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Buconero117's Responses in Misc Audio	Posts
How do you judge your system's neutrality? Neutrality by definition is 'without difference	396
What is "low ball" Anything where the price is marked 'firm'. I always mark my price 'soft' with no 'low ball' or 'bottom feeders' welcome. Always get the price I think is 'fair', whatever that . . .	164
Selling dispute. Please comment. It should be clear to all that the land of 'audiophiles' is heavily populated by very picky, finicky and over bearing humans, it comes with the hobby. So, buy and sell accordingly. . .	126
Does 'Accuracy' Matter or exist ? accuracy can only be understood in the context of a 'standard', given that every bodies standard would be different, it all becomes meaningless	124
Disappointing Evening 'They' will never, ever get it, but really, it is all about the music. Most people who get interested in audio quickly find out it is a solitary pursuit, partner included. and it . . .	106
Would you trust a local dealer to help you put Trusting an audio dealer to sell you what you need at a fair price is like trusting a car dealer to sell you what you need at a fair price. Will never happen. Elizabeth is right . . .	100
Supporting Local Audio Stores are we? Would like to, but the high end dealer in my local town, part of the metro NYC area, has never been sales friendly. I have a B&O company storefront in my town and they are sales . . .	98
Best steak to eat while listening to your rig? Kobe beef, before the quake. Stock up, it will never taste the same. I hear it is at $80 a pound	92
Are you too old to be an audiophile? Yes, until all listeners, age five to ninety, provide a certified hearing test done by an audiologist that their hearing is functioning at 20hz to 20khz. Until that is in place, . . .	87
Top 10 Snafus to avoid when building a good rig Never, and I mean never, buy a used turntable unless you can go pick it up and have it demo'd to be fully functional and operational, including the cartridge checked out with the '. . .	81
Audiogon sellers, please stop and read this thread Buyers are best to stick to PayPal payments. Sellers should use PayPal but not release the goods to the Buyer until the funds are fully cleared, e. g. 30 days plus. The fact . . .	80
Recent equipment you hated, thought overpriced Elizabeth, the horror, 'glass shelves'? They need to be covered, quickly, as you are missing much of the joy of your setup/room. You should know better	75
Aging and Treble and Income? The answer to your question is yes, but has little to do with the audio high end. Aging produces hearing loss, and that means at some point, if you want to hear all the sounds of . . .	72
Number of yrs. to reach the finished line? The 'end' you think, but I've been at this for over fifty years and there is no end, but the grave. Looking forward to heaven, when music will be endless	71
Why do dealers do this? Who could explain it differently, the dealer was a jackass. Yes, the internet has created a need for a business model for store fronts that mostly carry brands that can not be . . .	71
Who is the WORST Audio Shop? Worst for what? Attitude? If so, two New York City shops excel at that, Lyric and Singer. I encourage all to visit those shops and check them out. Oh, you must bring your bank . . .	64
Are High End Audio Products Unreliable? Few electronic manufacturers do any 'burn in' any more. The business model is to pass that on to the consumer/dealer, it is just more cost effective to do so. As most know, if an . . .	62
What did you own in the 60's? Tannoy, Thorens changer, gray v arm with table, Marantz and McIntosh electronics. Sold it all in the mid sixties to buy a house. Still have all the records	61
The Lawyers Have Taken Over Audio Best that Giedon's clients call Jim Smith of better sound. A second opinion is always worth it	57
Why did I get married? Obviously your pre-marriage counseling was incomplete. You failed to take her to a least five audio shows, these always are 'breakins'. Also, you did not take her to at least ten. . .	57
Wow, everything posted for sale is ''light use''?? It may surprise you that most 'audiophiles' never do listen to their equipment. They acquire it for 'eye candy' status, and it leaves them feeling superior. So, when they get . . .	56
Is Hi-fi getting more expensive? Yes, there is a rush to the top. The hi end dealer has found out that their profit is in the customer that will put $25K plus into a system. These customers tend not to need a . . .	55
1 piece of audio gear I really regret selling is.. Marantz SM 1000, now seldom seen. This was Marantz's statement power amp. Since it operated in Class A, it could heat your house	53
Hobbies other than Audiophiliac? Sky Diving, at least two jumps a month	53
The downward spiral..... Realizing that the music is more important then gear means you are not losing your grip. There have been major progress in the media, and the gear that plays it. Otherwise, a . . .	52
Which companies deserve a star for Christmas Cayin/VAS audio, great sound, great prices	51
The Demise of the Hi-End Audio Store In my town, about 20 miles from New York City, we have a high end true audio/video shop, but we also have a large B&O retail store front at street level. The high end is on the . . .	49
Audiophile 'Attitude' It is time you, and your audio smart wife visited Lyric in New York City. It is only fair that before either of you die, you be subject to real 'Audiophile Attitude'. No place . . .	47
Other than music, why are you an audiophile? Drives my wife crazy	47
Are you an Audiophile? I was an Audiophile a long time ago. Then I discovered that I was mistaken, it was really a 'Stupidphile'. How did I make that discovery? Simple, I was spending more money on . . .	46
Why can you buy a car at dealer Invoice but audio Auto dealers sell few cars for cash, most of the time it is leasing and financing, not to mention how they get you to buy their insurance. As has been said, 'invoice', 'MSRP' are . . .	45
