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marimba

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Cannon Fodder

Cannon Fodder (1/15)

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  1. I'll recommend a few subwoofers...I started with a Paradigm PS1000, then upped to the Seismic 12...and last weekend brought home a Servo 15...all are great at their pricepoint, but the Servo 15 is the one to have. Find an audio retailer in your area that allows for in-home auditions and try a few out to see what really works for you before buying.
  2. I'll second the recommendation for Paradigm products. Check into their lower cost options if the Reference series are above your budget.
  3. Sure, Onkyo 605 (on clearance as the new models are now out) Sony PS3 and whatever Paradigm speakers fit your budget (http://www.paradigm.com/) HDMI cables from monoprice.com.
  4. Yeah, I dig my 80 gig version. I'm more into the movie and audio playback capabilities than using it for games. I would recommend it just for that. I really see the PS3 more as a media hub that just happens to play games.
  5. I dunno...I think that in the end the 2 hybrid children will be dropped off on earth to become Adam and Eve like figures. The other cylons and humans destroy each other. The children start an entirely new human race which eventually creates Cylons and the entire process begins over again.
  6. Sundown, I do understand your point, but rest assured that my new Samsung 1080p TV blows the Sony 720p/1080i TV I just sold away in every way. I promise that it is not just or only perceivable on video games. I just don't want a few hundred dollars saved now to cause a lot of regret a little while down the road if David Hingten decides to get a blu-ray player or some other future HD media player. I had convinced myself that 720p was good enough...and it really wasn't in the end. 1080p really is the way to go in this situation IMO. Wes, The 120 hz TVs simply redraw the screen at a higher rate. For instance, on my TV, when watching a movie with the Auto Motion Plus turned on, the tv actually interpolates an entirely new frame between the normal 60 hz frames. So, with AMP on, you get actual movie frame, interpolated frame, actual movie frame, etc, etc. With AMP off you get actual movie frame, a repeat of that same frame, new actual frame, repeat of the same frame, etc, etc. Either way you choose, pictures seem to have a more "solid" look to them. With the AMP on, some movies appear to have a video like smoothness to the motion on-screen. It's almost like a 3D effect. Take for instance the last Pirates of the Carribean, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Sunshine. All of those look incredible when watching with the AMP turned on to the low setting. When viewing Pan's Labyrinth I usually turn the AMP off, because the AMP seems to impart an "unreal" aspect to the picture. It's hard to describe, but at least you can turn it off or adjust it to your preference. On another note, I too am a notorious bargain shopper. When shopping for speakers I always first ask if there are any store demo models. You will be suprised at how many audio retailers are willing to discount those 20-50% off of the retail. I saved $300 on my Millenia 200 because one of them had a cosmetic crack in one of the glass bases...I contacted Paradigm directly about a replacement base, and later when the sales rep for my area contacted me he sent a new base out to me free of charge. I also spent 3 weeks dropping into Circuit City, Best Buy and Fry's every 2-3 days until I finally stumbled onto a returned Onkyo 605 at Fry's. I saved money there as well. When buying the TV, I found a salesman at Circuit City who was willing to sell me the TV for $1600, but then didn't have the TV in stock...I had him write the price and all the other info down on a card then proceeded directly across the hi-way and got Best Buy to price match. Why only 16 gauge speaker wire in the rear? Well, my living room is tiny, and the wife didn't want to have 12 gauge sticking out of the wall. Since she didn't complain and actually encouraged me to get what I wanted, some concessions I made happily. As far as speakers go...the only really important factor is that YOU like how they sound, no matter how much you pay for them.
  7. David Hingten, please do yourself a favor. Save up for a little while longer and purchase a 1080p capable television. You will be happier in the long run because you will retain more flexibility for use with newer technology like Blu-ray players. (Not to mention better picture quality) Last year I purchased a 1080i/720p television that I ended up quickly replacing. I had convinced myself at that time that 1080p capable TVs were just a marketing ploy since most HD content available at that time was 720p/1080i...I didn't foresee that Blu-ray would rise up an make me NEED a 1080p tv. Hmm, speakers...I myself have been a fan of Paradigm speakers for about 15 years. I think that for the money it is very difficult to get better performance. Some people I know enjoy