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  1. Lanny Hoff

    ventriloquist

    I helped a friend set up a Ventriloquist system a couple of weeks ago. He is using them with a Hsu STF-2. My first impressions as we unpacked the system were not positive. The satellites are stunningly small and the driver in each one is a tiny 2.5" cone speaker. The center is more impressive...
  2. Lanny Hoff

    First impressions of SVS

    I skimmed this thread and have one idea. When I got my SVS, it seemed like the thing was bottoming out all the time. Then I realized that the sub was bouncing on my hard floor. If you are using this machine on a hard floor, the "bottoming" you are hearing could be the sound of it bouncing...
  3. Lanny Hoff

    Playing CDs Through a Denon3803: Digital or Analog?

    I have a 3803 and a Panasonic dvd player, and I always let the 3803 do the Digital to Analong conversion. The DAC's in the Denon are probably better than any stand-alone CD player under $500 (my wild, numbers-out-my-ass guess) so why not just do it that way? I don't even have analog cables...
  4. Lanny Hoff

    Looking for bookshelf speakers

    I wasn't going to say anything else about the ACI Emeralds, but here goes: I've had mine for 9 days. Last weekend I did some listening against NHT M5's, my old Paradigm Atoms, and Energy C-3's. It was really no contest. The ACI is a brilliantly detailed speaker, which is something of a...
  5. Lanny Hoff

    My Paradigm Warranty Experience

    Which part is their policy? The shipping of defective speakers? The replacement of them? I really don't understand your point. I still maintain that the dealer is the first line of defense on this. It could have been handled better, let's agree on that. At any rate, let's just say that you...
  6. Lanny Hoff

    My Paradigm Warranty Experience

    Avoid them like the plague, Tony? Holy moly, man! Paradigm screwed up on this one. Who or what company hasn't done that? We are talking about SPEAKERS here people! Not a kidney for transplant. It's a hobby, and should be fun. Sometimes it's not, but you only make it worse by stewing...
  7. Lanny Hoff

    My Paradigm Warranty Experience

    I agree that the retailer should have offered to give you a new speaker and then handled the repair in-house. Your frustration should be with them, and not with Paradigm. I've had this same situation, and the retailer (Stereoland of Minneapolis) was prompt and totally willing to do what it...
  8. Lanny Hoff

    Rate your own speakers...honestly!

    HT System Denon 3803 Sub: SVS 46-16 CS+ with Samson 1000 amp Fronts: Paradigm Mini Monitor V1 Center: Paradigm CC350 Sides: JBL Something somethings Backs: Paradigm Atoms V2 Music Rating: 5/10. The sub is great, but I have fallen out of love with the Paradigm Monitor sound. I've heard a...
  9. Lanny Hoff

    Looking for bookshelf speakers

    ACI Emerald. Big, sweet sound in a small, good-looking package. www.audioc.com.
  10. Lanny Hoff

    Refurb Denon Avr-3803

    Ordered my 3803 on Friday, November 7. Received it Friday November 14. It was double-boxed and packed with foam peanuts. I would say that the packing job was more than adequate and the unit was in great shape.
  11. Lanny Hoff

    Refurb Denon Avr-3803

    I called them and just asked outright what the deal was. The sales associate was up-to-speed on the deal and said "Yep, that's right. Great deal, huh?" The order took about 3 minutes (including some time spent talking about football and hockey) and it's done. A new AVR-3803 for $648.06...
  12. Lanny Hoff

    MILLER'S CROSSING DVD feedback (also BARTON FINK) (MERGED THREAD)

    I am really surprised that anyone could comment on the "fine detail" of Chet's uniform in Barton Fink. On my display it was just a smear. This DVD is a blurry, horrible mess! How could there be such difference of opinion? Is it indeed possible that there are two distinct batches of this DVD...
  13. Lanny Hoff

    HTF REVIEW: "Pulp Fiction" Collector's Edition (Highly Recommended)(with screenshots)

    On my Panasonic XP-30 and Sony 57WS500 the picture is pretty soft and there is not a lot of detail. It's simply OK. But the big problem, and something I am surprised has not been mentioned yet, is the fact that in the beginning of the film, specifically in the scene where Jules and Vincent...
  14. Lanny Hoff

    Lawrence of Arabia - next additional dates set

    Just saw this tonight in Minneapolis. Man, what an experience! My favorite movie of all time, no question. The presentation at the Heights Theater is superb. The picture is so detailed and the colors are so rich and saturated that it looks almost 3-D! Truly a wondrous experience! Check out...
  15. Lanny Hoff

    *** Official 'Fellowship of the Ring' DVD member review & discussion thread

    This is in reference to Sean Moon's post. I'm sorry if you feel that those of us that have found flaws are sadistic. Believe it or not, none of my comments have anything to do with taking the wind out of your (or anyone's) sails. In fact, I can safely say that my comments weren't driven by...
  16. Lanny Hoff

    *** Official 'Fellowship of the Ring' DVD member review & discussion thread

    On the edge enhancement issue: The beginning of Chapter 8 (along the tops of the rolling hills) is an example of where I am seeing something. Now, I admit freely that I may not be seeing edge enhancement, but it sure looks like it to me. And my gear is hardly top of the line. My gear is...
  17. Lanny Hoff

    LOTR DVD issues (merged thread)

    In the second half of the film, there are two spots where I get small blocky pixelization, but I never loose the sound entirely. You are not alone, I fear.
  18. Lanny Hoff

    *** Official 'Fellowship of the Ring' DVD member review & discussion thread

    Lou-I've heard this distortion in the past only in places where others have heard it, and it's very uncommon for my rig to make this noise. I really don't think it's a hardware issue, but I appreciate the hint from your experience. Jeff-I'm glad I'm not the only one. I hear it slightly in...
  19. Lanny Hoff

    *** Official 'Fellowship of the Ring' DVD member review & discussion thread

    Does anyone but me notice a couple of moments where the audio is moderately overloaded, to the point where there is a little distortion? When the Uruk-Hai finally catch up with the Fellowship, there is a moment when their leader cries "Find the Halflings!" that is sounds a little gritty...
  20. Lanny Hoff

    16x9 mode on the Directv system

    I had the same question long ago. Seems that some units (Sony's Ultimate TV receiver, for example) can do a version of scaling if you choose the 16 x 9 option, but in your case it does. . . nothing. Seems it's just for future-proofing.
  21. Lanny Hoff

    How Netflix saved me tons of $$$

    Gotta echo the positive comments. They now have a depot in Minneapolis, and I routinely get my titles one day after they are released to ship. I sent back three movies on a Saturday and received all three replacements the following Tuesday. Nice!
  22. Lanny Hoff

    Using Dishnetwork Oval Dishes with Direct TV

    Your information has been helpful. Thanks a lot!
  23. Lanny Hoff

    Using Dishnetwork Oval Dishes with Direct TV

    I'm the proud owner of a complete pile of garbage Dishnetwork Displayer and I'm completely fed up with it. The satellite dish I've got on the roof is an oval bugger and my question is this: can I use the dish and the LNB units from my Dishnetwork gear with Direct TV? My thinking is this: I'd...
  24. Lanny Hoff

    What do you use to drive your SVS?

    I use an Onkyo TX-970 Receiver (rated at 105 into 8 ohms, and lots, lots more into 4 ohms and heaps of dynamic power ) with my 16-46CS+. Intellectually, I know that I could use more power, but practically, this works so well I'm going to take my time and save $$ for as second sub first, and then...
  25. Lanny Hoff

    My SVS wasn't bottoming, it was jumping!

    The carpet pad doesn't absorb any sound at all. It just sits between the base of the sub and floor and acts as a simple buffer. The sub is very stable on top of it, and there is absolutely no loss of sound. Think of it as sitting on top of carpet-lots of people do that with no ill effects I...
  26. Lanny Hoff

    My SVS wasn't bottoming, it was jumping!

    hy·per·bo·le n. A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton, or my subwoofer is jumping around. OK. I may not have been "jumping around", but it certainly was rattling (what is a rattle but little, tiny...
  27. Lanny Hoff

    My SVS wasn't bottoming, it was jumping!

    Since I got my 16-46+ about a month ago, I've been happy with it, but I was surprised how easily it bottomed out. Seems like whenever we got the joint jumping, it was running out of steam. Well, it turns out that the joint was jumping-literally! What I thought was a bottoming subwoofer turns...
  28. Lanny Hoff

    Anamorphic DBS

    That's the answer. The receiver that he has does a basic scaling maneuver that looks like it's anamorphic to his TV, which explains everything. I'd say this is a desirable feature for a DBS receiver.
  29. Lanny Hoff

    Anamorphic DBS

    Ahh! That could be it! I'll do a little checking on this to get closer to the answer. Thanks for the lead!
  30. Lanny Hoff

    Anamorphic DBS

    My friend reports that he gets the Sopranos, West Wing, several movies on IFC and other channels all in anamorphic format. He has a brand-new receiver, could this have anything to do with it? I don't think the receiver is HD. It's a Sony with built-in PVR, dual tuners and is silver in color...
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