Audio Equipment... the word Cool... and Life Many years ago the New York Times ran an article on 'cool'. It outlined how you must always be a 'coolhunter', as it is a state of mind	45
Worth Going to 'THE SHOW' IN NYC IN APRIL If someone is interested, I can share a room at the Radisson (across the street from the Waldorf). Your cost would be $100.00. Room will have two single beds	45
Best Audio Store Name? Lyric in NYC. A place that will quickly put you in your audio place, and never will you want to go to another audio store in your entire lifetime. Lyric people have been reserved. . .	45
Best audio purchase of 2011 A single issue of TAS	44
Do you listen alone or with guest s To really listen, you need to listen alone. It is all about focus, focus on the music. Socializing is best done without music or the TV going. That way your guests get the . . .	44
What components are manufactured in the U.S.A.? It is all about 'content', not design and build. It is rumored that BO is planning to enact legislation that would require everything sold in the USA to state what % of the . . .	44
thoughts while listening So much music, so little time	41
Why do Audiophiles feel the need... Not just you, me, also. I really appreciate the people who have the gear, or who have actually auditioned it, sharing their experiences. Otherwise, its all talk, talk and more . . .	41
Fed Ex Ground Shipping Woes My experience, after shipping and receiving over 200 packages in the last three years, is to never, never use FedEx ground. Regular FedEx is okay. Unless it is for media mail, . . .	41
A Paypal Offer - Is This Secure? Watch out for the charge back policies of PayPal, not to mention the extremely high fees, which the seller pays. Remember if the seller charges it to a credit card, not paypal's in. . .	40
AXPONA anyone? Skip the Chicago show, head for the big time with the show in New York on April 12th. There are plenty of cheap air fares available and the nite life is much better. Remember, . . .	40
When does seller's responsibility end? The moment it ships, fully insured, packed and boxed with the original materials. Avoid paypal in future transactions, not only are their fees outrageous but they offer not . . .	40
Paypal PayPal has many pluses, however one of them is not the hold on funds. Paypal is structured to protect the buyer, not the seller. The seller is best to absorb the fee by burying it. . .	40
hearing tests - where and how? In New York, one of the better places is the New York League of Hard of Hearing, now located on lower Broadway. Great for testing as they do little if any selling of aids. Went . . .	39
Dealing with a large TV between speakers Before doing anything you need to get the center channel's drivers in the same plane as the side speakers drivers. The way it is now creates all kinds of problems when the center . . .	39
Do you spend more on audio than your income allows Seems there are many 'high mileage' Toyota fans here. So, what are the 'toyota's' in the audio field	39
Circuit City is Closing, Liquidating Stay away, to the eve of each store's actual close. Otherwise you will be taken, big time. Buy a floor model at no more then 15% of the regular selling price	39
Another audio dealer closes his shop We have a high end dealer in my town, Summit New Jersey. They have been in business for a least 25 years. I doubt they do $30K per month, but I believe they own their own real . . .	38
AXPONA 2011 Atlanta reports/thoughts? Audioguy has experienced the reason more hi end vendors are not more successful, pure and simple they do not 'listen' and are often dripping with arrogance in inter acting with the. . .	38
How to protect against burglary Forget the security companies, get a rider to your home/renter insurance policy that covers your audio equipment with a no deductible, current equal replacement	37
Does my acoustic ideology make me an outcast? Acoustics are anchored in the law of physics, so no 'ideology' is possible	36
Please Advise me on Building a System on a Budget Used, used, used, from the 'gon'. For a digital source try the sony 595 changer often available from sonystyle for $60. Turntables that must be picked up, no shipping. Amps, try . . .	35
Most Peaceful Music you've Heard or Own Michael Hoppe, the music you will hear on your way to heaven	35
Voice. Most powerful and natural instrument. Yes, check out Katherine Jenkins, a UK super star	34
PayPal Alternative? - What's your opinion? PayPal is all about 'buyer protection'. Seller's should look upon it as 'cost to sell'. None of the banking arrangements can provide the protection, so until that happens, stay . . .	34
What is your take on Mapleshade products Voodoo, as with many products in the hi-end	33
Have you tried matching a stereo to your hearing? Having been hearing impaired since birth, I have a lot of experience with hearing aids and audio. Needless to say, current SOTA hearing aids, some costing over $5K each, try to . . .	33
What Printed Magazine do you prefer? none of the one's you mentioned	33
The color of audio and ambassadorship Hey, we built it, but they will not come, get over it	32
What does it take to qualify as a reviewer? Being corrupt, as you find that only by getting in bed with manufacturers, get you actually make a living doing such	32
You are a KEEPER or a SELLER? Well, I have seen the future and it is virtual. Think about it, all those almost 200,000 newspapers that Elizabeth has will exist on her Kindel, or equivalent. Notwithstanding the. . .	32
I need your advice on system for a non-audiophile Seeing is believing. Best you see/hear the room, existing system before making a recommendation. The statement of 'clear' leads me to think the issue is just not the equipment	32
What three shelf stand should I purchase? Wood stand is a must, no glass or metal. Wife needs to choose the wood color, this gets her involved. Must also be open on all sides, no doors, air flow is also a must to keep . . .	31
A tale of WAF Do you get to comment on and inspect all the shoes in her closet	31
