justin_tx_16

I'm a prime lens sort of guy. Ever since I switched from zoom lenses my photography has gotten better between both the increase in literal quality and the perspective demanded from a lens that doesn't do all the work for you. Prime lenses are faster, sharper, stronger and challenge the way you look through the camera. You already know this because you have the 50mm. However, your 50mm is actually an 85mm for your camera. If you really want a 50mm effective lens, get the 28mm F2.8 from Canon. Alternately, for a stop faster at the sacrifice of only 7mm and $50, get the 35mm f2 from Canon. They are both great lenses. Back when I shot on a crop sensor, I bought the Nikon 24mm F2.8. I loved it, used it all the time. Of course, once I got my full frame sensor, I find the 24mm sits in the bag a lot of the time. Going wide on a crop sensor is hard, normally you either have to get a super wide lens (expensive) so you can get an actual wide angle, or you have to use a kit lens which most of the time suck. If it were me, I would get the 35mm f2. It's not cheap, $300, but it's also not expensive. That would be the Canon 35mm F1.4 at around $1,370. Yeah it's a great lens but compared to the f2, not $1,000 better, not unless you're shooting on a full frame sensor where the edge of the lens really matters and in super low light or for extreme depth control. If you do decide you want a zoom lens and you need to save a few bucks, Tokina makes excellent lenses and they are almost always significantly cheaper than the Canon or Nikon varieties. They are new to the Canon game but came from a long line of Nikon lens makers. The Tokina 12-24mm F4 is about half the price of the Canon version. I used to have the 10-17mm F3.5-4 from Tokina and loved it for two years, no complaints. When I sold it, I actually made a profit! Only $50 but geeze, two years of solid use and someone paid me? Sweet. Also, don't be afraid of Sigma and Tamron, just do your due diligence. Hope this helps... though when it comes to photography, marketing, strategy or audio, I do begin to ramble.

Yes! Moving back to norcal, very excited! We have an apartment in the city in Castro - Upper Market St. Nice, two story, two bedroom two bath with a sweet view... I also still have my little house in Forestville, just about 30ish minutes north of you. Still a disaster of a construction zone, our contractor turned out to be a crook who also turned out to be a squatter. Currently trying to get him out of the house so we can FINALLY get it finished up and we can actually enjoy it! I'll have to give you a call when I get moved, hopefully within the next month or so, before the winter hits too hard out here. Driving a UHaul through ice and snow is not my idea of a fun trip! Still gotta find a solution for this receiver :-P

Great looking receiver but a bit of an overkill for me and outside of my budget unfortunately. We're moving from Columbia Missouri to San Francisco California so space is a big issue. It might be years before I can move beyond the 2.1 setup I have now with the Heresys and while I am ready to prepare for the future (5.1) I highly doubt I'll have a 7.1 system anytime soon! Doesn't mean I don't want one haha. So I guess we're back to square one, any 5.1 receiver with HDMI that will sound great with a pair of Heresys under $300? Thanks!

I'm a photographer. Seems like there are a lot of us here, wonder what the connection between photography and audio is. Perhaps the attention to subtle details... My photo site is currently in rehab, had a database fail on PixelPost and had to do some emergency surgery moving it to wordpress but you're welcome to check it out. http://justinmoorescott.com EDIT: And right as I post that my Wordpress database switches media hierarchy and all the images are broken. This is going to be a fun weekend! EDIT2: And... magic. Fixed Now to get a theme for it.

Thanks for the suggestion, I thought about continuing my two channel ways but I'm very much hoping to expand into more home theater, 5.1 audio. That is a beautiful 2 channel receiver, however, if I do stick with two channel, I still need a receiver with HDMI input since all my video and audio will hopefully go directly from the digital source to the receiver. Once I get to San Francisco I'll have my AppleTV, DVD player and HD cable box connected to the receiver. I went through HK's site for some other receivers but it seems even their entry level receiver is $500, which is about twice my ideal price (which is admittedly low). I see Amazon sells it for $375.60 which isn't TOO bad but would prefer to hang under $300 if possible. I suppose I could stick with two channel, I just hate to think I'd be spending a few hundred dollars on a receiver that couldn't grow with me once I moved to 5.1 :-\ Thanks again for your thoughts and suggestion!

