Topic: Updating the audio video system

[KnuckleBuckett]

Samsung 6050.  We picked it up at Sams over the Christmas holiday for $900.  Paid for the 3 year top to bottom warranty.  Total cost was about $1100.

http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/UN60EH6050FXZA

This is our/my second TV.  Our Pioneer was eight, but as a projection I wanted to sell it before there were any issues.  Hell it was like 400 lbs.  Charlie made a $300 offer for it and we decided to switch early putting the $$ towards the new Samsung.  He is thrilled and so are we.  Three days after we purchased our TV Sams increased the price to $1200 sans warranty.

So far 9.5/10.  It has a feature that changes brightness per the ambient light.  In our house it is more trouble than it is worth.  So I turn it off.  However every firmware update turns it back on.  Sigh.  That said, there tech. support is awesome!!

[charlie]

Charlie made a $300 offer for it and we decided to switch early putting the $$ towards the new Samsung.  He is thrilled and so are we.

Well, I was thrilled but the dang thing hasn't been delivered yet even though I gave you the money weeks ago. Not cool, sir. Not cool.

[KnuckleBuckett]

TV's in the mail.  And I promise not to ....

[Betazep]

what are those wires called and how do they hook into the back of the speakers?

[KnuckleBuckett]

Nordost is the company.  They are essentially flat speaker wire.  I like the sound and the look.

They can be purchased with pins, bananas, or spades (mine).  Bi-wired or single.

All of my interconnects and speaker wires are used.

http://www.nordost.com/category/3/speaker-cables

[Betazep]

So... I am always a critical thinker.  I like to look for contrary viewpoints and discuss them when I can. 

There is no doubt in my mind that there are different quality levels in audio and audio systems.  Some of these quality levels involve subjective perception.  But some of them can be certainly measured. I have listened to friends "hifi" speakers from "hifi" receivers that sound amazing by comparison to my cheapos.  The question becomes, at a high end for many systems/speakers/cables etc is there really that much difference?

I looked at the nordost site and was kind of turned off by how they were representing the quality of their cables.  Construction being flat has application benefits (like under the carpet)... but is the sound better than some other decently constructed cables that are probably way cheaper?

I came across this guy...

http://sound.westhost.com/cables.htm

I read much of the first page and then went to the conclusion section and read that.  He pretty much makes an argument that it is somewhere in the middle.  As in, of course there is wire that could be very bad for sound... and of course there is wire that could be very good for sound.  But most wire that was designed to be good for sound WILL be good and most people couldn't tell the difference in studies where various cables were switched back and forth.

Thoughts?

[KnuckleBuckett]

Yup.

It is mostly why I purchased used gear and cabling.  It is all a good bit overpriced.

I have subjectively heard.  Very clearly.  The difference in each and every component.  Am I one to push expensive cabling?  No.  Not really.  I do try to convince people new the market to purchase quality cabling, but not super expensive parts.  Speaker cable that does not patina is always nice, interconnects with enough quality that they ends and internals don't tarnish.  Once you get past cabling that is immune to normal atmospheric conditions and wear and tear, meh... it is up to the individual.

I think that most of the Nordost line tends not to show up sonically and seems to have less time delay.  That is a very subjective opinion, but one that I have held for about 15 years, which is how long I have had that set of speaker cables.  I think I paid $150 for a 3 meter set.  The MIT I purchased for similar reasoning with similarly discounted pricing.

So in most cases I advise purchasing good quality cabling to start and then when you are done with the rest, if you feel the need, then screw with cabling.  Cabling reaches the point of diminishing returns faster than any other component.

Importance of the components IMO...
Protection (Quality outlet strip)
Speaks
Front End (source and or D/A)
Preamp
Amp
Cabling and accessories

[Betazep]

Nice.  I see the logic of that.

what is D/A?

[KnuckleBuckett]

Digital to Analog converter.  Converts digital sources like CD, MP3, etc. to an analog voltage.

The quality of the D/A used makes a dramatic difference in the quality of the sound.  Which kind of makes sense.

Burr Brown is an example of a supplier for excellent quality D/A chips.  ESS SABRE32 would be another example.

It should be noted D/A and A/D converters are used in all sorts of products that have nothing to do with audio.

[Jake]

nice. take pic of remote

[KnuckleBuckett]

This is a Google photo of it.

[KnuckleBuckett]

Update.

-Found a woofer with an excursion issue.
-Foam around the front baffles needed to be replaced.
-The piano lacquer finish was scratched up and needed TLC.
-Found out that there was a tweeter update a couple years back.

New woofer ordered.  Typical of the high end they actually match the Thiele/Small characteristics so that it is unnecessary to purchase a matched pair.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiele/Small

New tweeters and foam panels ordered.

So in that I was going to get new drivers, needed to replace the baffle foam, and we didn't want piano lacquer anyway....

We are having them repainted GM White Diamond Tricoat.  I have attached an image.

I have decided the cabling will stay as is.

I may well get a universal media player as well.  It takes all digital media, CD, streamed, etc, and pulls the information through its own D/A, so that no matter the source the sound is about as good as you are going to get.  Also it has balanced (XLR) outputs.

It is an Oppo-105.
http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-105/

More photos when I get it all back together in a few weeks.

BTW even as is, the system is nothing short of stunning.  Despite my nitpicking, I am very pleased with $$ versus what I now own.

[KnuckleBuckett]

Well I opened up the speaks, pulled the drivers, and decided to replace the tweeters, midranges, external foam diffusion panels.

Also slightly changed the color we are having them painted.  We are going with a Ford Platinum Metallic Pearl tricoat.  Common on the Ford Fusion, Taurus, etc. where it is a slightly gold white pearl.  Less obvious than the GM version.

Basically I am giving them a full update and remodel before they become a permanent fixture in the house.

I also worked on a few other tweaks to the Nordost cables, phono shorting plugs, and so on.

When I get the enclosures back from the paint shop, I will have to let them sit a couple weeks to cure and out-gas.  Afterwords I will seal them with various layers automotive sealants and topcoat them in carnauba wax.

All bolts and hardware will be polished stainless steel.  The feet and spikes will remain flat black so that they don't stand out.

If I can get them off of my phone onto my work PC, I will post a few pics of the teardown results.

For now I am holding off from getting the OPPO universal media player, as it cannot play Amazon Prime media yet.

I know I am probably boring most of you to tears, but I am fairly hyped!  So I will continue to post updates.

[ober]

Please do... it is all interesting even though I'm not sure what some of it means

[KnuckleBuckett]

Pics of the tear down of the Watts and Puppies.