Other Gadgets (general gadgets)

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by baltassoc


But instead of a CD player, consider a five disc DVD changer. It'll play CDs, DVDs, MP-3s (usually), and probably all the different DVD based high fidelity audio formats.

Good point. Or, for less (like $100-150), get a single-disc DVD player, which will also play CDs. Receiver, at the lower end, for about $350, and speakers for $500. You can add the surround sound speakers later--just make sure the receiver (and it almost certainly will) has speaker outputs for them. Done and done.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Good point. Or, for less (like $100-150), get a single-disc DVD player, which will also play CDs. Receiver, at the lower end, for about $350, and speakers for $500. You can add the surround sound speakers later--just make sure the receiver (and it almost certainly will) has speaker outputs for them. Done and done.

As for receivers, do yourself a favor and go with a higher-current model. Your ears will thank you. In the sub $500 range, stick with Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, and Harmon Kardon. If you are looking at the HK stuff, check out Harman Audio's eBay store.. Harman Audio is the parent company for Harman Kardon, Infinity speakers and JBL speakers. You can often get brand spankin new stuff at their site for way below retail.

One more piece of advice; don't skimp on speakers. I know that you said that you are not an audiophile, but shitty speakers sound like shit, and you WILL notice. One SCREAMING bargain is the Wharfedale line of speakers, which you can get for great prices on Amazon. The Wharfedale Diamnond 8.2 is available in either black or maple and, at $299, are absolutely unbeatable for the price. You won't find anything that sounds better for under $500.

Feel free to PM if you want more specific recs.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Concur on the Crutchfield rec.

Dissent. Never buy speakers mail order. It's not worth it. Not worth it. Trust me on this.
Highlights - bring your own music to the store, avoid discount stores. Scope the salesmen - avoid smarm. Pick your own damn speakers. Everyone's hearing is individual and certain speaker brands will sound better depending on the music you listen to. Don't listen to classical on JBLs and don't play headbanger on Martin Logans.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Dissent. Never buy speakers mail order. It's not worth it. Not worth it. Trust me on this.
Highlights - bring your own music to the store, avoid discount stores. Scope the salesmen - avoid smarm. Pick your own damn speakers. Everyone's hearing is individual and certain speaker brands will sound better depending on the music you listen to. Don't listen to classical on JBLs and don't play headbanger on Martin Logans.

The only reason I recommended crutchfield for the store-averse (as RP appears to be) is that they have a no-questions-asked 30 day return policy, which allows you to set the speakers up in your house and give them a try.

If you really don't want to go to a store, it's an easy way to listen to any speaker.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Good point. Or, for less (like $100-150), get a single-disc DVD player, which will also play CDs. Receiver, at the lower end, for about $350, and speakers for $500. You can add the surround sound speakers later--just make sure the receiver (and it almost certainly will) has speaker outputs for them. Done and done.

I don't think you've shopped for a DVD player in the last couple of months. These days, a decent (not great, but still named brand)DVD changer runs right about $100.

Personally, I think the $40-50 premium for a changer is well worth it, but YMMV.

Also, I think that unless one is hooking it up into HDTV and are really serious about it, there is little reason to get an expensive DVD player (just make sure it has an optical audio out and whatever video out is most appropriate for your TV).

ET change optical video to optical audio.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by baltassoc
I don't think you've shopped for a DVD player in the last couple of months. These days, a decent (not great, but still named brand)DVD changer runs right about $100.

Personally, I think the $40-50 premium for a changer is well worth it, but YMMV.

Also, I think that unless one is hooking it up into HDTV and are really serious about it, there is little reason to get an expensive DVD player (just make sure it has an optical video out and whatever video out is most appropriate for your TV).

Optical AUDIO out is also important, as it cuts down on wires/clutter.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
The only reason I recommended crutchfield for the store-averse (as RP appears to be) is that they have a no-questions-asked 30 day return policy, which allows you to set the speakers up in your house and give them a try.

If you really don't want to go to a store, it's an easy way to listen to any speaker.

Sure because unpacking and packing and schlepping big ass speakers back to UPS, is so much more easy than just going to a damn store.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Sure because unpacking and packing and schlepping big ass speakers back to UPS, is so much more easy than just going to a damn store.

I thought she said she didn't want to go to a store?

