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Judi: Sat Mar 29, 03 at 09:11:17 AM (EST) - Thanks Thomas! I got out the turntable and it does connect to my tuner. And my tuner connects to a tape recorder and a VCR. So the next question would be do I make an audio tape or record on a vcr tape? Perhaps either way can be connected to my computer at that point and saved as a digital version. Then I could burn a cd. That would be my ultimate end goal. Perhaps I'll try just making a tape copy first to see what the quality of sound really is and if the project is worth the effort. But the cleaning info was good, I would not have thought to wash them first but I never would put them in the oven. However they have been stored in the attic over the garage and it got really hot in the summertime but they were all stored flat so didn't distort. But right now my big obsession is making slide shows in iPhoto set to music from iTunes.(KD still waiting for your report on iTunes..).The records will have to wait. Thomas More: Fri Mar 28, 03 at 11:05:33 PM (EST) - More on Crossovers It may have been unfair of me to recommend an electronic crossover for your home entertainment system, because you won't find one in the stereo shops. They only come from suppliers of professional audio equipment, along with limiters, equalizers and other signal-processing equipment used in recording and sound reinforcement. With one exception: They're available for car stereos. Why do car sound freaks enjoy bi-amped systems, when even high-end stereo equipment comes almost exclusively with a receiver, which contains the pre-amp, power amp and an FM radio tuner, all in one box, which makes adding an electronic crossover nearly impossible. However, if you want to know all there is to know about electronic crossovers, here is a link. Be warned that audio freaks wrote this, and it is rather technical: Crossover Notes Thomas More: Fri Mar 28, 03 at 10:43:19 PM (EST) - Hi Tiki Who is this guy "ACK" that you're often addressing? Is he one of the regulars in this room? Thomas More: Fri Mar 28, 03 at 10:40:32 PM (EST) - Judi and the record player Hi Judi; If there isn't a "line-level" output (typically an RCA jack, which looks like a little bulls-eye) on the back of the record player, you can plug the wires that go to the speakers into the "line-level" input of a stereo receiver or cassette recorder (but NOT the "mic-level" inputs!). If you can adjust the level of the record player, you can turn it down almost all the way and it won't overdrive the input to your tape recorder. And you're right; you don't want to use a microphone and those record-player speakers. The result would not be worth saving. Also, be sure to wash and dry the records for their last performance. Use lukewarm water, dish soap and a soft cloth. Rinse well, and AIR dry. Some girls I knew once washed a bunch of records, and they put a couple in the oven to dry. It was on "Warm-up," but before they got them out they had melted and draped themselves over the oven rack. They came loose easily, and they made great conversation pieces, tacked up on the wall. They looked like a Dali painting, sort of. Tiki: Fri Mar 28, 03 at 04:43:38 PM (EST) - ACK The post below is from me. : Fri Mar 28, 03 at 04:43:09 PM (EST) - I don't know if the old record player/turntable has any imput/output jack places Depends on the unit... A good turntable will have a low-level output. This output will need to be pre-amped via the phono imput amps on a decent receiver. Judi: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 06:35:47 PM (EST) - audio conversion I was cleaning out my attic and came upon a stack of old records, and I mean little kids records mostly in 33 1/3 and some 78 as well as old albums of many types. The kids records are very old and some are story records like Dumbo that come with a nice book. Now before I sell, toss out, or give away all these things I would like to make a copy of the stuff on them. I have record players, turntables whatever capable of playing all those speeds, and I have a tape recorder and the computer with cd burner. How in the dickens do I go from playing the really old scratchy albums one last time to making a copy? In my minds eye I see a tape recorder