jbm1553552705

@luigi - are those stats you've got there the little Aussie panels I've seen talked about as alternatives to the B&G Neo10 and Neo3 combo? Can't for the life of me recall the manufacturers, but recall them being ~AUD400-500 or so? Back on OT, I haven't tried full range OB, but am also in the co-axial plus bass open baffle camp. No baffles in fact - drivers are hanging 'naked', as it's termed by those far more knowledgeable about these thing than me. At this point I don't think I can afford the speakers that would make me go back to a box.

Likewise- Graham, I'd also be keen on a mat too please.

Is anyone able to comment on recent experiences, or perhaps more accurately, experience with recent, DVDO products? I have some issues with my 4x2 hdmi matrix switch, which could be cable related, and wonder if a processor would avoid the handshaking issues I'm seeing. Hope this isn't too off-topic, but more on topic- are there any ~$1000 or less AVRs recommended for video processing (to replace a matrix switch)? Thanks in advance for any thoughts/recommendations.

Is there any reason (e.g., safety/legality) that one of the higher current, round pin outlets couldn't be used in a dedicated domestic 240V application - assuming of course the power cords to the electronics were terminated complementarily? I know everything goes up in price, but if you're looking to maximise contact area, wouldn't the high current round pins/plugs potentially be better? Or does the cable become a limiting factor?

I think I'm the guy Robocop refers to above - just wanted to mention that Wicked Digital in Aus were a pleasure to deal with, and shipping to NZ was very reasonable. I think the HiFace now on sale might be a new version over the one I bought, but I was very happy with it.

Owen and got tinnitus - thanks both for the input.

I'm trying to sort out what I need to get the 56 series sockets/switches installed, and have a few questions that I hope someone here can help with: 1. Does anyone have recommendations for a good VSD cable and a source for same? I've found examples online (e.g., http://www.firstflex.co.nz/cables/vsd-cables/mdxcy), but have no idea if these are what you're talking about, and whether they're ok to be connected back to the circuit board. 2. Is the earth pin of a 'normal' 3-pin plug able to fit in the large earth socket of the 15amp 56 outlets, like the 56SO315A? Is this what you've got installed Hutch http://www.pdl.co.nz/product-images.aspx?rcat=products&catid=881&id=563? 3. Has anyone used the Neutrik PowerCon connectors for custom cables/enclosures, rather than the IEC plugs? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any help on this, John

I'll happily pop over and pick up the vinyl, if you still have it. Am in Devonport also, will PM details if it suits, cheers John

Ditto - very happy with my purchases indeed. Thanks Ta Moko!

I wasn't trying to imply anyone here was ignorant of the law, just simply trying to allay any concerns that owners' of CDs etc. who had ripped them for personal or household use were doing so illegally. I'm not sure I understand the 'unavailability' argument. There are numerous examples of property that is unavailable for purchase - heck, I'd love a Ferrari 250GT California. How does the ability to readily copy property that is otherwise unavailable legitimise doing so?

@bazzer - the Copyright Act 1994 was amended in 2008 to allow "format shifting" for personal use of sound recordings. New s81A was inserted, which governs what is, and what is not, allowable copying for personal use. Probably the most important bits are the fact that you need to be the owner of the original work (e.g., the CD), and you need to remain the owner of the original work. So, you're able to rip your entire CD collection to a hard-drive for personal or household use, but you're not allowed to subsequently sell all your CDs and retain the hard-drive copies. BTW- this doesn't constitute specific legal advice!!

I've got a Plinius 2100 integrated I was about to put on TM this weekend. It's been a while since I used it last- was in a second system that just isn't getting used. Happy to discuss by PM if of interest. Cheers J

Thanks very much James and Owen - I do appreciate the insight and input. I'll let you know how I get on - my woodworking skills are, well, rudimentary would be a compliment, but I'm eager to get something up and running. Thanks again for the help. John

James - would the 600mm x 450mm plan be about the smallest dimensions you'd want to go to running the Apparition (or other 12 inch arms) with a Garrard? I know you've got some measurements for the counterweight overhang behind the mounting point, but I haven't calculated how large a plinth would need to be to allow best positioning whilst keeping everything inboard of the plinth's edges. From the pictures you've posted it looks as though the rear of the counterweight wouldn't extend beyond the plinth's edge on this plinth, but you probably wouldn't want to go any smaller - is that the case? I haven't laid the arm out on a full size template to to check - I guess that would be the best next step, but any insights you have on size/arm-positioning would be helpful. Cheers John

@REB - I'd be keen on a group buy. Could you give us an idea on pricing? Cheers John

I've re-listed these.

@Owen I have it as a .wtv file (Windows 7 Media Centre - I gave up on MythTV...). I don't know if the issues relating to converting .wtv files with certain audio encoding into more readily-accessible file types pertain to programmes recorded from Prime, but I can have a crack at converting it and getting it to you somehow if you can't track it down. Of course, if you have a W7 machine you'd be able to directly watch the .wtv file. Let me know. BTW - how does one go about transferring >5Gb files, other than via exchange of physical media? Megaupload??

