Sunday, February 28, 2010

Lowest Price Gel Mouse Pad with Wrist Rest, 6-1/4 x 10-1/8, Sapphire/Black, Jewel Tones



Get more detail about Gel Mouse Pad with Wrist Rest, 6-1/4 x 10-1/8, Sapphire/Black, Jewel Tones.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Low Price Adcom GFA-5400 2-Channel 125-Watt Amplifier


The item is fine, an exact copy of the one I already had. We accidentally ordered two from two different sources, but the company refused to allow a return, and they were pretty rude about it. The product is fine, but I do not recommend this company.Get more detail about Adcom GFA-5400 2-Channel 125-Watt Amplifier.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Save Adcom GFP-715 Stereo Pre Amplifier


The Adcom GFP-715 sounds good to me. I have an Adcom GFA-545 amplifier and Martin Logan Clarity speakers. When my right channel stopped working on my Adcom GTP-400, I sent it to a place for repair. After spending $150 the repair only lasted a month. I decided to go without a tuner and buy the GFP-715.

I am happy with the listening to the stereo reproduction of musical performances. Although I have found audio cables can make a big difference(kind of off the subject). I put together some mu metal audio cables and they make a definite difference in listening to a piece of music.

So from someone who would spend the extra effort to make his own audio cables, but obviously cannot afford the high end stuff, the GFP-715 is a good preamp.
Get more detail about Adcom GFP-715 Stereo Pre Amplifier.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Discount Denon DRA-295 AM/FM Stereo Receiver


I have wonderful older Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers that need really high-current, clean amplification. So, I have a Hafler amp and Hafler preamp that have always sounded fantastic. Then, my preamp died :-(, so I looked around the store for a cheap replacement. I found this Denon-295 that has preamp output plus a switched AC receptacle. So, I plugged in my old Hafler amp. The Denon switches the Hafler on, and voila, great sound once again! I'm quite pleased with the receiver, especially b/c it didn't cost an arm+leg!Get more detail about Denon DRA-295 AM/FM Stereo Receiver.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Cheapest Monster Cable Three Channel Power Amplifier


I purchased this item from a Marketplace vendor for nearly $1000.00 less than new retail price. The vendor represented that the item was new, in its original boxes, and never opened. Vendor was an individual, not a business, and voluntarily opened direct communications with me, both by email and phone.

I received the product exactly as represented. It would be impossible to wrap the amplifier in its plastic sleeve exactly as originally packaged--you can tell by the folds--nor remove the tape sealing the plastic sleeve without distorting or tearing the plastic. The outer box had Monster logos on it, and the amp box inside was obviously original. They had the original Monster shipping tape on the seams.

The amp looked and smelled new. The only problem was, it wouldn't turn on except by a trigger; the front on/off switch, LED status indicators and meters were dead. The amp section worked, all three channels.

Upon checking the warranty information I learned that Monster does not extend their warranty beyond the original purchaser, and this amp has a two-year warranty. I contacted the vendor to see when the amp was purchased--it turned out he purchased it in 2006, making it out of warranty even for him.

Fortunately for me, this person was a real jewel--conscientious, honest, and diligent. He stayed in contact and tried to help me through the difficulty. He used his prior contacts through his previous employment as an electronics salesman to contact Monster and work out an arrangement for me. The Monster supervisor in these negotiations had some initial difficulty with that, but mentioning that this amp did not work out of the box, brand new, irrespective of how long it had been in that box, that it was one of their high-end (i.e., expensive) products, that their reputation was on the line, and that I was a good customer, having purchased a number of their expensive components, seemed to persuade the supervisor to negotiate.

The arrangement was for me to ship the amp directly to Monster at my expense, and they would send me one of their B Stock amps along with a 90-day warranty. That would take the vendor out of the loop and allow me to deal directly with Monster. Under the circumstances this arrangement seemed to be the best deal for me, and I agreed.

