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  1. Mark.Louis

    Quality of HD/Lowes MDF?

    Thanks for the input, and I will use this MDF. The last comment about the factory edges concerns me. I don't have a table saw, so my wife bought me the Craftman Accu-rip saw guide from Sears for Christmas. Essentially, you screw this guide onto your circular saw, and its made so that you...
  2. Mark.Louis

    Quality of HD/Lowes MDF?

    Greetings, I live about 1-2 miles from both a HD and Lowes and am starting my first speaker project. Is the quality of .75" MDF from these two stores good enough to do speaker building? I will be building GR Research's AV-3s. If not, would a local wood supply specialty store or cabinet shop...
  3. Mark.Louis

    My GR Research AV-2's Finished!!!

    Nice work!! Two questions...I see you didn't use Blackhole 5 in the box, using open cell foam instead. I am considering doing the same. Any reason for this decision? Second, lots of duct tape on back of woofers (at least it looks that way in one of the pictures). Is this permanent or...
  4. Mark.Louis

    Recs for Clamps

    Am just getting into the Speaker DIY hobby, and for Xmas the wife got me two 36" quick action clamps from Lowes for $28 each. I took them back knowing I could get them cheaper, but am not sure where to go. My first project will be GR's AV-3s, requiring at least a 48" bar clamp for the sides...
  5. Mark.Louis

    Opinions on Stryke S1-B or S1-MTM

    Hi Chris: I am located in Tampa. Am currently auditioning the AV-2s from GR Research, and I find them to be highly detailed with lots of warmth. They make my Missions sound skinny and harsh in the upper end. the AV-2s even have more bass than the Missions. I have been reading in other...
  6. Mark.Louis

    Opinions on Stryke S1-B or S1-MTM

    Greetings! I am awaiting a test listen of some GR Research AV-2s that Danny has graciously allowed me to demo. Based on all the comments here and in other forums, they appear wonderfully suited to my needs of 50/50 Music/HT as R and L front speakers (Av-1s for the rears). However, I am...
  7. Mark.Louis

    Value of commercial vs. DIY

    Thanks for all the information. I was wondering if anyone can point me to a link on this forum, or an easy book somewhere, on building a crossover (preferably one that the manufacturer; e.g., Adire, GR Research; has already designed). I am pretty handy with wiring and a soldering gun, having...
  8. Mark.Louis

    Value of commercial vs. DIY

    Greetings to all - I have been debating for several days whether to just plunk down a few hundred dollars and buy some JBL speakers for a HT set up (50% HT, 50% music), or whether to put money into DIY speakers. As someone who is not an audiophile and who has been listening to cheap speakers...
  9. Mark.Louis

    Newbie needs help with rear speaker placement

    Hi to all: I bought a house that has in-wall rear speakers installed in the rear wall of the HT room. The speakers are mounted 11 feet up a 12-foot ceiling, and are pointed directly toward the front of the room, where the TV, center, and L/R front speakers are located. Is this an optimal...
  10. Mark.Louis

    Question for Yamaha htr5590 or rcv1300 owners

    Jeff - I didn't get the RX-V1300 because I couldn't get my local shop to budge on the $799 list price. But I did audition it extensively. I thought that it had ample power, and when used in two channel and five channel stereo, it was incredibly, incredibly detailed. I listened to the Eagles'...
  11. Mark.Louis

    F/S ALTRA Black Audio Rack (cheap)

    Put me in the running if Thomas or Anthony don't get the "rack." Thanks.
  12. Mark.Louis

    Question for Yamaha htr5590 or rcv1300 owners

    Frank - I too liked the 5590 sound...actually it was the 5590 equivalent, the RX-V1300, that I listened to and really liked...however, I couldn't get my local shop to come down in price on this model, and since Yamaha won't honor the warranty on a RX-V receiver sold on the Internet, I went the...
  13. Mark.Louis

    WTB: DLS 10 or Audiosource SW-15

    Steve - what size is your room? I have a 20' X 15' room with 12' ceilings, and one 20' side completely open...hence I have a little concern about a 10" sub filling room with bass. On the plus side, we rarely play music or HT very loud (i.e., > -20 db). In your opinion, is the DLS up to this...
  14. Mark.Louis

    Question for Yamaha htr5590 or rcv1300 owners

    Frank - my understanding is that for this model, and in fact for most A/V receivers at this price level, the manufacturers almost "expect" a person to use a powered sub. So, they don't put any money, time, or "space" in the receiver componentry for sub amplication. Basically, manufacturer's are...
  15. Mark.Louis

    WTB: DLS 10 or Audiosource SW-15

    thanks Jason - often the SW-15 goes for about $150 shipped on Ubid as well, but I was hoping to get one used for a bit cheaper shipped. Will check out the amazon anyway. Mark
  16. Mark.Louis

    WTB: DLS 10 or Audiosource SW-15

    Make an offer on either.
  17. Mark.Louis

    Harman Kardon AVR525 for $667.13 Shipped FedEx 3-Day Free!!

