Clubhouse Grille (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***) (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION ***)

[Reasonability]

8 hours ago, Duct Tape said:

I go away for a little over half a day and I see a banner at the bottom which says, 89 new replies. Go to first unread post.

 

 

What is with you guys!   😀😀🏌🏼‍♀️

Cabin fever.  The indoor carbon monoxide thing has a little kick to it.  

[Reasonability]

5 hours ago, Triple Lindy said:

Our AV receiver died (an old Denon from mid-2000s) so I had to re-educate myself on the basics. Thought I’d save myself the trouble and just go to Best Buy’s Magnolia Home Theater and let an expert guide me. I figured if the rep could provide valuable knowledge, I’d gladly pay whatever premium Best Buy charges over a no frills internet store. My setup is pretty simple: a 7.2 layout with 2 speakers (outdoors) dedicated to a 2nd zone. No  need for high power, preamps, or anything sophisticated. I don’t even know what 90% of the acronyms mean. Wanted Bluetooth and wifi, but not absolutely necessary because I already have a Bluetooth adapter that I had added to my old Denon that could still be used.

 

Well, 2 purchases and 2 returns later, I’m back to online shopping. I spelled out my needs prior to each purchase at Best Buy and each time was assured that the unit I was buying would deliver. First one didn’t even have a 2nd zone option and second one (sold by a different rep) could only play a single source to both zones instead of allowing music to one while watching TV on the other. Good grief. At least I read the instructions before installing. Problem for Best Buy is that they now have 2 open box receivers that I assume they’ll have to mark down, even though they’ve never even been plugged in.

 

Ended up buying a discontinued 2021 Denon at a substantial discount on Amazon, but still spent more than I wanted to. Reviews on A/V sites were solid and I read the setup instructions online before buying. And it will be delivered to my doorstep in 2 days.

 

Oh well, I tried to support a place that has service.

 

Right there with ya, TL.  

 

I want to buy some new furniture and can't find anyone selling it who can assure me when I'm plyp'n, it won't bang.  

 

 

[Conrad1953]

9 minutes ago, Reasonability said:

Cabin fever.  The indoor carbon monoxide thing has a little kick to it.  

 

Man, you got that right Judge. I got rooms with nothing in them, other rooms crammed with 

furniture and stuff almost to the ceilings.....work in progress. And it's 20F outside. And our

dog is like "who are those guys and what are they doing to my house?"🙃

[aenemated]

5 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

ya gotta know exactly what you want when you go. 

 

Right? Yall expect some kid making $12/hr to know eff-all about anything? 

 

Every time I make the unfortunate mistake of walking into a retail store ... 

 

[TiScape]

42 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

Right? Yall expect some kid making $12/hr to know eff-all about anything? 

 

Every time I make the unfortunate mistake of walking into a retail store ... 

 

Yeah, anytime I go in to make a big electronics purchase I’ve already done all the research and know exactly what I want. Anyone that goes in there depending on the knowledge of the kid working there deserves exactly what they get! 

[dashanks]

9 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

Final viewership numbers for wild card weekend. The Peacock game in last...by a good bit.

 

Wow, sorry about the weird format. It didn't look like this when I copied it. Oh well, at least

numbers can be seen and read.

 

 

NFL Super Wild Card Viewership: Packers-Cowboys, Fox: 40 million Rams-Lions, NBC: 35.8 million Steelers-Bills, CBS: 31 million Browns-Texans, NBC: 29 million Eagles-Bucs, ESPN/ABC: 28.6 million Dolphins-Chiefs, Peacock: 23 million

And I bet it would have been first if it was on free TV.

[Fellaheen51]

10 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

Interesting. I didn't know surge protectors purify energy. Gotta give the guy his props.

I mean, who wants to go home and use unpure energy on their new giant screen TV? 🤣

 

Surge protection and power line conditioning are two different things.   Surge protection is measured in Joules.  The more the better. Better quality protectors can handle multiple surges before they need to be replaced.  For a HT setup, with multiple devices plugged into it, minimum should be 2000 Joules.  I have frequent power outages of long and short durations.  I want maximum protect of my HT system and everything plugged into it from damage.  I use a "better" Panamax protector for this purpose.  Not quite like plugging a refrigerator into a generic HD surge protector.  Still need to be aware of the Joule rating a particular protector has.  Spend the money for a better one.  Use a couple Tripp Lite's on other TV's and the frig.  