Sterophile's not so nice review of Bryston As Rick said, are you saying that there is corruption in the audio press? Shocking, just so shocking! Before long people will expect the New York Times to be honest and truthful. . .	31
Local dealer cuts store in half says audio is dead Audio dead, I don't think so. Yes, it is very difficult for a dealer in high end audio to have a business if they are not doing home theater, which helps carry the two channel . . .	31
Listening Chair? Stressless is the way to go. For years I had an Emaes/Knoll chair, in original rosewood. I sold it off for $7K and purchased a Stressless which is way more comfortable	30
Best travel destinations for audiophiles China, for a ten week tour of all the factories making audiophile gear. They often give free samples and only charge you for shipping. You buy by the pound. Can I sign you up	30
What credit cards do you use? None, I always expect and get a cash discount of at least 5%. I have found all the 'benefits' of cards to be really worthless	30
Hearing Aid Confusion First, I am an expert listener. Second, I have used hearing aids for almost seventy years, so I think I know what is important in getting hearing aids to help 'listening'. Having. . .	29
the meaning of the word "better" What ever any person thinks it is, all have different ears and listen rooms. Of course, it always applies to the next component you have already decided to purchase	29
What's up with that? putting your email in the message is not that difficult, I do it all the time	28
how do you ship? UPS, no other. Fedex ground is danageous. Not only do they rough handle the packages, an insurance claim will never be paid if the item is damaged, especially if the item was not. . .	28
Total spent on music vs equipment? I hold my equipment dollars at $10K, I sell and buy with that ceiling, never to be exceeded. Music is over $100k and growing. Includes all types of digital media plus analog in . . .	27
Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" drove me insane almost Until a Blu-Ray version of Blue is made we will never know the compromised issues. So, get on Sony's tail	26
You think Audiogon has problems ... look at Ebay My experience with ebay, both buying and selling, has been very good. Of course I use paypal as part of the transactions process. With over 175 transaction, I have always been . . .	26
Room treatment made me cry.......a little........ A new believer. It often is all about the tweak of the room, not new equipment. However, there is often no need to remove the TV, just do a custom diffuser to place over the . . .	26
I just had my Audiogon account hacked . . . Never, ever, click on a link. It is that simple	25
stereo system evaluation--objective or subjective Taste? No, we all hear differently so in the end 'ears' rule. A while back someone did a study on identical twins and found even they had hearing differences which were more . . .	25
how high is the drop test at ups? Depends, if it is declared as a turntable, UPS will take it to the nearest twenty story building for dropping. Moral: is never ship a turntable, unless you can break it down to . . .	25
Hearing loss Temporary or more permanent? The most important thing you can do at this point is find both a good ear physician and a good audiologist. In looking for both of the latter, it is important that you find people . . .	25
Most Audiophiles by State Since the upcoming census will track everything and everybody, including number of hairs on your head, if you have any, this question must be included. I can't think of another . . .	25
Best finger food for audiophile listening None. I am shocked that you would consider food in your listening room, let alone drink. Your listening room should be sterile, like a 'clean room' at a data center. i have heard. . .	24
Don't Feel Guilty Spending $$$ Nor would a woman feel so about the new pair of shoes she just acquired. A pair a day keeps the wolf away. Of course, the $50K to construct the shoe closet must also be included. . .	24
long term components 38 years, a kenwood ka 7002 interamp. I estimate it has over 50,000 hours of use. My kids promise to put it in the coffin with me so I can move it on to my next life	24
Are you ever satisfied? Satisfaction is not something in the human condition	24
New FedEx Ground and USPS Arrangement Aside from the additional delivery time, the issue of insurance should tell all that Fedex Ground should never be used. While UPS ground is never perfect, the claims processing of. . .	24
Bedroom system for my 10 year old son Any system would be great, just as long as it has no speakers. The other memebers of your family will never get any 'peace & quite' once the speakers, including a sub, show up. . . .	24
is audiogon good for the audio industry or bad? Jadem6 is right on. Audiogon keeps the pressure on prices, on line and B&M	24
Turntable - On the Wall or to the Floor? But, in another room. The wall is best but if you keep it in the same room as the speakers, you still get airborne vibrations unless you acoustically shield the tt. Footfalls are . . .	24
When buying through Agon a buyer should always- Check the sellers eBay account and only pay via paypal	23
Is audio a kind of spiritual journey? No, the journey is grounded in physics, nothing spiritual about it. Now what's in your mind is another matter. Notwithstanding we have been assured that their will be music in the. . .	23
The Next Step - what would you do? Change the speaker first and hold on to the other equipment until that part of the upgrade is done	23
Any Caviar Fans Here? Yes, I took some down to the Occupy crowd but they told me that beef jerky was there staple	22
What does it take to have a revealing system? good ears and Jim Smith's 'better Sound	22
Problems AFC's experience in moving the 'rig' is not uncommon. Almost all commercial movers have no real experience in moving hi end systems. Few owners even get 'full coverage' insurance . . .	22
What is the best two channel SACD player for $1500 For $60 you need to buy a refurb sony 595 from sonystyle. A long term warranty from them will cost $20. If when you get it, listen. If okay keep it, if not call them and they . . .	22
