I sense a busy weekend...

[HedgeHog]

Hi gang,

After all this lurking, I've finally been able to partake in your enjoyment. Ubiquity in a palette has arrived. I know this may seem like showing off...sorry...but I can't contain the excitement. This stuff has all come within this week and displaced my new car (for now).

Anyhoo, I think I got some cables to build and RTFMing to do.

Cheers...

Oh...pix (messy ones to boot).

[William]

Good God what a bunch of junk in your garage. :E :E If you want I'll bring a truck buy and hall it all off to the dump for you as a personal favor. :T

[energyandair]

Good God what a bunch of junk in your garage. :E :E If you want I'll bring a truck buy and hall it all off to the dump for you as a personal favor. :T

Nah! You're too far away it wouldn't be fair for you to go to so much trouble.. I'll hop on the ferry to the mainland and do it for you.

[HedgeHog]

Good God what a bunch of junk in your garage. :E :E If you want I'll bring a truck buy and hall it all off to the dump for you as a personal favor. :T

Hey William,

Thanks for the kind offer to take all my scrap boxes away when I'm done emptying them! :B


FWIW, this is a repost of the Sketchup image I'm planning to do with the stuff.




-H

[wettou]

Hey William,

Thanks for the kind offer to take all my scrap boxes away when I'm done emptying them! :B


FWIW, this is a repost of the Sketchup image I'm planning to do with the stuff.




-H

Very sweet I love it congratulations, I did mine set wise but this is cool to hopefully yur dealer gave you a great deal

[Alaric]

I get decent mileage , I'll be happy to haul it off.....If you need cables , I would talk to Lex (Doug) , the forum owner. His cables are many times the value of his price.

[Nolan B]

Holly crap!

Its nice to see the economy hasnt hit so hard in BC!


I strongly recommend running the break in images for your 151 and getting it professionally calibrated. If you need to name of someone who can do a proper job let me know.

[Isaac]

You really should buy better quality products. Come on B&W, Solid Tech and JL audio... ;x(

Are you shure those boxes arn't empty?

[garak]

All I can say is :drool:

Contrats on that new system. :T

[HedgeHog]

I get decent mileage , I'll be happy to haul it off.....If you need cables , I would talk to Lex (Doug) , the forum owner. His cables are many times the value of his price.

I was so seriously comtemplating his cables...they look excellent. However, with our lousy dollar exchange, I had to reconsider. So for now, I'm making my own stuff with Belden/Vampire/Techflex/etc. Wish me luck. ops:

[HedgeHog]

Holly crap!

Its nice to see the economy hasnt hit so hard in BC!


I strongly recommend running the break in images for your 151 and getting it professionally calibrated. If you need to name of someone who can do a proper job let me know.

I think I will get it calibrated...the audio side too. I'm planning to check out www.curtpalme.com. Apparently, in chatting with my client, Curt's an old highschool friend of his. So I have Curt on my facebook and I'll pester him to set it up. :T

BTW, wrt our crappy econ: I may regret pulling the trigger since I just got two new cars also. Oh to be ignorant and foolish. :cry:

[HedgeHog]

You really should buy better quality products. Come on B&W, Solid Tech and JL audio... ;x(

Are you shure those boxes arn't empty?

Actually, the F113 and PRO-151FD are empty boxes now ops: ...I took those in right away. :B

[Nolan B]

I think I will get it calibrated...the audio side too. I'm planning to check out www.curtpalme.com. Apparently, in chatting with my client, Curt's an old highschool friend of his. So I have Curt on my facebook and I'll pester him to set it up. :T

BTW, wrt our crappy econ: I may regret pulling the trigger since I just got two new cars also. Oh to be ignorant and foolish. :cry:

I know he is well respected on AVS. I woul100% make sure he uses controlcal thou as its the only software which can properly calibrate the 9Gs.

check out this list.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1058269

here is another local guy I can recommend

http://www.finelytuned.ca/

[William]

With your setup you should go with a 802D center and move the sub to a corner. This would produce a far better timbre match while likely improving the bass. You should never use a dedicated center speaker for the center unless absolutely forced to (like me).