    D@#$! And I just got my 520 in the mail from onecall for 496! Wonder if they would take it back in exchange for the 525? :-) Mark
  18. Mark.Louis

    Built-in Surrounds going to be a problem?

    My house came with in-wall 2-way surround sound speakers in the family room (which will be the HT room). These surround sound speakers are mounted 10.5' high up the wall directly facing the front of the room (where the TV and front speakers are), mounted directly behind the seating area. The...
  19. Mark.Louis

    Feedback on Yamaha 5550 reciever

    Ike - I don't own the 5550, because I went with another receiver not because of the 5550's performance, but because I wanted more out of the receiver. However, I tested the 5550 extensively when I was reviewing receivers. My opinion is that the 5550 sounded very good for HT, good to very good...
  20. Mark.Louis

    HK vs. Yamaha vs. Onkyo

    Steve - the main-ins mean that the HK 520 can be used as a stand alone amplifier. Most receivers in this price range (including the HK 520) have preamp outputs, which means that you can add an external amp(s) to your receiver for more power. However, you are stuck with the receiver's...
  21. Mark.Louis

    HK vs. Yamaha vs. Onkyo

    Steve - it all comes down to your ears. I have read and read "complaints" about how forward and bright the Yamaha's sound is. As a result, I had written it off before giving it a chance. Demoed an RX-v1300 the other day at Sound Advice through Klippsh speakers, however, listening to the Eagles...
  22. Mark.Louis

    Speaker placement Question from newbie

    ADDENDUM - Note. Even if I were to wall -mount the 6th and 7th speakers, they would still be 2-3 feet right behind the ears...a little too close, I imagine? So the only option may be to mount them high and have them point down...but I am not sure how this will sound. Mark
  23. Mark.Louis

    Speaker placement Question from newbie

    Hi all: Am just about to purchase my first HT receiver, but have a question about speaker placement that WILL influence the receiver I buy (great deal going on a 5-channel H/K AVR520). My HT room is really a family room, sized 20*15, with one 20' side open to the kitchen and breakfast room...
  24. Mark.Louis

    4ES Price: too good to be true?!

    Hi: I was just quoted a price of $619 delivered from www.sammans.com for the sony STR-DA4ES, which is an authorized dealer. HAs anyone ordered from them before? Onecall couldn't believe the price and didn't dare try to match. Any reason for the gut feel of suspicion I have?
  25. Mark.Louis

    Is "EX" really necessary?

    I guess that's what my question is about...I admit I don't know much about Logic 7, EX, ES, etc. My understanding is that if a DVD I buy or rent is recorded in EX, then of course with a 5.1 setup and the AVR520 I can't listen in this mode, but that the DVD will come witha 5.1 listening...
  26. Mark.Louis

    Is "EX" really necessary?

    As many of you probably know if you have followed my analysis paralysis, I am looking to purchase my first HT. I am interested in both the HK AVR320 and AVR520, since both can be had cheap due to new models, and to the build, sound, and reputation of HK. but, both lack EX decoding, which...
  27. Mark.Louis

    Egad! Does Sony 2ES perform well?

    Thanks Rick. Yeah, the Pioneer is being considered less now. Every time I think I am just about ready to bite the bullet on one, another comes into view. I was alll gung-ho on the 6070, then the onecall guy told me about the AVR520 and their price...hands down, he said, its sound and build...
  28. Mark.Louis

    Egad! Does Sony 2ES perform well?

    OK. I know the 2ES is not a "real" ES receiver, that it is mostly a rebadged DB1070, but that doesn't concern me. From my reading the DB1070 got really good reviews. Based on it's specs, it should do well. Do others know anything about this receiver's performance? Receivers being...
  29. Mark.Louis

    Need Home Theater Help

    Hi to all - the standby and reliability issues I have read about are referred to by Rick. Also, there is a huge thread over at avsforum about the 320 and 520 having some problems with their rear right and left surround when using Logic 7, that, to my knowledge, HK has yet to fix. Brian, you...
  30. Mark.Louis

    Help me decide. HK AVR-520 vs. Newcastle R-756

    Ronnie - how are you liking the sealed Tempest? That is going to be my project over the Xmas break. I am building the exact same model. I was going to build it passive and use my old Pioneer stereo amp to power it. However, if I get the 520 then I will use the Pioneer stereo to either (1) power...
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