Are audiophiles people of sound prejudice? Of course, everybody's ears are different, so they hear differently. This extends to a culture difference in the way we speak and listen. A good illustration of that is the '. . .	21
Your best chair you listen to your gear I second Ekornes Stressless Chairs. While the Eames is comfortable, it angles to far back to get the ears in the right plane	21
Component racks Best to keep the racks completely open. Also, make plans to use some laptop coolers to keep the tubes 'cool'. Laptops coolers are a very inexpensive way to do the cooling. Their . . .	21
Any good equipment racks that are afordable? Look at the Atlantic line which is in closeout, Contact Spearit Audio Boston to see if they have any stock left	21
Building a System around Magnepan Speakers... Mags require a certain 'room'. Check if your intended room will work, otherwise you will be very disappointed. Check out Jim Smith's writings, he was the best person to know what. . .	20
Stereophile vs. Sports Illustrated It is all about the 'gear	20
You're selling that? But you just got it The only way for wives and girl friends to relate to our 'stuff' is easy, if they are into shoes, shoes and more shoes. Hopefully she has a closet full of shoes, to which you will . . .	20
Converting Vinyl to digital Unless you have a lot of free time, the effort is not worth the result. Great analogue sound is never reproduced from a CD/ Best to keep the vinyl and a top rated turntable. If . . .	20
It's all over now, baby blue. Or is it not? Congratulations, you have now entered the 'lost years', when ever extra penny, and ever extra moment will be devoted to child, and maybe the many others to come. It will be . . .	19
California Audio Show-why I hate audio conventions Elizabeth, if it were not for the 'middle aged farts' hi end audio would not exist, as its business model would have long ago put all the hi end vendors into bankruptcy. It will be. . .	19
Audio Supports The pros/cons are rooted in the real world of physics. Four beats three any day. Any working of a model of the physical forces in play will tell you that	19
Listening VS Reading Well, someone seems to have left something out. Listening/Reading/Sex	19
How high end must your system be... Don't be suckered into the 'high price better system'. Read some of the 'audio critic' stuff as putting sanity into the hobby	19
Where should I concentrate my upgrade dollars next Room treatments	19
The future of my hearing MARKPHD has it right, a hearing aid will most likely be in your life, especially if you reach 90. AS mentioned, the high's fall off first. I've worn hearing aids for 60 years, . . .	19
How to avoid being scammed? Just say no to any international transaction unless the person arranges for personal pickup with a dollar cash payment at that time	18
Anyone else noticing inflation in used gear $? I agree, prices of used gear seem to be moving up. In addition to general inflation, new gear pricing of the top USA brands is moving up which increases the demand for the used . . .	18
Where is the attractive audio furniture? It is easy to adapt many mid century cabinet units since good ventilation is easy to obtain with the use of laptop cooling units, which are very quite and very effective. Best of . . .	18
suggestions on affordable equipment stands. Ikea stuff is a great value and if you add half inch granite tops to stiffen the structure you get a great combo. The half inch stuff is generally available for about $40 a square. . .	18
"Not paypal" The best pay option is: cash on pickup. 'cashiers checks' are a favorite of the Nigeria lot. Clearance can take over sixty days. Check with your bank before deposit and give . . .	17
Cured of upgraditis? Unfortunately you are doomed. Twelve step programs are useless in this area. Don't even think about going to any audio shows, for if you do, terminal 'upgraditis' will set in. In. . .	17
Hey Electricians - Please help There are dimmers just made for fluorescent lights that are very effective. Also, there are electronic ballast especially made to be used with these special fluorescent dimmers. . . .	17
Do you buy new equipment because you are bored I second, definitely a mental problem. Reminds me of the question, 'can you get bored with sex	17
Harry Pearson HP No Longer at TAS There is still a lot of life left in HP, thank God. I will be looking forward to his new musings. Perhaps having untied himself from TAS, we will see a new and better Harry	16
Do glass shelves affect sound Quality? Just say no to glass. Less expensive and better sound management shelves are available. If you have glass, a very inexpensive tweak is to line the bottoms of the shelve surface . . .	16
RE: Shipment Stopped by US Customs After some negative experiences on having audio goods shipped from Canada to the US I stopped buying unless the seller could deliver to a border UPS outlet. I did this for customs. . .	16
Why We Need Audiophiles ? Keep the 'flame' alive, listen to real sound, forever	16
Loft as a listening space? A nightmare in getting quality sound. Room treatment, which is always necessary in any environment, will be next to impossible at reasonable cost	16
How popular is Wire Transfer..... Try cash on pick up, it works well. You get a chance to test and fully inspect the equipment, no transit damage, you know where the seller actual lives. Always, and mean always . . .	16
How "Rare" are Audio Classics, Really Most of the classic units have been reproduced with updated parts, leading to much better sound. The 'classic' designs are currently being sold by Cayin/VAS. Their business model. . .	16
Room for discussion? Best to check out Floyd Toole's "Sound Reproduction"' book before you go any further. It will make your changes easier	16
Hardwood floors in basement music room? Never hardwood, carpet gets you a level playing field to get the other acoustics right. Go with a very heavy padding. Get a carpet with a 'cut pile', not a 'loop	15
