Mr. Pink's Dog Diner Theater (Tips Welcome) - Page 73

Hey HT fans. For anyone that might be interested, I think I'm the first guy looking to go smaller with his media server. Bit off more than I want to chew with the BIG Norco 4220. So if anyone was thinking of picking one up, or starting their own build...it's in great shape, and we can work out a price.

Thought I had a buyer, but it looks like they're going to pass.

CD

Well, that's the thing Lee; I never actually was able to move that ARK case...and I am just planning to go back to that. The only thing I wanted, that case didn't accomplish for me, was being able to hot-swap the drives.

Of course when you start looking at hot-swap, you think Norco first...and at that time, even though 20 drives seemed like more than I would need, I decided to bite the bullet and "future-proof".

Well...my streaming "strategy" has changed a bit. At that time, Internet streaming wasn't quite ready for prime time...and so the idea was to rip and stream everything I ever wanted, locally; that made the idea of 20 drives, and ~40T, appealing.

Well, recently, I've had a shift in my thinking. Online streaming has gotten much better, very quickly; both in the amount of programming available and the ease and quality. At 3 of the 4 locations I stream at, I don't need any better than 720p, and I don't need lossless audio...which are 2 areas where Internet streaming still lags behind.

But if I can stream 90% of my TV series, and say 50% (or better) of the SD movies I want to watch...that just mostly leaves the high-demand, BD streaming for the HT. That'll greatly reduce the amount of space I need, and to be honest...it's not the kick it once was. In the beginning, ripping...and having the file available...was "fun". Now? I'd rather just stream from Netflix and the like; especially TV.

I just don't know that'll I'll get beyond needing 5 drives, at 2T per (especially with 3Ts starting to show their face). That's 10, to potentially 15T...and right now, that seems like enough.

I've thought about just holding onto the Norco case...just in case (and if I don't get a decent offer, I'll have no choice). What if Netflix starts charging more for its streaming (which I think will happen eventually); what if the cable ISPs start charging more for "high-bandwidth" users (which I also think will, and already is, happening)? Then I might change my tune, and wish I'd held onto the Norco. But as it stands now, I'm getting a 5-in-3 cage for the ARK, so that the 5 data drives will be hot-swappable...and if I ever had to go bigger, there's still plenty of room inside that case for non-hot drives; or I could just always start-over with a new case.

So...the Norco really should go to a good home. Someone who knows they'll be hitting 20 drives, and was going to have to buy the case new...or has been lusting after one; they might as well get a good price on mine. Hell, I got an inquiry from a guy who was looking to pick it up as his second 20-drive Norco; so there are certainly still BIG users out there.

So no Shawn, it's not so much from lack of use; just a shift in thinking. Anyone who's interested, you know how to reach me...lol

CD

Yeah Lee; in the US, as long as you have a Netflix membership to rent discs, you get the streaming for FREE. It's a great deal actually, that I think we should enjoy while we have it...because I suspect it'll be gone soon, and I mean in the very near future.

I agree Shawn; if you watch a lot of TV, like you and I do, it's hard to beat. Saves me the space and time of ripping TV-on-DVD, which is/was a big portion of my collection.

While we're on the subject; I just recently broke down and bought a Roku. I always resisted, because I hate getting boxes that do "one thing". But after really taking to Netflix streaming, and trying PlayOn for this and that device, I decided to try one. I got an HD (not one of the newer "X" models), and I have to tell ya...for $60(!)...it's a no-brainer. It's super-small, so it's not like the additional box creates any kind of space issue; and even though it only does "one thing", it's nice...for a change...to have a device that's simple in that regard, and does the one thing it's supposed to do right. Plus, it's "one thing" is changing; rumor is it'll have Hulu Plus soon, and who knows from there.

Man; looks like everyone's doing the same thing I am. how am I going to sell my Norco this way.

CD

So...haven't had much time to troubleshoot it (in-laws have been in town), but my trusty (read: old) Parasound 1205 is starting to give me trouble. I noticed maybe a month ago that when I had all 5 channels hooked-up, one of the channels would constantly trip the fault. I disconnected one side of the Rears (as opposed to Sides) for the few movies we've had up there since, but the last time I was up there I noticed another channel is starting to intermittently fault (a loud hum for about 5 minutes, then it would stop...then come back later, etc).

Now, maybe it's just a cabling thing, or ground loop or something (although I don't think so, because I really have had this amp for a while now)...but if it turns out it's on its last legs, I'm trying to decide if it's even worth shipping back to Parasound for repair, or maybe just moving on. Tough time right now, financially, for either an expensive repair...just to hold onto this old amp, which is no great shakes to begin with...or to have to replace it.

I see Emotiva is selling its UPA-5 for $399 plus free shipping right now. That's just an insane price for a new, 125x5 amp. I know it has a lot of fans on the forum; is it really good bang-for-the-buck or just cheap sh*t, where you get exactly what you pay for?

BTW...if anyone has any ideas of what I should be looking for, with regards to what's tripping my 1205, I'm all ears. In-wall cables, with AQ bananas; I'm hoping I can track down a short or something, but on 2 channels now?

CD

Here's a fairly silly question: anyone taken down their Carada screen? How do you do it? It hangs on a top bracket, and then snaps onto the bottom one...so I assume it just come off in reverse; you (gently) pull back from the bottom bracket?

But I figured I'd double-check before I did something stoopid. Finally going to get that Black GOM up on the screen-wall. Pics a comin'

Still haven't pulled the trigger on that Emotiva; anyone else want to weigh in on whether its junk or not?

CD

Hello from the abyss, HT-room. Not much to report on the Theater front these days; my room may be light-controlled, but less so temperature-controlled (ductless)...lol; so the dog-days of Winter are not prime movie-watching time up there.

I've been focusing more on my 2-channel system these days, and as such...inadvertently came across this (even though I am very happy with my Dynaudios ) http://www.aerialacoustics.com/produ...m1/images.aspx

If you don't need AT, and have pretty deep pockets, it's an interesting concept. Matching timbre, and a GOM-wall all in one! I had never seen it before; anyone ever actually heard and/or used this system? Aerial has a good reputation, so I don't think it's just a gimmick.

CD

Long time, no type HT-build forum. As evidenced by the above post...my last one, almost a year ago to the day...the Theater was not long for this world.

I had such trouble keeping it warm in the Winter, cool in the Summer...that the window for comfortable viewing was just too narrow to sustain the space. A while back, I made the decision to "disband"...and sold-off my LCRs (although I still have my old VPL-AW15 and 96" Carada), and the space started to take on storage.

But I'm trying to move forward, and make better use of the space; maybe, in its revised, 2.0 version...turn it more multi-purpose? Here is the thread I've started, toward that end http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1384341

If any of my old friends...who recognize the Dog-Diner thread...have any ideas, by all means.

CD