[htsteve]

HedgeHog,

Very nice system. You will love the setup. I agree with the others who are recommending calibration. It does cost extra, but the picture and sound after is truly special.


Have fun putting it all together.

[Glenee]

HedgeHog, Awesome stuff, You will love it. On the subject of the PDP calibration. I would recommend that you wait till you have around 500 hrs on the set. There are a couple of reasons for this, first and foremost it is not all unheard of to have a little something rear it's ugly head in the first 500 hours. Such as Power supply, Digital board just little things that can go wrong, but will usually show up in the first 500hrs. The chances of this happening are slim, but I would hate to pay for a calibration then have to get the set replaced. Secondly it takes a while for all new sets to settle in and get to the point that it will not drift much after the calibration is done. You can go over to the AVS Forum and pick up some setting's that will more than surffice for the first 500 hrs. The Pro-151 does not require ControlCal software to get One hell of a Picture all settings are available thru the User menu. The PDP-5020 and 6020 do require ControlCal Software. But not yours.

[Tommy]

HedgeHog, I just noticed that you also live in Richmond, BC! What a coincidence!
When everything's settled, you should invest some money into better cables. Your system deserves them.

[HedgeHog]

HedgeHog, I just noticed that you also live in Richmond, BC! What a coincidence!
When everything's settled, you should invest some money into better cables. Your system deserves them.

Hey, another Richmonder...nice. Gotta love our one day snow "appearance", huh? :B

I thought about cables but I feel once you've hit a better quality product, the higher cost ones are mainly aesthetics/bragging rights/placebo/snake oil. We'll see if my soldering skills are still there. I currently run Tara Labs and found it did improve on my previous stuff (this is back in 89). But my Space and Time sounds about the same as my bro-in-law's Continuum - which cost a few times more. I'll be dressing my wires up w/ Techflex so it'll have to do for now.

-Hedwig

[skuzzyb]

Hedgehog, excellent set up. Good luck with getting it all configured and up and running. Sure is exciting to have new stuff. I have to agree with you about the cables and am a bit ambivalent about it all myself. Cannot say I heard a monumental difference between my QEDs and my now super duper expensive Kimbers.... at least not enough to justify how much I shelled out for them. I sure as hell did not see the difference with the HDMI cables no matter how much my dealer said I would. I returned those rather promptly.

Have fun!

skz

[Audio_ElF]

How about a list of what your equipment is ... I for one would love to know what you chose ...

[HedgeHog]

How about a list of what your equipment is ... I for one would love to know what you chose ...

D'OH! Got carried away and forgot to list parts... ops:

New:
Pioneer PRO-151FD Plasma TV
Omnimount ULPT-X Tilting Wall Mount
Classe Audio SSP-800 Pre/Pro
Classe Audio CA-5200 Amp
B&W 802D Black Ash Speakers
B&W HTM2D Black Ash Center
B&W CCM 818 In-ceiling Speakers
JL Audio Fathom F113 Subwoofer
Belden 5T00UP for DIY Bi-wire Speaker Cable
Belden 5000UE for In-Wall Speaker
Belden 89207 for DIY XLR Interconnect (cryo treated)
Vampire XLR Connectors (cryo treated)
GLS Locking Banana Plugs
TechFlex Sleeving (various)
PowerBridge Duo
PowerBridge Wall Sock
Custom 2 Gang Wall Plate (Comp/Audio/2 pr Bananas/2 x HDMI/1 x Cat6)
Solid Tech Rack of Silence Reference 4
Solid Tech Rack of Silence Reference 3
APC J15 Black UPS (for stuff w/ memory)
APC H15 Black Power Conditioner (for other bits)

Already have:
Panasonic DMP-BD55
Sony CDP-707ESD
(probably replacing both with the upcoming OPPO BD-83)
D-Link DAP-1522 802.11n 4-port Wireless Bridge

That's it...

PS. I still haven't had time to open them up... My other new additions happen to be twins...they take more time and energy than I had anticipated.

[Tommy]

Hopefully you can set them up next weekend!
Post some pics too if you don't mind sharing.

[htsteve]

PS. I still haven't had time to open them up... My other new additions happen to be twins...they take more time and energy than I had anticipated.

Congratulation on the twins. And yes, they definitely demand energy and time.

[KyaDawn]

Looks like it's going to be quite a set-up! Can't wait to see the pics! :T

[wettou]

Pictures yet!

[HedgeHog]

Congratulation on the twins. And yes, they definitely demand energy and time.

Thx...they're time consuming and comes with no instructions...but when you guess the right answers, it's very rewarding. :T

Looks like it's going to be quite a set-up! Can't wait to see the pics!

Pictures yet!

I can't wait neither. This procrastination is gonna sound like someone faking a claim on the web to owning stuff. The stuff still in boxes (although the missus moved stuff around cuz she wanted to park the new toy inside). I've opened up the CCM 818 to see what the connectors are like...pretty nice for an in-ceiling speaker. I'll post pix later today. My plan is to assemble the audio rack and place the center channel on tonight. This will tell me where to mount the TV. I'll try to haul one of the 802D in so I can see where I'll need to locate the stuff laterally...my place isn't as big nor nice as KyaDawn's.

**gone cuz ppl are sensitive bunnies**

[Race Car Driver]

If this isnt a "hey look at me" thread I dunno what is.

[scanido]

*Exactly! Flaunting your "toys" is not exactly looked upon, if you think it is!

[btf1980]

Could care less about the wheels in the garage. I just want to see pics of the set-up in all it's glory. Having all those goodies laying around without setting them up would drive me nuts.

[William]

Could care less about the wheels in the garage...

...but how much less could you care? :lol: :lol:

[wgriel]

...but how much less could you care? :lol: :lol:

LOL! Thanks William. That saying always drove me nuts.

[HedgeHog]

If this isnt a "hey look at me" thread I dunno what is.

LOL...sorry about that. I supposed it's no different than a self aggrandizing title like "Race Car Driver" on an audio forum. What's next, all your FIA/SCCA/whatever achievements listed in your sig? HAHA. However, my nature tends to geek out on toys and do flaunt too much. Not directly but it comes across that way. ops:

[HedgeHog]

Anyhoo, time is still my enemy and my electrician will be here this week for some wiring.

So for tonight, I'll blog this on this thread:

1) opened up the rear surround since it's less mentioned than the fronts. The CCM 818 is a nicely made piece of kit. Good components and connectors. I think the drivers (as B&W mentioned) is very similar to the ones used on the 800 series.

These are pretty big and heavy...I wonder if my ceiling gyproc can hold its weight when it's pounding out.

Here, one can see the angled driver.


A shot of the cap and spring loaded terminals.


Overhead shot of the back.


Overhead shot of the front.

[impala454]

If this isnt a "hey look at me" thread I dunno what is.

*Exactly! Flaunting your "toys" is not exactly looked upon, if you think it is!

Says the two guys w/the "toys" in their avatar....:roll:

[HedgeHog]

Now this item is gonna delay me some more. As I mentioned I ordered a Rack of Silence Ref 3 and Ref 4 so that I can make a combo AV rack out of them. An email from Solid Tech says this can be done. Yay. However, when I opened it today, they look different. To my surprise, Solid Tech changed design slightly between years. So, I have an old Ref 4 and a new Ref 3.

Shot of Ref 4 and Ref 3 about to be assembled...but...


Trial assembly of 2 Ref 4 columns with 2 Ref 3 columns (these are the "outside" racks). A mirror image will be made w/ an x-brace bridge these mirror racks (for the centers). My sub will live in the opening below.