mic aimed at the turntable speakers and I know there has to be a better way! Problem is I don't know if the old recordplayer/turntable has any imput/output jack places, perhaps just the speakers. Is there anyway I can make the copies without a lot of technical knowhow? Am I better off just keeping them or try to make a copy with a good old fashioned tape recorder? I'm not hoping for superior quality recordings from these old scratched up records, just more a sentimal audio copy. Thomas More: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 03:29:31 PM (EST) - Tiki Thanks for not archiving too soon. It gave me a chance to catch up. Thomas More: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 03:28:48 PM (EST) - That was a strange link, Judi It brought me right back here. Another trick of 'Aiche? Thomas More: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 03:26:52 PM (EST) - Poogie Don't forget to include some analog sources when you enjoy your new amplifier, like a turntable, open reel tape, and even the lowly cassette tapes. CDs do not contain all of the dynamics of the music, for the same reason that they achieve low noise. Last night I took some 30-year-old reel-to-reel tapes over to a friend's house who has a nice sound system. They included a live recording of Leon Russell and Cat Stevens that I made in 1971 at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (the recorder was left on by accident). We all agreed that CDs don't sound quite the same. Right after separates, the next giant step in your quest for high fidelity is to add an electronic crossover and another amplifier so that only bass notes go through the bass amp and speakers, and only high notes go through their own amp and speakers. In this type of "bi-amp" system, the delicate high notes don't get distorted by having to ride on top of the big bass notes. Even if the tops of big bass notes are slightly into distortion, you won't hear it because the highs will still be enjoying the distortion-free range of their own amplifier. In a single-amplifier system, when the bass notes are slightly into distortion, it means that the high notes are completely into distortion, and what you hear is a lot of noise instead of separate notes. With a good bi-amped system, you can easily carry on a conversation with the music at quite a high level, because of what I call "the quiet between the notes." This kind of sound is much more pleasant to listen to, because of the lack of distortion, which is simply any noise that wasn't part of the original sound. Judi: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 02:49:00 PM (EST) - From the strange world of AYCHE Strange Album Art There are some albums that shouldn't be made. We've found the covers. What a selection. Our favourite? This pre Brian Eno "Music to make automobiles by." strange Thomas More: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 02:46:12 PM (EST) - Hiccup! Do not read the duplicate post, below. Thomas More: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 02:44:57 PM (EST) - Grapefruit bashing? I love grapefruit. For years I've started each day with an eye-opener of half a Texas-grown Ruby Red. Now my gastroenterologist tells me to give it up. This bad-mouthing of grapefruit started with the craze of prescribing statins, I believe, and I understood the grapefruit caused too-rapid an assimilation of those cholesterol-lowering drugs like Pravachol(TM) and Lipitor(TM) Some of those drugs include a warning on the label not to take with grapefruit. Are the grapefruit growers telling people they should avoid statins? They probably should, out of retaliation, if not because those drugs have dangerous side effects. Anything that can't be taken with grapefruit should be avoided, I think. Actually, I take 300 mg Niacin daily instead of a statin, which works just as well to lower cholesterol, and in fact was the prescribed treatment before the statins were developed. Niacin costs about $5/month compared to $120/month for Lipitor(TM) , in addition to having less risk of liver damage and other side effects. Of course you won't see full-page print-media ads and expensive TV commercials for Niacin, since no one's getting rich selling it. If you're taking statins, ask