Blog Posts

Home Theater Updates

7/18/2020

I found a way to enjoy my projector at the touch of a button without mounting it, which is something that I really didn’t want to do, especially with this “faux K” 5040UB that is huge compared to your typical 1080p projector.

I ran HDMI via Ethernet through the attic and ran it under the rug in to the projector that sits on an open ottoman. Sure, I miss that teal color of the old ottoman, but at least we still have a pillow top for the pups and a bit of storage space for 3D glasses and a few nick-knacks. (see pic below to see where I put the projector):
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Ethernet to HDMI

The little device that uses Ethernet for HDMI, had a cool trick up its sleeve and also connected via USB to the Mac mini, so now I can get USB on the other side of the room next to my spot on the couch. I use it with a backlit mechanical keyboard. The device has two ports, but I prefer my Logitech Mouse that uses Bluetooth to a wired option. It controls the curser with a ball rather than moving around the entire mouse, so it works great on the arm of the couch. It has an on off switch, which is very convenient, and can be plugged in for a recharge.

Using a wireless mouse allowed me to plug my Dragonfly DAC into the second USB port. I haven’t tested it with other DACs, but this one has a problem playing a clean Hi Rez signal, but it works perfectly with my lossless files and Apple Music options. It would be interesting to see if a powered DAC would do better. Maybe I will test it down the road. I just hate unplugging one of my DACs from a separate system. However, it is nice to have music on demand without messing with anything but the Apple Remote app that controls Apple Music on the Mini.

Below are pics of the mouse and keyboard I use in the space

The Wrap Up

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.

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Outdoor Movie Night

6/22/2020

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I have discussed out inside projector setup, but we have started to dabble in outdoor movies, as well. There have been some up and downs in my short time with this process, so I thought I would go over them.

Initial Setup

As I have mentioned, I have been striving for less time to get rolling with watching a movie indoors. For me, that is impossible with the outdoor theater. I have to get my projector, remote control, screen, and chromecast (which we are using now, but that could change). I also have to run electric to the area. I may put in some outdoor power cables near the space, but I would still need to plug everything in.

Screen Setup

I am using a 100 inch screen on a tripod mount for now. I was using this in the living room at one point, so it meant that I could do this whole process without pulling any more money out of my pocket.

Since we are watching on an field stone patio, that isn't perfectly level, I have had to do some adjustments to just get the picture straight. Once that is done, I am on to the projector.

Projector Setup

Unlike the projector setup in the house that uses the 5040UB, in this setup, I am using a 2040UB that does not have all the setup flexibility, but it is a lot lighter, which is a trade off I am pretty happy about.

I do have a couple tables out on the patio for drinks and one of them is the perfect height for the projector. I did have to prop up one end with a couple magazines to get it even with the screen, but I will just have to live with that issue since I chose field stone rather than pavers a long time ago!

I know this sounds like a pain, but it takes maybe twenty minutes for the whole process.

Sound and Source

The 2040UB projector has its own 5 watt speaker. Since it is summer and we can't even start watching a movie until around 9, when it gets dark, I was hoping this would suffice because I don't need neighbors complaining. No such luck, with all the external noises ( air conditioner for the house cutting on and off, someone doing fireworks nearby, a pool pump running, and some crazy squirrel that was making a lot of noise in the trees), I am going to need an external speaker option. I have a small Bluetooth speaker that I am going to try out next time and see if it works. I do have a receiver in our sunroom and had speaker wire run to the patio if we want to go that route. I just need to attach my outdoor speakers which are currently in the sunroom.

As I mentioned, we are using a Chromecast and I am luckily get a great signal out in the yard with the Orbi wifi setup I am running. However, if I decide to use my receiver as a source for audio, I will use one of my AppleTV 3 devices that I typically take on trips. This will allow me to send the audio wirelessly to the receiver via Airplay. In other words, more experimentation before I find the best solution.

Is it worth it?

Well, that is the question! I don't think this is something we would do during the week. For now, we have to get started too late and I just won't want to deal with taking down the whole system at 11:30 or whatever time the movie ends. Also, I think the 100 inch screen is a bit too small for the yard. I guess because of the open sky, it doesn't feel as large outside as it does indoors. However, I don't really want it to be seen from the street, so I don't want a mammoth 14 foot screen, either. A ~200 inch screen would probably be ideal if I can fit it into the space (will look into that later if we use this setup a lot).

All that being said, we really like to be outdoors. We have a pool and we entertain in the summer more than any other time, so it will be something we do when we are entertaining for sure.

Also, I mentioned some of the audio issues before and no matter which solution I come up with, the movie won't be as immersive as it is indoors with a surround system. I could get a decent sound bar, but at the levels we have to listen to it, it won't be the same as watching inside. As a result, this is more for watching romantic comedies, nature films, and other movies that don't rely so much on the sound system.