 

Power line conditioners in an audio application are primarily for one purpose:  Lowering the various current and ground noises generated by the power grid and wiring in your house and system.  That manifests itself in audio "hash" when listening to source material through an audio system.  Depends on the fluctuations of current and EMI interference prevalent in one's particular application.  It occurs, there's a reason computer systems employ conditioners.  Whether one notices it visually (TV) or audibly is subject to one's own circumstances.  The further up the equipment (especially audio) food chain reveals this background hash while listening.  Surge and conditioning are being typically combined into one unit for audio/video applications.  

 

The wild and whacking world of high end Audiophile.  Where high end power conditioners can cost $5000 and up.  Makes golf equipment seem cheap by comparison.  

 

 

Edited January 18, 2024 by Fellaheen51

[Fellaheen51]

For those that are interested.  Spend a bit more, buy "better" cables (interconnects, speaker wire, hdmi, etc.)  Without spending a lot of $$.  The only place to buy:

 

https://www.monoprice.com/category/pages/1

 

 

 

 

 

 

[billh17]

I always called them the lot lizards of the big stores ! Last month at Best Buy i told the same youngster, 3 times that i did not need any help. I know they are trying, but guys, has anyone really ever sold you anything that you didn't really want to buy ?

[dashanks]

1 hour ago, billh17 said:

I always called them the lot lizards of the big stores ! Last month at Best Buy i told the same youngster, 3 times that i did not need any help. I know they are trying, but guys, has anyone really ever sold you anything that you didn't really want to buy ?

Nice of them to ask, anyway.  At my local Home Depot the floor people run away if they see you are looking for something. 

[Reasonability]

2 hours ago, billh17 said:

I always called them the lot lizards of the big stores ! Last month at Best Buy i told the same youngster, 3 times that i did not need any help. I know they are trying, but guys, has anyone really ever sold you anything that you didn't really want to buy ?

It all falls apart when those little phone devices they carry around aren't used properly, or the staff just doesn't want to interface with the general public.  Those phones generally tell the staffer about a product.  Bullet points as to its performance, applications, etc. Also tells them how many are in stock, other store locations that carry it, and so on. 

 

Garbage in garbage out.  The data in those phones is only as good as those who properly scanned the movement of inventory.  Workers come to not trust it and don't even attempt to help customers by looking up things.

 

Dealing with the general public is another issue.  Some of the folks who enter their world come to play offense.  Walk in with an attitude straight out of the funny farm.  Nasty.  The lazier or more timid staffers learn to run and hide from just about everyone fearing the spaz from outer space.   

 

They are constantly being sent to backroom workstations to train for active shooters, safety, yadda.  They're likewise always being moved around from department A to B just as they're getting the hang of "A".  Management can't even agree amongst themselves where items should live and make staffers move entire bays of products three times in one shift.  Management of the second shift changes what management on the first shift decided.  

Not to mention, it's clear there exists conscientious workers as well as those who should never be allowed out of the house.  And that too can vary by department and shift.  

It could be said the whole thing is a ... wait for it ...   "shift show".   

[mshills]

I think it was in this thread where I was looking at TV programming and deciding what I can do without.  Schedule just doesn't permit a whole lot of TV watching even if we wanted to, and our entire household wants to less and less.

 

Right now I have YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, and a basic Netflix package.  I paused YouTube TV effective I think the second week in Feb.  Amazon Prime we are not going to renew -- just don't use Amazon near as much as we did during the 'Rona, and Prime Video was an add-on to having Prime shipping that we've never used much.  The basic Netflix is cheap....I never touch it but there are a couple things on there my wife likes so all good.

 

In Feb I will start the basic Hulu package, then the question is do I add Peacock or Paramount?  Need to dig into that for a few minutes and see which will give me more of what I do like to watch when I can.  Interests:

• The Masters and the British Open.  US Open, PGA, Players, etc. are sort of nice to have but not a huge deal.
• Soccer....Premiership, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, whatever I can get.  Again nice to have but not critical.
• NBA....love the NBA, but schedule getting more full, and I'm less and less of a night person, have trouble staying up to watch a game, unfortunately.
• College wrestling, mostly on the Big 10 network, nice to have but not a must.
• Clemson football -- I'll figure out a solution for this in the fall.

