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  1. Dan Driscoll

    Power Conditioners - Protection

    Ditto the recommendations to stay away from APC; I've had nothing but problems with their products. As others have said, a UPS is only necessary for critical applications where the device can't be allowed to go down. My home security system falls into that category, but not my A/V system. Also...
  2. Dan Driscoll

    Need help in choosing A/V Receiver & Speakers

    Have you considered high quality used speakers? Unlike electronics, speaker design has remained fairly stable and a speaker that sounded great 5 years ago will still sound great today, barring damage or abuse. I paid $400 for a pair of used Vandersteen Model 2C's more than 10 years ago and they...
  3. Dan Driscoll

    A4L. Worth buying refurb or new?

    More than half off the original MSRP, factory refurbished, with a 1 year factory warranty and the option to buy an extended warranty? As long as if meets your needs and has all the features you want, what's not to like?
  4. Dan Driscoll

    Help on my new theater! Plz

    Unless you're planning a 9.2 set-up, the 3020 might be overkill. A 7.2 model with at least 100Wpc will probably meet all of your requirements and save you $200-$400. There's no need to match brands or tone to your other speakers when picking a sub; the output level and low end frequency...
  5. Dan Driscoll

    Help on my new theater! Plz

    Either of those, with the matching center speaker, would give you a good qualify front soundstage, assuming you like the Polk sound. Given the size of your room, I would lean toward the 12's, but I'm sure the 10's would also work OK.
  6. Dan Driscoll

    Help on my new theater! Plz

    Yamaha and Marantz are both good options, IMO. Atmos should be a non-factor in your decision right now. If a receiver has it, fine, it not, no loss. A previous model or refurbished receiver will give you a lot more bang for your buck. Accessories4Less is highly recommended for refurbs and...
  7. Dan Driscoll

    Build me a home theater room for $3500 please.

    If it's for your kids I'd suggest that a projector may not be the best solution. You can get a very good 65" 1080p LED-LCD for about $1200 or a 65" 4K LCD for around $2,000. You might even be able to fit a 70" in your budget. For a receiver,http://www.accessories4less.com has a large...
  8. Dan Driscoll

    Good replacement for Yamaha DSP-A1?

    I don't see any reason not to go for another Yamaha, especially since you like the sound. There are quite a few models in and under your price range that should be perfectly fine for your uses. Honestly, the DSP-A1 is massive overkill for how you are using it, a mid or even entry level model...
  9. Dan Driscoll

    That evil 4 letter word to audiophiles... SONY

    I had a set of Sony cans about 10-15 years ago that sounded very nice and had surprisingly good bass. I eventually replaced them with mid-range Grados which were better, but it wasn't like night & day. OTOH, I've never heard any Sony speakers that I liked.
  10. Dan Driscoll

    Arcam AVR 300 Input Selection Problem

    I was able to swap the CR-90 for a CR-80 and all the functions work now. And yes, the 83SE and 300 thru Vandy 2Cs are very nice.
  11. Dan Driscoll

    AR Pre-5 Linestage

    Sold
  12. Dan Driscoll

    Arcam AVR 300 Input Selection Problem

    I just got a used AVR 300 and it came with a CR-90 remote. The AVR works fine and sounds great, but I haven't been able to figure out how to select the DVD-Audio (aka EXT 7.1 or MCH) 7.1 analog input with the remote control. The previous owner never used the 7.1 inputs, so doesn't know how...
  13. Dan Driscoll

    AR Pre-5 Linestage

    Bump for the holidays. I will consider any reasonable offers.
  14. Dan Driscoll

    AR Pre-5 Linestage

    Excellent analog linestage with five 2-channel inputs and one 6-channel input for MC music or home theater. Outputs are main L-R, a tape loop and a 6 channel pre-out. I am the second owner and am only selling because I was forced to down-size my system. It needs to go, the amp it drove has...
  15. Dan Driscoll

    Samsung and Vizio Control US Smart TV Market

    From your comments I suspect that your friend had the TiVo and ATV before he/she bought the Samsung? In that case he probably just hooked everything back up the same as it was before. Also, I don't agree with the suggestion that the TV can do everything a TiVo or an ATV does. It may have a guide...
  16. Dan Driscoll

    Google's ridiculously awesome 8 tuner Fiber TV box

    Google and other open fiber service are making the telecoms very, very nervous. Utah bill would stop regional networks
  17. Dan Driscoll

    FLAC - SACD

    FLAC will allow you to do that and is why I still use it, even though disk space is no longer an issue. The exact capabilities will depend on the specific ripper and encoder that you use; some have more capabilities than others. I'm old school and still use EAC (Exact Audio Copy) for ripping...
  18. Dan Driscoll

    Is It Time To Replace My Oppo?

    I've have my 83SE for about the same time, w/o any issues. Try calling Oppo customer service, even if it is out of warranty. They are pretty good and may have some tips if other customers have reported similar issues.
  19. Dan Driscoll

    Bookshelf Speaker Hunt

    I'll ditto the Rainmakers, amazing sound for such a small speaker, especially the bass.The Studio 20's are also nice, but I would still take the Rainmakers, even if the price was the same.
  20. Dan Driscoll

    Before DVD's, where would you watch films in OAR?

    There were theaters that specialized in re-running previously released films. The first time I saw 2001 and Bladerunner was at one of these theaters and a few of them still survive by making the show an 'experience'. There's one not far from here that has become an adults-only dinner theater...
  21. Dan Driscoll

    Speaker cable!

    Home Depot/Lowes/Radio Shack 12AWG is more than sufficient for most applications. Make sure it is OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) and you'll be fine.
  22. Dan Driscoll

    Totem

    IMO Rainmakers are one of the best bookshelf speakers you can get. I've heard them in demo rooms a number of times and have always been impressed. If I ever need to replace my Bud Fried Beta Signatures, Rainmakers will be at the top of the list.
  23. Dan Driscoll

    Fedex deliberate shipping damage dilemma, please read

    I wouldn't even open the box, I'd make Fed-Ex take it back immediately. Once you open it making a claim gets quite a bite more difficult, IME.
  24. Dan Driscoll

    NAD T743 - Sound issue.

    If you have done this already, power down & unplug, then restart.
  25. Dan Driscoll

    Blue Jeans Cable

    I don't use BJC ICs myself, but I know a lot of people who do and they are all happy with the quality and cost.
  26. Dan Driscoll

    5.1 channel surround sound set up

    I would recommend 3a, simply because it offers the most flexibility. Anything you can pre-wire for you should pre-wire for, IMO. As Sam said, the center speaker in a home theater set-up goes with the TV, regardless of where it's located. It can be over or under, but under is the most common and...
  27. Dan Driscoll

    5.1 channel surround sound set up

    I assume the photos are of a model home and that your plan is to pre-wire inside the walls of the house you are having built for the speakers? Since you will be adding all new wiring anyway, I strongly suggest that you pre-wire for a 9.1 or even 9.2 configuration. That will give you the most...
  28. Dan Driscoll

    The next big thing? Curved TV's...

    I only want curved if it's a VERY big screen. Curved is great if the screen is huge or if you are sitting in the center viewing position. If not it will have a negative impact on viewing angles.
  29. Dan Driscoll

    What happens when cable companies feud with content providers?

    I had and HD-OTA receiver and tried to use it here a couple of times. Sadly, I'm in a radio shadow and can only get a few stations and even those can be iffy. :(
  30. Dan Driscoll

    Paradigm ADP-370 v.2

    SOLD! :thumbsup:
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