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Making a case for Wilt

5/20/2020

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Like many, my first introduction to Wilt was through my dad’s eyes. I had never seen Wilt play, but my dad watched him and said he was the most unstoppable force in the history of basketball. He would talk about his 100 point game and the year he averaged 50 points.

Here is a quick discussion by the only radio guy to give him any credit (that I have heard).

Teams win championships

One thing I know for sure is that basketball is a team sport. The team with the most great players typically wins. With the hype around Michael Jordan and his 6 rings, you would think that basketball was an individual sport. If that is the case, then Larry Bird is the greatest player to every lace up. Why? He swept MJ out of the playoffs....TWICE. For those wondering, a sweep is a playoff series where the loser doesn’t even win a game. Also, MJ won 6, but he was in the league for 15 seasons. Did he suck the other 9 years? No, one player can’t typically win a championship without a great supporting supporting staff. How many rings does Magic have without Kareem? The answer is zero.

In other words give me a break when it comes to rings. That argument is so easy to prove false that I can't believe it gets so much discussion.

Wilt vs Russell

I have seen a few top 5 lists out there where Russell is on the top 5 list and Wilt isn’t. It is nonsensical! The argument is that Russell won 11 rings and Wilt only has 2. Is it fair to put Russell ahead of Chamberlain? Well lets look at the Celtics team and their list of hall of famers:

Russell
Bob Cousy
Bill Sharman
Tommy Heinson
K.C. Jones
Sam Jones
Frank Ramsey
John Havlicek

This is the equivalent of the modern NBA with the Warriors after KD was added, but then adding a couple more hall of famers to the team. Actually, the Warriors have maybe 4 Hall of Famers, while the stacked Celtics teams sometimes had a Hall of Famer at every position.

Secondly, and just as important, Russell had Red Auerbach as a coach. It just wasn’t a fair fight.

When Wilt, in his prime, was fortunate to play for Philadelphia with two other hall of famers (Bill Cunningham and Hal Greer), they set an NBA record with 68 wins and only 13 losses. They also defeated the Celtics and won the NBA title.

Lets look at individual stats

Okay, Wilt dominated individual stats. In fact, most of his records are still in the books. Wilt holds 71 records and 68 of those are individual. So what individual aspect of the game did Russell beat Wilt? The answer is none. When they played against each other, Russell’s team might win, but he would get spanked by Wilt in their one to one matchup. Head to head, Wilt average more points, rebounds, and assists. In fact, the record for the most rebounds in a game is 55. Wilt set that record against Russell.

Even if you claim that Russell had more help (which is a fact), you can’t explain why Russell shot 44 percent from the floor over his career. That is an individual stat and another one where it is embarrassing compared to Wilt. Wilt shot 54 percent over his career and when you think about how players would jump all over him every time he got the ball, it is amazing that he once shot 68 percent from the floor. Amazingly, he shot nearly 73 percent from the floor his final season and also lead the league in rebounds.

While Wilt’s scoring, efficiency and rebounding records are mind blowing, he even lead the league in assists one season when people said he was selfish. The only center to ever do so.

Modern NBA will give you a clue

A team is the sum of its parts. This is no where more apparent than in the 2015 NBA Finals. LeBron James lead both teams in points, rebounds, and assists. Yet, he didn’t win or get the Finals MVP trophy. Is there anyone that watched that series that didn’t know Lebron was the best player on the floor? It was obvious. Same situation with Russell vs Wilt.

Playoffs

Some would have you believe that Wilt didn’t play well in the playoffs. Is that true? His first 6 trips to the playoffs he scored over 28 points a game. He average over 23 rebounds (one season he averaged over 30 rebounds a game in the playoffs!!). He also shot 52.2 percent from the floor over his playoff career. Just for comparisons, Russell shot 43 percent over his playoff career. This was the guy that killed Chamberlain in the playoffs? No, that credit goes to his cast of NBA Hall of Famers. By the way, I am not saying Russell wasn’t a great player, I am just saying that if I was picking a center to start my team, he wouldn’t be in my top 5. Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem, Shaq, and Moses Malone would all be picked prior to Russell.

In fact, there was a year when Russell won a championship and was the 6th leading scorer on his team. He was typically 3rd leading scorer, at best. Giving him all the credit is like giving Dennis Rodman or Horace Grant all the credit for the Bulls wins instead of MJ.

The idea that he individually outperformed Wilt is a myth.