No chance everything is going to hit, and I'm not going to add Peacock, ESPN+, Paramount+, Disney, and Hulu.  If that's the answer I should just keep YouTube TV.  Am certainly willing to miss out on some live viewing if that means being able to simplify and not have a bunch of hot garbage on there that I never watch anyhow.

[Reasonability]

The customers I feel very badly for are the elderly and others who may not be in a position to do their own online homework ahead of shopping.   They come in needing help.  These are the same folks who get bombarded by scam call centers and such.  You'd think we could help such people rather than ignoring them or taking advantage.   Sad state of affairs when a little old lady can't even replace a burned-out light bulb.  

[Fellaheen51]

1 hour ago, dashanks said:

Nice of them to ask, anyway.  At my local Home Depot the floor people run away if they see you are looking for something. 

 

Posting from my experience.  Over the years, I've found HD department folks helpful with answering my questions about various home repair projects I've been faced with.  Getting me setup with all the necessary "stuff" to do the job.  Recent example:  Had to replace a laundry tub pump with a new one of different dimensions on the discharge side.  Had a couple pictures along and from that he sat me up with the correct couplers, pipe lengths to have mostly a 'plug and play' installation.  Couple extra pieces if his assessment was a little off (returned).  Attempting to gather all the parts without assistance would have been a crapshoot.  Might take a few minutes for the "one in the know" to show up, but they've  always been helpful with advice and recommendations.  

[Soloman1]

3 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Surge protection and power line conditioning are two different things.   Surge protection is measured in Joules.  The more the better. Better quality protectors can handle multiple surges before they need to be replaced.  For a HT setup, with multiple devices plugged into it, minimum should be 2000 Joules.  I have frequent power outages of long and short durations.  I want maximum protect of my HT system and everything plugged into it from damage.  I use a "better" Panamax protector for this purpose.  Not quite like plugging a refrigerator into a generic HD surge protector.  Still need to be aware of the Joule rating a particular protector has.  Spend the money for a better one.  Use a couple Tripp Lite's on other TV's and the frig.  

 

Power line conditioners in an audio application are primarily for one purpose:  Lowering the various current and ground noises generated by the power grid and wiring in your house and system.  That manifests itself in audio "hash" when listening to source material through an audio system.  Depends on the fluctuations of current and EMI interference prevalent in one's particular application.  It occurs, there's a reason computer systems employ conditioners.  Whether one notices it visually (TV) or audibly is subject to one's own circumstances.  The further up the equipment (especially audio) food chain reveals this background hash while listening.  Surge and conditioning are being typically combined into one unit for audio/video applications.  

 

The wild and whacking world of high end Audiophile.  Where high end power conditioners can cost $5000 and up.  Makes golf equipment seem cheap by comparison.  

 

 

 

If you’re generating power out back with a water wheel or diesel generator, good idea.

 

Modern electronics rectify AC to DC, then filter through capacitors and there are RF chokes upstream. The operating DC output is within a range that there is no effect.

 

Unless you’re hit by lightning, your breakers will handle it because they get it first. Over current and voltage spikes are extremely rare in households. Unless you’re turning on and off 240V punch presses and press brakes in the den.

 

If you’re a high-end audiophile, I can understand the obsession. Of course, all double blind tests show no one can tell a difference with line conditioners and there is an approved list of reasons on 3x5 cards to explain why they chose the wrong sound as being conditioned. You switched them on differently, etc.

 

I’m surprised they don’t sell supplements next to them at Best Buy.

 

But hey, they sell them so they must work, right?

 

Executive Summary: Once you’ve converted to DC, it’s all money flowing out of the wallet.

 

I know that’s hard for audiophiles to accept. No one likes to hear that they’ve bought something they didn’t need. It is your money and your hobby. I mean no disrespect.

 

 

[Nard_S]

I lost a high end TV & computer system to a lightening hit that landed on pole across the street. Never go without a surge protector ever again on things of that nature.