The Monster supervisor assured me that B Stock items are essentially new--returns from vendors who want to clear their inventory of unsold items. No floor models, demos, or open box items. Monster technicians open the box, check out the product visually, mechanically and electrically/electronically before they ship. He said that Monster has no facilities in Brisbane to repair or refurbish their products. All their warranty work is done by authorized third-party repair facilities off site, and customers deal directly with the repair facility.

I received this amp about three weeks later. It looked new--no scratches, abrasions or dents. It also worked. For about two weeks. Then the right channel just quit working.

I am now in the process of shipping this amp back to Monster and this whole process is being repeated again, except that Monster is picking up the shipping costs this time. The previous amp cost me $144.00 to ship to Brisbane, CA, from San Diego, CA, about $400.00 miles. This amp does weigh about 100 lbs., and I insured it for its original cost.

So now I am back to using my old Yamaha DSP A-1 receiver, using its three front channel amps to drive the signal from my processor to my speakers. (You might like to know that I can hear a real difference between the Monster amp and the Yamaha amp--the Monster amp is definitly better, giving my speakers the solid authoritative control necessary to produce great sound.)

I have a number of Monster products, of both the Monster Power and Monster Cable kinds. I have an AVS 2000SS Voltage Regulator, an HTPS 7000SS PowerCenter and an HTP 5100SS PowerCenter, and an HTUPS 500 battery backup for my rear-projection monitor (to run the cooling fans if the power goes out). I have had these products for four years with not even a hint of a problem. Based on my prior experiences with Monster products it seemed to me that Monster made bullet-proof power products, and that gave me some reasonable confidence that their 3-channel amps would be the same way.

I would think that an amp is a pretty straight-forward item with no prissy-pricey components inside, and one that weighs 100 lbs would certainly have enough heft and solid construction to withstand reasonable rigors. I would never have considered buying a sensitive component like a DVD player or preamp/processor under these circumstances. So, what are the odds that I would strike out two times in a row with this product?

Well, I tried to save a little money on this product, and I'm definitely paying the price at the other end. I'm on this roller coaster ride now--I've paid my money--and now I must just hang on and go along for the ride. We'll see how it ends up.

I'm not saying don't buy Monster products, but in the long run it is probably better to buy new, so you get the full warranty to cover you if and when a problem arises, and allows you to deal directly with the company instead of through a third-party vendor. Something to think about--I sure will from now on when I'm tempted to buy from a Marketplace vendor in order to save a few bucks. You know, time and hassle also have a dollar value, too.

Also, I realize, and you should realize, that Monster extended a courtesy to me based on the total circumstances involved; it was totally their call, and I was at their mercy. In defense of Monster, don't expect your experiences with Monster to be the same as mine--they have a right to warranty their products however they want, and as long as Monster honors their warranties you should not expect more from them than their warranties specify. Anything more would be a case-by-case decision on their part with no assurance of prevailing.

Before considering a third party vendor, determine if he is an individual or a dealer (if an individual, you may not find one as honest and forthright as the one I had), ask the vendor if they are an authorized dealer of the product they are selling, when they purchased the product, how long the manufacturer's warranty is and is its coverage transferable.
If the vendor won't ID himself, or only gives limited contact info, don't deal with him, no matter how good the deal is. Even with Amazon's A-to-Z guarantee, if a problem develops it takes a couple of months to resolve.

Hope this helps.