Rule changes

The NBA was worried about his dominance and started implementing changes while Wilt was still at Kansas. In today's game, they have put in rules to make it easier for players to score. Not so with Wilt, they literally did everything they could do to stop him:

Free throws - They made it illegal to cross the free throw line on the shot because Wilt would essentially dunk the ball from there.
Lobbing over the backboard on an inbounds pass. Kansas would run their out of bounds plays and lob the ball over the backboard and Wilt would catch and dunk it.
Offensive goal tending.
Widening of the lane. It went from 12 to 16 feet

He wasn’t relatable

I think the main reason a player can have 71 records and not be in the discussion of greatest to ever play is because no one could or can relate to him. He was like the story of David and Goliath. No one roots for Goliath. If you see some of the stories about his stamina, speed, jumping ability and strength, it sounds like a super-human and us mortals can’t begin to relate to it. I am including a few Youtube videos with some of the stories. Hard to separate myth from the truth, but judge for yourself.

Modern Bias

Another reason we discount him is a modern bias. Outside of people rehashing his dominance, I can only judge by low grade YouTube videos that come no where near the high definition television we have now. Many only heard some of his games on the radio. There isn’t even film with his 100 point game. It all gets combined into an idea that he is a myth that was simply made up.

I remember watching Bird, Magic, Jordan, Dr J, and even Kareem. When Bird and Magic started to be plagued with injuries a vacuum was created for a media star to stop the NBA from collapsing after the guys that saved it were sailing into new phases over their lives. The one guy that could do that was MJ. I remember a time when you couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing MJ’s Hollywood smile. He was a media darling. I loved watching him play, as well. Of course, if you turned on basketball, there was a very high chance that the Bulls would be on.

Wilt never had this advantage. People would hear about his feats, but didn’t typically see them. It was a different era before MJ took the NBA to new commercial/corporate heights. In fact, if you look at his shoe sells, the hype continues and grows. You would think he was also super human, but most of us have actually seen him play. He wasn't invincible. The Celtics and Pistons proved that. Once he had a crew of the best players, it became inevitable that he would win titles. Think about those LeBron James teams in Cleveland that went from title contender to bottom dweller the year he left. Not so when MJ left to play baseball. His team went from 57 wins to 55 wins. Broadcasters that don't want to give the rest of the team credit have to come to terms with this fact that they were nearly as good with Pete Myers in the line up. Can you imagine if an all-star replaced Jordan that year rather that Myers?

To Wrap Up

The NBA has been around for several eras. In all that time, we have never seen a player as dominant as Wilt. In fact, no one is close. He average over 50 for an entire season. Unfortunately, he played before the modern sports journalist and talking heads were even around. He didn’t have the corporate sponsorships and movies, so we just have to judge him based on his unprecedented stats. The broadcasters prefer to just put him aside as some sort of exception. Not really fair and most just dismiss him for two titles without looking at the competition.

One other thing I have heard is that a center needs a good guard and that ball handlers don’t need that. How many boards did MJ average over his career (6)? Without others doing the rebounding, he wouldn’t have won as many games or got nearly as many shots. There is a reason they needed Rodman. With Wilt, he could do it himself. One season he averaged 27 boards a game. That would lead to a lot of scoring without anyone passing him the ball. The argument that centers need teammates holds true for every individual player at every position. It is a team sport!

So some would ask about my all time starting 5. Here it is for the moment:

Wilt
Bird
Magic
MJ
Lebron

If I had to start a team with one of them, it would be Wilt.

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Projector in a living room?

5/7/2020

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Since cancelling cable TV in January 2020, we have been watching more movies. We typically want a projector and projection screen to provide a more realistic experience than our TV. However, that has some drawbacks that I am currently in the process of trying to fix.

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The Screen Problems

At first, I used a tripod mounted screen with a 100 inch surface This worked, but it had some drawbacks compared to a wall mount. It put the screen in front of my entertainment center, which hurt the audio of the center speaker, which sat behind it. Also, setup took some time and taking it back down took even more time. It was such a hassle that we rarely used it unless we were watching the Super Bowl or some other major event.

Recently, I decided to just get some projector mounts and screw them into the wall. Then put a 100 inch projection screen on the mounts. This is a whole lot easier to deal with. Just pull down the screen when we want to watch and put the screen back up when done. It is probably the ugliest thing in the living room, but it is so functional that I felt that it was a trade off I would be willing to take.

Tripod screen pic below:

The Projector Placement Problems

Well, this is really a bigger pain than the original tripod screen. I have the projector inside an ottoman and pull it out and either put it on the ottoman (usually with a flat piece of wood under it) or put it on a tripod stand. The stand itself is starting to bend in one corner, so I am going back to the ottoman. Of course, I try to get the projector into a similar position each time, but I am always having to work on getting everything in focus and centered because it is difficult to put it back in the same exact spot.

To connect it to my receiver, I have a male to female HDMI that plugs into the third HDMI out of my receiver. When I want to watch a movie, I have a 20 foot HDMI cable that I use to plug into the female side of the receiver connected HDMI. This leaves us with a long cable running through the room.

The current ottoman is in the pic below:

Solutions

Well, first off, I can use the pull down projection screen for the time being. We plan to paint the living room down the road, and at that point, I am going to switch to a screen that can be controlled via a remote. This will make it even easier to switch from TV to projector.

The second issue was the projector is placement and I don’t want to mount it in my living room. I have art on the walls and don’t want a large projector hanging in the path. That left me with few options. I don’t have room behind the couch to put it on a table, either.

Well, we decided to get a new ottoman. The current one is cloth on top, which the dogs love, but I found an ottoman with that same feature (with an additional feature of the cloth side being able to be put face down with a table top going face up). I had an ottoman with this feature in the past and it allowed visitors in the middle of our sectional to have a place for drinks (even if it did confuse my pups). The new ottoman has an open area at the bottom and this is where I will put the projector. It is ideal given my limitations. It will give us some storage for 3D glasses and a few knick knacks, while also serving as a permanent location for the projector. We will have to figure out exactly where the ottoman needs to be to watch a movie, but that should be easy enough. This will curb setup time dramatically.

The other issue is the HDMI cable that people could trip over. Well, I looked at wireless HDMI and it seemed too expensive if I wanted a 4k signal. As a result, I went with a device that will push an HDMI signal over Ethernet. I did have to get into the attic and run cable, but I had done it before with my surround speakers and subwoofer cable, so nothing I hadn’t done before. I tested it this weekend and it worked great. The only minor issue was that the manufacturer said that the receiving device would get plenty of power without plugging it in, but I had to plug it in to get a perfect signal. No big deal, it uses mini USB (which it says it used for for service) and my nearby power strip has a couple unused USB ports.

To Wrap up

I have the ottoman on order, so we will see how things go after using the setup for a little while and I will post an update article down the road. However, this seems like it will fix most of my issues until I can get the electric screen in place. We love movies, and I love sports, so this should pay for itself in the long run.

By the way, some people have mentioned that you can get a 75 to 85 inch TV these days, so why bother with a projector? The answer is that I have a doorway that a screen can pull down in front of, while I can’t mount a TV there. I currently have a 65 inch TV and maybe I could fit in a 75 inch, but even if I stay with just a 100 screen (I may switch to a 120 when I go electric, but I will have to see if it will still fit in the space), the experience is just better from my typical viewing location. Having a screen stretch from speaker to speaker is ideal for my needs and that requires it to extend in front of the doorway.

Also, I did look at ultra short throw projectors and, for the price, I saw a lot of complaints about their current state. I think my Epson 5040ub is just a better projector for my needs given the current state of technology. However, I will see how things progress in this area if the things I discussed above don’t go as planned.

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.

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How I manage the troubled times

4/22/2020

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This thread is to discuss how I am managing these trouble times with the coronavirus quarantining going on in my city. It builds on my post from yesterday, but it adds some other details.

Working from Home

I talked about some of this before, but it should be mentioned here, as well). I never had the opportunity to do my Job from home. My home office setup is geared toward fun stuff like editing photos, watching videos, and listening to music. However, with the pandemic situation, I am now doing my Job full time in this setup.

The Upsides:
No commute
No gas/cleaning bill
Love my 34 inch screen more than my screens at work
Prefer my mouse and keyboard, as well
See my girlfriend more often
Better coffee and espresso (but I have to pay for it)
More home cooked lunches

Downsides:
My desk is too short for long hours. I have mainly spent a couple hours in the office at a time, so the lower desk never really bothered me. This has shown that I probably need a standing desk, just for an ideal seating situation. At work, I have one and I definitely keep it higher than my home desk, though I like the ability to adjust it as my neck gets stiff. I have tried changing the chair and monitor heights, but I really think this is all about the desk.
Harder to keep organized
Less human interaction (on every level)

For Food and other stuff

We have done a combination of things. For toilet paper and paper towels, we had a friend pick some up because he works at a place that sells it. Hard to even get it from him because they have a limit available to employees.

For food, we have had to run to Kroger a few times. My girlfriend usually goes and puts on some sort of mask and wears disposable gloves. We have also been ordering everything we can from Amazon and Whole Foods which has been great.

Entertainment

If you have seen my other posts, you can see we have a lot of entertainment options. We spend as much time outside as we can in the backyard. I had our decaying deck replaced in January, so the timing was perfect. The pic below is from right after we put in the deck, but we have added some cushions, an umbrella, and some lighting since then. My girlfriend bought us a new Weber grill to replace the one in the pic. I guess I need to review it, too!