[Soloman1]

Only a whole house surge protector installed between the meter and the panel board might help that. Localized surge protectors at outlets won’t help at all. Too late. You’d need multi-cascading protectors.

 

The only thing that will work for a lightning strike is unplugging everything beforehand.

 

Ever notice that every site about how important line conditioners are and “information” is tied in with Amazon or another supplier for affiliate sales?

 

🙂

 

Edited January 18, 2024 by Soloman1

[dashanks]

1 hour ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Posting from my experience.  Over the years, I've found HD department folks helpful with answering my questions about various home repair projects I've been faced with.  Getting me setup with all the necessary "stuff" to do the job.  Recent example:  Had to replace a laundry tub pump with a new one of different dimensions on the discharge side.  Had a couple pictures along and from that he sat me up with the correct couplers, pipe lengths to have mostly a 'plug and play' installation.  Couple extra pieces if his assessment was a little off (returned).  Attempting to gather all the parts without assistance would have been a crapshoot.  Might take a few minutes for the "one in the know" to show up, but they've  always been helpful with advice and recommendations.  

Found that to be true years ago, but just the other day when I was buying a $65 gallon of paint (So glad inflation is under control now) seemed like most of them wanted to play hide and seek.  Could just be a "shift show" like His Honor said.

[bscinstnct]

59 minutes ago, Soloman1 said:

 

If you’re generating power out back with a water wheel or diesel generator, good idea.

 

Modern electronics rectify AC to DC, then filter through capacitors and there are RF chokes upstream. The operating DC output is within a range that there is no effect.

 

Unless you’re hit by lightning, your breakers will handle it because they get it first. Over current and voltage spikes are extremely rare in households. Unless you’re turning on and off 240V punch presses and press brakes in the den.

 

If you’re a high-end audiophile, I can understand the obsession. Of course, all double blind tests show no one can tell a difference with line conditioners and there is an approved list of reasons on 3x5 cards to explain why they chose the wrong sound as being conditioned. You switched them on differently, etc.

 

I’m surprised they don’t sell supplements next to them at Best Buy.

 

But hey, they sell them so they must work, right?

 

Executive Summary: Once you’ve converted to DC, it’s all money flowing out of the wallet.

 

I know that’s hard for audiophiles to accept. No one likes to hear that they’ve bought something they didn’t need. It is your money and your hobby. I mean no disrespect.

 

 

 

Back in the day had this buddy who was huge music guy, thousands of cds 💿 and 10s of thousands in stereo stuff. Had these cables looked like Transatlantic fiber cable 🤣

 

But the best was, before dvds existed, he had a laser disc player! You could precisely pause movies 🎥 😳🤣

 

Ahem

 

 

 

 

[scotee]

16 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Back in the day had this buddy who was huge music guy, thousands of cds 💿 and 10s of thousands in stereo stuff. Had these cables looked like Transatlantic fiber cable 🤣

 

But the best was, before dvds existed, he had a laser disc player! You could precisely pause movies 🎥 😳🤣

 

Ahem

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Triple Lindy]

2 hours ago, mshills said:

In Feb I will start the basic Hulu package

When I was going through the decision process on Hulu TV vs YouTube TV, I seem to recall Hulu’s advantage being that you get both Live TV and Hulu for roughly the same price as YTTV. That may not be the basic package you’re referring to, though.
 

If the basic package is the one with commercials, we finally bailed on that. Seemed like they’d hook you into a series with only a couple of commercials during the early episodes but afterwards it was something like 60/40 commercials/content. I probably could have tolerated it, but not Mrs. Lindy.

[Triple Lindy]

1 hour ago, Nard_S said:

I lost a high end TV & computer system to a lightening hit that landed on pole across the street. Never go without a surge protector ever again on things of that nature.

We took a direct hit back in ‘07. Fried just about every electronic device that we had. Most had those cheap surge protectors, which did nothing.

 

Upshot was that we had full replacement coverage on our homeowners policy. At the time, I still hadn’t converted to flat screen TVs, but we were given full purchase value of the fried stuff. I had a large tube TV in the living room that I had paid around $1k for and that’s what I was given as replacement value. After the claim was finalized, I realized just how much I was paying for that kind of policy, so I changed it at renewal time. Lightening never strikes twice, right?

