eq_shadimar

If you are running a HTPC and you are just looking for a frontend take a look at Xbox Media Center for PC's ( http://www.xbmc.org/ ). Yes this software started out for modded Xbox's but there is a version for PC's now. It is free and it is considered one of the best frontend's around. I have that running on a older notebook. Other than that I have given up on having HTPC's and I now use my Xbox 360 and Popcorn Hour media streamers to access all of my stored content on a 4 TB Network Attached Storage device (Promise SmartStor). Laters, Jeff

I found this during a Google search for something else. Looks interesting..... http://www.neuhauslabs.com/amplifiers/http://www.neuhauslabs.com/'> Laters, Jeff

This diagram should help you out. I run the Main Out of the H/K to the AUX/Tape input on the Fisher 500B. I leave the Fisher at a set volume level and use the volume control on the H/K to control the volume (unless I am listing to LP's). All of the speakers are balanced to the same level using the adjustments in the H/K. It is a tad outdated in terms of the equipment I am actually using today but you should be able to get the general idea: I hope this helps! Laters, Jeff

These may be more suited to the Forums but how about "Sound Off", "Jam Session", "The Hangout", "Klubhouse", "Woofs and tweets", "Section K", "Klipsch Station" If you want to describe a group of people I like Klipscheads or Horn Heads. Jeff

Okies I will bite. Here are my answers: How many here have converted their music collection to digital format and are employing some type of media streaming device to play that digital library on the home audio system? I have done this How large is your collection? Around 50,000 songs What streaming devices do you use? Xbox 360, Popcorn Hour (NMT Device), a couple of notebooks, a couple of desktops, Verizon Media Manager to Verizon FiOS Cable Box, Kenwood VRS-N8100 What file format do you prefer and why? FLAC because it is losses, MP3 VBR@128 because it is compatible with everything. I burn to FLAC and then have the software side convert or transcode to MP3. This gives me a complete FLAC and MP3 library that I store in separate directories (Y:\FLAC and Y:\MP3 believe it or not [] ) What metadata tagging is valuable to you and why (is it required for you streaming devices cataloging or does it just help you personally manage your library)? Genre, Artist, Album Title, and Album Art. All the rest, recorded date, history, etc is nice to have but I never sort the music using that stuff What equipment, methods and software did you use to rip your collection? Windows XP Professional using MediaMonkey Pro to my 4TB Promise 4300 NAS How did you verify the accuracy of the audio extraction? I didn't. If it ripped fine with no errors and I could hear it, I assumed all was good. How did you tag the files with the metadata? MediaMonkey script functions and automatic lookup using the various online services (Amazon, FreeDB, Gracenote). If setup correctly MediaMonkey queries several of these sources and I can chose what I want to use. For Dave (Mallette) Kenwood NV8100 digital reciever with networking built in. Dave did you mean the Kenwood VRS-N8100? If so that is a nice piece with some limitations. I have had one for several years and it is a solid performer. I enjoy the sound and it has a mind boggling amount of features. If you ask nice I will tell you how to interface nice banana plugs to the little speaker output clips [] Laters, Jeff

As of now it still appears that they are hell bent on doing some Server upgrades at work this weekend. If they do not change the date I will not be able to attend. Jeff

Oooo I have a Panny Class D as well. I use it in the theater with 5 Heresy's and I think it sounds great. Mine is the later version with the protection relays but it still sounds fab so that should work well. A component input on the tv is fine. That way there are no worries about HDMI handshake issues etc. Laters, Jeff

Dave - My attendance is looking iffy now due to some projects at work but I am still going to try my best to attend. I was toying with the idea of bringing my NAS and Popcornhour (PCH) to the event to demonstrate the current state of digital media archiving and streaming media players. Do you have a DAC or amp with a COAX digital input that you feel can do justice on your setup? If not I don't know if I will bother bringing it since the analog section is nothing to write home about. Of course if we were not going to be interested in judging the sound quality and people would still like to see it all work then the analog section is fine. I would also need a TV for the navigation (HD widescreen preferred otherwise I would have to redo all the skins in SD 4:3 ick lol). If you are interested in seeing how it streams media (YouTube, Vuze, internet radio, etc) from the internet a wired high speed internet connection would be required. Let me know if you have any interest in this. Laters, Jeff

No man yours ARE supposed to be grey...really I looked up your serial numbers and it said "built with grey cones" [8-|] I say go with what ya like man. Laters, Jeff

Yep that is what gave me the idea way back when. I liked the idea of a dye or stain more than the paint. I was strolling through Hobby Lobby last weekend and saw the ink. A little lightbulb went off in my head [] Laters, Jeff

There was no way that I was going to paint the woofers. I didn't want to add all the mass plus you would need a flexible paint. I used the india ink because it is more of a dye or stain. I only used about 1/4 of that ink bottle for both woofers. I did not have tons of ink on the brush and I waited until everything was dry before using the Cornwalls again. Laters, Jeff