Get more detail about Monster Cable Three Channel Power Amplifier.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Cheap Panasonic SA-XR57K Digital Home Theater Receiver with HDMI, Black


since i already have a sa-xr55, i knew what i was getting into when i bought the sa-xr57. the 57 looks better than the 55. beyond that the only main difference is the hdmi interface in the 57. but given its limited video sampling capabilities i find that hooking my dvd player directly to my sony lcd tv (which has better video sampling capabilities) gives me a clearer picture with hdmi. for audio i hook a coax cable from the dvd player to the receiver. at low volumes it is not that great. but at good volumes the audio is pretty good. i use the b&w 6 series speakers and a pinnacle baby sub for my home theater setup. i also have a nad 325 bee cd player hooked into the receiver with another coax. for the money this receiver is a great deal.Get more detail about Panasonic SA-XR57K Digital Home Theater Receiver with HDMI, Black.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Buy Denon AVR-688 Dolby Digital Surround Receiver


design error in this receiver presents itself with a blinking red power light shortly after turning the unit on. the blinking light is the circuit protection detecting a short in the circuitry, the only problem is that the circuitry shouldnt be shorting out after only a few months. you will find this a common problem for this unit if you search online. Denon makes it very clear in the one year warranty that the store where you bought it (circuit city) is responsible for repair and tech support. if you are trying to fix your AVR-688, use a multimeter and check the resistance between the speaker +/- outputs (red and black) and signal inputs (check each input with every other input), along with the resistance of the components in the power board (the board that the power goes into is reasonably easy to remove with a philips screwdriver and needle-nose pliers). if you find the short, desolder and solder in a new part, or if its a speaker channel you can live without (you already lost your money), just clip one of the wires in the short circuit path.

one good thing- this reciever has a lot of nice features and settings (even though it doesnt do dolby through the HDMI port)Get more detail about Denon AVR-688 Dolby Digital Surround Receiver.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Purchase Harman Kardon AVR 340 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver, Silver


This was shipped to me in June 2006, since when it has worked flawlessly for an average of more than 8 hours per day.

This receiver replaced a 5.1 unit which was rated at 120 W RMS per channel, and I was rather concerned that the output of this receiver would be barely sufficient. I believe HK rate their receivers' outputs per channel with ALL channels running concurrently and handling a similar load, whereas most other brands are rated with only that one channel running - hence the comparatively low output for HK. I need not have worried - My Bose speakers now sound BETTER, and FAR LOUDER, than they had with the previous receiver.

When I bought this unit, none of the components of my theatre system used HDMI connections - How times have changed. I have overcome these shortcomings, however, by connecting my HDTV DVR, PS3, and Apple TV directly to my 1080p TV, and feeding optical cable to the HK receiver from the TV. I would also have liked easier equalizer (or Bass and Treble) adjustments via the remote, rather than having to switch inputs to view on-screen menus in order to compensate for variable TV audio clarity.

BTW, I had not noticed that the volume control knob was made of plastic - I have rarely (if ever) used it. Universal remotes do the job for most of us, and the Harmony One handles this unit particularly well. (Other universal remotes would not turn it off, and volume control was reversed on some.)

If weight is an indicator of solid construction, then this is one solid piece of equipment, and the blue volume control and the customizable display rank high in terms of "cool".

If I had rated this soon after delivery, it would certainly have warranted 5 stars. Though I shall be looking to address its present-day shortcomings when a replacement eventually becomes necessary, in all other respects I remain as pleased with this item as I was the day it was delivered, and am in no hurry to replace it. Get more detail about Harman Kardon AVR 340 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver, Silver.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Order Universal Bluetooth Stereo Receiver


Unit arrived 2 days ago (6/14/09). Have been trying to pair it with my cell-phone bluetooth for music(which I know works perfectly with other accessories). Unit pairs up for about 10 seconds then shuts down. HAVE TRIED IT NUMEROUS TIMES WITH EVERY POSSIBLE START UP COMBINATIONS AND NO LUCK. [...]. Just tossed it in the garbage. DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF CRAP. Not worth my time to write to these fools and spend 10 hours of my time explaining to them their design flaws.

I'm an old timer. Have been a Corporate Pilot for over 35 years and consider myself "in the know" of leading edge technology. As time goes by, I'm realizing the extent of thoughtless, selfish & inconsiderate Electronics manufacturers practice in that equipment STANDARDIZATION is becoming non-existent. If this trend continues, the future looks bleak.

