• 01-22-2010, 09:10 PM
    poppachubby
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    Cool! I thought so too, just too good of a player to pass up. As a good dvd player, I'm sure it's better than what I have now, so if I don't use it in my audio system, I'll put it to good use in the av system - which is very un state of the art, lol.

    Could this also be used soley as a transport, with a optical cable to a DAC, and then the DAC to your receiver/preamp? Might not be bad fot that either.

    Whgat kind of DAC do you have IRG? If the Toshiba can process SACD I'm thinking it probably has a respectable converter built in.

    I was thinking REALLY hard about buying a used Oppo DVD player. Since videophiles are jumping ship to Blu-Ray, these machines can now be had for a song. I've seen some go for under $100 on Ebay, mint condition. Decided to bide my time and buy a Blu-Ray instead.

    I'm not much for CD's but the DVD aspect of the Oppo is really appealing to me. TOTL is something I've never had in regards to H/T...
  • 01-22-2010, 09:14 PM
    poppachubby
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by blackraven
    Pops, you the man when it comes to home made gear! I love the panels that you made. How bout hopping down here to Minnesota and building me a pair for some heavy beer drinking, fine food and music:18:

    Hey thanks alot Raven, means alot! I still have about 12 extra panels that aren't in use. I will probably use 4 for the H/T room. I will check at my work how much it would be to ship you the balance using our corporate freight account.
  • 01-23-2010, 04:29 AM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by poppachubby
    No carpet underlay. Not enough absorbtion. Peabody described what I've been trying to tell you. That's what you need...

    It may cost a bit in the end, but in a room like yours it's a must.

    http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto...23633_Full.jpg


    I built a wack of paneling a while back, covered it with a gray fabric. I'm actually going out tommorrow to find some nice colourful stuff to cover several panels with. My H/T room has a Kandinsky on the wall. I will find a colour to match one from the painting. This will meet the WAF requirements. The room has pretty bad slap echo. Here's a pic with some panels in it. I can show you how to make them. Easy and cheap Mr. Frugal...

    Yeah that first pic is what I'd like to find. I'll have to search around for some. The carpet pad wouldn't be too bad, the stuff I saw was quite porous, but would probably fall apart to easily.
  • 01-23-2010, 04:34 AM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by poppachubby
    Whgat kind of DAC do you have IRG? If the Toshiba can process SACD I'm thinking it probably has a respectable converter built in.

    I was thinking REALLY hard about buying a used Oppo DVD player. Since videophiles are jumping ship to Blu-Ray, these machines can now be had for a song. I've seen some go for under $100 on Ebay, mint condition. Decided to bide my time and buy a Blu-Ray instead.

    I'm not much for CD's but the DVD aspect of the Oppo is really appealing to me. TOTL is something I've never had in regards to H/T...

    Well the DAC I have, is what will be in the Yamaha player (the dvd S1800) I think it has Burr Brown DACS, from their site:
    DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD playback
    Four two-channel Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit audio DACs
    Audio Direct mode

    So that's what I'll be using. I'm a relative noob when it comes to outboard DACs and then benefits of using them. We'll see if I need to go that route, probably not, at least for now.
  • 01-23-2010, 04:12 PM
    IRG
    I got everything hooked up tonight. Still need speaker stands to arrive, and the t table cartridge.

    Off topic question, I have an old pair of JBL HLS-610's that I'm trying to sell. One speaker has a tear in it. Is it possible to fix it with some nail polish or some other sort of fix? The replacement speaker is apparently hard to find, and the one place that has it charges $170 for it. I'm trying to sell the pair for $45, and a potential buyer offered me $25, (plus I was throwing in a pair of Monster banana plugs and about 20 feet of 12 ga wire. So I said no, but if I can fix the speaker, he'd be interested at $45. So if there is a cheap way to fix this, I'd be interested to know how.

    I'll post a pic of my setup soon. Been working on it all day.
  • 01-23-2010, 04:48 PM
    frenchmon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by poppachubby
    No carpet underlay. Not enough absorbtion.

    Where did you get that idea that carpet has not enough absorbtion?

    frenchmon
  • 01-23-2010, 05:02 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by frenchmon
    Where did you get that idea that carpet has not enough absorbtion?

    frenchmon

    I think he was referring to my idea of the carpet padding. Depends on the kind of padding I think. Carpeting, especially a shag type carpeting would seem to work well. I think my temporary solution isn't bad, I had some shelves on that concrete wall, and I place a big blanket on the top shelf, and had it fit behind the sofa, so it's absorbing some of the sound waves. Better than nothing, but pretty, it's not.
  • 01-23-2010, 05:04 PM
    frenchmon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    I think he was referring to my idea of the carpet padding. Depends on the kind of padding I think. Carpeting, especially a shag type carpeting would seem to work well. I think my temporary solution isn't bad, I had some shelves on that concrete wall, and I place a big blanket on the top shelf, and had it fit behind the sofa, so it's absorbing some of the sound waves. Better than nothing, but pretty, it's not.

    Oh I see. Why don't you just use carpet?

    frenchmon
  • 01-23-2010, 05:11 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by frenchmon
    Oh I see. Why don't you just use carpet?

    frenchmon

    I have carpet on the floor. The concern was the rear wall, behind where I am listening. There isn't much distance between my seating position and this rear wall - there just isn't much room. The concern is that this rear wall is conrete, hence some sort of foam panels, etc. on the wall. Putting a carpet on the wall seems somewhat challenging. Maybe there's a good way to do it?
  • 01-23-2010, 05:40 PM
    blackraven
    If the rear wall is concrete there are a few easy ways to hang things to it. You can by a masonry drill bit and drill into the wall for one.
  • 01-23-2010, 05:44 PM
    poppachubby
    1 Attachment(s)
    Ya frenchy, I was referring to the underlay. I have some work of my own to do. I'll post the finished result but the colour and concept got glorious WAF reviews...
  • 01-23-2010, 05:48 PM
    Poultrygeist
    Two Insignia's from Bestbuy - $80

    OR better yet

    Two 8 inch Pioneer Full Range Speakers from Parts Express -$60 in DIY open baffles - simple plans at WildBurro Audio Labs made from a sheet of $25 plywood and cut free at HD

    Dayton T-amp from PartsExpress - $39 or Lepai TA 2020 from ebay - $30

    T-amp Preamp with phono stage ( ebay ) - $45

    Playstation1 SCPH-1001 ebay - $25

    Goodwill Thrift Store turntable - $20

    The T-amp + Pioneer OB's are just stupid good!
  • 01-23-2010, 05:49 PM
    blackraven
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by poppachubby
    Hey thanks alot Raven, means alot! I still have about 12 extra panels that aren't in use. I will probably use 4 for the H/T room. I will check at my work how much it would be to ship you the balance using our corporate freight account.

    Thanks Pops. I appreciate the offer.
  • 01-23-2010, 05:56 PM
    frenchmon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    I have carpet on the floor. The concern was the rear wall, behind where I am listening. There isn't much distance between my seating position and this rear wall - there just isn't much room. The concern is that this rear wall is conrete, hence some sort of foam panels, etc. on the wall. Putting a carpet on the wall seems somewhat challenging. Maybe there's a good way to do it?

    You can rent a drill from home-depot if you don't have one, that has the ability to drill into concrete. Its call a drill-driver. It will easily drill into a concrete wall a hole that you then can put a screw in to hold up the carpet. You will need a bit made for concrete. You drill the hole, put in a plastic sleve that comes with the screws, then drill in the screw through one corners of the carpet to hold it up. Then do the other side. The holes can be drilled with ease in less than 10 minutes. I have carpet behind my speakers, and on the side walls, and on the floor in front of my speakers. Carpet works great.

    frenchmon
  • 01-23-2010, 05:58 PM
    frenchmon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by poppachubby
    Ya frenchy, I was referring to the underlay. I have some work of my own to do. I'll post the finished result but the colour and concept got glorious WAF reviews...


    Looking good there Poppacubby!

    frenchmon
  • 01-23-2010, 06:09 PM
    poppachubby
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by frenchmon
    You can rent a drill from home-depot if you don't have one, that has the ability to drill into concrete. Its call a drill-driver. It will easily drill into a concrete wall a hole that you then can put a screw in to hold up the carpet. You will need a bit made for concrete. You drill the hole, put in a plastic sleve that comes with the screws, then drill in the screw through one corners of the carpet to hold it up. Then do the other side. The holes can be drilled with ease in less than 10 minutes. I have carpet behind my speakers, and on the side walls, and on the floor in front of my speakers. Carpet works great.

    frenchmon


    I think carpet is a great idea fellas. This wall is probably the most signifcant in the room in terms of potential problems. IMO, every inch should be covered. This could be a costly proposal with carpet. Versus foam, I'm not sure which would be the best way to go.

    IRG, see if you can find a tight fit that covers the wall when you are looking for carpet...
  • 01-24-2010, 01:13 PM
    poppachubby
    1 Attachment(s)
    OK, I'm done. How'd you make out IRG? The wife digs it, maybe the first time ever!
  • 01-24-2010, 01:14 PM
    poppachubby
    1 Attachment(s)
    My fronts are firing straight into these.
  • 01-24-2010, 01:15 PM
    poppachubby
    1 Attachment(s)
    Behind the gear...
  • 01-24-2010, 01:22 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by poppachubby
    My fronts are firing straight into these.

    Those look cool, fabric on frames? My dad is an artist, he probably has a lot of framing materials, I could do something like this fairly easily, make a real big one. Good idea...maybe even get the kids involved in some kind of an art project.

    I'm waiting on the speaker stands at the moment. Did some listening though today, and early results are very good. Bass is much better than I expected with these little speakers.

    I don't have the new cartridge on the table yet (hasn't arrived) but a question. I get a little bit of hum with the table on, don't notice it really when a record is playing, there's a ground wire from the table, where is that supposed to go to? I don't see anyting on the receiver for it to go to. Volume is significantly less on the table than the Yamaha cd player. Which sounds terrific btw, very very impressed with this thing, especially for $79, a helluva steal.

    The Onkyo receiver is really nice too. It has a direct mode, which bypasses the tone controls, and a Pure Audio mode which bypasses everything (including video connections) and disengages all lights too. Can't tell yet if it makes much difference. But so far, it all sounds quite good. I'll be working more on the room acoustics in the weeks to come. I think I need to make a wall around the furnace/water heater next, and sound proof it as well.
  • 01-24-2010, 03:28 PM
    Mr Peabody
    If the receiver has a built in phono stage(preamp) then there should be a thumb screw some where near the phono input to connect that ground wire. If there's no place to connect it I suspect the input may say "phono" but the necessary extra preamp isn't there. The signal from a turntable is very low and needs additional step up to get to the level of a tape deck or CDP output. If you have to turn the receiver way up just to barely hear it then the preamp for phono is not there. Check your owner manual as well. If it says "phono" on the receiver input and no preamp built in I find this a very cheezy thing for Onkyo to do.
  • 01-24-2010, 03:48 PM
    02audionoob
    Sounds like you need a phono preamp...

    http://www.needledoctor.com/Needle-D...3-Phono-Preamp
  • 01-24-2010, 04:10 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
    If the receiver has a built in phono stage(preamp) then there should be a thumb screw some where near the phono input to connect that ground wire. If there's no place to connect it I suspect the input may say "phono" but the necessary extra preamp isn't there. The signal from a turntable is very low and needs additional step up to get to the level of a tape deck or CDP output. If you have to turn the receiver way up just to barely hear it then the preamp for phono is not there. Check your owner manual as well. If it says "phono" on the receiver input and no preamp built in I find this a very cheezy thing for Onkyo to do.

    I'll check for the screw. It doesn't sound bad at all, and could be the crappy cartridge. The sound level isn't low, it just isn't as high output as CD. So I think the preamp is there, as to its quality I don't know. But I haven't spent too much time with it yet (dang kids don't leave me alone, lol).
  • 01-24-2010, 04:13 PM
    02audionoob
    It is very normal for a turntable cartridge and phono stage to have a noticeably lower output than a CD player. Could you remind us what cartridge you have?
  • 01-24-2010, 04:14 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by 02audionoob
    Sounds like you need a phono preamp...

    http://www.needledoctor.com/Needle-D...3-Phono-Preamp


    I'l check this one out thanks. Price is certainly good. I'll wait and see once the cartridge is here. So far though, I really like this Yamaha player, even my regular cds sound very good. I need to buy some SACD's now.
  • 01-24-2010, 04:21 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by 02audionoob
    It is very normal for a turntable cartridge and phono stage to have a noticeably lower output than a CD player. Could you remind us what cartridge you have?

    The Audio Technica 311EP. Should be here soon.
  • 01-24-2010, 04:24 PM
    02audionoob
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    The Audio Technica 311EP. Should be here soon.

    I mean the one you're already listening to.
  • 01-24-2010, 04:25 PM
    02audionoob
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    I'l check this one out thanks. Price is certainly good. I'll wait and see once the cartridge is here. So far though, I really like this Yamaha player, even my regular cds sound very good. I need to buy some SACD's now.

    It sounds like you do NOT need a phono preamp, after all, since your receiver has a phono stage.
  • 01-24-2010, 04:31 PM
    Mr Peabody
    I had an Ortofon OM5e put on my Numark turntable Saturday. I hooked it up to my headphone amp last night to go through some vinyl and I was really impressed with this cartridge. It made the turntable more than listenable. I wouldn't have a problem sitting and listening to that system. It's interesting when listening to vinyl just how low the bass will go, even though it was headphones sometimes it felt like the bass traveled to the bottom of my feet. Is the 5e cheaper than the 10 & 20 you all were talking about?
  • 01-24-2010, 04:39 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by 02audionoob
    I mean the one you're already listening to.

    Oh, some piece of crap radio shack thing that came with it.
  • 01-24-2010, 04:43 PM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
    I had an Ortofon OM5e put on my Numark turntable Saturday. I hooked it up to my headphone amp last night to go through some vinyl and I was really impressed with this cartridge. It made the turntable more than listenable. I wouldn't have a problem sitting and listening to that system. It's interesting when listening to vinyl just how low the bass will go, even though it was headphones sometimes it felt like the bass traveled to the bottom of my feet. Is the 5e cheaper than the 10 & 20 you all were talking about?

    The 10 is about $84 on needledoctor, the OM5e is about $55.

    I got the AT 311EP from Garage A Records for $49.
  • 01-24-2010, 04:45 PM
    02audionoob
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
    I had an Ortofon OM5e put on my Numark turntable Saturday. I hooked it up to my headphone amp last night to go through some vinyl and I was really impressed with this cartridge. It made the turntable more than listenable. I wouldn't have a problem sitting and listening to that system. It's interesting when listening to vinyl just how low the bass will go, even though it was headphones sometimes it felt like the bass traveled to the bottom of my feet. Is the 5e cheaper than the 10 & 20 you all were talking about?

    With the OM cartridges, the body is the same all the way up, but the stylus gets better and more expensive with the higher numbers. At Needle Doctor, the 5E stylus is $44, the 10 is $47, the 20 is $139, the 30 is $229 and the 40 is $299. The 20 is a nude elliptical, so it seems to me like a good balance between cost and performance for mid-level turntables. I think all but the OM-5E were replaced by the 2M series, if I remember correctly, but the styli are available and interchangeable.
  • 01-24-2010, 04:52 PM
    poppachubby
    You oughta hear the 10 Peabody...
  • 01-26-2010, 04:34 AM
    IRG
    So I got the AT cartridge last night, opened the box (not the container holding the cartridge itself) and discovered one of the four pins looks significantly bent. I could straighen it out I suppose, but I imagine this could easily break off. This happened to me with a tube I bought for my guitar amp, just touching one of the bent pins and it fell off.

    I got it new from Garage A Records as recommended here. Not their fault, but if they had just eyeballed it, they would have seen this one was not acceptable to ship out. Now I remember all of the "fun" little nuances it takes to be a vinyl fan. Not.

    http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...2/IMG_0947.jpg
  • 01-26-2010, 05:25 AM
    LeRoy
    Good deal IRG...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    Those look cool, fabric on frames? My dad is an artist, he probably has a lot of framing materials, I could do something like this fairly easily, make a real big one. Good idea...maybe even get the kids involved in some kind of an art project.

    I'm waiting on the speaker stands at the moment. Did some listening though today, and early results are very good. Bass is much better than I expected with these little speakers.

    I don't have the new cartridge on the table yet (hasn't arrived) but a question. I get a little bit of hum with the table on, don't notice it really when a record is playing, there's a ground wire from the table, where is that supposed to go to? I don't see anyting on the receiver for it to go to. Volume is significantly less on the table than the Yamaha cd player. Which sounds terrific btw, very very impressed with this thing, especially for $79, a helluva steal.

    The Onkyo receiver is really nice too. It has a direct mode, which bypasses the tone controls, and a Pure Audio mode which bypasses everything (including video connections) and disengages all lights too. Can't tell yet if it makes much difference. But so far, it all sounds quite good. I'll be working more on the room acoustics in the weeks to come. I think I need to make a wall around the furnace/water heater next, and sound proof it as well.

    Good to know about favorable first impressions with the new rig. From all indications...you will have an artful room to go with an artful system configuration. Enjoy the music and have a great day.

    LeRoy
  • 01-26-2010, 06:15 AM
    manlystanley
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
    You would want to put something on a couple of the walls to absorb sound in order to keep the reflections and reverb down. I know that's difficult on concrete. You could try a heavy curtain from the ceiling sort of against the wall.

    Get yourself one of these bad boys:

    http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-202046595

    I bought mine off of craigslist for $30. Makes driving nails into concrete fun..... When I put up my sub-panel fuse box in my basement (I ran a 60 amp line from the main box to the basement) I attached a big piece of plywood to the Concrete wall. Then attached the basement fusebox to this piece of plywood. It works like a champ. Use glue as well and you can hang what ever you want on it.

    Best Regards,
    Stan
  • 01-26-2010, 06:36 AM
    02audionoob
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    So I got the AT cartridge last night, opened the box (not the container holding the cartridge itself) and discovered one of the four pins looks significantly bent. I could straighen it out I suppose, but I imagine this could easily break off. This happened to me with a tube I bought for my guitar amp, just touching one of the bent pins and it fell off.

    I got it new from Garage A Records as recommended here. Not their fault, but if they had just eyeballed it, they would have seen this one was not acceptable to ship out. Now I remember all of the "fun" little nuances it takes to be a vinyl fan. Not.

    Inside the plastic box there should be an L-shaped adapter with four pin receivers. I'd probably try to slide it onto the bent pin and straighten it. You could ok that with the seller before you do it. Here's how I mean...

    http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/...2bc6de2681.jpg
  • 01-26-2010, 07:11 AM
    IRG
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by 02audionoob
    Inside the plastic box there should be an L-shaped adapter with four pin receivers. I'd probably try to slide it onto the bent pin and straighten it. You could ok that with the seller before you do it. Here's how I mean...

    http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/...2bc6de2681.jpg

    Well I wrote to them this a.m. and they wrote back quickly, apologized, and they're sending a new one out to me. Nice customer service, I do appreciate their efforts here. I'm sure I'll be back as a result.
  • 01-26-2010, 07:15 AM
    02audionoob
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IRG
    Well I wrote to them this a.m. and they wrote back quickly, apologized, and they're sending a new one out to me. Nice customer service, I do appreciate their efforts here. I'm sure I'll be back as a result.

    It's nice that these sellers are relatively small...perhaps even only one person, sometimes. It's not like buying something from bestbuy.com (no offense intended to big box stores).
  • 01-26-2010, 01:37 PM
    v rod
    ok harmon international sells referb recivers and intergrated amps cheap,also polk does the same.thay come with warranty.ive done it with polk and at less than half price,very satisfied