[quote user="Mallette"]Just syncing a second drive is OK, but you have to remember to do it.[/quote][quote user="Mallette"]I do not believe backup protection is adequate unless it is automatic and real time.[/quote] I agree. I never backed up anything in the past cause it was up to me, and I lost some good music on a hard drive gone bad. Thankfully, I received an Apple Time Capsule last Christmas and it has changed my life. Automatic backups for all my files, smooth and easy for

[quote user="muel"] I use plenum everywhere so I don't accidently use PVC where I shouldn't. It is a safety issue as you just don't want more toxic gases in the event of a fire than you will already have from other sources.[/quote] That's the exact reason it is required in commercial spaces where the air return is fed into the suspended ceiling (plenum). Even in commercial use it is a little bit of redundant overkill, because in the event of a fire the HVAC system will shut

[quote user="John Albright"] Buy the teflon insulated "plenum" cable.[/quote] Why? Most often in residential use, there is no need for a plenum rated cable, unless the cable is being run through a suspended ceiling in which the air return is dumped into the space above the ceiling (very rare in non commercial use). Plenum rating is a fire rating and will not enhance the performance of the cable in any way, and it costs a lot! Tigerwoodskhorns: I'd suggest Cat 6 (do it once

Just read this... hour twenty left on them and currently at $188. These sell regularly for $200-250 on CL. I love mine and use them regularly, nice little speakers with incredible bass and a bit like a baby Forte or Quartet but lacking the detailed and lively mids that the 3 way designs offer. For that reason I find them ideal for small rooms or nearfield listening. Good luck!

I'm with oldtimer, I use an old school-style brush with a drop of Groovy Stylus Cleaner. Bought both in a kit from NeedleDoctor.com for $10. It seems to last longer than the old Stanton stuff I had and provides less surface noise than the other fluids or none at all.

Stereophile has reported that Jim Thiel of Thiel Audio has passed away. No details as of yet. Sad news considering Thiels brave new approach selling online through Crutchfield and their many new products and designs. I've always thought of Thiel as a bit like Klipsch... both American companies that take pride in craftsmanship and owner loyalty. Few manufacturers can produce furniture grade cabinets as well as Klipsch or Thiel.

[quote user="oldtimer"] You crossed a line with that pic dtel. Don't cross another (no Oprah). [/quote] I'd do Oprah. No Celine though... not even if you paid me... to listen to her music.

I've only owned one Carver product, a 60 wpc receiver that was the noisiest amp I've ever encountered. Its internal build quality was among the worst I've seen too. I've heard many others complain about hiss with Carver amps, I'd say try any amp but a Carver.

[quote user="russ69"] psg, You are right, 100 watts to 200 watts is only 3 db but I can tell you 100 receiver "watts" is not the same as 200 separate amps "watts", OK so maybe it is but the big amp will sound much stronger than the 3 db difference suggests. Thanx, Russ [/quote] I agree. An amp from Rotel, NAD, B&K, McIntosh will have a much larger power supply than any receiver and provide more current. These amps will also double their power into a 4 ohm load, most

[quote user="psg"]The analogy is flawed. Presumably you are using all the power of your big block engine. The OP states he uses his receiver for music at -10 dB on the volume dial. That's likely peaks of around 10 Watts per channel. How is swapping in 200 Watts of amplifier power going to help? It will only help if the speakers are a difficult load to begin with.[/quote] I can't explain the scientific reasoning behind it, but I can attest to my own experiences. The power supply