Get more detail about Universal Bluetooth Stereo Receiver.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Where To Buy Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)


I purchased this unit and after about 4 months time it malfunctioned and produced no audio. Because the unit was under warranty, I sent it to be repaired by one of Onkyo's authorized repair facilities. They took 3 months to get it back to me and when I reconnected the unit it only lasted ONE day before it broke again for the same reason--no audio.

Onkyo's customer service and management does not care about providing any type of customer service and I would not recommend purchasing any Onkyo products. I trashed this unit and purchased a Yamaha to replace it.

If buying any Onkyo product buyer beware!!!Get more detail about Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black).

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH - AV receiver - 7.1 channel


I have owned 15 Pioneer auto and home products since the early 80's. Not one of them has ever disappointed in quality, longevity or function. Excluding longevity (to new), the VSX-03TXH receiver would appear to be no exception. As usual, Pioneer packs a lot of features unheard of in other products at the same price point. In my humble opinion, the sound quality of this receiver is the best your going to get for under $2,000. For better audio warmth with this or any comparable brand, one would probably need to move up to a tube/valve amp.
As expected from previous experience, It will take some time to learn the remote and all function possibilities. The ergonomics of the main remote (comes with 2) and lack of a learn feature are somewhat bothersome compared to previous Pioneer remotes but overall, it's a small sacrifice. Get more detail about Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH - AV receiver - 7.1 channel.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Denon AVR-789 630-Watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review


No beating around the bush. This is a tough system to customize. But once you have it figured out you can output anything through this receiver. I use it in conjunction with a Harmony all in one remote. I am very happy with this product.Get more detail about Denon AVR-789 630-Watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Denon RCDCX1 CD/Super Audio CD Receiver Top Quality


The past several years have seen a number of better quality CD and DVD Receivers enter the marketplace. The Arcam Solo comes to mind as perhaps the first truly aimed at audiophiles; but Denon, NAD, Music Hall, and Primare have all staked claims in this niche. The Denon RCD-CX1 more than holds its own; indeed, at my house it is the last unit standing after I spent several months with both an Arcam Solo and Music Hall Trio.

The RCD-CX1 is voiced to sound a touch warm, but this departure from neutrality strikes me as being well-suited to a bedroom or office. It has enough power to drive many speakers, but I suspect it will sound best with small two-ways. I am using a pair of Arcam Altos, and I think they sound better with the RCD-CX1 than they did with the Solo.

I have been very happy with the RCD-CX1 as it plays CDs, and the FM tuner works very well. My only complaint is that the AM tuner lacks sensitivity and even the strongest AM stations are usually beset by noise. I rarely listen to AM radio, so this has not proven a real problem for me. Even so, the lesser quality of AM reception cost this review a star in my rating here.

Followup, October 19, 2009: I recently acquired a Kaito AN-200 Tunable Passive AM Antenna, which made a notable improvement in the AM reception and still offers the convenience of a relatively small indoor antenna.Get more detail about Denon RCDCX1 CD/Super Audio CD Receiver.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Denon AVR-3805 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel - black Decide Now


Read the reviews of other Denon Products and see how many agree...
BE CAREFUL WHO YOU BUY THIS FROM -- MOST etailers are NOT on Denon's approved list -- and they will NOT honor the warranty if bought through them. Denon has two tiers of product marketing: very high price thru an "authorized" dealer and warranty support or low price thru an "unauthorized" dealer with no warranty support. Visit Denon.com to view the limited authorized supplier list. Denon will have NO MERCY if you buy thru a non-authorized dealer, despite having sold to them in the first place! You won't find this technique employed by Sony, Panasonic,...
My unit performed perfectly for about 4 weeks. The sound configuration takes some figuring but is sheer beauty when done. The 7.1 signal processing works wonderfully. Unfortunately, the component output completely stopped working without any warning and I am left with a large "boat anchor" in need of several hundred dollars of repair. I'm pretty discouraged...Get more detail about Denon AVR-3805 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel - black.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Onkyo TX-SR804 7.1 Channel Up-Converting THX Certified A/V Receiver (Black) Right now


