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Please email me if you would like to contact me. I will no longer have a Guestbook because I am receiving too much SPAM.
Click on the picture to the left to send me an email.
I may post related questions/comments I receive via email in my old guestbook below:
Great site!
Hello! site the best! :)
I saw your post on Stereophile asking about DSD playback on Vaios. I may know marginally more than you--if you haven't solved your quandry yet. andy.shedd@yahoo.com
Thank you for your comments and compliments! :-)
I have never thought that my speakers and receiver would be too revealing for those older recordings. That is an interesting statement that I will research. I guess my question is what does it reveal in the recording that hurts the sound quality?
As far as digital vs analog, that is a subject that has been discussed to the hilt. I find myself preferring digital for the convenience. SACDs are digital and are much more on par with analog than most of their CD counterparts. I prefer (hybrid) SACD to vinyl for many reasons:
1. No scratches or pops...just music
2. a) Ability to add multichannel recordings to the mix. RCA Living Stereo and Mercury Living Presence both recorded many of their classics on three channel master tapes. The third channel was then mixed into stereo. Many of the new SACDs have the original stereo mix and the unmixed three channel tape version. For me, the extra channel gives more room for the instruments to breathe.
2. b) The extra channels also add another facet in the recording process that gives the artist more flexibility. For albums like Dark Side of the Moon, the results can be fantastic. Also, for albums made" in the round" like LAGQ "Guitar Heroes" it gives the recording a playful touch.
3. Convenience. a) I can copy the CD side of the hybrid SACD to my computer for network access and can take the hybrid SACDs on the road. I can copy vinyl to my computer, but I would have to be done in many more steps, which makes it less convenient.
3 b) It is inconvenient to clean, turn on, flip, turn off vinyl. Most of this can be done with a remote on digital. Also, flipping the album can pull me out of the experience of the music. For example, I sit down to listen to "Coltrane & Hartman", but have to get up in the middle of the mood and flip it. Not fun.
4. Price. New RCA Living Stereo hybrid SACDs can be found for 5.99 on yourmusic.com and between $10-12 on Amazon. Finding an RCA Living Stereo copy on vinyl (used) can cost an arm and a leg. Yes, there are vinyl copies of a lot of albums that can be found cheap when they are used. However, that only adds to the pops and scratches mentioned above.
This is not to say that I am against vinyl. Yes, it can be very engaging and pull you into the music like I have never heard from CD. However, it has many trade offs. I am an audio addict, so I like having vinyl, SACD, DVD-A, lossless computer files, CDs, etc... However, SACD seems to have the least trade offs for performance. Its one downside is the comparative lack of content compared to CD and especially vinyl....which is why I have my music in so many formats.
To be fair, I should mention that there is a romantic quality to analog that you can't get from digital. The huge album art, the sound of putting needle to record, and the nostalgic flavor of the entire process. Despite the fact that "Kind of Blue" and "Time Out" are available on SACD, I bought them on vinyl because analog just feels right with these albums. That is something that defies logic, but there is something to be said for the entire experience with certain albums.
Thanks for the time and care that went into your site. It gives an excellent perspective on the LP versus digital debate. I would like to add some thoughts about matching older vinyl with new components. Or I should say the difficulty of matching older vinyl to newer products. When I mean older - I'm referring to Angels with red and silver labels or RCA shaded dog labels from the mid to late 50's until about mid 60's. Recording equipment made tremendous strides during that period, but there was also a lot of human engineering going on as well. When the studio engineers cut a master and pressed a few samples these were taken home by employees and played on their own equipment. Many used AR3a's at home with Dynaco preamps/amps or Macs or whatever. The next day they would provide feedback. The point is that there was a convergence in which frequency range should be tweaked and so forth. Todays speakers designed for digital input are too revealing for those records. I find myself using the large Advents or ADS 880's from the '70's for my older vinyl. Likewise, I prefer my Hafler 110 preamp to the A/V Receiver that is used for video/digital playback. And as long as I'm using old speakers and old preamp/amp I go all the way and use a Thorens 125 with a SME 3009 arm. Just sounds more musical. I cann't describe the difference except to say that when a particularly beautiful passage is played on that old setup it brings tears to my eyes. I have never experienced that with digital. Now that isn't the case for vinyl recorded after about 1980 or so when I think the cutting heads were redesigned for the last time. Between '65 and '80 unfortunately while the recording equipment got better, the record companies cut technical staff and made the whole recording process cheaper. The legacy of that carried over to early CD's and you can see it even in supposedly hi quality classical recordings where there was no human ear to tweak the knobs during the transfer process. Now as far as the musical artistry of Heifetz versus the latest violin prodigy coming out the Suzuki method or whatever is concerned, I'll save those thoughts for a long rainy weekend.
LOL Well, I am not producing songs and you would not want to hear them if I did. ;-)
I just want to buy the tiger songs
Kiss me
Date:
I love it, too. I finally got an HDMI switcher, so I should have the Tivo replaced. The only issue is that the Tivo has movies on it that I have not watched. I am on my second Tivo because the first one had a hard drive issue that turned it into a brick. ~uofmtiger
Tivo knows about the dead HDMI port. Call and complain. They will send you a replacement box. I am on my 4th HD Tivo box. I love the product, but it does have issues...
I believe the last firmware update was in February. However, I rolled back to October because it was the last firmware that everything seemed to run properly. If you can, do not update past October (I believe some people report June or July was even better). The February firmware takes away the ability to upconvert DVDs to a higher resolution (720p and 1080i). I doubt I will do any more firmware updates if they do not change this issue.
The AVELinkplayer was NEVER supposed to upconvert over component outputs, so I would be very surprised if they ever "fixed" this "problem".
A great website and lots of excellent information. I too have purchased an AverLink Player and find it to be just fantastic. I am buying a Samsung HD TV in a week or so and am anxious to try it out. Just curious when was the last AverLink firmware? It's been many many months since my Player has come up with one. Thanks and keep up the good work. Glenn Doughty glennd@oblates.ca
I came across your site while looking for PA2V2 reviews. Given your interests you'd likely find the www.nextlevelav.com/forum site very interesting.
GO TIGERS GO!!
Charlie, I was hoping I would get more interest in the 5 best lists. If you can come up with a few I will add a page with them. I was going to just create a 5 best list for visitors and add them as they were suggested in the guestbook. It never really happened the way I planned.
Great website, keep up the good work. Let us know when we can post some of our 5 favorite "what-ever's" Charlie
Interesting stuff there Derek. I found this link from your sig on AK. I'm gonna have a better read of things when it gets to a more reasonable hour (it 3 am) here in the UK. You might find my site of interest: http://www.arcticcorsair.f9.co.uk/audio
Your write up is excellent. You have developed a really sophisticated system that balances cost and functionality well. I like the fact that you describe the thought process that went into some of your key decisions.
Awesome site!
"4) When I play sound from the TIVO through my stereo, it is a bit out of synch with the sound (which I mute) and the picture on the Samsung"
This is a common problem and from what I have read it is related to the scaler in the TV. However, I get the problem even when I have the Tivo is set in 720P mode (which the TV should not be upscaling). Some receivers have a feature that will add a delay for this problem. My Denon does not have such a feature, but I have learned to mute the TV (just like you have). I hope this answers have helped and please feel free to leave follow up questions if I did a poor job of explaining anything.
"3) I have the DirecTV HDTV Tivo, which is great. However, 5.1 audio isn't always there on the DVR recording. If I choose the TIVO option to record 5.1, then there appears to be no sound from ordinary programming through the TIVO optical output to my stereo."
I have DD5.1 chosen on my Tivo. It will record in DD5.1 when available and Pro logic when it is not available. Your receiver may need to be in "AUTO" mode to switch between them.
" The 5.1 sent by HDMI to the Samsung is apparently not passed through to the Samsung optical output to my stereo."
This is a limitation on the TV. It will not send DD5.1 through the HDMI port. You will need to run the optical directly to the receiver from the Directv box if you want 5.1.
2)"Does the Samsung pass any signals from other inputs to the IEEE, or is the output limited to OTA broadcasts?"
The Samsung will not record from other inputs. If you want to record using firewire from your DirectTV box, you would have to manually modify the box. I have decided not to go that route, but if you are curious about it, let me know and I will send you an email with the website with the hack (although it may be only for HDTV broadcasts). I have a Cable DVR with firewire outputs and use that to record to a DVHS player and from there I drop it to my computer. The results have been sketchy because my cable box has frequent audio drop-outs. I could not figure out how to get the Samsung to work directly with the computer. I am hoping someone figures that out, but I am going the DVHS route for now. I do not believe you have the same situation with your DVD recorder because it is not HD compatible.
Hi Bob, thank you for visiting my site! I am glad you got some benefit from my article!
"The TV is great as a PC monitor. However, I can only display 800x600 resolution. When I send 1280x760, my PC (IBM thinkpad) complains that the external projector cannot display it. Do you get the higher resolution?"
The native resolution of the TV is 1280x720. However, I have been able to get it to work with 1280x760 using the ATI's catalyst control center. One thing to keep in mind is that you could use 1280x720 then go into the setup of menu on the TV, then choose settings. Choose "PC" in the menu and then select Auto format. This will fit the image to your television. Let me know if that does not fix that problem.
Your site is great. Thanks for putting it up. I have the same Samsung and I am still working out connection issues. It sounds as though you have solved some that I am still trying to work out. The answers to some of my questions are suggested on your site, but I would love to hear your comments about the following: 1) The TV is great as a PC monitor. However, I can only display 800x600 resolution. When I send 1280x760, my PC (IBM thinkpad) complains that the external projector cannot display it. Do you get the higher resolution? 2) I have had little success with the D-Net IEEE connection. When I attached an Lite-On All Write DVD Recorder (LVW5005), the Samsung identified it as an "Uncontrollable device" and I was not able to record to it. I wrote Samsung and asked what equipment would work, and they sent me back the Samsung manual, just in case I had neglected to read it before, I guess. I was previously unsuccessful with a IEEE connection to my PC, but will try the software you mention. Samsung replied emphatically that the IEEE connection would not work with a PC. Does the Samsung pass any signals from other inputs to the IEEE, or is the output limited to OTA broadcasts? 3) I have the DirecTV HDTV Tivo, which is great. However, 5.1 audio isn't always there on the DVR recording. If I choose the TIVO option to record 5.1, then there appears to be no sound from ordinary programming through the TIVO optical output to my stereo. If I choose the TIVO option for no surround sound, then I get stereo (not 5.1) on every program sent to my stereo. The 5.1 sent by HDMI to the Samsung is apparently not passed through to the Samsung optical output to my stereo. 4) When I play sound from the TIVO through my stereo, it is a bit out of synch with the sound (which I mute) and the picture on the Samsung. Thanks, bobwolfe@umich.edu
Hi Shane! I hope all is well with you, too!
Derek, Hope you see this. Your site is well done. Hope you and my adopted city are fine. Take care of yourself...Shane
Don, The 200 hours in the description is related to standard definition programing (for 250GB). If you only recorded HDTV, you would only have room for 30 hours. This is a lot of space if your son uses a combination of both HD and SD. The cable HD DVRs in this area offer much less space (80GB), but supposedly a sata hard drive can be added for more room. Please feel free to ask more questions. A tivo of any kind is a great gift. It saves a lot of time when skipping through commercials and will make your son's schedule more flexible if he wants to see a movie that is on a specific night he can watch it when he has time.
this is way cool! how does the sateliite gadet work, i am looking to get my son a b-d presendt he is 27... does it take 5 hrs to record 5 hour... or what... donverger@gmail.com.... ps congrats on your stunning hummer pic i saw in your pad today!!! it is so beautiful!!!! or write pbase.com/donverger... thank you!
Nice list, Charlie! Thanks for visiting!
Great page love the idea. Charlie Top 5 Tourist Places in Washington, D C. 1. Viet Nam Wall 2. Smithsonian Musuems 3. Lincoln Memorial 4. White House (when it was open to the public) 5. The Capitol
Hi Tom, Thank you for the compliment. I plan to re-write the review soon. I am waiting for the smaller upgrade that they mentioned on their webpage that is supposed to take place before the end of the month. Here is the link to Momitsu: http://www.momitsu.com/dvd_880n_mmc.html If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask!
Hi Derek, I read your excellent review on the IOData AvelLink Player2. In your review on the player you said you downloaded music software from Momitu's web site. I can't seem to find it. Can you post a link? Thanks, Tom
Hi! The Denon receiver I am using does not require a preamp because it is one of the few brands that actually has a phono input.
Hi, Just a question. What phono preamo are you using? Regards.
Hi Derek, comeback to the FFL. I've joined the fun, and we all miss you! Bobrocks
right you are :)
Lost my guestbook today trying to change settings because I have been getting so much spam posted. I may change to an external server for the guestbook, but I do not have time to research today. Anyway, JRad, I was able to get Rhapsody up and running with your instructions from the post you made today. Thank you for all the help!