I had my Hot Tub moved to the deck, but we had some issues. The top needed replaced, it had to be connected to electricity, and the cover lift broke. I have been in it a couple times now that the cover has been removed from the lifter, but still not something I do daily. I talked to my hot tub/pool guy about 2 weeks ago and he said he was trying to track down a lifter or mechanism to fix the issue, but I have not heard back from him. He may be running into issues getting it with the current state of the quarantine. The cover is light enough to remove myself, but I would use it more if I had a lifter. Also, I had more privacy when it was in the Sunroom (my girlfriend's cats live in there now), so I need some sort of solution for that, too. Not a big deal if my neighbor's see me in there, but I would still like some sort of better screening other than my fence (which isn't as tall as I would like).

I don't really feel like being on my devices after working from home. Therefore, we have also been watching movies at night. I have a projector we use when we watch something that will benefit from it. Youtube has filled in gaps here and there.

Indoors or outside, I have also been listening to music. Outside, I have an Airport Express connected to a receiver and 4 speakers in the sunroom. I airplay Apple Music from my phone or watch and have music out there when we want it. A lot of times, we just prefer the sound of nature and don't need the music, though.

In the house, we listen to music on the HomePod, or when I can, I will fire up one of my systems and use a combination of Audirvana and Tidal (will change to Qobuz in May).

Human Interaction

For work, we use email, phone, text, and chat. Luckily, no video. Actually, I haven't communicated with anyone using video.

I also use text, messaging, Facebook and phone to communicate with friends and family. Luckily, I have my girlfriend that I can see in person, my dogs, and a neighbor we talk to over the fence.

How am I doing with the changes?

Not too bad. Thankfully, I haven't gotten the virus (knock on wood), so I can't complain. I like working from home. I just have a better overall setup and the lack of an hour (at least) a day on the road isn't missed. I have a lot of entertainment options, so I can't complain there, either. It could definitely be worse. I really feel for those that live in a small apartment without a lot to do (trust me, I have been there, but luckily not under ta quarantine). I do miss seeing coworkers and friends, though.

Despite the few upsides, I am still praying for all this to be over and for all those people that have been afflicted or have had to be out in the middle of this.

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The Home Lifestyle (part 1)

4/21/2020

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We have all been affected by the terrible Coronavirus, but I wanted to talk about several of the things I like about working from home, which I have been doing for a few weeks, and a few things I don't like about it.

The list of pros

10. Computer display - at work, I have two somewhat outdated displays with different resolutions. While they aren't tiny, they don't allow me to do the things I can do on my 34 inch ultra wide I have at home. Pulling up a spreadsheet and seeing every single column and tab rather than scrolling all the time is a huge advantage.

9. Keyboard - While I don't dislike my keyboard at work, I still much prefer my DASKeyboard at home. It is a pleasure to type on.

8. Bathroom breaks are better - for one thing, my bathroom is about 30 feet from my home office. At work, I am at least a 100 yards from a bathroom and half the time when I finally get there, someone is cleaning it, so I have to run to another floor. I have to plan ahead. No such issue at home.

7. Lunch break - When I eat lunch at work, I am confined to my small office and I never really get away from work. It is a sack lunch unless I want to use the microwave. At home, I can heat something up in the oven, fry something up, then eat it outside away from my home office....all in about the same amount of time it takes me to go to the kitchen at work, get some water, and eat inside my 4 walls.

6. Music - At work, I have a Sangean Radio and at home I have Audirvana (to play music) connected to headphones (AKG K701) and NHT speakers. The DASKeyboard also has media keys for stopping or turning down the volume. I use an iPhone with Bluetooth at work and control it from my Apple Watch. Not horrible, but the home situation is miles better.

5. Less interruption - At work, anyone can visit at any time. I don't mind it unless I have a tight schedule and this is when it gets in the way. At home, I can really focus better despite the ability to distract myself easier. The thing is, if I have a tight schedule, it is just easier to maintain a pace at home.

4. Exercise - While I do have to walk a flight of stairs and walk farther to the restroom at work, I have been using the treadmill in my home office when I have a chance for a 10 or 15 minute break. My Apple Watch circles are filling up much faster and I am burning more calories on a daily basis.

3. Home with animals and partner - I mentioned lunch breaks, but I also love seeing my girlfriend when she is off or relaxing with pups when I have time for a break. It is so nice to go from a stressful phone call (as an example) to petting or throwing a toy to a pup. Nothing I do at work for stress relief works as well. It is also nice when my gal makes me Espresso or Cappuccino in the morning (as a side note, having Espresso from my Breville machine beats the coffee at work!) or ice water with slices of lemon. No time for this when I have to drive to work.

2. Dress code - Not having to spend anything at the cleaners is great, but there is also something wonderful about wearing a t-shirt with sweats or jeans all day.

1. Commute - Going to my home office takes 30 seconds vs 30 minutes to my workplace. It saves time and money. I don't have to burn gas, oil, etc. I also don't have to worry about crazy traffic. However, the main benefit is the time I get to spend at home after work.