You never see this anymore Hey, where have you been. Just drop into a B&O store, and be sure to bring a fat wallet. There sound is always great and you can bring it back within 90 days if you don't like it. . .	15
Advice on going from mid level to high end Don't, until you can actually hear new speakers demo'd in your present room. Your room may be the limiting factor. Once you find a set of speakers that sound much, much better . . .	15
"Get Better Sound" An alternative and good addition to 'Better' is 'Sound Reproduction' from Floyd Toole. I am partial to the idea that 95% of 'better sound' lies in the speakers, placement and room. . .	15
Is it worth buying an SACD player? No. Wait until the SACD masters are issued on blu-ray	15
NYC Show	14
over packing items---overkill? Did you hear about the UPS Olympics? Yes, a new reality TV program where the men and women in brown will compete to destroy many hi end audio packages. Winner will get to spend . . .	14
Do you have tin ears? Have you visited an audiologist? This is a must for any one into the high end. A full 'spectrum' hearing test is a must, not the standard test that generally stops at 8K. With a . . .	14
Hearing Loss & Equalization I am hearing impaired also, have been for over 50 years, still enjoy the music. Antommb, take a clue from the digital hearing aids, the latest units do a good job at being a . . .	14
How do you dress your cables? I don't. My butler takes care of those details	13
component break in Speakers do need a break in, often you need to play white noise for at least 100 hours to get it started. When dealers talk about break in, turn it back on them with the 'dealer' . . .	13
Interesting priorities I advise all goners who may find themselves in a similar situation to leave it all behind. Insurance will give you a new start, or call it a forced upgrade. The fun starts all . . .	13
Soundproofing and room correction for apartment? Elizabeth makes some great comments. Go slow, one object at a time so you can sense the change. As to the WAF 'canvases on the wall', best to try some ceiling to floor lined . . .	13
High End and cables and tin ears.... Let us put 'blind' into the mix. Do I deny that some people can hear a difference in cables, no. Do I believe 'double blind' testing/comparison is the only true way to compare, . . .	13
CES 2010 and THE SHOW As the reports are coming in it appears little is new except the trend to high price points with little, if any, sonic improvements. Speakers that cost less then $25K seem to be a . . .	13
Reel to Reel for play back Otari MX-5050 BII2 is the way to go. The only thing it lacks is a reverse play feature, which is a must for 4 track use. I second the idea of an extra deck, after you have one that. . .	13
Pros posing as hobbyists? Let's face it, we all being 'audiophiles', are 'pros'. As long as the goods are accurately and truthfully described, no reason for their sale is necessary or should be given. Best . . .	13
The Absolute Sound and Harry Pearson Harry became to expensive. So Harry will now have a web site and blog all by himself. Digital is in the wind as more and more publications come out in digital editions only, so . . .	12
Soundproof material for a dedicated room If you are 'serious, serious' it is not time to fool around with any of the suggestions already made. Only lead wall paper will work. Yes, there is such a product, and it is . . .	12
Ceiling diffusion Armstrong, yes the ceiling tile people, makes a 'wave' product that is adaptable to home use. Check it out at their web site	12
NYC expo waldorf astoria april 13-15 2012 Well if Andy is going, it must mean we are fully recovered from the recession. I will drop in for a day. Hoepfullly the rooms at the Waldorf will have better acoustics then the . . .	12
whats in a name? A lot of money, ask Mark L	12
What Audio Show to Attend? Save your money and don't attend any show, put the money you save into better speakers. None of these shows will be of any help in making the speaker decision, trust me, I have . . .	12
journey,destination,endpoint? 'When does it stop?', best to ask your wife when she will buy her last pair of shoes. For a wife to make that comment she admitting to have about 100 pair of shoes in the closet . . .	12
impact of room treatment Huge! Start with treatment of the first reflection points for each speaker. All rooms will benefit from that. Next try panels between the speakers, about one foot from the . . .	12
Would this room work? The room will work well with its odd fit, however you may need to actual test your speakers, or their replacement to be sure	12
Hard of Hearing Headphones for TV While headphones will help I suggest you encourage your dad to return to the audiologist who fitted the hearing aids. Aids should be able clearly and intelligible hear speech, and . . .	12
Being grateful for what we have Yes, when it is gone you will miss it. I think the biggest upgrade is the room it self. When all is said and done, it is the key factor in your listening experience. Twenty . . .	12
HELP; Acceptable Living Room Sound Treatment Send photo's and diagram of the room to Chris at RealTraps. I did so and he was very helpful in getting to understand the issues I had with the room	12
Equalizer or acoustic room treatment or? First measure the problem with something like http://www.etfacoustic.com/index.html. Then ask RealTraps for an opinion. Provide them pictures and a diagram and see what they . . .	12
Availability protocol? When is a sale actually made might be the question. For me it is when the buyer's funds have been received and are fully collected and available to me and I actually ship the . . .	12
Latest Stereophile - Recommended Components First, understand the marketing of high end stuff. Most audiophile's will change the amps last. Therefore, to make money source components always get pushed. Just check the ads . . .	12
A simple Request to Sellers- In selling and buying, I've had the best experience when 'pick up for cash' governs the transaction. The buyer gets to see the equipment and listen to it, any issues are addressed. . .	11