your doctor about Niacin. Now there are timed-release capsules that give no "hot flush" effect, as the older tablets did that weren't timed release. And, you can still have your grapefruit! In my case, I'm supposed to avoid all acidic things like grapefruit or orange juice, tomatoes, etc., since I have had two episodes of H. pilori. That's the specific bacterium, only recently identified, that causes stomach ulcers, when it's allowed to proliferate. Apparently beer kills 'em, so I think I'll be o.k. Thomas More: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 01:59:54 PM (EST) - Feel of Flying rdamor@pacbell.net KD; "The psychology of the aviator?" I resemble that remark. Basically, it's the "what's over the horizon" motivation that compelled Alexander of Macedonia to climb a high peak in what is now northern India, in hope of seeing the limits of the world. What he saw, of course, were more and more mountains, as far as he could see. Flying alone in a light airplane or sailplane is to sense the world as a bird does, and enjoy a degree of freedom unknowable on the ground. I know that freedom, having learned to fly at age 14. I actually soloed on my 15th birthday. You were supposed to be 16, but there was a mistake on my application. However, I didn't pursue a career as an aviator. Having done it was satisfactory. Alexander returned to his homeland, satisfied that he had looked over the whole world. Did the program dwell on Lindburgh's flight? Like so much of history, popular heros often obscure more important accomplishments. Judi: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 08:13:26 AM (EST) - growing old is better than the alternative Welcome to the "High Blood pressure" club. No matter what dose my dr selects for my meds my BP stays the same, HIGH. Maybe high is "normal" for me. As for the grapefruit issue, I was told not to take the BP meds with grapefruit juice but that I could have half a grapefruit or a small glass of juice later in the day. Before you give it up for good, ask your doctor the rules regarding grapefruit intake. It is the sodium, salt, that is the big issue and finding foods with little or no sodium is the hard part. No fake salt allowed. But life is good. And good for you for getting that checkup in the first place! Poogie: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 12:58:33 AM (EST) - Tiki Well, stay away from grapefruit, too. Poogie: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 12:57:50 AM (EST) - Tiki Because it is the beverage of the devil. ;-) Actually, grapefruit juice slows down the chemical processes in the body that are used to break down the medication. The medication isn't processed at the intended rate, which can result in higher blood levels of the drug that are unsafe. So stay away from that grapefruit juice! Tiki: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 12:14:15 AM (EST) - Grapefruit ????? It seems I can never enjoy Grapefruit (solid or juice) for the rest of my life... Ummmm, Why??? Poogie? Tiki: Thu Mar 27, 03 at 12:10:09 AM (EST) - Will Archive very soon... Sorry for the delay... In the middle of my first full Physical Examination since the 70s... Prevention is the key word here. It turns out my Blood Pressure is through the roof... My MD put me on 60 mgs., a beta (calcium) blocker.. First day was a bit hard on my system, but today was a bit kinder. ACK.. Today I bought decaf... Guess I will find out more, next week, when the blood work report comes in. I do not mind this growing old, I have no choice.... ;) Judi: Wed Mar 26, 03 at 01:36:18 PM (EST) - Lighthouse pt 2 from lighthousedepot.com - "Visiting Maine? Be sure to visit us at The World's Largest Lighthouse Gift Store® Lighthouse Depot, in Wells, Maine." Guess that blows the CT store claims out of the water. I will admit to purchasing a lighthouse nightlight, a lighthouse poster, and bathroom accessories and wallpaper trim there. Oregon? Drove the entire coastal road from south to north and all I remember were the amazing bridges and the Rogue River boat trip. If there were lighthouses I wasn't impressed. I do remember visiting the most easterly lighthouse in North America at Cape Spear NFLD and the most easterly light in Maine at Quoddy Head, and the most