Ok I have pair of Decorator Cornwalls that the woofer cones went grey on. I used plain old india black ink and some foam brushes and viola they look like new. Here are the pictures: Before: During: Result: Tools: I think it turned out fantastic. To be honest they look even better in person. Laters, Jeff

I run two all Heritge 5.1 systems. One is an all Cornwall setup with a vertical Cornwall as the center channel and the other one is an all Heresy system. The Cornwall system also doubles as a fairly decent 2 channel setup. This diagram is a bit outdated (5 years old!) but it shows you how I managed to get it all hooked up. Both systems use SVS Woofers for the bottom end. I love em both. I say go for it! Laters, Jeff

OOOO I wanna come! I will pencil in that date myself. If there is anyone from the DFW area that wants to carpool lets talk. Laters, Jeff

Dave - From the Logitech site select Remotes, then universal remotes, then click on the check compatibility link right below the picture of the receiver on the right side of the web page. Once there select the AV Receiver category and go from there. I think there device database works across all of their remotes. I have 3 of them the 510, 520, and 550. I like the layout of them and for $99 (or less if you look around) you can't beat them for universal remotes. I have them controlling everything from my audio equipment to fans and portable air conditioners. You can poke around on www.remotecentral.com as well. Laters, Jeff

According the Logitech website all the Harmony remote controls should support 4BX. I have several of their remotes but no DBX 4BX to test with. DBX is listed under the AV Receiver section and I selected DBX for the Manufacturer and then 4BX as the model and it came back with a green check which means there is "something" in their database. Laters, Jeff

Well the short answer is yes use HDMI. The slightly longer answer is that the analog component standard will support 1080p but realistically not many pieces of equipment will allow you to do 1080p via component. If 1080p is your requirement plan on using HDMI. Laters, Jeff

Okies I will play along [] No Klipsch speakers yet but I got a Yamaha 7.1 complete speaker set from Craigslist for $35 so there ya go []. Also there is a Kenwood Digital Amp 8100N, Toshiba VCR/DVD Combo, Toshiba A3 HD-DVD Player, Popcorn Hour Media Streamer, and a Xbox 360 which was not present in that picture. The TV is a 50" 1080p plasma from Hitachi. The bookcases (Besta) and shelving (Jarpen) under the TV are from IKEA. and of course the doggie picture [] Laters, Jeff

Dave - SqueezeCenter is the current version of SlimServer and it is much improved over SlimServer. I looked at it briefly but I do not use it currently. Once I got my NAS I simply use direct connection to the data on the NAS either via SMB (Windows Networking) or UPnP/DLNA. The NAS also supports NFS and TCP/IP connections. For playback I use a notebook running XBMC (Xbox Media Center for Windows XP) or my Popcorn Hour. The NAS and the end use device are the only pieces of equipment needed to make this all work. If anyone is looking for front end software for their HTPC I strongly suggest that you look at the XBMC program. Laters, Jeff

There are also the old standbys of Slimdevices ( http://www.slimdevices.com ) now owned by Logitech and Sonos ( http://www.sonos.com ) for people looking for more out of the box solutions. The Slimdevices Transport is a high end streamer for those willing to pay. They both offer niffty remotes and whole house audio solutions if that is what you require. The open source SqueezeCenter from Slimdevices is really a neat an powerful FREE program that works with lots of devices. Laters, Jeff

I am not sure how much money you want to spend but this is the setup I am currently running: Promise NAS (Network Attached Storage) with 4TB HDD Space (purchased separately from the NAS): http://www.promise.com/product/product_detail_eng.asp?product_id=177 Popcorn Hour A-100 Media Streamer: http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/ Windows XP Notebook with XBMC installed: http://xbmc.org/ AnyDVD for ripping the DVD's: http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html MediaMonkey for music management: http://www.mediamonkey.com/ The Popcorn Hour and XP Notebook with XBMC installed do the same thing. They play video and music files stored on the NAS. Everything is connected to each other via the wired ethernet network in my house. So this is basically how it works. I use my PC to rip all my CD's and DVD's to my NAS using MediaMonkey and AnyDVD and use the notebook or Popcorn Hour to access the media on the NAS and perform the playback function. The notebook with XBMC is connected to my projector via VGA and the Popcorn Hour is connected to a plasma using HDMI (component is possible too). I use the notebook with XBMC in the theater with the projector so I can also surf the web etc. Laters, Jeff

Dave - I am glad to hear that you made it ok! I hope the other forum members in the affect areas are safe as well. It sounds like things are coming back online quickly for you. Here are some "borrowed" images from the New York Times of Seabrook. Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist. Laters, Jeff

Glad to see you are still out there in the ether Dave...godspeed and best of luck to you tonight! Laters, Jeff

I made this offer to Dave but it looks like he is staying put...for now [] anyway if any of our forum members plan to evacuate all the way to the Dallas area I will gladly host them at my house. Just let me know. Laters, Jeff

Nope I am not sure [] That is an old picture. They are no longer aimed in the corners as a result of many listening parties. I am single BTW so the fault is all mine. [] Laters, Jeff