Changing the listener's ear position Audiologist have long known the shape and location of a persons ears have significant impact on the amount and way they hear. So, you are on to something. Hug your audiologist . . .	11
Thirty dollar upgrade worth thousands Seems foolish to risk your hearing for $30. Best to go to a real doctor to have wax removed	11
need advise Bluebook prices are generally highly inaccurate. While the Audiogon feed of auction data may be more accurate the reported numbers, it is still best to look at completed e-Bay data. . .	11
Any Discwasher D4 users out there? Life moves on with better and more practical ways to clean records. So, give it up and join 21st century technology	11
Any issues with Money Back Guarantees offered? In these type transactions the 'fees' will take 50% of your payment and tie up your money for six months. As Elizabeth said, you also have my sympathy. I did a number of UK . . .	11
Anyone Going to the Axpona Show in March in Jackso May go. Looking for cheap fare from Newark. Hotels are expensive in the 'walk' area but I am hunting for $125 a night. Will it work? Hard to tell, given it is on the heels of CES. . .	11
Overseas Pay Pal, your experiences. Postive, but I do not ship until the funds fully clear in my account, which is most cases is 21 days	11
New House: Audio room/Office Think about building an acoustical isolated closet to put the equipment in, especially if a turntable is in the picture	11
What's the best sounding equipment racks? Find a good, local welding shop and have them build custom rack to fit you needs and space. I did that years ago and it was very cost effective. The guy did a great job and fit . . .	11
Are there taxes from items purchased in the UK? I buy on a regular basis from the UK, Scotland to be exact since it is closer shipping wise to the US. I buy only UK manufactured products. Since the price you pay is less VAT, . . .	11
Most sought audio gears I have made some good purchases from pissed-off-wife's. Also some widows. You would be surprised how often they want to get the 'stuff' out of the house, being the gear was . . .	10
Electronic Retailer's, Going By? Audiooracle, I hope you succeed. Your business model suggests it is driven more by passion for audio rather then profit and loss. Finding, and keeping, sales people who are . . .	10
Music and gear Once you retire to 'full time' listening the odds are that you will divorce. Generally, being around you spouse 'full time' is a danger in itself, but add the music and you set . . .	10
Acoustic Treatment on rear wall a single Echo Buster, about 48x4 should do the trick	10
GIK, Rives, Real Traps Mikewen, you are on to something, which will take time. Real Traps was very helpful in doing my acoustical treatments. I sent them a layout of my room and set up and they came . . .	10
mood lighting Best to listen in the dark, no visual distractions. When you can't do that, just use 'peepers', like from a sun tanning room. You will be surprised what 'blackness' does	10
Does anyone know what I saw ? Yes, something you do not want to know about as it will destroy your system. Elizabeth is leading you into audio hell	10
Headphone/Amp Combo for under $800 Amp would be the Cayin. Once you have that I would suggest trying different heads till you get the best fit to your listening tastes	10
Weght limit for SolidSteel shelf/cones? Your are right, aluminum cones will not support the load you mention. Best to find steel or brass just to be safe, otherwise you new table will be shortly on the floor, in many . . .	10
Are We All Going Mad? Last time I checked, the Revlon was going for $30 at drugstore.com. As an aside, I spent a few year at Revlon in marketing. What Revlon sold for 'hope'. Seems that is also what is. . .	10
How to transfer LD to DVD? Are all these people lawyers	10
Your Thoughts on a CD Player Get a unit that can output to a DAC unit. That way you can look for a DAC tube unit and get the best of both worlds	10
upgrade or all new? Sell off what you have and buy used as an upgrade. Don't buy anything new from a dealer, maybe demo's and b stock. Otherwise selling the old does not make sense	10
Packaging Services Styrofoam is the best packing material bet, but first put the speakers in plastic bags. The foam should be layered so it is at least four inches thick on all sides and glued . . .	9
Resellers & Retalers Welcome to America, the land of capitalism. Thank goodness some Americans are still able to be 'traders' and 'merchants' and not be concerned with having an attraction with the . . .	9
Road Trip Sadly people who visit hi-end audio stores far from their home are what's helping brick and mortar going under. No way are you going to buy anything. Used records shops? Okay. Not. . .	9
Buying demo or brand new power conditioner/amp Looks like a good deal but hard to tell since the gear being traded in is not described. Since the 'demo's' will carry the original warranties, you get some peace of mind. Lastly. . .	9
How many dealers are in "your "City ? My city, summit new jersey, population 20,000 has one hi end brick and mortar dealer which has been around for thirty years, but we are also so fortunate to have a B&O store front. . .	9
Good all around speaker stands... Concrete blocks	9
Searching for Line Conditioner and Speaker Cables Head to homedepot, save your self tons of money without losing the effect	9
Budgeting for 2011 Music and Gear What about shows? You know RMA and CES. Any self respecting goner would be putting 25% in that area. More fun in going to at least one of these. As for your college fund, well . . .	9
Help a recovering audiophile build a system I will not be your 'enabler'. I have enough problems of my own	9
Equipment between speakers... No, unless you you can acoustically isolate all sides of the cabinet, front, sides,back and top. Failure to do so will subject all your components to the attack of acoustic energy. . .	9
Wool Rugs Before moving on to the rug I suggest you stop a future problem by laying down a plywood floor over 2x4's. While it will not stop a flood, it will give ample protection from small . . .	9
