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Herman's Responses in Misc Audio	Posts
What is "low ball" . A low offer is an insult? Really? An insult? You put something up for sale on the internet and then you get offended when somebody makes an offer you decide is too low? . . .	164
Fed up with people making noise at classical shows . There are two types of distractions, those that can be controlled and those that can't. ....Coughing and sneezing; hard to imagine somebody would do that on purpose. When you . . .	115
Rate these on order of importance: Bad speakers in a great room will sound as poor as great speakers in terrible room. A great source feeding bad speakers will sound just as poor as a bad source feeding great . . .	77
small companies making today's best products Dear Mr. Dealer. Unfortunately for many of us we have no access to a dealer even if we wanted to use one. I recently moved from Middle TN and just a few years ago was within a . . .	73
What would you do about a sleazy buyer?? Sorry to hear you got jerked around. You could start a thread on lawyer jokes	47
Best Song or AlbumTitles? A country gospel classic: "Dropkick Me Jesus" through the goalposts of life	42
What Happens When You Die? I have some audiophile friends named in my will who have agreed to sell it on behalf of my estate	39
Anyone ever try ear candles for better listening? So how does this work? Does the candle get your ear canal hot enough to liquefy the wax? If you lay on your side, and the bottom of the candle is in your ear, and the candle . . .	35
Anyone spend more on their system than their car? I bought both my car and system used. My car is worth about half of the $18K I paid for it three years ago and will be down to a few thousand in another three years. My system is . . .	34
Are you at this point?? I'm done as one can be. I'm to the point where I don't think I can make any significant improvements short of adding on to my house and building a larger room. I still play around . . .	32
Bose Wave Music system I've heard the radio without the CD player. It's a nice boom box, but I think you can do better for the money. I have a Tivoli 2 and while it is not audiophile quality it is a . . .	31
My audiophile take on the symphony last night. . Difficult to comment unless I was there siting near you. I would think a rolled off high end would be a problem with your seats or the hall. Hard to imagine they all had . . .	30
Isolating the listening chair? I've had better luck with high mass dampening. Placing a large sandbag on top of my head snaps the soundstage into focus and increases air around instruments	28
Yahoo transaction? Western Union? Or just scam can't find any proof from Yahoo's website even though I did receive a payment notice email from a Yahoo account So you already paid	27
Richard Green room tune? Eighth Nerve has a new line out that works even better. Check out http://www.eighthnerve.com	26
Original Packaging, you gotta have it. I suggest using UPS and letting them pack it. They offer a service where they put that expanding foam stuff around the item inside a heavy box. Yes, it will cost you about $15 to $. . .	26
Best way to copy LPs to CD's using a Computer If you buy an analog-digital converter it will come with a software package. Go to pro audio sites like this to see what is available. The Lexicon Omega is a nice little unit . . .	25
This sucks You are comparing apples with oranges. There is no soundstage with headphones, there is nothing in front of you, it is all between your ears. There is no real bass with headphones. . .	25
Wiring an Isolation Transformer First of all, if you are not sure how to do this I seriously suggest you enlist the help of someone locally who can help. It is possible to kill yourself or burn your house down . . .	24
PC audio is it the best next thing???? Many of us have tried it with great success. More and more companies are producing USB DACS. As Mr Khan says; it is cheap to try since you already have a computer. Keep your eye . . .	23
What's your chair ? We're talking about a difference of three inches at the sweet spot. Unless you are in the very near field this is a very small difference in the angle from the speaker to you. A . . .	23
What would you upgrade next if you had my hifi ? . Are those wind chimes ? Is it breezy in your room	22
Audiophiles vs DIY-o-philes I think you are way off base. The DIY audiophiles I know build and then listen. It is 100% about how things sound and nobody really cares that much how it measures. Measurements . . .	22
What do I do with a FedEx claim denial? I am not a lwayer. But it looks to me like you are the "piece of work". You admit that it was not packaged properly and still expect FedEx to pay? How in the world do . . .	22
Best source of lead shot? That's just great Fatparrot! First I'm worried about the lead dust, and NOW I have to avoid getting too close to my outlets for fear of getting zapped by leaping electricity. Is . . .	22
$100 Challenge: Build this system I have one word for you: boombox	19
order of improving sound quality in system? Speakers are the most colored component in the system. Different brands/topologies sound very different, so you first need to find a pair that you like. Nothing you put upstream . . .	18
Listener magazine defunct ?? Just found out Art Dudley has gone over to the dark side, Stereophile	18
Sound Insulation- how much can it help? Buy a home. What you seek is impossible. Sorry. You cannot the violate laws of physics and the propogation of sound waves through walls/floors is one	16
Isolation xfmr correct polarity orientation test I agree that the post is confusing but something like this begs for drawings to help us visualize the set up. Since Audiogon won't let us post pictures then it is probably as good . . .	15
Transformer hum? You probably have noisy AC lines, which may be caused by light dimmers. Turn off everything in the house and see if goes away. Do a search on "transformer hum" for more . . .	15
more copyright nonsense Why is that whenever the people who own the rights to the music try to protect it the people who are trying to steal it go ballistic? Pretty obvious don't you think. It is summed . . .	14
Corner treatment -- PZCs a sure thing? Take a look at Eighth Nerve. http://www.eighthnerve.com/ I don't know anything about the tunable stuff, but the Eighth Nerve Response series works very well and the Adept is . . .	13
Best isolation device Naim makes a highly regarded shelving system that uses glass shelves as do others. There are many misconceptions in this hobby. "Glass shelves are evil" is one of them. . . .	13
Acoustical Foam You are headed down the wrong path. A stereo system in a room that is "dead like a recording studio" sounds like crap. Check this out	12
How many levels are there? There are 17 levels. Trust me on this one	12
least harmful light dimmer The advice that separate lines solves the problem is incorrect. Since all of the lines are tied together at the breaker box even if the dimmer is on the other hot phase they share . . .	11
What is the process to demo speakers? In the internet age I don't see how a bricks and mortar high end store can hope to survive without offering in-home auditions. They will probably request a deposit or CC number in . . .	11
Audio Dealers to visit in Memphis, TN? Underground Sound, like so many others, is a mere shadow of it's former self. At their old, downtown location they had numerous listening rooms with great systems. They are now in . . .	11
What to make of my system? Digital gear, just like your home computer, has advanced by leaps and bounds. A DAC that is 15 years old is as obsolete as a computer running Windows 3.1. A current mid priced CD . . .	11
Buying used when you should have bought new... A dealer who only services what they sell is a jerk and a poor business person. Does he think you will return? If the dealer would not assist you then you should contact the . . .	11
Wanna help with my room? Check out www.cardas.com for a discusion of room dimensions. Go to INSIGHTS then ROOM SETUP. He suggests 10 x 16 x 26	11
Billy Bags Cracked Glass The best shelf for a particular system is, as always, system dependent. There are a variety of high end manufacturers that advocate glass shelves including Naim. Making dogmatic . . .	10
My new room is 8 x 16 x 32, what to do? It is a basement so no hardwood floor. Only 2 small windows 2x3 feet at one end at the ceiling	10
Audio Cost Allocations The most important component in your system is your front end. Find what like and them build your system around it. garbage in = garbage out	10
Does a subwoofer amplifer exist? I thought a subwoofer plate was just a term used to describe what you are looking for, an amplifier with a crosover built in. What are you looking for that a plate amp doesn't . . .	9
can a Hong Kong product be used in Europe Japan is 100V, some of the country is 50Hz, some is 60 Hz. Hong Kong uses 200/220V 50Hz	9
Soundproofing??????????? The problem is that the wall is too solid. Vibrations on one side pass straight through to the other. You need to physically decouple your wall from theirs, which will not be cheap. . .	9
I need help with getting monies back This is a legal question, not a stereo question. You need the advice of an attorney, not an audiophile	9
Local audio dealer absolutely essential A dealer is not "essential." If it was there wouldn't be nearly as many people involved in this hobby. While I'm happy that you have a good dealer in your area, the sad. . .	8
glass shelves under components? There are very few absolutes when it comes to shelves, footers, etc. It is very system dependent. Ask enough people and you will get as many answers as there are possible shelving . . .	8
Effortless, grain-free sound - is it possible? 89 Db and 4 ohms is not exactly inefficent, is it? In my 103dB 8ohm world it is very inefficient. You are going to need a lot of current to get these speakers going and I . . .	8
Can 5AR4 be replaced by 5U4G or 274B? Its really not odd that tube X can be universally substituted for Y and not the other way around. Tube X may be be able to handle more voltage or current than Y so it can deal with. . .	8
How can I get rid of a 4khz-8khz room spike? Are you sure it is the room? Perhaps some nearfield measurements will reveal that your speakers have a peak in their response. Ten dB is quite a bit and can be heavily influenced . . .	8
Cleaning & polishing speakers & gear Whenever we have a very warm day here in Tennessee, I drag all of my equipment out onto the driveway and hose it down real good with my garden hose. You have to be careful to let . . .	8
Trying to maximize bass response ...... That's not bad at all considering the meter isn't all that accurate. You must be sitting in a spot where these frequencies cancel. Move things about. I believe the parc is only . . .	7
Help I've Been Robbed Do you have a budget	7
dumb question re: headphone amps yes you do	7
Concrete tubes: hemholtz resonators? tubes? It is the size of the cavities and the openings that determine the characteristics of these resonators. The shell of the cavities should be inert since they do not play a role as . . .	7
Can an FM Tuner be "hot-rodded" long distance??? FM radio frequencies travel pretty much in a straight line. So, except in extremely unusual weather conditions, the limit for reception is the horizon. This is usually much less . . .	7
Using a hidden reserve price in auctions. I agree with Garfish. Also, I think the idea with the low opening and higher reserve is to entice bargain hunters into bidding at a low price, hoping they will get into a bidding . . .	7
Clearaudio MAGIX Magnetic Isolators ? I agree with TWL. Another point is the claim that these devices "truely stop all resonence sound from your equipment, which actually is suspended on air." Yes, they are . . .	6
who makes those under the sub bass traps? Care to share the address of the site you found?? aloha	6
Can you cancel an auction? There is an option for the seller to cancel until the minimum has been bid. That option then disappears from the seller's menu. That is not explained in the rules but that is the . . .	6
Should a Furman power conditioner Buzz? It might be defective but I had a Furman balanced 20A conditioner that had a large toroidal transformer and it will definitely buzz if you have DC on you AC line, most likely . . .	5
"Grainy" highs problem... Time to switch to a computer based music server and DAC. Go to Audio Asylum and browse the PC Audio Forum for some ideas, check my system, search the archives here, and google USB. . .	5
Records, Wilma victim I agree the covers may be lost, but to save the vinyl you need to get them out of the wet covers ASAP. The stuff that will grow on the paper will eat into the vinyl. Once that . . .	5
Absorbers or Diffusors for 1rst/2nd refl. points? http://www.eighthnerve.com/response.html Try some of these first. A new, more effective line is coming out soon. I have some prototypes and they are very effective. You need . . .	5
Unwanted radio station w/ system off It might be the fillings in your teeth. I saw this once on an episode of Gilligan's Island so I know it is for real	5
The Most Minimal System There are integrateds with a USB DAC input so you would only need the PC and speakers	4
Inbound wire transfer safety? You must provide the buyer with the number that identifies your bank (I can't remember what they call that but it's not the same as the routing number on your checks) and your . . .	4
adapting vintage 3-pin connection to something new The output cable from the phono Do you mean from the turntable to the input of the amplifier? That would be straight from the cartridge which you can't just feed into the . . .	4
Passive VS Active crossover-What s the difference s The job of the crossover is to divide the full range signal into ranges that the individual speakers are designed to handle. Using a two way speaker as an example, high frequencies. . .	4
Worth more used? There is some vintage gear that sells for more dollars than when new, such as some McIntosh and Marantz amps. But if you take inflation into account it is probably worth less than . . .	3
Shipping to Portugal Depending on how big it is you can probably mail it pretty cheaply since it doesn't weigh that much. Look Here	3
Nashville Audio or Home Theater Shops There are only two high end stores. The better one is Nicholson's (ask for Tom Berry or Larry Staples), they usually have a pair of Pipedreams set up. The other is Audio Video . . .	3
What Brand of Audio Stand in this Photo?	2
Help - Tube amp Problem Hi, It is very likely a defective tube. Unless you just want to buy a whole new set, the conventional approach is to swap tubes from one amp to the other until you find it. First. . .	2
Bass traps: determining size and how many Short answer, no. Bigger trap = lower frequencies so two smaller ones is not the same. Long answer, first you need to determine what the problem frequencies are and then determine. . .	1