would love to see Boise State knock off an overrated program like Texas. They've already humbled mighty programs like Oklahoma (remember the Statue of Liberty play?) and more recently, Oregon, in a blowout. Why isn't there a playoff? Money, that's why. Next year, when Boise State returns ALL but one player, they may go undefeated again. Of course, they will get screwed again. Anyway, I see Alabama over Texas. Big.

You have some highly regarded speakers! You could find an Antique Sound Labs KT88 integrated new for about $1,000. I forget the model name. I would look on Audiogon for a used Fisher 500, then ship it to Craig to restore / hot rod it. I'm kinda in a similar situation, as I've ordered a pair of Heresy IIIs, and will worry about getting a new amp when my Onkyo receiver finally dies.

Does anyone think that I will need to modify the H3s in any way, any time soon? I have no idea of the crossover, the mid, or the woofer. I just want to put them in the corners for the next twenty or so years and enjoy them, just like I did my last pair of Klipsch speakers, my kg 2.2s.

I don't like the idea of subwoofers. Wouldn't you need two of them? My little listening room can't fit one, much less two. Anyone here have Heresies and DO NOT use a sub? Happy with what you have? I will be using an older Onkyo receiver until I save up for an integrated tube amp - probably a Jolida 102 with EL 84 tubes, unless I can find a used Scott or, best case scenario, a Fisher 500! It's finally happening - new Klipsch speakers! Damn, I deserve it.

I also plan on getting Heresy IIIs, and later some quality tube gear. Due to space, I will probably go with a tube integrated. I wanted the Wright Sound EL84 integrated, but since Mr. Wright's passing, it's no longer available, and I cannot find it listed anywhere on Audiogon - trust them more than Ebay. So I was thinking an Almarro 205A mk 2, but a lot of people on this forum shot it down because it's only 5 watts, and I listen to a lot of 70s hard rock and classic metal. Be sure to tell us how your H3s and Bottleneck go together.

Yeah, but it's harder and harder. Manley, Rogue, Cary, AES...the list is healthy, but these companies are kinda pricey. All I ever really wanted was a good tube preamp, a la a Blueberry. Now I have to look through Audiogon for one. Also, Wright made an EL84 integrated that even Mark DeNeen said would be a perfect match for a pair of new Heresy IIIs. And, of course, AES no longer makes the integrated Superamp. Darnit!

I know a lot of people get this catalog, and some of Pierre's claims are outlandish, but a lot of people really like his products, especially the racks and his speaker cables. I am very interested in his speaker stands for large "bookshelf" speakers. I want a set of Heresy IIIs, which a lot of people consider bass deficient. I refuse to go the subwoofer route. Mapleshade's advertising regarding his speaker stands sounds almost too good to be true, especially the deep bass these stands help the speaker to produce. Anyone out there own a set? I would have to take off the risers from the bottom of the H3s, and place them, tilted back with the front placed on a large brass cone or spike, which hits the front of the stand. The bottoms of the maple stands are also connected to three threaded brass spiked cones. They are really expensive - you could buy a pair of used Heresys for the price of these stands. But, if they do as advertised, I'd be happy with the H3s in my little listening room. I also believe they have a 30 day guarantee. Anyone?

Both are pretty much gone. Mark retired, and Mr. Wright passed away. I know you can get their products used here and on Audiogon / Ebay, but it's still sad, since both of these companies made amps and preamps that were a good match with Klipsch speakers. Plus, they were both made in the USA and reasonably priced. The search for new American made tube components that don't cost a fortune goes on.

You know, a lot of people praise this speaker. If Klipsch can revive the RF7, then why can't they reissue the Forte II?

Looking at some sort of tube integrated, or even separates, with at least 40 watts with KT88s. No sub. Refuse to do it. I have a tiny little room and my gut feeling is that a sub won't really be needed. My old KG 2.2s went about as low as the H3s, and I was happy with them.

I always thought Klipsch and metal was a good combo - then again, I only had KG 2.2s through mid fi Yamaha equipment. Not refined, but "Master of Puppets" sure as hell sounded good to me at the time. Most of the newer metal and hard music I listen to these days are bands like Opeth, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Riverside, etc. Not so much death metal - but I did like the new Dethklok! I was raised on classic rock, so it's stuff like Zeppelin, Rush, Triumph, Rainbow, Deep Theater, KISS, and old Aerosmith. Older metal like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio, Ozzy, Mercyful Fate, and a lot of the '80s and '90s thrash, along with bands like Voivod, King's X, Faith No More, and Primus. The old stuff - before the LOUDNESS WARS! I am going with the Heresy IIIs, with a tube amp to be named soon. For digital, I am getting a Wadia iDock and a budget DAC. Then, it's a KAB Technics SL1200, a Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine, and a world of old school heavy metal records to be collected.

To garymd, Yeah, vintage is not out of the question. I heard a lot about the old Scotts and Fishers of yesterday. As long as the price was fair, and as long as Craig would agree to fix up, modify, or even "hot rod" the amp. So that's an option I am keeping open. What do you have against the Technics? I plan to spend about $600 tops for it, which includes the KAB mods. What other new, intro table can compete with it for $600? There's a lot of Technics users who have no problem with their TTs. I also don't want a turntable that requires constant adjustments and tweaking. I am also a GD fan. Do you think the Heresy 3s are a good match for the Grateful Dead?

OK, I am definitely doing the Heresies. In a small room, pushed into the corners, they SHOULD have enough bass for me. I will see if the SS Onkyo I have now is a decent match. If it is, screw it, I'll keep it and save money for a turntable - Technics SL1200 modded by KAB. But down the road, a lot sooner than later, tubes will be a part of my system. I am looking for a new, affordable integrated tube amp, powerful enough to do classic and hard rock justice with the H3s. I want it to be "idiot proof," if not self-biasing, then at least easy to adjust. A remote control would be nice, So would a built-in tubed phono pre. I guess this is asking for too much?

Thanks for the advice. Some user reviews for this amp - of course, reviews mean jack squat - mentioned the EL 84 based 205 and Heresies were good with hard rock, and since that's what I mainly listen to, it caught my attention. Keep in mind, my listening room is a small, empty bedroom, full carpeted, and the H3s will be placed in the corners of the room, whatever that's worth. I'm keeping the Onkyo for my heavy metal moods. I almost feel obligated to go with tubes since I am getting the Heresies. I am not into "audiophile" music. No Diana Krall here! Mostly 70s hard rock and metal, like Deep Purple, Rush, Zeppelin, Sabbath, etc. How will this type of music do with the Almarro/Heresy3 combo?