Shipping Questions - First Time Seller In addition to double boxing and all the brownsfan comments, it needs wood crating with metal straps	9
isolation???HELP A story. Years ago Lyric Hi Fi, the ultra hi end salon in Manhattan, Lexington Avenue to be exact, wanted to isolate its listening rooms from the Lexington Avenue subway which was. . .	9
Stores or dealers in Sao Paulo? Please, don't waste any dealer's time, on your trip. There is really no advantage to buying in a foreign land since shipping, duties, mains difference, service issues make it . . .	8
acoustic ceilings I have always had such in my listening rooms and hey work wonders. Since the ceiling itself is a first reflection point, treatment is a must	8
Let's Play UpMarket • DownMarket...The audio game What is ignored is what product has the best circuit design, for in the end that is what you hear. Most time the design is the same, whether up or down. The execution in . . .	8
The Order of Obsolescence Doesn't apply to media, only gear. You should hear by wax cylinders, good as the day they were made by Albert. When will I be able to get iTunes to carry them	8
Ordering cartridge from overseas Many times it works, especially for a small item. However, often the exchange rates and bank transactions fees do not offer any significant savings. For years I have purchased . . .	8
Miles Davis - Time After Time Sympaticonorm has now entered an endless search for Miles. It will never end. 'Blue' is being released on Blu-Ray this year and a new level of bliss will be available. The quest . . .	8
Tips for designing listening room from scratch Read Toole's 'Sound Reproduction' book before you do anything. Lots of information on home theatre considerations. Remember, the video is the easy part of the design, the audio . . .	8
Audio/TV rack recommendations? The other room is a good idea as it cuts out the airborne vibrations. If you are are thinking of getting a TT, it would be a must. Also, The RF noise from the TV is a killer . . .	8
Just got an ipod, now what? Sell all your audio equipment. You have entered the hell of music reproduction. For from this point on you will be totally compressed in what you hear, and think. Better yet, . . .	8
shipping heavy amps - Canada to US? A must is to drive them over the border, then use ups ground, fully insured, double boxed. FedEx ground while a little cheaper, their insurance process sucks, with them not paying . . .	8
Repair of Cayin HA-2 tube headphone amp Best to ship it back to Steve, the Cayin USA distributor. Steve always provides the best customer service. He will most likely do the repair himself, and is an expert. Go to the . . .	7
Christmas in SW Florida, suggestions: Please, do not waste the time of any brick and mortar dealer since you will not be buying anything	7
The Hub: A new year brings changes.... The trend is unmistakable, fewer brands, high prices, lower volume for the remaining players. While the economic downturn accelerated this trend, at least in high end audio it also. . .	7
What are you sitting on? Whatever you do, don't go for anything leather. It is highly reflective and will muddy the sound. LazyBoy? Of course. Skip anything that is a recliner as it tilts the head to a. . .	7
Will increasing speaker height increase Soundstage All said and done, a center channel fill is the best way to improve your soundstage, no matter what speaker you use	7
The Hub: Acoustic Research - third in a series AR did many things well and to a large extent fueled the high fidelity industry. I owned many of their speakers and turntables. Great value, great sound for its time. Most . . .	7
Windows Media Player Exact Audio Copy appears to be the best. Often available for free	7
The Hub: RMAF preview: cutting edge Analog, part 2/2 Perhaps a look at the Rockport shown in the New York Times article on Thursday related to the work Sony is doing to capture sound from old 78's is worth a look. Seems there is a . . .	7
Glass&Steel and just ugly audio furniture With 'no mouth piece hovering over you', choices are much easier. Glass & Steel are out, entirely. While there are good choices in wood audio furniture, like those on the CayinUSA. . .	7
Building a Music Room Now may be the ideal time, assuming you plan to stay in your house for at least five years, as the building trades are slow, so you could most likely get a great price. Consider . . .	7
Need help planning/upgrading I suggest a 3.2 HT/Audio system. That is right, left, center and two subs. But before you do anything, read Tool's book 'Sound Reproduction'. Do some Q measurements of the room . . .	7
where to place equipment rack? Hopefully your rack does not have a TT on it, for if it does the location is the worse place to be. The amount of acoustic energy that it receives will destroy its ability to play. . .	7
What to see at CES? VPI's new 'Classic' tt	7
Chassis damping material Moongel, available at stores where musicians buy drums. Six dollars for four pads. They work	6
Whole house audio Making any part of it 'audio grade sound' will be a waste of money since you are dealing with 'in prefect' spaces that are not suitable to hi end sound	6
Is any of this worth keeping or trying to sell? I will be right over to provide you 'an offer you cannot refuse	6
Vinyl Collection Cataloging ? Collectorez is what I've been using. I used it for both vinyl and CD's. I also use it with cassettes and some R2R media I have. With cd's and cassettes it has a bar code reader. . .	6
What convention/show should I attend in 2012? ces is by all the best, if only one can be attended	6
Another dedicated circuit question Not if they are fully shielded, which they should be	6
Shipping Speakers to China - Which Shipper? Just don't, unless you have money to waste. The Chinese in bound custom process is totally corrupt, so it is a roll of the dice type of business	6
Do I need room treatments? floor plan included Not yet. First move the speakers to the long wall, then work from there. Also, need to get the speakers away from the wall	6
