The prepress system - Page 8

I noted the more expensive silver-coated cables have a greater percentage of silver coating. The Pangeas have 4%; I saw another (Audioquest I think) at 10%. I do experience audio dropouts and such with my cable TV sometimes, but that could be the source, not necessarily the cables. Then, the recent problem with video from my 09FD turned out to be an HDMI gone bad.

For the cable box, I might go to component for a while and see what happens.

Here is the latest Billy Bags design, again a tweak of my last design. We're talking square pillars and shelves now, and a cleaner look.

This one, with some special feet to get it off the floor a bit more (still not as much as I want), is more money than I was counting on. And with recent developments back home, I'm not sure I should pursue it. A couple of family members are ill, with an ex sister-in-law in hospice care and a sister-in-law battling cancer, and funds may have to be diverted to those so I'm reluctant to drop over $2200 on a new rack now.

I'm looking into Salamander and may contact a custom furniture place about something also. In any case, with any rack, I may have to forego the planned new, shorter power cords and use the ones I have now. Still considering possibilities on this, though I'm keeping an eye on what happens back home.

 

FRIERSON_CUSTOM 9834_06_27_11.PDF 108.6376953125k . file

Since this is New York, a quarter is probably on the low end , but it should be cheaper, yes. Then the only problem would be leveling, as the floor here is uneven. Furniture casters, perhaps similar to what I have propping up the front legs of my Hooker cabinet, may work.

Research will be paramount in going for a welder. I wouldn't want to just stab at a name in the yellow pages for this, and in a way it will be more work than the current tack, but worth considering. Meantime, I e-mailed Billy Bags this AM and advised them of the situation. They have standard models that could work with a few tweaks, and I'm sure it would cost less than the current design.

I think I have the more or less final idea for what I'd like this rack to look like. It's a variation on one of Billy Bags' standard designs. I might explore the welder or custom furniture maker option next. the pillars can be made square easily if that's simpler or cheaper.

 

table14-1in.pdf 41.359375k . file

Okay, Salamander is officially eliminated, as they don't do custom widths, though they do custom heights. Not wanting to move my side racks, and hoping to avoid new interconnects, I'm trying to keep this new one to 58" wide. The current space available i5 59.25" so it's tight.

I did begin a general search for welders in Brooklyn and found several. More detailed follow-up is needed, and maybe a visit to one or two. And I haven't tried Billy Bags with my last design (though the last e-mail I got wasn't from the person I'd been dealing with and it had a ring of finality to it).

And now, Billy Bags seems eliminated, as I submitted my final designs, which according to the rep cannot be done for the $2000 max figure I gave. In fact, it would be just over $3000! So unless something major occurs (such as suddenly finding more space for one of the pre-fab racks or I come into some money), Billy Bags is out, too. Too bad, because I like their products.

I am back to checking out a welder or woodworking place, either of which I'm sure can give me something under my budget. Or, inconvenient as it is, I could just keep my hooker console and save the money. Not sure right now, but I'll deal with it until a good opportunity comes or the idea of a new rack wears off.

I hadn't thought of that. Searching by the local phone book is probably hit or miss, even local online. But out of state is another idea. I may do that. Glad I thought of it !

Obviously, thanks. When I pick up the research again, I'll look out of NY as well as in. Not this weekend, of course, given the circumstances.

Not my immediate area, no. I did note the high school across the street is an evacuation center, though. I was on call for the possibility of having to go into work today (I work at NYC Transit's print shop), but the call hasn't come. I doubt it would at this point. And interestingly, I think the shop is in an evacuation area itself.

It's supposed to get bad overnight into the AM, with the storm out of here maybe late afternoon tomorrow. It's begun raining, but nothing dramatic. I guess that could well change.

Thanks. I figure that, just before bed, I'll shut down the A/V system. Even though it's protected with two Furmans, I think this is a good idea. Possibly I'll turn off the SPR 20i (which everything's plugged into) and unplug it from the Elite-15PF (done), or turn off and unplug the Elite also. The surges that can accompany power outtages are something I'd like to avoid if we have an outtage.

The computer's on another set of equipment (two Tripplites), and I'll deal with that perhaps the same way. But I'd like to figure out how to do it without the annoying noise the UPS in the voltage regulator makes.

I've turned everything back on, but my cable box isn't cooperating. At first, it gave me channel banners but only gray screen. Having rebooted, it's been "acquiring application information" for about 20 minutes. I wonder.

The equipment that got zapped is replaceable, PC. Be glad for that, and that it (I hope) wasn't costly to do. Did you have any kind of power protection on it?

My cable box still reads "Alt." I wonder if I did something to it when I rebooted, maybe I forgot to turn it off before plugging it back in? I guess I have to consider a new box.

Update: I called Time Warner Cable regarding my recalcitrant box, and was told that sometimes, when a box has been disconnected for a while, it needs a signal from the office to resume functionality. That was the case here. So everything's running fine.

On the other hand, I went outside for the first time since Saturday afternoon, and saw that one of the large trees up the street was blown over. It didn't hit any buildings, but that part of the block's a mess.

I am now thinking about chucking my earlier ideas on a new main rack and considering this Salamander:

http://www.thesimpletvstandstore.com...-30-doors.aspx

Yes, it's too wide for the current space I have, but I find I'm actually willing to explore making room for it. That would mean moving the speakers another 6" or so further apart, which gets problematic due to the limited space on the left. But as I say, I'm willing to see if I can figure out how to do it. If I come up with a workable layout, I may go for it. And I can save money if I get only the basic rack, not the doors and rear panels and such.

That's true, unfortunately. there was severe damage, mostly flooding, upstate. Here some businesses and homes took damage, but things could have been worse if Irene had been stronger.

I think so too, HTG.

The full setup, as shown in the link, retails for about $1465. The rack alone is less than a grand, MSRP. It comes in different combinations with black or aluminum rods and black, walnut, cherry, or maple finishes. I'd like to see oak (since all the wood in my room is oak), but black works. It will take some serious maneuvering as to whether it will work in my room.

EDIT: maybe VERY serious maneuvering. If I spread out the Sanus racks and my speakers to accommodate the Synergy 30, I have no room to move the LP racks from behind the left side of the room, and tighter access to get to them. Uh-oh. Still, I remain undaunted so far.

Waboman, hello there!

Right now, I'm thinking black, though I'm not sure whether to get black or aluminum pillars; the aluminum ones might stand out too much and be a visual distraction. So, black/black or walnut/black are where I'd lean now. Cherry's reddish color doesn't work in here, and maple may be too light against everything else. The black/black combo is visually quieter, I think, especially when lights are low, as it disappears more against the TV screen. I need to pop over to your thread and take another look at your setup for some perspective.

I am planning a minor room rearrangement. Will take a pic or two when it's complete (that is, if the camera still works).

And, I'm still considering how I could make the Salamander fit in here; this will be tricky. And how to get rid of the Hooker console, which is nice but is awkward with my equipment. Access is a challenge, rear access in particular.

I went to the annual VE HDTV shoot-out and saw the new Sharp/Pioneer Elite TV. What a good-looking set. There is a problem with the color (blue specifically) that if they get it solved, the Elite could be the TV to beat. Ridiculously good contrast ratio and black level. Being an LCD, the off-axis view suffers some, but the black bars were very black, very close to Kuro levels. If I were starting over and didn't have a 111FD but had the money I'd consider the Elite.

Also, this arrived today.



I was surprised it came on a Sunday, I didn't know FedEx delivered on Sundays. But I'll install it tomorrow and see if there's any difference over the BJC I use now. This Pangea will connect my Duo VP to the TV.