westerly lighthouse that a person can easily drive to in Alaska however. And I remember a lighthouse in Key West Florida, most southerly? And I remember the lighthouses on the Great Lakes and then there was that lighthouse at Land's End in Cornwall England that claimed to be the most westerly in the UK but then there was that lighthouse in Ireland on the ring of Kerry that seemed further west than the one in England.. but Oregon? Nope.. KD: Wed Mar 26, 03 at 10:14:45 AM (EST) - more music A friend let me borrow a couple of his The Cleaners From Venus cds (Martin Newell), and I was surprised how consistantly good it was. Lots of DIY, but still ... When I think of DIY recordings I don't necessarily think of pop ... more like unadorned Bob Dylan folk or punk. KD: Wed Mar 26, 03 at 10:11:40 AM (EST) - Judi As I recall there were this touristy place in CT the billed itself as the lighthouse capital of the world -- It seemed to have everything lighthouse related. Forget the name. Judy, ever visit the Oregon Coast? Lots of lighthouses there. Punkin and I climbed one (supposedly the tallest in the west coast), and photographed several more. KD: Wed Mar 26, 03 at 10:08:23 AM (EST) - music np: Beer Can Beach KD: Wed Mar 26, 03 at 10:07:52 AM (EST) - Surf Punks Scoring for The Captain and Tenille? gino: Tue Mar 25, 03 at 09:57:55 PM (EST) - surf punks music napoliauto@ev1.net Where is dennis dragon drew steel mark the shark and the rest of the punk's?? Just hangin out and gettin old like me?? Did you ever see skatboard madness ?? Would like a copy. Judi: Tue Mar 25, 03 at 12:40:35 PM (EST) - Lighthouses, lobsters and L.L.Bean ...a few of the many reasons I call Maine "home". Portland Headlight and 6 others almost as pretty are all a few minutes away from where I live and we still marvel at how beautiful they are and this summer the Greater Portland area is sponsoring "Light houses on Parade", similar to the "cows of Chicago" and the "bears of Belfast". So visitors this summer get to see 100 ten-foot-tall fiberglass lighthouses artfully decorated, then visit the real lighthouses while eating a lobster at Fort Williams overlooking the lighthouses, then pop on over to L.L.Bean for a few lighthouse decorarted articles of clothing. Lighthouse overload! tea: Tue Mar 25, 03 at 11:28:55 AM (EST) - IT & more Cool...but I found myself exploring the paper and found listings of "your" local lighthouses. The winter pictures at this one are amazing! (and I don't care for winter!) http://www.portlandheadlight.com/ Thanks Judi! Judi: Tue Mar 25, 03 at 08:43:11 AM (EST) - "IT" what is IT? Where will IT be? How much will IT cost? Read all about IT here. Warning: link available 1 day only.. Judi: Mon Mar 24, 03 at 12:52:59 PM (EST) - rabbit ears The choice we made on our tv reception is a monetary decision only. We both would LOVE to have cable or satellite tv and sit on our fat a$$ and watch tv day and night. However my Yankee thrift says it is not prudent at this time to spend over $50 a month for a bad habit. And the "tight wad" in me says no to lots of frivolous spending in other areas. We can't help it, it is a local affliction... Judi: Mon Mar 24, 03 at 12:46:52 PM (EST) - KD -Schooner Fare "Signs of Home" is a great cd, "We the People" is the best of their lot. However on your cd they did not write all those songs, many are from other local mucisians. On "Signs of Home" we especially like "Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn",and "Boats of Stone". Those songs tell a true story as do most of the Schooner Fare tunes. And the sign post on the cover of the album is a real Maine sign and those are all real Maine towns. And the snow is real too. ;-) Tiki: Sun Mar 23, 03 at 08:55:15 PM (EST) - Hey There... KD We picked up the Dave Matthews Band Live at Folsom Field CD today... I highly recommend... KD: Sun Mar 23, 03 at 08:08:37 PM (EST) - Judi part 2 Recently I found a Schooner Fare cd in a bargin bin, but I haven't listened to it yet. The title is Signs of Home. Is it good? KD: Sun Mar 23, 03 at 08:06:13 PM (EST) - Judi I understand your appreciation for rabbit ears. It wasn't until a year ago that I subscribed to satellite and learned the wonders of ... well ... all that cable stuff. BBCA is cool. Trio is