[TiScape]

9 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Surge protection and power line conditioning are two different things.   Surge protection is measured in Joules.  The more the better. Better quality protectors can handle multiple surges before they need to be replaced.  For a HT setup, with multiple devices plugged into it, minimum should be 2000 Joules.  I have frequent power outages of long and short durations.  I want maximum protect of my HT system and everything plugged into it from damage.  I use a "better" Panamax protector for this purpose.  Not quite like plugging a refrigerator into a generic HD surge protector.  Still need to be aware of the Joule rating a particular protector has.  Spend the money for a better one.  Use a couple Tripp Lite's on other TV's and the frig.  

 

Power line conditioners in an audio application are primarily for one purpose:  Lowering the various current and ground noises generated by the power grid and wiring in your house and system.  That manifests itself in audio "hash" when listening to source material through an audio system.  Depends on the fluctuations of current and EMI interference prevalent in one's particular application.  It occurs, there's a reason computer systems employ conditioners.  Whether one notices it visually (TV) or audibly is subject to one's own circumstances.  The further up the equipment (especially audio) food chain reveals this background hash while listening.  Surge and conditioning are being typically combined into one unit for audio/video applications.  

 

The wild and whacking world of high end Audiophile.  Where high end power conditioners can cost $5000 and up.  Makes golf equipment seem cheap by comparison.  

 

 

Ur post reminded me. Several years ago I got big time into car audio. I went as far as having the backseat in one of my cars removed and having a sub box integrated into the interior. Multiple high end mids, tweeters, subs, amps, distribution blocks, different head units, equalizers etc. it became a bit of an obsession. What I hated was it got to where I was more into the sound and didn’t even listen to and enjoy the music anymore. So nice that the OEM units are so good now. 

Edited January 18, 2024 by TiScape

[Conrad1953]

24 minutes ago, Soloman1 said:

Only a whole house surge protector installed between the meter and the panel board might help that. Localized surge protectors at outlets won’t help at all. Too late. You’d need multi-cascading protectors.

 

The only thing that will work for a lightning strike is unplugging everything beforehand.

 

Ever notice that every site about how important line conditioners are and “information” is tied in with Amazon or another supplier for affiliate sales?

 

🙂

 

 

Yes, funny you mention unplugging some things. When thunderstorms come that's what

we do with our most valuable electronic items. It's become a habit to walk around and 

unplug some things until the storms pass.

 

Some things can't be unplugged though; frig or freezer of course. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TiScape]

41 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Back in the day had this buddy who was huge music guy, thousands of cds 💿 and 10s of thousands in stereo stuff. Had these cables looked like Transatlantic fiber cable 🤣

 

But the best was, before dvds existed, he had a laser disc player! You could precisely pause movies 🎥 😳🤣

 

Ahem

 

 

 

 

Oh, how times have changed! Now you get on any device and… Well you all know 😁😇

[Conrad1953]

5 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Ur post reminded me. Several years ago I got big time into car audio. I went as far as having the backseat in one of my cares removed and having a sub box integrated into the interior. Multiple high end mids, tweeters, subs, amps, distribution blocks, different head units, equalizers etc. it became a bit of an obsession. What I hated was it got to where I was more into the sound and didn’t even listen to and enjoy the music anymore. So nice that the OEM units are so good now. 

 

I remember the kids doing this back in the 80s. You could sit in the front seat of their

cars and feel the 2 club wind blowing from the sub woofers. 

[TiScape]

1 hour ago, Soloman1 said:

 Of course, all double blind tests show no one can tell a difference 

 

I know that’s hard for a lot of 🍸 drinkers to accept. No one likes to hear that they’ve bought something they didn’t need. It is your money and your hobby. I mean no disrespect.

 

 

I’ve read the same thing about high end vodka. Just get the ⬇️

[mshills]

Either that ^^ or the potato vodka.

 

Luksusowa is fantastic, not expensive, and has a place in our cabinet.  I don't drink much that isn't brown 😄 but it's good to have on hand to make drinks..

[scotee]

34 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Oh, how times have changed! Now you get on any device and… Well you all know 😁😇

 

 

 

[TiScape]

7 minutes ago, scotee said: