Home audio/theater deals.

[AppleBonker]

Is that one of the Panny plasmas that has experienced the black level problem? Has yours held up so far? I wish Pioneer wouldn't have gotten out of the plasma market...

[marlin29311]

Is that one of the Panny plasmas that has experienced the black level problem? Has yours held up so far? I wish Pioneer wouldn't have gotten out of the plasma market...

I haven't heard any issues with the S1 - most of what I hear has to deal with the G10's and 11's.

[marlin29311]

http://www.electronics-expo.co....html

The TV I got a while ago is back on the same sale...

46" Sharp LED for $1160, down from $2000.

[Looneybomber]

Is that one of the Panny plasmas that has experienced the black level problem? Has yours held up so far? I wish Pioneer wouldn't have gotten out of the plasma market...

Because mine doesn't exhibit any black issues, I don't remember what the exact problem is supposed to be.

Since I use it mostly has a computer monitor, having still images in the same spot (think start button and menu bar) causes image retention, so I periodically move the menu bar around and have the screen saver set for 1 minute.

[AppleBonker]

I don't remember what the exact problem is supposed to be.

Some were reporting that the black level was skyrocketing after 1000-5000 hours (somewhere in that range). Like, worse than LCD black levels. I believe there was a huge thread at AVS where numerous people had metered comparison before and after. It didn't appear to happen to all sets of a particular model either.

And, image retention is mostly a thing of the past (for what most people would use a tv for), but for a PC monitor I'd be concerned. At least you're being smart about it. Are you seriously using a 54" monitor? Awesome.

[Looneybomber]

Yup, HTPC.


You can see my old PC sitting there next to the speaker with the 15 or 17" LCD. This was before my HDMI cables arrived, so the TV wasn't hooked up to the PC. The new one has the sides off sitting towards the left. This pic was taken sometime around Christmas when I was doing something with it. I've since moved those L/R's (Left & Right speakers) away from the TV around 2ft, eliminated unused equipment out of my TV stand, and cleaned up the room.

Seriously need a wireless mouse and keyboard!

Right now, the wife and I are trying to figure out what to do for a center channel. Our latest idea is using 3 identical towers, mounting the tv on the wall, and ditching the tv stand for an amp/equipment rack or two. Too bad my computer isn't in a 19" rack mountable case.

[audtatious]

I have this one:
Adesso - SlimTouch AKB-410PB


Works OK. The right side of the touch pad is a scroll bar which can get annoying.

[marlin29311]

Most laptops have the right side and bottom side as scroll bars for easier navigation while web browsing, etc...

[audtatious]

I have 2 Gateway laptops, 4 Dell laptops, and 1 Toshiba. None of them have a separate scroll bar built into the touch pad like this keyboard.

[Looneybomber]

I am on a Toshiba laptop right now. It has vertical and horizontal scroll on the right and bottom respectively, the upper right if tapped maximizes/unmaximizes windows, the lower right minimizes/unminimizes, and the lower left opens the Start menu. That gets annoying because sometimes I want to click something by tapping the touch pad area, but if I am too far to a corner when I do it, the screen unmaximizes or something.

[audtatious]

Weird. Never seen one do that until I got this keyboard.

[marlin29311]

That is odd...Every laptop in my house (Lenovo's, Dell's dating back 6 years or so too) all have this feature...

:shrugs

[audtatious]

I'm glad as I hate the feature

[Looneybomber]

Newegg is at it again as seen on Slickdeals.

Polk Audio Monitor 70's
Floorstanding Speaker (Black) for $220 - $70 coupon EMCYSZS24 + $3 S/H = $153/ea shipped. Wow.

[audtatious]

You can get the Polk CS2 center channel for 99.99 + $3 shipping as well

[PoorManQ45]

No way, just use the monitor 70 as a center.

[Looneybomber]

No way, just use the monitor 70 as a center.

In a dedicated room (with an acoustically transparent screen), or in a normal room with someone dedicated, that's the way to go! Mount the TV 4ft off the ground and bam.

Five of those would be $765. Assuming you like the sound of these, that's a pretty killer setup for the money!

[audtatious]

As the Monitor 70's are discontinued I would expect to see some better deals over the next few months as places try to get rid of them.

[Looneybomber]

Vanns is having a clearence on Infinity Cascade series speakers. Everything is at least 50% off.
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/conte ... inityRabos

[PoorManQ45]

LOL, definitely not worth $1700... I'd say maybe $600.

For that kind of money I'd go with 4 monitor 70s, a CS center, and an SVS PB12-NSD

[Looneybomber]

They go quite a bit cheaper on ebay, and that sub is not worth the money at all! Not near the extension one would expect for that price. But, the bookshelfs and towers are worth looking at on ebay (refurbished).

[Looneybomber]

Looks like the Monitor Audio Radius series must be discontinued because Amazon has them for up to 75% off.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... dio+radius

Monitor Audio Radius RS225 (ea) for $99
http://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Radius-225-Flat-Screen-Silver/dp/B000Y9LWAO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1277672082&sr=1-10


RS225 with a wood veneer (ea) for $119
http://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Radius-22 ... 73&sr=1-19


Monitor Audio Radius RS270 (pair) for $299
http://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Radius-270-Narrow-Profile-Silver/dp/B003AIL4E0

[Looneybomber]

***Just ranting***

Right before bed last night I saw a deal on amps that was unbelievable. There were seven fairly new Emotiva XPA-1's(1kw class-AB monoblocks) for sale on AVS for 400/ea + 100/ea shipping, located in NY, with 3.5yrs of the warranty remaining. They normally sell for 1025/ea shipped. Being that shipping would be so high, it would be cheaper for me to rent a high MPG car and drive the ~1300 miles to NY to get them.


(for those not familiar with "monoblocks", they're over priced, single channel amps, that exude quality and elitism. Like Rolls Royce)

I went to bed and talked with the Mrs. about it. Knowing that the deal is awesome and I could easily resell the amps for 6-700/ea, I went to contact the seller this morning letting him know I have cash in hand and could come pick them up...but they were already sold!?

The buyer is in Iowa, and has been buying/selling Emotiva amps quite a bit for the past year, so I'm sure he's planning on doing the same thing I was. Either that or he's going to keep 'em and sell off some of his other amps. Either way, I doubt he'll back out of the deal, so I'll never see those amps.

Oh well. My wife is nearly 38wks prego and my son has a chemo treatment on Tuesday, so maybe traveling halfway across the country isn't such a good idea...Although I could have gone there and back by myself in 36hrs and been well rested.

***end rant***

[PoorManQ45]

Wow, you convinced your wife even with the circumstances! Damn!

I can understand and appreciate finer devices, especially when there is a great deal, but amps are something that I have a hard time justifying.

From hanging out on AVS and the S&V forum I learned that unless there is something seriously wrong with the amp, they should sound pretty much identical. This lead me to my love of pro-audio equipment, especially the Behringer lines. Nothing like a 4000w two channel amp for >$400 new!!! Stick them in a rack in a centralized room, to keep fan noise away, and you're set!

[Looneybomber]

I think it was the possibility of making nearly $2k reselling them that sold her. Sure the road trip would have cut into the profits, but we could have seen a few things while we were out. Plus, she's the most awesome wife to have when it comes to home audio.

Ex 1. I bought some Infinity Beta-20's, a pair of Beta-50's, and was looking for a Beta-c360. But once I showed her pictures of the 3-way center with twin 6.5" woofers, she said it was too small, so now I'm doing a DIY kit speaker about twice the size.

Ex 2. I finally put a finish on my 4ft^3 subwoofer for my SDX-15 and she loves it. Told me I need to build another one to match. (too bad I sold my 2nd SDX-15)

Ex 3. My tv stand is kind'a small and won't carry a lot of gear (receiver and UPS on bottom, DVD and one other thing in middle). She wants me to build a bigger one that will hold 8 pieces of equipment. That way, as my HT expands, I will have enough room to tastefully hold my equipment.

The thing with monoblocks or other "audiophile" amps is they’re also a bit of a status symbol. Sitting on top of short stands with granite tops and water hose sized cables running to and from, they’re as much meant to be seen as they are to power a speaker…a far cry from equally capable, yet drastically cheaper, pro amps.

Anyhow, 400 bucks for 1kw @ 4ohms and absolutely silent (no fan noise) is a deal to me! But I would have resold at least 4 of them so long as the wife would let me keep 3 for the mains.

*edit* BTW, there's a guy that's been trying to sell two Crown XLS-402's in KC for 275 local pickup, but they're just not near as classy as those Emotiva monoblocks.

[Looneybomber]

Onkyo TX-NR808, $672 shipped. Use coupon BONUSBUY at checkout.
http://www.6ave.com/shop/Product.aspx?sku=ONKTXNR808



It's not a fabulous deal (ie. my 50% off or more I wanted for items posted in here), but it's a new receiver and it's the cheapest selling price so far.

Home Theater Mag review on last year's version, the 807.
http://www.hometheatermag.com/receivers ... _receiver/

"Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 105.5 watts
1% distortion at 122.0 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 29.9 watts
1% distortion at 33.0 watts

with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 143.6 watts and 1 percent distortion at 168.7 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 240.2 watts and 1 percent distortion at 267.9 watts."

Pretty heafty amp for a receiver; the 5 channel driven is certainly above average, but the 7 channel is a little less than others in the price range. But, in my opinion, if a person needs a 7channel setup, they also need a 2 channel amp for the L/R's, or even a 3 channel amp for the LCR's.

In a couple years when I upgrade my antiquated, but still well performing Pioneer AVR, I will likely get an 8xx series Onkyo. They've consistently performed well in 5 channel mode.

[PoorManQ45]

There is something wrong with the power distribution system in that receiver if it can:

Drive 5 channels to 105.5w, but 7 to only 29.9 watts. That's 527.5 vs 209,3!!!

[Looneybomber]

There is something wrong with the power distribution system in that receiver if it can:

Drive 5 channels to 105.5w, but 7 to only 29.9 watts. That's 527.5 vs 209,3!!!

Yeah it's real odd. All receivers drop a bit, some a fair bit, but that Onkyo is substantial! But, I'm only planning on running a 5ch setup and am not worried at all about 7ch because I don't have room for 2 more speakers. Hell, currently I am only using 2ch because I am still building my front three.

Anyway, to help out those 7ch users, Crown is discontinuing their XLS series amplifier and every place is now selling them at least 50% off.



http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigati ... 5wodvUqduQ
http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Crown--3001
http://www.amazon.com/Crown-Two-channel ... B000FLYMBM

Prices go like this,
XLS-202, 149 shipped
402, 199 shipped
602, 249 shipped
802, 299 shipped.

[Looneybomber]

Energy RC-50s. Normal selling price $1600/pr. Sale price $600/pr shipped, no tax.
http://www.wwstereo.com/website/ecommer ... LACK%20ASH
or through Amazon but you may have to pay tax.
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-2-way-blac ... B001BYGSJQ



Not my stuff or my picture. I'd never have a room so acoustically reflective being used as a listening/media/HT room. It's a sure fire way of making good speakers sound like crap. I used it for size comparison. (front speakers)


Certainly a good buy and they get a lot of good reviews. Currently that model is being discontinued and a new line is coming out, hence the close-out pricing.

[Looneybomber]

Jamo 5 pc setup.
http://www.wwstereo.com/website/ecommer ... HCS3SYSTEM
using promo code 2DAYSALE or EMPLOYEE the price goes down to $407 shipped at checkout.

BIC F12 (subwoofer), $182 shipped
http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop/shop.cgi?action=thispage&thispage=01100400U0213_BT46359P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID

That sub, while good for the money, is not a strong performer. Two would help ensure output remains high while distortion stays low.