The list of Cons

3. Coworkers - It feels isolated at home, especially when my girlfriend has to go to work. We have weekly teleconferences, but it isn't the same as being with people.

2. Non-ergonomic furniture - My home office was setup to spend maybe a couple hours in it at a time. Not 9 or 10 hours! The fact is that my desk is too low and my chair is more for "mancave" duties than getting work done. The desk has left me with neck aches and I am typically sore after a busy day.

1. Out of the loop - It is easier to gauge what is going on when you are in a building with everyone. The home worklife makes you feel more out of the loop (though, I can feel that way at work, as well).

The Wrap up

While I hate the circumstances, I really love working from home. On some days, I had to come home and let the dogs out during the day. That is almost an hour of driving when I am at the office. Now I can let them out in 5 minutes because I am home. I could imagine how convenient it would be in normal times. I can't tell you the number of hours I have had to take off (using vacation time) to get something repaired at the house (most recently a hot water heater). This can be done at anytime when you work from home.

The unfortunate thing is that when life returns to normal, I will be back inside those 4 walls again. It really makes me envy people that are regularly allowed to work from home. On average, I spend more hours working now because I don't have to worry about beating the traffic when the day is through. When it is 4:50 at work, I can get home in 25 minutes. If I leave at 5:05, it takes almost an hour to get home. That means I have to wrap things up and get out of there unless I want to burn more gas and spend more time just sitting in traffic.

I would really like some sort of schedule where I work from home 3 days a week and go into work 2 days a week for meetings and to see what is going on. I don't see it happening after all this is over, but I would still trade the situation for better news and circumstances than what we see now.

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Living Room Setup video and photos

2/17/2020

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With my girlfriend moving in, I am always on the verge of changing things in my living room. This is where the room stands now, so it will be interesting to see how things progress in the future.

I have the video andnew photos on my Den page. However, the video is below:

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Thunderbolt 3 Dock to rule them all?

2/9/2020

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I am now on my third thunderbolt dock. Everything was operating like clockwork and then I had the opportunity to review the ICY Box20858 ICY BOX RED DOT Award Winner 2019 Thunderbolt 3 Type-C Notebook/Laptop, PC Docking Station.

For full disclosure, I received this for free in exchange for an unbiased review (for Amazon) and I get paid if you click and buy from Amazon links.

Everything a geek needs

Here is the official tally of what is on this thing: :Triple video output! Mini DP 1. 2, VGA and HDMI 2. 0 or DisplayPort 1. 2. Two USB 3. 1 (Gen2) Type-C interfaces, four USB 3. 0 Type-A interfaces. Sd 4. 0 (UHS-II) card reader for most common SD card specifications. 3. 5 mm stereo Combo jack (Microphone/ audio). Gigabit LAN RJ45 interface with wake-on-lan function.

While I wasn't really in the market for a new dock, the SD card slot was THE KILLER FEATURE! I just could resist. I had a card reader plugged into my machine, but I wanted it out of sight, so it was hard to get to. That was solved with the ICY Box. It is conveniently located on the side which makes it easy to reach. The numerous ports are perfect for my arrangement, as well. I have it daisy chained with the old dock,. so I have even more options (I may remove the old one if I don't use all the slots up anytime soon, but no reason to mess with it now).

Complaints?

I have a couple minor complaints, though. First off, I like the sleek design, but I think this shape has some issues. You can't plug anything into the front. I don't use the headphone port, but if I did, I would not like it to be located on the back. Personally, I like the ability to stack objects, like a SSD drive, but that front curve makes that less likely. Also, this thing is wide, so you really need to make sure your area can accommodate it. My last two docks were no where near as long as this one. It is the trade off for ports.

Those are minor complaints, but the one thing that give me some concern is how hot this device runs. It is significantly hotter than either of my old docks. That may not matter in the long run, but I am a bit concerned about it.

The Wrap Up

All in all, I am very happy to have a fast SD card reader available without needing to plug in a separate card reader. I like the numerous ports on the ICY box and the fact that they have two USB3 ports on the side for quick access to portable SSD drives. Since I mainly use my Mac mini (desktop computer) for photography, this really makes my workflow that much faster.

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All the ways I enjoy Music (more or less)

2/2/2020

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To start off 2020, I thought it would be fun to list my current audio gear, how I use it, and why. I have been thinking about a video for my different listening spaces, and having my main gear listed, should help. Given the fact that I write about audio so often, these posts will give you some insight into my approach to audio.

Main System

The Power

My main system is the setup I have in my living room that we use for movies and music. For me, the two entertainment pursuits are equally as important, so the gear I chose reflect that thinking.

