AVRant #86: Toroidal Tongue Twister
If you want a chance to see Dina in a costume, you’ll have to go to the Audioholics Event. GTA is no longer for sale in Thailand. Tom’s reviewing a JVC display that has HDMI issues (though who can say who is really at fault). Look forward to that review soon. Tom has a backup profession in case this Audioholics thing falls through. Dina and Tom talk a bit about Dish Network’s Turbo HD. A reason to watch GSN (the only as far as Tom is concerned). We’re excited about the Olympics and all the coverage (especially since most of it is in HD). Tom’s got an exciting review in the works. Speaker lovers rejoice. Geek party on the horizon. A bit of news about Emotiva. Update from Jaime. Why are receivers the size they are? Ryan wants to know. Toroidal is Tom’s nemesis. Byron wants to know about stereo subs. Thanks for listening and don’t forget to vote for us at Podcast Alley.
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Hey Tom,
One of the reasons that receiver cases might have remained large is that we still need a lot of real estate on the back panel to support a myriad of plugs, ports, and other connections: 5 to 7 speakers, 1 or 2 subs, Blu-ray player, CD player, computer and/or game console, VCR (my kid’s videos), TV, and a full set of speakers in another room. For some of the devices listed, a reciever will offer several types of connections: component video, HDMI, S-video, coaxial, Toslink, RCA, etc.
BTW, I enjoy your rants, but you and Dina make the best combination.
Cheers! — Steve
I think Tom & Dina make the best pair as well… that’s why J and I are just fill-ins. We’re the guys that sub on talk radio shows when the hosts are playing in charity golf tournaments or on Christmas break.
TOm, Tom, Tom… Tor-ROID-al… same base sound as HEMORRHOIDS (which I know you’re familiar with).
OK, I agree that Dina as Wonder Woman would be the only way the movie would work in my opinion. I’ll give her that one.
Talking about garage speaker vendors: You might want to add Ted Kunz’s tomestone speakers to your blind speaker test.
http://jedkunz.googlepages.com/
Make that Jed Kunz – my bad.
SCE – Good point but you could also argue that they put all those connections back there just so that the back panel doesn’t look so empty. I mean, really, who needs 6 composite inputs? Even displays are starting to get rid of all that nonsense. The last two displays I reviewed had 3+ HDMI inputs and 2 or less of composite/s-video. Sure, there are a few that use many of them but most of use have at most 3 sources (cable box, DVD player, game system). I’d rather get rid of most of the analogue audio and composite/s-video connections and spread out the speaker binding posts (which are all but inaccessible for most fingers). I think all receivers should have no fewer than 3 HDMI inputs, 3 component, and only one or two composite/s-video inputs. But that’s just me.
Lesser – I’ll look into it. It is going to be tight and I want to make sure we get a good cross-section of brands that people will be interested in. Thanks for the suggestions.
i have seen dina in a costume… it is worth whatever price you have to pay.
I’ll take Catherine Zeta Jones as Wonder Woman 🙂
Tom, why are you suggesting we buy that expensive Oppo switch? Monoprice makes an equally good switch for half the price.
Dish has Cartoon Network in HD, but it’s stretch-o-vision. Dish has Travel Channel HD. It’s wonderful zoom-o-vision. Both are overcompressed HD-lite. GSN ain’t available yet, AFAIK.
BTW, that was Brandi Chastain, not Mia Hamm that bared her sports bra!
Dina, you’re being too nice to Tom this week. Please turn up the heat next week.
You guys rock, BTW.
Because the Oppo one worked. If I had used one from Impact or Monoprice or Joe’s Discount House of HDMI Switchers, I would have suggested that one. The fact is that it shouldn’t have worked in the first place so I have no confidence that it would work with any other switch anyhow.
If you haven’t settled the list yet, I’d like to hear a comparison which includes Selah Audio with Salk.
http://www.selahaudio.com/
They seem to be mentioned in some of the same message boards as Salk. Audiocircle for one.
We’ve got three contenders so far (stay tuned for details). I checked out that website – they look like pretty speakers but very “start-up” (not that that is a bad thing). I’ll look into them for a review but not for the shootout. Thanks for the suggestion.
Yes, My name is Consumer-Joe who pretends my name is HighEnd-Bob. and Yes I like my recievers BIG, makes me feel better lol!!