the sound of Definitive Technology, (it's just not my cup of tea) but I know that they also build a good quality product. Polk products have never sounded "right" to me. I know, people are gonna want to roast me for that statement. But, before you do, just allow me to say that I have the opportunity to listen to real live music played every single day. I have a side business arranging marching band shows and clinic-ing middle and high school concert bands. I play percussion in 2 local community groups (band and orchestral) and used to be on staff with a drum and bugle corps. That usually means that I get to hear at least 7 music rehearsals per week. To me, for the money, Paradigm offers the most natural and true to the actual sound of real performances speakers available. Now, I don't think that they are the absolute end-all performance wise but if you can, please give them a listen. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised at some of their offerings. Cable wise...I now just use 12 gauge copper for the fronts and 16 gauge for the rears (the low cost kind from Ace hardware). For years I used different Audioquest products, and some of the high-end Monster cables (junk). My HDMI cables are the ones from monoprice.com. After years of 3 watt single-ended triode tube amps and Linn turntables I am far happier with my current audio/video set up than ever before. My current set up: Samsung LNT4071f Onkyo 605 Playstation 3 (80 gig/2.30 firmware) Paradigm Millenia 200 front Paradigm millenia 20 center Paradigm ADP surround Paradigm PS1000 sub (ver. 4) soon to be replaced by Servo 15 3 HDMI cables from MonoPrice.com 12 and 16 gauge stranded copper speaker wire from Ace Hardware - the stuff on the big spools that they sell by the foot.
  8. The PS3 actually has a setting to enhance dialog buried in the system settings. Give that a try. Otherwise, bump up the volume of your center channel just a bit.
  9. Ah, one of the 2 "missing" features will be implemented, resume play! Now Sony needs to get on the ball and release DTS-HD Master Audio update along with bitstream output of both DD True HD and DTS-HD via the HDMI or optical. Then I can get the little Dolby True HD icon on my receiver to light up and see which component sounds better, the PS3 or the Onkyo.
  10. I did buy it, but luckily with a few Rewards coupons from Best Buy...So I paid $16 for the blu-ray. It was worth that much, but I'm glad I didn't pay more. I watched it twice then gave it to my little brother.
  11. Yeah, My current favorite is the 120 hz certified Monster Cable HDMI used for 120 hz LCD tv's. The TV's only accept 60 hz input signals and either double the frame rate or interpolate new frames to reach the 120 hz framerate. Any normal HDMI 1.3 cable will be more than adequate. My new Samsung LNT4065 looks great using $12 cables from Monoprice.com There is no way I would ever spend over $50 for any cables anymore. (and this is coming from a guy who used to use Kimber cables/Tara Labs/Nordost/audioquest cables to connect my turntable to my triode tube amps) System currently consists of: Samsung LNT4065f Onkyo 605 Sony PS3 80 gig 3 HDMI 1.3 cables from Monoprice.com Paradigm Millenia 200, Millenia 20, Cinema ADP and PS1000 (soon to be replaced by Servo15!) Phillips Pronto tsu2000 + usb IR remote dongle from Nyko BlueWave remote.
  12. OK, I've purchased all my other crap, so now it's time to get the new higher quality monitor...I've been to several local stores, but keep being drawn to the same set where ever I see it. It's the Samsung LNT4671F. I've read some good things and read some bad things in various searches so far. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge with this particular TV?
  13. Ok, thanks for clarifying VT 1010. I now have the HDMI output set to LPCM and the Dolby TrueHD Icon is visible in the display of the PS3 when watching the Blu-ray of 300, and the PCM MULTICH HDMI indicator on the Onkyo is also lit. This sounds fantastic. I have also installed the 2.10 update on the PS3 which seems to have improved the video quality in the 1080i automatic setting. At some point in the future I will purchase a 1080p capable television, but for the time being I am wholly satisfied. I hope that the HD-DVD Vs. Blu-ray debate comes to a swift end with Blu-ray being the winner. I see it as the true next step in video/audio playback instead of the incremental increase that HD-DVD seems to be. (but, then again I'm biased now that I'm the owner of a Blu-ray player.) If anyone else has any setting magic as far as upscaling of standard DVDs that I should try, please do post them! Thanks again.
  14. Ok, now I'm excited...I picked up a open box Onkyo 605 at Fry's over the weekend and a 80gig PS3 along with the Nyko blue-wave IR remote at Gamecrazy this morning. Tonight after hook up and update I'll pop some popcorn and we'll all settle in for some blu-ray goodness. Tell me again how to set up the PS3 so that it will pass the Dolby TrueHD bitstream via HDMI to be decoded by my Onkyo?
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