artsy. E! is really light entertainment fluff. ESPN is sponsored by a lot of beer companies. I recommend it. I don't watch it often, but it's nice to have it there ... and can be a source of inspiration for work. KD: Sun Mar 23, 03 at 08:01:25 PM (EST) - No no no no no ... Hollow, Sandy. Hollow. np: The Proclaimers, Letter From America Sandy: Sat Mar 22, 03 at 03:51:36 PM (EST) - KD Do I understand you to say the Brits are the black circles, the French the yellow???? Oh dear....... KD: Sat Mar 22, 03 at 03:28:35 PM (EST) - Music And vice versa. KD: Sat Mar 22, 03 at 03:26:48 PM (EST) - Speaking of War and Music ... Anyone ever heard Beethoven's Op. 91: Wellington's Victory? It is the most violent piece of recorded music I've ever heard. I have a cd copy of the Mercury Living Presence recording from 1960. Although the cannon and musket fire sounds appear to be ... for lack of a better word ... random, every shot was marked precisely on Beethoven's score: Cannon shots (194 of them) were designated by black or hollow circles (English & French) on the assigned beat; musket volleys were designated by tied trills. Because the effects come from different speakers, it's a lively representation of the English and French at war, with the English defeating the Napoleonic forces. (Beethoven was a Bonapartist until Napoleon declared himself Emperor.) I wonder what Vince Gill, Bruce Springsteen, Moby, U2 will write about this one? One thing is certain, what sells in the US might not sell as well overseas. KD: Sat Mar 22, 03 at 02:54:43 PM (EST) - More TV Interesting ABC has ceased their live coverage of the war. Even more interesting what was being broadcast when I turned it on this morning ... Power Rangers KD: Sat Mar 22, 03 at 02:52:38 PM (EST) - TV Personally, I'm enjoying the Discovery Wings Channel. The psychology of the aviator is an interesting one, though it's never discussed specifically. np: Traveling Wilburys, Vol 3 Sandy: Sat Mar 22, 03 at 11:49:58 AM (EST) - Tiki Being gluttons for info - we do both! Tons of books and all the aforementioned channels plus a serious Home & Garden TV channel habit - can't get enough of the fix-it programs. Judi: Sat Mar 22, 03 at 07:41:58 AM (EST) - cable I would absolutely LOVE to have Discovery, Biography, History and Cooking and TRAVEL channels!! I would sit in front of the TV day and night watching GOOD tv. However cable access costs $54/month for the basic service here and that is more than we can afford at this time. I felt there were better ways for me to spend that money. I can waste enough time each day doing other things that don't cost a penny. TV is not high on my list of priority items. Maybe some day, but not now... Tiki: Fri Mar 21, 03 at 11:42:33 PM (EST) - Judi (VBS) Not that I would get out the the ol Soap Box and cry “No cable or satellite.” And I will note that reading a book is by far, a better choice. But... The Discovery Channel, Biography and The History Channel are jems... Heck, I love the Cooking Chanel... Sorry, I really do not care for the networks... Sandy: Fri Mar 21, 03 at 11:05:12 AM (EST) - TV News After 2 days of trying to keep up, I finally found the best way to watch the war coverage. I listen to it. Upstairs, the TV is 2 rooms down the hall from my office. I had work to do, so I cranked up the volume and listened while computing. If something sounded worth the walk, I went down the hall and checked it out. Ironic note: This morning's Times had a picture of college students who opted, instead of a Spring Break blowout someplace south of anywhere, to work on a crew on a reclamation project in Death Valley Monument. They're re-planting areas with native vegetation and erasing damage to the ecology done by off road vehicles. My first impression of the picture was, "hmph, just another picture of Kuwait or Iraq" - til I realized it was right here in California. I guess I've been to Iraq without leaving the state. Judi: Fri Mar 21, 03 at 08:16:43 AM (EST) - TV reception I have no cable/satellite/tvio at all so I'm at the mercy of rabbit ears on my little tv. I can get ABC kinda snowy at best so I usually don't watch much at that network. I get CBS and NBC both equally well. I get PBS pretty good depending on the weather. That is all I have for choices. I'm a Tom Brokaw fan so I watch mostly NBC. Looking at a small tv screen sitting across the room and being nearsighted prevents me from actually reading what is scrolling at the bottom so becomes an annoyance. Watching the "war" so far is as exciting as watching paint dry. Looking at the night sky is way more interesting. On tv we see a dark sky, a few dots of light or when they switch to "night vision" it is a green glow. I get the feeling that they are hoping to catch a huge conflagration in their view and that would be OH SO EXCITING! Then they could replay it in slo-mo and analyze it to death. I don't want to watch people get bombed, and I think about the animals, family pets in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the frightened kids crying in their homes. But war is not suppose to be "pretty". We need to see it, in small doese perhaps so as not to be desentisized to the awfulness of it all. I watch a few hours here and there, get frustrated and go clean the cellar perhaps today. The garage is now spotless...Anyone need anything cleaned? KD: Fri Mar 21, 03 at 02:34:47 AM (EST) - Tiki I'll put those on my Look-for-at-Ameoba list. Thanks. KD: Fri Mar 21, 03 at 02:31:52 AM (EST) - TV break; Agreeing with Judi I find it fascinating the differences in war coverage between ABC News and Fox News. Ted Koppel looks wearily amazed. Fox female anchors have ... uh ...unique names. (Tresten Diou, Cammel Loht, Kasilia McMoog. Those aren't actual names, but they could be.) Peter Jennings is steady, and doesn't stare into the camera constantly. On Fox, three word leads are popular. ("Bush says 'Out!'" "Time is up." "War has begun." "My pants: Soiled.") The questions they ask and how they phrase them ... are telling. The coverage doesn't overlap. When I'm watching one network, I feel as though I'm missing something else on the other. MSNBC and CNN are both ... uh ... CNN-like. I agree with Judi; text scrolling is annoying and distracting. I don't watch CBS as reception is poor. (Get satellite, not cable ... so local channels are catch as catch can.) The amount of journalistic television access is incredible. Probably because the PR challenge for the US is equally daunting. Nightline is still the best. np: The Cleaners From Venus Jones: Thu Mar 20, 03 at 11:47:00 PM (EST) - NP: Dylan. World Gone Wrong. Judi: Thu Mar 20, 03 at 11:25:03 AM (EST) - tv boycott I don't get CNN anyway but I am annoyed at the scrolling text at the bottom of the network coverage. So I turned my tv off, cleaned the garage, washed the kitchen floor and look at this time as an opportunity to get caught up on my book reading! What ever happens will be replayed many times and I don't need to watch every second "live". Sandy: Thu Mar 20, 03 at 10:39:38 AM (EST) - Judi Thanks for a smile when it's not a very smiley day. My eyes are glued to CNN, let's hope for a quick end to the fighting. Judi: Wed Mar 19, 03 at 11:40:07 AM (EST) - terrorism readiness instructions Ok so we know war is about to break out and we are having trouble interpreting the US Government instructions on what to do in case of a terrorist attack. Here they are all nicely explained for you. Poogie: Tue Mar 18, 03 at 12:48:03 AM (EST) - Thomas Hafler is a good amp. The folks at AudioAsylum discuss that one. The Parsound Halo is a new amp series from the venerable audio company, Parasound. The Halos are more refined than their other amp series (which are still quite good). Mine is the 2 x 125 amp. Class A/AB amplification and balanced ouputs. It was designed by John Curl. The A 23 is a beauty-the cosmetics and the sound. Detailed, great soundstage and imaging. As you can tell, I'm thrilled with it. Only problem is, I'm thinking about taking it back the get the 5 channel version. It's a hefty hunk o' change, however. I really don't need to spend the extra dough. The 2 channel does well integrated with my HT set-up. Meanwhile, I am having fun playing with my new toy. I'll tell you this, once you get into separates, you can't go back. What a difference! http://www.parasound.com/halonew/A23details.asp Dr. Larry Singer: Tue Mar 18, 03 at 12:31:55 AM (EST) - recommendation lsinger9404@cox.net If you have ever listened to digital music before, you have