Upon closer inspection, one can see the fluted support brace of the older style (you put a metal ball in there for the chassis to rest on). The newer style is all smooth so the feet is supposed to just sit on there.


They also changed the base. One style uses half a ball where the other style uses a screw-in spike. This may make levelling difficult, if not fun; since one has to load up the stand to rest the ball support on carpet for proper height (the spike should hit bottom instantly). However, after loading up w/ heavy components, it'll be impossible to level with all that weight on it. If it was identical for both feet type, I'd just measure it out since they'll sink into the carpet the same way.


Looks like a call to the dealer tomorrow for this.

I was hoping to assemble the rack tonight (btw, it's very nicely built but it feels like Ikea gone mad) and have the center speaker sitting on it so I can get the vertical clearance for the TV.

I also moved the SSP-800 and CA-5200 in to a holding room (how did anyone move this thing by themselves???). I won't take pix of it till it's on the stand since everyone's seen these. I'm also trying to document my attempt at cabling without setting the house ablaze. Hope this thread won't pizzed off too many more ppl...at least I'll keep it contained to herewith.

Cheers,
-H

[Race Car Driver]

LOL...sorry about that. I supposed it's no different than a self aggrandizing title like "Race Car Driver" on an audio forum. What's next, all your FIA/SCCA/whatever achievements listed in your sig? HAHA. However, my nature tends to geek out on toys and do flaunt too much. Not directly but it comes across that way. ops:

Because a forum handle has everything to do with one being self aggrandizing? Its a name, so what?

You even commented in your first post it may be "showing off" by posting a pic of a what? $40, $50 grand sitting in boxes in a garage? Cool, a bunch of expensive stuff in a garage. No big deal.

Then you post a perfectly centered pic of an AMG, Porsche and RX7 saying "this is my lame excuse" when no one even brought up the comment that you were making lame excuses.

So really what I was getting at, to the title of the thread, "I sense a busy weekend" with 2 pictures of $40+ grand sitting in boxes, $70 grand porsche, $55 grand AMG, and a $20k+ mazda all sitting in garages, yet not a whole lot to do with the thread title.

Cool. $200k worth of stuff in your garage! :T

Busy weekend indeed.

Now back to creating my awesomely long sig that captures my liftime achievements in FIA, SCCA and whatever else a self aggrandizing race car driver does.

Bow before me, for my avatar of my 1995 Kawasaki is all mighty. ;x(

[HedgeHog]

Sure...I posted pix of my cars. There were a couple of threads that said "why no pix yet". Welp, I got the car 3 days after the boxes arrived. So between the kids and the new toy, I'm saying it's what distracted me (car requires no assemblies).

I supposed it's not related directly but it's related in my thread. I'm not jacking other threads to post crap. There are other ppl who own nicer/pricier equipment, lives in nicer houses, has better cars in pix too. I see no big deal with them.

My thread title was accurate at time of posting...had the dealer not called to say the car is ready for pickup, I did sense that I would spend the weekend setting up. Who wouldn't be giddy with all that stuff to play with?

I still hold true to what I say. Calling yourself "Race Car Driver" and having that shown EVERY time you post is either self aggrandizing or just a wannabe. *note, I never commented on your avatar...don't mix me up with another comment*

If ppl don't give a sh!t about what I posted, so be it. Seems you think you're better because you can put me in my place or something. Nice. I hope you don't race like that. I'd love to meet in person someone like you...prolly make for a great conversation. :roll:

Anyhoo, I had one "perfectly centered pix" posted (that went on my other forums which are car related). Back to listing your credentials.

-H

Because a forum handle has everything to do with one being self aggrandizing? Its a name, so what?

You even commented in your first post it may be "showing off" by posting a pic of a what? $40, $50 grand sitting in boxes in a garage? Cool, a bunch of expensive stuff in a garage. No big deal.

Then you post a perfectly centered pic of an AMG, Porsche and RX7 saying "this is my lame excuse" when no one even brought up the comment that you were making lame excuses.