So my lovely HK 430 is on its way out. It has served me well over the last seven or eight years. I remember the day I got it and the days shortly after on the phone with HDBRbuilder fixing all the blown fuses and replacing some of the wiring. When all was said and done, the sound that came out of these Heresy speakers was just beautiful! Seems like yesterday. Well, actually, yesterday was when the buzzing started and a few months ago the popping started. I know I could probably go through and replace this or get that repaired at a stereo shop, but I'm kind of trying to use this as an excuse to move on to greener (higher tech) pastures. Right now I'm running audio from an Apple TV, HD-DVD player (yeah... big mistake, I know) and OTA television from the audio out on the TV to the Tape input on the HK430. It works just fine really but the lack of a remote control really sucks. So, where do I go from here? Can I get this good of sound, sans pops and buzzes, from a newer receiver? I've been so pleased with my HK430 that I haven't been keeping up on the ins and outs of what's new. I went on eBay to look at another HK430 or HK730 but the price seems to be close enough ($150) to buying a new receiver (thinking around $200-300) that I'd look into something new. Something that can handle HDMI switching and gives me the wonders of a remote control. Would love some thoughts/suggestions! I'm currently looking at these two guys, Pioneer VSX-820-K 5.1 Onkyo TX-SR308 5.1 Right now I'm just working with Heresys but I'm thinking/hoping to pick up a set of Reference speakers. Moving to San Francisco means very little space for speakers. While I'll NEVER give up my Heresys or dream of some Cornwalls/Klipschorns, I might have to put the dream of a Heritage 5.1 system on hold. I figure I could get two Reference floorstanding speakers and eventually branch out from there to a decent 5.1 system. Just gotta find the money! Oh, and also... Graduated from the University of Missouri in May, had a gallery show here in Columbia Missouri and then later in Chicago, IL. Just got one of my photos in the New York Times! Working as a digital strategist for a marketing agency here and about to pack my bags to move back to San Francisco. Clearly I need to check in here more often! I miss you guys! Seem to keep myself too busy with work, traveling and preparing to move back to Ca. Hope all is well with you guys and thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

Has anyone here heard about this engineering marvel? (snicker) http://www.lessloss.com/blackbody-p-200.html What is the Blackbody? The Blackbody is a high-tech audio accessory which greatly enhances your audio playback experience by addressing the interaction of your audio gear's circuitry with ambient electromagnetic phenomena and modifying this interplay. The Blackbody takes advantage of the quantum nature of particle interaction, and is therefore able to permeate metal, plastic, wood, and other barriers to affect the circuitry inside your components. This altered electromagnetic influence results in profoundly improved sound quality. What does the Blackbody do that power filters do not? The LessLoss Blackbody is not a power filtering device. Rather, it complements your power filtering device by addressing the audible imperfections incurred by your gear's direct interaction with ambient electromagnetic phenomena. Where a power filtering device leaves off, the Blackbody, as a field filtering device, takes over. What will it do to the sound? Percussive strikes have never been cleaner and more musically comprehensible. You can feel the muscle power in the bow arm and sense the smile's quality in the voice of the lead singer. There is something about mind before matter which is revealed to the listener, and everything takes on a more genuinely human sound quality. Discern age and maturity of tone as never before. In a word: the sound will be improved in a way that has not yet been addressed. Tubes sound less tubey and transistors lose their twinge. A local audiophile who usually speaks only in terms of highs and lows could only put it this way: "When I remove the Blackbody, the attractiveness of the music is gone."

The UE and Klipsch headphones use the same jack so if the mic doesn't work with the UE then it won't work with the Klipsch. Y

Then return them.

Should work for music but not with the microphone.

No prob

That has nothing to do with the quality of the headphones or their performance. They sound like full range headphones. Comparing headphones to speakers is, in many ways, pointless. Speakers create big sound by moving large amounts of air. This air, especially the lower frequencies, can actually move YOU. Your body feels the vibrations. With headphones, that cannot happen. If you're asking if they are bright and bassy like live speakers or full range home theater speakers... well sorta. Consider it a combination of both but again, it's a different sound than what speakers provide. Compare speakers to speakers, headphones to headphones.

Hey guys, Would love for any input. My parents moved to Saudi Arabia last week. The move has been pretty hard on the family but we all know it's all for the best. It's for work, in Dhahran and that's really all I can say. They are currently in the dark, communication wise. We haven't heard from them since they left besides an email from Amsterdam and one voicemail from Dhahran. Sounds like they have a beautiful home there and are excited about their new life! Anywho, if anyone here has lived in Dhahran or Saudi Arabia and have some tips I can pass onto my parents, please let me know. Just taking their big move one day at a time, hoping to get clearance for a visa so I can visit them, they can't come back to America for a year, so they'll miss my graduation. How many years in the making? LoL Thanks again -justin

Thanks! Putting in an order for a pair.

It really depends on a lot more than just the power going from the iPod. Use your best judgement, if it seems loud, follow the rules just as you posted. It's hard to know exactly. It's probably running louder than you think, the longer you play the more you tend to turn it up. I try to never go beyond 60% on my iPhone's volume. For what it's worth... iPods have had a power output of around 30mW at 16 ohms, 30 mW @ 32 ohms and 50 mW @ 16 ohms in the past (depending on the model). Apple does not publish explicit details, unfortunately. They did with the original iPod but not for a long while. Play safe!

No prob. Find a point on the cable you want the clip, bend the cable into itself to form a small loop. on the backside of the clip there is a plastic hook, pull the loops onto the hoop. Now, pull the cable straight and there you go!

Which Comply ear tips did you get that work with the S4i? Thanks!

Truly high quality headphones rarely have volume controls built in, but a simple inline volume slider can be added on with ease. Just buy one, their cheap and normally good enough. RadioShack sells them, digikey and partsexpress as well. Ocer the ear, not on the ear, any preference on open or closed headphones? Open typically have better soundstage/transparency and are my headphone of choice, when I'm not enjoying my IEMs. However, for privacy, to not wake up the person next to you, closed headphones are the way to go. The sound might be a BIT more fatiguing but if you're watching a movie, probably not an issue (not like a 7 hour music session for instance). Let me know which type you want, open or closed, and I can make some recommendations.

Why are you looking for new ear tips already? I've been enjoying the ear tips I have without any issues whatsoever. They are durable, extremely comfortable and silicon-based so easy to clean. But if you do feel the need to get replacement tips, check out some from Comply. They are memory-foam ear-tips that are very well regarded on various headphone forums. As far as which model to get? I'm not sure. Comply has a ear-tip finder on their site but haven't added the S4 or S4i to their list. -justin

Comes with four different ear tips. Three single flange small, medium and large ear tips (medium fit me perfectly) and a one-size-kinda-fits-all double flange ear tip (which I use, love and praise). Every ear is different though! Hope this helps.

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s are coming back to BestBuy very soon, rumor has it... I think Amy posted this just a bit ago actually. I have a set of 2.1's on one of my computers, love it.

I had a dream that I was in an Urban Outfitters last night that sold Klipsch Heritage speakers from the 1960-1980s new, in their original box. Turns out, I often have dreams about Klipsch Heritage speakers, either they are the main subject of the dream or they are somewhere in the dream as a prop... It makes me feel at least, slightly obsessive haha. Is it weird that I regularly have dreams about Klipsch speakers and photography/filmmaking? Anyone else have these sorts of dreams? About Klipsch, about something else equally as interesting?

I don't have a $20k sound system but quality of product doesn't require an extreme quantity of price. My Klipsch Heresys are my speaker reference and my Sennheiser HD600s/UE ifi 5 Pro are my headphone references. My Klipsch Heresys, hell, my Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 Ultras or Klipsch ifi beat out multi-multi thousand dollar systems, easily. I understand that since you're even at the Klipsch site, you probably have a good or great or life changing sound system, just pointing out that price doesn't mean it's better than something else out there. I did not find the S4i overly bright in any way, in fact, compare them to the incredibly popular consumer computer speakers from Klipsch, the ProMedia line, and you might argue that they weren't bright enough. I think I might have even said that in my review of the Klipsch S4i a few weeks ago. http://bit.ly/4tmbP bliss53 is right, a bad seal can make even the best IEM sound terrible, in so many different ways. Try different tips, maybe you need a Comply insert instead... Otherwise maybe it's an EQ thing (I do boost a bit in my iPhone, use the popular contour eq, "Loudness") or perhaps you have a bad set, though that is highly unlikely. There is a post here by ProfessorThump, which I'm sure you've seen, that illustrates how to properly insert the S4 headphones. Check that out and let us know.

That was one of my fears with the straight audio jack. Wonder why they switched from the more reliable L-shaped jack.

Two weeks have passed and I've found myself putting down my other headphones in favor of the Klipsch S4i time and again. I think I'd feel just about as lost without my S4i headphones as I would without my iPhone! The comfort, the sound, the microphone, all are just so stellar. Looking at the Comply ear tips to see if I can squeeze and more out of these already impressive headphones.