Denon X4200W - review - This will probably be the first thing replaced to be honest. It works and sounds great, but getting something new with Airplay 2 built in would be ultra convenient. The new HDMI standards will have me hold off for a bit, but with the price points of receivers with pre-outs dropping, it will eventually happen. The main reason I chose this receiver was the pre-outs and Audyssey MultEQ XT32. At the time I was planning on using external amplification for all of my speakers, but instead decided I was happy with just amping the front two channels for music.

Emotiva UPA-1 Mono Blocks - review - I bought these 200 watt per channel amps back in 2011 and they are still going strong. I did have one issue with one a long time ago, but Emotiva fixed it or replaced it (not sure which) and all has been great since then. I don't envision changing these out unless I have some issue. They run cool and give my front speakers tons of headroom.

The Speakers

B&W 683 - reviewed here and here - These fell into my lap when my boss decided to downscale after their children moved out. I helped them decide on them years prior, so I guess a good deed paid off. I got them, the center channel, a sub, and a Marantz receiver for $200. Best money I have spent in a while.

B&W HTM61 Center Channel - just barely fit in my console, but happy with the way they sound for movies and television.

Monitor Audio RSFX - I was using these with my old Monitor Audio speakers, so I thought I might have to change them out. However, they work with the other speakers fine, so I just left them in with the B&Ws. I don't listen to a lot of surround sound music, but they are great for movies.

Elemental Designs A2-300 Subwoofer - review - Another product that has been in my system for years and years. The company isn't even around anymore, but made some great subs for a great price back in the day. They bass response is 18 - 100 Hz. As mentioned in the review, the thing is large, so you have to find a place for it. I still remember when I first got it and I was watching one of the Terminator movies for the first time. I thought the foundation of my house was going to disintegrate with the loud explosions.

The Sources

Mac mini 2010 - I just moved this out of my office at the end of 2018. It has been a welcome addition to my main system. It works with every audio app under the sun and really never feels out of date with any app I have tried (new and old) working with it perfectly.

Topping DAC10 - Love this little guy. In my main setup, it takes the USB output from my Mac mini and sends it to my Denon receiver over COAX. I prefer this to analog because the room correction benefits that come with feeding it a digital signal. It sounds fabulous!

Apple TV 4 - Mainly use this because of Airplay 2. It allows me to control what is playing from my HomePod (via Siri) and puts the sound over my main speakers. We also like the way it puts lyrics on the screen, which is helpful when you are trying to figure out what they heck the artist is singing.

Project Debut III - I added this to the setup back in 2005! I will listen to this maybe once or twice a week. I keep thinking I should upgrade, but it seems to do the job with the Bellari VP129 that I bought around the same time. I also added a Speedbox, but that has been replaced after it broke, and about a week ago, the second one stopped working, I will just let it be for now. I do think I would like to update it at some point, but not a top priority at the moment.

Oppo 980H - This is a universal player that handles SACD and DVD-As. Still sounds good, but I don't use it very often. I prefer streaming or listening to records.

Nvidia Shield - I run Plex on this device and it allows me to control what is playing via the Amazon Plex app.

The Apps

For streaming to my main setup, I mainly use a combination of the following:

Audirvana - This gives me access to my own library, in addition to, Qobuz and Tidal. I am currently subscribed to Tidal (thanks to an offer I couldn't refuse), but I prefer Qobuz.

Apple Music - I have this for everything else... Amazon Dots, AppleTV, Apple Watch, HomePod, etc.

SiriusXM - Mainly for the car, but I will Airplay it when I am in the mood for Luna or Classic Rock.

Wrap up

As you can see, this setup is meant to provide great sound for both music and movies without breaking the bank, while also providing some convenience. As I said, I am pretty happy with it. I will probably update the receiver in the next year or so. Heck, with options like the Fluance turntables bring audiophile quality sound to the $500 price point, I may update the turntable, as well. I have a few home improvements that I want to get done with my extra funds this year, so any major updates might happen in 2021.

I will also discuss my other setups in future posts, so stay tuned.

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Tivoo Max Awakes Nostalgia

1/17/2020

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When I first got a chance to review the Tivoo Max, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I haven’t seen anything quite like it, other than the Pixel Ren and Stimpy Piixel displays I got a while back. However, they are just static art that look great when you turn them on.

For full disclosure, I received this for free in exchange for a review (for Amazon) and I get paid if you click and buy from Amazon links.

The Display

This Divoom display brings me back to my childhood of Atari and Intellivision games. Then later, the cool NES games that I still own. I would have been interested in the device if it only had the cool pixlel artwork choices. However, after getting it home, I was blown away by the many options.

First, you download the app. It shows you all of the many options you have. You have a voice memo option, an alarm, notifications (like see when you get a Facebook/messenger text, a noise meter, a countdown meter, etc. It is cool and useful!!