So really what I was getting at, to the title of the thread, "I sense a busy weekend" with 2 pictures of $40+ grand sitting in boxes, $70 grand porsche, $55 grand AMG, and a $20k+ mazda all sitting in garages, yet not a whole lot to do with the thread title.

Cool. $200k worth of stuff in your garage! :T

Busy weekend indeed.

Now back to creating my awesomely long sig that captures my liftime achievements in FIA, SCCA and whatever else a self aggrandizing race car driver does.

Bow before me, for my avatar of my 1995 Kawasaki is all mighty. ;x(

[KyaDawn]

Nice cars HedgeHog! Personally I don't find a problem with your pics as you were explaining why you haven't set up your system yet with the new car and your new twins.

Coincidentally, my wife is expecting as well and our son is due in a couple of weeks, and I just moved into my new house about 5 months ago, so I know exactly where you're coming from.

My own B&W set-up took at least two months from the time I purchased the speakers to when everything was up and running, and even longer than that from when I was deciding on which speakers and components to buy.

I bought my house just a little over a year ago and it took 7 months to renovate before I could even more in, and we still have contractors coming in doing the final touches so I know these things take time. So no big rush on getting your system up, as I personally would prioritize on enjoying the miracle of the twins as they grow up fast!

Still, I'm looking forward to seeing your set-up :B when it's ready, but take your time as you'll have it for a long time to enjoy!

[btf1980]

Less talk more pics!

BTW - Good choice with the Solid Tech rack of silence. I have one myself.

[William]

...Then you post a perfectly centered pic of an AMG, Porsche and RX7 saying "this is my lame excuse" when no one even brought up the comment that you were making lame excuses....

Sure...I posted pix of my cars. There were a couple of threads that said "why no pix yet". Welp, I got the car 3 days after the boxes arrived....

Hope you guys don't mind f I do a little showing off myself. Here is my just bought pride and joy in front of my eclectic and emaciate collection. ;x(

[Davidmag]

BTF 1980, while we are waiting for more pics, I see you have a Marantz av8003, how do you like it ? I have one on order. Going to use it with a Classe cav-180, and B&W 803d`s, plus, plus.........

[HedgeHog]

Thx K,

I've removed the pix since not every gives a dang.

But congrats on the impending arrival. First month is nuts but then you find your rhythm (actually, you find the baby's rhythm) and you manage. It's kinda cool and freaky being a parent. All the best. :T

-H

Nice cars HedgeHog! Personally I don't find a problem with your pics as you were explaining why you haven't set up your system yet with the new car and your new twins.

Coincidentally, my wife is expecting as well and our son is due in a couple of weeks, and I just moved into my new house about 5 months ago, so I know exactly where you're coming from.

My own B&W set-up took at least two months from the time I purchased the speakers to when everything was up and running, and even longer than that from when I was deciding on which speakers and components to buy.

I bought my house just a little over a year ago and it took 7 months to renovate before I could even more in, and we still have contractors coming in doing the final touches so I know these things take time. So no big rush on getting your system up, as I personally would prioritize on enjoying the miracle of the twins as they grow up fast!

Still, I'm looking forward to seeing your set-up :B when it's ready, but take your time as you'll have it for a long time to enjoy!

[HedgeHog]

Less talk more pics!

BTW - Good choice with the Solid Tech rack of silence. I have one myself.

Thx for the pix. I really dig the wood colour...I was so tempted to go with that then get the popular rosenut colour for the B&Ws. But I think I'm biased towards b&w for the B&W. :rofl:

[Hammie]

just don't get rear-ended. You may just blow-up. :#

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[HedgeHog]

Hope you guys don't mind f I do a little showing off myself. Here is my just bought pride and joy in front of my eclectic and emaciate collection. ;x(

Oh gawd...I drove one of those when I was learning. The scars won't heal...you sir, have resurfaced my vehicular Vietnam. For that I will hate you...lol. :W