Not sure how many sets of these are floating around Godzone - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=450356285&ed=true

I'd second kaka's order in terms of SQ, and place both Amarra (I have only Amarra mini, not the full version) and Fidelia above PM in terms of my current preferences re SQ. I've found PM the most stable - it just works. Amarra on my setup can be a bit glitchy - I wonder if somehow that's because I'm using a hackintosh, or if that is just a 'feature' of the software. I've found Fidelia very slow to load .wav files, and the iPod remote app particularly unresponsive when your library comprises .wav files - sometimes taking 20 - 30s to respond to an input. No such issue when using flacs or AIFF files. Oddly this doesn't occur if I bypass the remote and control Fidelia through the computer directly. Both Amarra and Fidelia allow you to ignore iTunes and play directly from folders, or in the case of Fidelia a separate library. Amarra and PM both make use of the free iTunes Remote app, and are readily controlled via that route. As above, I've found the Fidelia Remote app to be clunky, but only with .wav files. I'm not sure if you use any of the plugin or .vst features in foobar, but if you do I think these are easier to implement in PM and possibly Fidelia. I don't know if it's possible in Amarra. I do listen to all three, but I don't regret finally getting Amarra Mini. Not sure if I'd pay for the full version, but a year ago I was convinced I wouldn't get any Amarra product at all. They seem to frequently have Amarra Junior and Amarra Mini on sale, so if you do trial it and find it worthwhile, look out for a sale. I also can't recall the Hog mode in Fidelia making a huge difference - certainly not as much as it made in PM. Cheers jbm

Apologies in advance if this is inappropriate: I have a 2009 mini, currently unused and boxed in our study. I had popped an SSD and 8Gb RAM into it, and it made a fine music server. I still have the 8Gb RAM, but have repurposed the SSD. If you still want to go down that (to my mind more flexible, but then I would say that...) route, I'd be happy to negotiate a reasonable price. I'm on the Shore if you'd like to take a look. It sounded pretty fine with a M2Tech HiFace, I'm sure it'd sound very good with the Stello. Other than that, I think you're looking at one of the Cambridge or Wadia docks - I think the former are around $450 or so? Cheers John

@Antipodes It seems that Pure Music (and possibly other players) suggests that a sound device other than the DAC should be selected as the default output in AudioMidi, and that the DAC is selected in the PM preferences. Doing so seems to be related to Hog Mode, strict device validation et al., but I'm not sure if this is critical to properly enabling "Hog mode" (I can persistently select Hog Mode in the absence of another sound device, but I'm not sure if it really is in Hog Mode). Similar features may exist with other players, eg. Amarra, but I guess having the onboard sound enabled and selected in AudioMidi would also ensure system sounds are not played through the DAC. Is this a sufficient reason to have onboard sound operational, or is it better to simply mute system sounds/alerts (assuming that can be done)? Have you a) worried about this, b) had any issues with your LIO-8 as the only sound device available, or c) gone to the effort of running, for example, some AzaliaAudio package or other kext to enable onboard sound on any of your builds (and the G41MT-D3 in particular)? On another note, you mention above remote control receivers you have used - could you suggest a couple of recommendations? I've come across the Mantra TR-1, but haven't checked availability in NZ. Thanks for all your very helpful advice on this.

I had purchased the Gigabyte EG41 motherboard with onboard firewire, hdmi and dvi outputs referred to above (I need firewire as my DAC is firewire), but instead got sent the G41MT-D3 board Antipodes has based this build on. Apparently none of my preferred MBs are in NZ, so if you ind one well done! For me it means a PCI or PCIe firewire card, which I was hoping to avoid, and using the VGA output which seems to be causing (weirdly) a USB power error with my preferred monitor (but not another?), but nothing insurmountable. I pulled the SSD out of my Mac mini, put it in the case, fired up iBoot and selected the drive just to see if it would work. I'm not sure whether to be surprised or not, but sure enough, everything works and it sounds very good. I feel as though I should have a go at the full Hack install described here, but as an interim, lazy-b... approach, it couldn't be easier. There remain a few things to sort out - remote and bluetooth control are two - but as others have found, I now have a surplus Mac mini.

Definitely agree about the form factor, but with the plugin that allows you to wake the Squeezecenter [sic] and shut it down again from the Squeezebox (I think it's called Squeezecenter power controller or something similar), rather than operating the server as a NAS, then I think you can manage the relative power inefficiency of a PC vs a "proper" NAS. The version of Ubuntu I was using seemed to be pretty quick (<25 - 30s) to boot from off, so I was pretty happy with turning it on and off for listening. Of course, that may not be immediate enough for many. Once you start considering other uses for that box (MythTV etc), well, that's another story. Sorta found myself listening to less music, and tootuing around with config files. And learning that I'm not so good at that. However, I have about an order of magnitude less CDs that too_tall, so I'm not able to comment on responsiveness in that situation.

If you do happen to have an old PC not being used or able to be retasked, you could try installing the latest version of Ubuntu (or Ubuntu server) on it, and trying that as the SqueezeServer. I've done that in the past, and found it significantly faster as a server to an SB3 than a far more more modern Windows PC, despite identical drives and libraries (~800 cds as FLAC). It was a pretty clean install of Ubuntu, not many (any?) other programs running, so I figured it was conceptually pretty similar to a NAS. Just a thought.

After quite a bit of soul-searching, I've listed my Shahinian Obelisks on TM - see http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?ed=true&id=325384175. I really, really love these speakers, but it's time to move on. I know there are many of you who have parted with treasured gear - I hope someone will tell me it isn't actually as painful as it seems at the moment. It is only(?) stereo gear, right? And at the risk of sounding like a nob, I have to say the thought of someone else enjoying these as much as I have does ease the separation anxiety a little. Or could that be the wine...?