BrolicBeast's Living Room Theater - Page 4

Yeah I definitely remember seeing the remains of that outlet (R.I.P.). I don't even know how you got that AC9 to move even a little. 7AWG is practically a steel pipe! For my cable, 1 meter isn't very long at all--I really wanted the 2m, but I refused to pay higher than $300 for a power cable (at the time, I was a skepic). I must have added and removed that cord at least eight times the morning that I ordered it. I am glad I did though. Cords have a break-in period, eh? That's interesting. I'm DEFINITELY going pay close attention over the next few weeks and see how the sound transforms.


Yeah, when i made the switch--i kept staring at it, thinking--wow, now it looks like it belongs in a much higher price bracket.


Greetings! I got the trim kit here At two size choices, and $20 per Amp, the trim kit is impossible to ignore!


No Problemo! If I had that configuration, I'd connect the XPA-2's to the Right and Left speakers, while connecting the XPA-3 to the Center and Surround speakers.

I'm afraid I do not subscribe to either of those offerings, so I can't comment on it from a performance standpoint. I can comment on the device itself, in saying that it will be the best $99 you've ever spent! AppleTV is just that good. Especially if you have a media server or an "always-on" computer somewhere in your house.

I appreciate the welcome and look forward to learning from an HT vet! Man, that cable-management you do is insanely tidy. I looked at the back of my rack last night and I lost sight of all the goodness in the world. lol. What a tangle!

Ah Bethesda? Nice. That's a spectacular area. The only place in the DC/MD/VA area where you can buy a cupcake and a Louis Vuitton travel bag, all on the same strip! lol

Thanks man! Unfortunately, My XPA-1 dreams are on temporary hold for a month or so. I happened to go to a furniture store to look for a nice lamp, and I ended up leaving with a new Dining Room Set. lol. I still don't know how the lamp--> dining table purchase happened, but my dining room looks spectacular!! lol

Man, I thought I got sidetracked. You re-furnished your whole house! lolol. A happy wife does indeed mean a happy life though. Thankfully, I'm in the dating phase, so when my lady scoffs at the price of an iminent purchase, I just laugh as I click "submit".

You were smart in handling that one! I see those monstrous S8's and co. in your theater--that is money well spent! AND with the wife's approval? Can't get any better than that.

lol, it's as if our secondary passions battle our first passions, and sometimes manage to win

So guys, I am becoming an Analog Stereo CD convert. (Previously, I just listened to everything digitally). One day, I realized two things: 1) I have an extra input on my Cambridge Audio DacMagic; and 2) I have an extra Oppo BDP-83 lying around ever since I replaced it with the 3-D capable BDP-93. So, of course, I inserted the 83 into my system, running optical cable to the DacMagic, and decided to give Dac-Powered stereo CD listening a try.

IT...BLEW...MY...MIND!!!!!

The first song I listened to was Turning Tables from the new CD "21" by Adele. Whoah, the soundstage was insane. I could imagine her in the studio recording right in front of me. Next, I listened to "Landslide" by The Backbeats from the soundtrack to NBC's "The Sing-Off," which records all live performances. I kid you not--i felt like I was THERE in the audience as the group performed the piece. It was amazing.

I just wanted to share this part of my musical journey with you all.

Absolutely! I probably should have worded my above comment differently. I'm listening to my digital sources converted to analog via the DAC. AND definitely with files from my Sonos Digital Music System and PC. The DAC changed the way i listen to music.

Funny--I purchased it just to "see" if it would make a difference. I had no idea the type of difference it made. If i had to say the one thing that stands out from the rest, it's that the bass from my SVS PB-13 is extremely defined. Definitely more defined (and prominent) than my pre-DAC days.

Man, I'm going to be honest with you. I'm very new to the DAC world, but in my month or so research, i never came across a DAC with HDMI inputs. I didn't even know they made them--they all just have inputs for Toslink, SPDIF, and USB. I just did a quick search but couldn't find any--could you PM me a link? My hunger for information grows!!!

wow.....that's a great piece of equipment right there! Thanks for the link! i would love to have this to route my stereo SACD'S through. One day....after my monoblock extravaganza and speaker upgrade, i may seriously consider this.

I love the look of the McIntosh Amps. In my opinion, they are the most aesthetically pleasing amps (with Classe Amps coming in at close second). I've never heard one though. I hear their solid-state amps have a tube-esque sound to them. Have you found this to be true? I can definitely understand the reluctance to purchase the PS Audio DAC too soon. The wife would be unhappy, and an unhappy wife means unhappy everything!


Ya know, I've actually been looking at record players and would love to get into pure analog--but I don't have the slightest idea where to start. i have no idea what a phono-stage is (I know I just lost 8 million street-cred points), or what makes a great tone-arm. (I've been all-digital until recently). I will have to put in a lot of research before i take the leap to purchasing the perfect turntable. Plus, I have pets that shed--so I have to get one with a great durable cover--that still looks great. *sigh* so many variables.


That's for that link! So, I watched this video late last night, and was amazed first at her talent, and then even more at the fact that she was able to truly develop that talent in her youth while being deaf. She is the antithesis to the phrase "I can't."

From the albums of hers that you own, do you have any top suggestions? I'm going to order some of her albums at some point this week.

Thanks for those titles. I will be ordering the CDs tonight, and hopefully i can come across some Blu-Rays of her performances. Just out of curiosity, how does Laserdisc sound, compared to its optical successors? I've always heard about Laserdisc, but when that was semi-popular, i don't know where i was in my life. I love the Marimba, and am interested in hearing her collection!

Well, actually, I love the percussion as a whole. From before I could talk, my mother tells me all the time I would mimic the percussion in music and even commercials as an infant. My love for percussions led to a desire to pursue formal training, but the parents agreed that piano was the better choice. It was logical, so i don't fault them for it. I will sit back and live vicariously through Ms. Glennie's work.


Hey GoingRich....errr...GoingPoor. lol. The Amp-before-speakers path is the best way to go! A good amp will last for one or two decades.

As far as the DAC goes, the difference was indeed large. I'm going to record a DAC/No DAC comparison of a music snippet. The difference is large enough that I think even my HD video camera will be able to catch it. I'll post the comparison video to youtube and post a notification in this thread (click on my signature to access the youtube page)

With the PS Audio Cord, there's definitely a sound difference, but it's only prominent when i listen to recordings of stringed instruments (Yo Yo Ma's Suite for Cello No. 1 comes to mind) you here more texture in the strings being played. Ti make sure this was no plecebo effect, i did A/B comparisons with that particular piece. (Both cords were plugged into the power conditioner, so i just alternated the equipment-end cords.) The difference is certainly there, but it's not a game-changer. Honestly, the ridiculously solid build quality is just as much my reason for keeping it as the slight increase in stringed texture.