The Divoom app will allow you to pick form a gallery of great pixel art already available. The choices are numerous. The main negative here is that the page takes longer to load than you would expect and takes you back to the beginning of the page if you leave it. It is a small complaint, but the app could be better because it is even hard to find where some things are. I expect that I will eventually get used to it, though

Visualizer and Custom (under "channels")

My favorite section is the Visualizer and Custom channels. On the custom channel section, you can save artwork that is available and have it readily available. I have some cool stuff saved here that I like to see again and again.

The Visualizer is the main reason I wanted this device and it doesn’t disappoint. You can save your own (which is easy) or you can use one of the visualizers they already have saved. This takes the music being played on the spaeaker and gives you pictures that move to the beat or even move their mouths as music plays. I put together a quick video to show how all this works:

Bluetooth/Aux/TF/Radio

The Bluetooth features are kind of ingenious. It will allow you to pair the iPhone to the device without also pairing Bluetooth audio. It is a separate option in the Bluetooth menu on the iPhone.

This allows you to pair the phone to it for choosing what you see on the screen while sending audio to it from another device.

TF - You can store mp3 music on a TF card and play it back on the device. It doesn’t work with Apple Lossless which is 99 percent of my library, but I doubt that I will use this option very often, if at all. That being said, when I tried to access the TF card files using the app, the app would freeze. It would play when I chose the TF card by hitting the button on the right side of the Divoom, but I couldn’t get it to choose specific music from the card.

Radio - They give you a bunch of radio stations to choose from, but I don’t see a way to add anything new to the list, so many of my favorite stations are missing. You are able to favoritie the many choices they give you, so it is easy to find stuff you like.

Aux port - My great idea (or so I thought) was to connect the aux port to zone 2 of my stereo in my computer room. It works great for playing music, but unlike the other 3 options, it doesn’t work with the visualizer. That is a major bummer because I mainly wanted to use it with the source muted, but with the visualizer dancing to the music from my speakers. (I found a way around that issue, though)

Enter Airfoil

Since the aux port didn’t allow for the visualizer, I decided to use Airfoil on my Mac to get audio to it and my receiver at the same time. The app is meant for multi-room audio, but it works here, as well. The only downside, is that Airfoil will down-convert hi-rez audio to 16/44.1, but not a huge deal when I want to have the visualizer apps running. Honestly, I don’t hear much or any difference anyway. If I am just critically listening to headphones, then I will just leave Airfoil and the visualizer out of the mix.

The key to use Airfoil with it is to turn up the volume on the Airfoil app, but turn down the volume on the Tivoo using the buttons on top of the device. This works great.

(*Note: I know some of this is hard to picture, so I have included a video- above- to show the main features and how I plan to use it).

Bluetooth Speakers

While I won’t be using the speakers every day, I do love the sound compared to other Bluetooth speakers. It is crazy that they didn’t slack off in this area. I could see a lot of people buying it for the sound alone. You might be able to find something comparable to the sound in the $125 range, but it won’t have all of the cool features this device has. Though, you can’t pair this with another speaker, so look at some of the bluetooth Sony speakers (which I have reviewed and enjoyed) if that is a need and you want to stick with Bluetooth.

For full disclosure, I received this for free in exchange for a review (for Amazon) and I get paid if you click and buy from Amazon links.

Wrap Up

I have to admit, I do lean toward nostalgia. The Tivoo Max makes me feel good to see things from my past that made me happy growing up. That is the reason I have a lot of the “clutter” in my room. It makes me happy. With this device, the happiness quotient is off the wall. Yes, there are a few glitches in the app I would love to see fixed, but it does everything I want it to do other than the aux port deficiency that I mentioned. However , found a decent workaround, so I will be using this little thing a lot. Of course, it makes a great clock, too! lol

Upsides
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Great Sounding Speaker
Unique Pixel art
Visualizer is awesome
Create your own art/vizualizers
Bluetooth
Clock features

Downsides
Price (retails for $199current price is here)
Some glitches in the app
Visualizers doesn't work with aux in

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Forward>>

Ethernet to HDMI

The Wrap Up

Initial Setup

Screen Setup

Projector Setup

Sound and Source

Is it worth it?

Teams win championships

Wilt vs Russell

Lets look at individual stats

Modern NBA will give you a clue

Playoffs

Rule changes

He wasn’t relatable

Modern Bias

To Wrap Up

​The Screen Problems

​The Projector Placement Problems

​Solutions

​To Wrap up

Working from Home

For Food and other stuff

Entertainment

Human Interaction

How am I doing with the changes?

The list of pros

The list of Cons

The Wrap up

Everything a geek needs

Complaints?

The Wrap Up

Main System

The Power

The Speakers

The Sources

The Apps

Wrap up

About me:

Archives

Categories

The Screen Problems

The Projector Placement Problems

Solutions

To Wrap up