For the price, I think the Onkyo TX-SR804S is a great piece of equipment. I use it in a home theater that doubles part-time as a family room for watching TV. The video upconversion and numerous inputs allow me to connect every piece of video and audio equipment I use into the receiver so that I only need only connection to the TV. The sound is crystal clear throughout all volume levels I have tried so far, and there are adequate adjustments for getting exactly the sound I want. The only strange thing I've noticed about the receiver is an occasional faint clicking sound like a relay switching poles. I don't know if this is an electrical discharge of some sort or what, but the sound is unnoticeable except at very low volume levels, and only happens occasionally. There seems to be no interruption to the video and audio produced by the unit.Get more detail about Onkyo TX-SR804 7.1 Channel Up-Converting THX Certified A/V Receiver (Black).

Friday, February 5, 2010

Lowest Price G-pen 560 Digital Tablet


Although this is one of the cheapest tablets you can get now a days, it really is good and durable. I thought with it being so cheap it would break in a couple of months. But it hasn't yet. The only thing I've had to do so far is change the battery in the pen.
It's not one of your big-an-fancy type tablets. But it gets the work done.Get more detail about G-pen 560 Digital Tablet.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Low Price Samsung SIR-T351 ATSC (HD) Tuner


I purchased the Samsung SIR-T351 in April of 2004 and have used it to this day. I can thoroughly say I have a great deal of experience with this tuner.

Positives: Easy to flip to your favorite channels, decent HD signal scanning capability, ease of setup and connections (for simple systems, i.e., one HDTV and terrestrial antenna input).

Negatives: Does not have "point" on the remote so you can't enter 4.1, 10.3, you have to go to 4 then "channel-up" to .1, .2, .3, etc.; during storms, high winds or rain when the signal is disrupted or becomes weak the audio may go out of sync (changing channels then coming back solves the problem); the tuner interface is SLOW (can't perform other controls if the guide or other features are displayed, you have to wait for the tuner to lock to a channel before you can change to a different one); no way to upgrade the firmware in this unit; the signal strength meter is very slow and does not give a good real-time indicator of signal strength (will show 7 bars even if the signal goes in and out quickly); the unit gets very warm (don't set anything on this as it will quickly heat up), and it was expensive when we bought it ($250 at Best Buy after some credit card and other discounts were applied).

There are more than likely better tuners out there. At the time, this was the only terrestrial tuner offered at Best Buy in my area (Raleigh, NC), so I pretty much had to take it (there were plenty of HD decoders from the cable and satellite companies but I wanted over-the-air so my choices were limited). It is still operational but the built-in tuner in my Sharp Aquos, which I purchased a year later, is significantly better, so I know by now HD terrestrial tuners have improved and are more than likely a bit less expensive.Get more detail about Samsung SIR-T351 ATSC (HD) Tuner.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Cheapest Q-2 Tube Amplifier


First impressions:
1) it's well built mechanically. All aluminum chassis, tight fitting knobs etc.
2) the output noise (with the input shorted) is on the loud side
3) the vacuum tube is used only as a pre-amp to the monolithic power stage (which looks like a cheap TDA integrated amp). The online info is very vague in this area (what is a hybrid amp?), so I'm a little disappointed in that regard. Nevertheless, the tube injects the pleasant sound coloring one expects from a vacuum valve amp.
4) the tube is barely warm (no hard driving), which means that it will last forever (a typical vacuum lamp loses its parameters after several hundred/thousand hours of operation).

In the end, the Q2 thingie is an inexpensive tabletop amp with a tube to color its sound.Get more detail about Q-2 Tube Amplifier.