not heard digital music unless you listened through a pair of Bose TriPort® headphones. I just got a pair today from eBay and they are AMAZING. They are by no means in the price range of $5.99 headphones yopu can get in the "audio aisle" at Rite Aide, but they are TOTALLY worth every cent. They're the little brother of the Bose Quiet Comfort® phones (which the only difference is the noise cancelling dial on the latter)...but these have sufficient noise blocking quality. I am listening to Radio Paradise (via iTunes) whilew typing this, and tea has the TV on "The Bachelorette" or something...but the ONLY noise I hear is Radio Paradise. Then, for external sound, might iSuggest the Harman Kardon Soundsticks with the iSub. Absolutely INCREDIBLE sound. Sandy: Tue Mar 18, 03 at 12:07:21 AM (EST) - I Resemble That Remark! So how come HoS laughed so..... ironically..... at this article???? Sandy: Mon Mar 17, 03 at 11:19:44 PM (EST) - Oil Fields So, RTE, you think Saddam's already trashing the oil fields? Did you hear the Shrub call them "the Iraqi people's oil fields"? If that's the case, then, are the oil fields in the U.S, ours??? Howz come I'm paying $2.19/gal. at the pump for "our" oil? Tiki: Mon Mar 17, 03 at 10:45:28 PM (EST) - RTE Busy, Busy, Busy.... How are you, my friend? Tiki: Mon Mar 17, 03 at 10:42:32 PM (EST) - Thomas I knew there was a reason I held back and did not place a bid on the Carvin... Well (LOL) there was this book, and... an iMac... etc What can I say... I always wanted one. GP is putting this puppy in our reception area (sigh - guess we have to buy a proper desk, and prolly a nice purple couch in the mix) but it looks like we have a receptionist.. Good people are hard to find! Next step is to get the Copy Writer Office in order... I must add that the P1500 looks like it would be a happy camper on my rack! RTE: Mon Mar 17, 03 at 07:36:08 PM (EST) - Other than that.... ...things are COOL ! How's everybody doin' ? RTE: Mon Mar 17, 03 at 07:33:45 PM (EST) - War Make no mistake....it's started. Saddam has already begun sabotage of the oil fields. The troops will be moving in within hours...despite Bush's impending speech giving Saddam a 48 hour window to book town. Thomas More: Mon Mar 17, 03 at 01:48:06 PM (EST) - Everything you want to know about amplifers, and more. rdamor@pacbell.net Poogie; Do tell us more about your new Parasound Halo. It's an amp? Instrument or stereo? Specs? I was thinking of replacing my ancient DynaKit 120 with a new Hafler amp. Dave Hafler designed the DynaKits, back in the '60s, and now his products carry his own name. Hafler amps are advertised as "the standard," since their specs are better than any consumer amp. They are used primarily in radio and TV stations, and recording studios. They are professional type, 19-inch rack-mount. You might think they would be prohibitively expensive, but the P1000 (2 x 50 watts) sells for about $250 and the P1500 (2 x 75 watts) about $300. The Dynakit I have been using for the high-end of my stereo these past thirty years is still performing flawlessly, as is the Phase-Linear 400 that I use to power the bass speakers (this is a bi-amped system). It pays off in reliability (and low distortion) to have this kind of headroom (extra power). Since the amps are never operated at more than 10 or 15% of their capacity, the result is what I call "the quiet between the notes." Distortion is so little, and so far below the program level that the human ear cannot hear it. Currently, with my DynaKit I have to turn down the high end somewhat, to match the bass levels, and the Dyna puts out only 60 watts per channel. By the way, these are real RMS watts, not the peak power or other vague specs that consumer amps claim. So I could do with a Hafler P1000, which puts out 50 watts per channel. Since it takes about four times as much power for bass as it does for the high notes, 50 watts would be one-fourth of the 200 watts of each bass channel. Here's a link where you can check out Hafler products. Select "Studio/Broadcast" from the "Products" menu to find the perfect amp for your system. They're sold locally by Guitar Center, and some high-end stereo dealers. Hafler Amps Homepage |
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