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Optical AUDIO out is also important, as it cuts down on wires/clutter.

Optical audio (sorry, previous brain hiccup) is one of the greatest innovations to come along lately. One cord, digital quality data transfer to the last possible component. It's a thing of beauty.

While I'm sure any receiver anyone is going to recommend here is going to have it, it's important to look for it in both the DVD side and the receiver side. In fact, these days a receiver should have at least three for proper expansion (one for DVD, one for Playstation and one for the cable box).

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I thought she said she didn't want to go to a store?

No, she said she didn't want to go to Best Buy. And for good reason. The big boxes are too, just too. Best Buy, Circuit, CompUSA all the same - too noisy, high school kids in bad shirts who don't know shit.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Sure because unpacking and packing and schlepping big ass speakers back to UPS, is so much more easy than just going to a damn store.

And the store set up will mirror yours at home, so you can be assured the speakers will sound just the same once home.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
And the store set up will mirror yours at home, so you can be assured the speakers will sound just the same once home.

The resonance will change, the timbre will not.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
No, she said she didn't want to go to Best Buy. And for good reason. The big boxes are too, just too. Best Buy, Circuit, CompUSA all the same - too noisy, high school kids in bad shirts who don't know shit.

So much for my reading comp skillz...

[the Spartan]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
OK, then I recommend Cingular or Verizon. The former uses CDMA (a standard developed by Qualcomm, and used in very few places other than the US) Cingular uses GSM (the cell phone standard in most of the world). Both offer pretty comparable coverage in the Bay Area. I am partial to Cingular's GSM network (I have been a Cingular subscriber here in Philadelphia for several years now) and have used it in the Bay Area on several occasions, without incident, in San Francisco and up into Marin.

If you are a gadget head, I recommend going with Cingular/GSM, as there are much cooler phones and you can change handsets on a whim simply by taking the little chip (called a SIM card) out of one and putting it in the other. Also, GSM phones tend to have better power mananegement, so the batteries tend to last longer when compared to comparable CDMA phones.

If you are going to be traveling to remote and/or rural areas, go with CDMS/Verizon, as their handsets still have analog (a very old technology), which will be the only networks you will find in many rural areas. GSM is in some rural areas (and getting better every day) but rural coverage si still better with an analog-capable phone (there are currently no GSM phones that can transmit on analog).

As far as comparing the various handset manufacturers, I have owned nokia, motorola, and siemens. All have advantages and disadvantages. I have deliberately stayed away from samsung, lg and SonyEricsson, as those manufacturers generally have poor RF (radio frequency) handling (i.e. they have relatively poor reception, when compared to other manufacturers' handsets). In my opinion, Nokia has the best UI and software and the best battery life. Siemens has interesting designs and great features, with middling RF. Motorola phones, in my experience, are bulletproof, and motorola is known in the industry as having the best RF.

The new treo 600 is a great handset, though it is too big for my tastes (I carry my phone in my front pocket). It's got middle-of-the-road RF, but it's got a TON of features (though it lacks bluetooth). If you really want/need a convergence device, it's the best one made to date.

If I were to recommend one handset, I would point you toward to the Motorola v600, which works on Cingular's GSM network. Full disclosure, I use this handset, and I love it. It's small, it's got an excellent color screen and a nice camera; it's got a calendar and address book; and, as a terrific bonus, it has bluetooth. It's also got the best RF of any handset I have ever used. Also, it is a quad band GSM phone, so you can use is in any market, anywhere in the world, where GSM is in use.

Verizon is getting a very similar handset called the v710. I've never used it, but the stats are very similar to the v600.

I know this post is long, but I hope it helps. Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

I have a Treo, my wife has V600. Two thumbs up!

[Alex_de_Large]

OK, so I still haven't made up my mind re: the satellite v. cable issue. For another wrinkle, Comcast just rolled out their DVR systems in my area, which I understand is a TiVo-type service integrated into their HD cable boxes. Does anyone have any experience with this v. TiVo. I know and really like TiVo, but the thought of having everything integrated into one box is appealing. Then again, if the Comcast DVR is laden with crippling DRM crap, I am not inetrested. Inquiring minds want to know...

thanks,
AdL

ETA: I found a couple of reviews/comparisons here and here.