$ 0.00 offers permitted? It is the old e-bay trick, the true price offered is in the shipping, avoiding all the fees	5
UPS Air- Worth it? Yes, if the item is low weight, high value	5
Magnifyer with Light Suggestions? Plenty of computer input magnifiers available. Intel makes a good one	5
Help me with treating my room There are so many issues as you describe, but the only way to find solutions is to try different treatments, especially at the first reflection points, then the second reflection . . .	5
Bang and Olefsun Stereo System Junk the whole system by selling on Audiogon, less the cd player which is for the trash. Buy more current items, maybe B&O, or Bose	5
room acoustics: bonded logic, homasote, or... The speaker/room needs to be analyzed before embarking on a 'fix' & enhacement. There is plenty of free software out there, 'Room EQ Wizard' for one. It is available at . . .	5
Are all "Floor Protectors"& TipToes Created Equal? put them on hockey pucks, low cost, very effective	5
how to evaluate comp stand w/o inhome auditions? go with wood, as dense as possible. look into structural engr. lumber, and then veneer it with what you SO wants	5
Old audiophile with new digital hearing aids General Hearing's digitK units. Most of the engineering on those were done by Mead Killion, also known for the ER earphones. Mead's been done hi end circuits for hearing aids for. . .	4
Why do people bid on equipment and don't come Be sure to report these people to Audiogon so they can be put on the 'black list' and not waste the time of others	4
Looking to build a room, but Don't over look the silencing of the furnace if you have forced air and the unit is in the basement. Most likely you will need to put it on a vibration proof platform/springs and . . .	4
Apartment Room Acoustics Help As you have determined, room treatments are needed. Suggest you read Jim Smith's book, Better Sound, and also Floyd Toole's 'Sound Reproduction'. Take your time, try different . . .	4
How do you like your store demo? Waste little time at dealer demo's. Only dealers that will give you a loaner, at no charge, are really worth doing business with. How it sounds in your system is the only demo you. . .	4
I'm looking for a resonably priced 6+ outlet go with a refurb furman which could cost you about $70 on e-bay	4
Room open on 2 sides, room treatment? Get some free standing, three panel screens. To test results, hang blankets over them. Move the screens around, increase the thickness of the blankets and see what works. Once . . .	4
Researching solutions for purchasing a system If tubes you want, look at the Cayin & VAS offerings. Great sound, value, both in initial purchase and resale	4
reel to reel Need a price point, otherwise go for a Technics 1500 or 1700	4
Let's Talk Reel to Reel Tape Decks & Music I can answer many yes's to items in your post, but not to newly released music. I have ten decks. Before I think about purchasing newly released material, I buy the CD to see if . . .	3
Vintage McIntosh & JBL System Try keeping it together as a package. Best to try eBay and list as a system with each component a sub title	3
Can you plug a pre-amp into a pre-amp? Yes, I do it with chase KP1 plugged into a Kenwood C1. The kp1 gives me remote control for the C1 which doesn't have that. I love the KP1 since it also has balance and tone . . .	3
We all lost a friend.....Mike Kay Mike had a great business model. He threw me out on many, many occasions, and he was right, I would never buy anything. Yet, I continued to go there, wanting to be 'punished'. . . .	3
Buy/Selling "new-in-box" items As mentioned, best to use the PayPal payment system. If the seller will not absorb the fee, of split it, quickly move on	3
Cheap Remote Control Audio A/B Switch Try a Chase RCL1, generally about $25 on eBay	3
Will the analog out ever disappear? Never! I still hang on to my Edison was cylinders, but I do admit that finding a repair man is difficult	3
Spin Clean Record Washer Best way to keep the labels dry is use a 'grovemaster label saver', a device especially made for this task. This device coverd both labels at once and has large spin nuts, with . . .	3
Looking for Vintage Gear to photograph Seems like a 'coffee table' book is in the works, and that would be great as I do not think there is any about. A suggestion. Often on e-bay hi end brochures of gear go up for sale. . .	3
Elegant Audio-Visual Did you check with the Delaware Better Business Bureau? While BBB's leave something to be desired, early indications of problems do surface. Some level of protection is always . . .	2
Samsungunc557000 or sony 55 bravia led I've seen both set up in the Samsung and Sonystyle facilities in New York City. I would give the edge to the Sony based on color hue. However, as with any tv, the set up and . . .	2
Has anyone tried the Mulder Audio: Snuffer I had a dealer loan me one, and did not find in my system that it made a difference, especially as you describe. But it is best to get a loaner and try in your own system as each . . .	2
Reel to reel tape question The shiny side has no recorded material on it unless 'print through' occurred. The latter condition often comes from the reel being tightly spooled and stored that way for many . . .	2
Your experience with Collectorz database...? I use Collectorz, music, book and video versions. Works well. I tried others and found this software worked the best, especially on the down load of information including art . . .	2
What will audiophiles do, used black or new gray Hence forth, all equipment will be issued with at least six different color plates. What colors would you like	1
Is ALL vintage better? NOT Caveat Emptor A twist on this is a company like Cayin/VAS which takes vintage designs and uses current components to achieve 'old' sound at great prices. So, you have high reliability, great . . .	1
Same ol question, system recs Your friend will have little time to enjoy a $4K system with two kids under five. Those are the years when family is everything. A nice $1.5K system should be his target. Better . . .	1