Yes exactly, shop wisely. There's a lot of good stuff that's around for very good value for money prices, trick is not to go for the cheapest, do your research, ask questions, wait for sales, talk to the people who know there stuff at specialist hi-fi shops etc, everyone's different and the good Hi-Fi shops know that.
I have a Technics 12 band EQ here though I don't really need to use it much these days, used it a lot when dubbing records to tape, DAT and so on, I think the most powerful feature of that Graphic Equaliser is its "Invert" or "Flip" function, suppose you have it all set to particular settings - say to filter out noise - you can "Flip" the settings to act in reverse. My only annoyance with the unit is that its all manual, would love! to get a digital Graphic EQ, since I'm getting everything else I really should look around for 1, I'm in no doubt that eBay could provide <smile>. On 01/08/2013, at 6:43 PM, "Jackie Brown" <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Dane > > I am unfortunately limited with bending and lifting because of a back > condition, so played safe and took the support on offer. The guy who came > out was quite fascinated with the equaliser, and was interested in how I > wanted that configured. > > It all depends on your budget and what kind of system you are after. I have > a great Kicker docking-station for my iPhone and iPod which sounds great for > its size, but nothing would substitute proper hifi gear. That, however, is > very subjective, but suffice it to say the stuff is accessible if you shop > wisely. > > > Kind regards, > > Jackie Brown > Twitter: @thebrownsplace > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan > Sent: 01 August 2013 09:38 > To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! > Subject: Re: My Hi-Fi - A Review > > Good reading! > > Denon make superb amps and CD Players, I've had both and I still have my > Deonon amp of 20 years ago in the front room still working perfectly and of > course the Denon AVR2113 Surround-Sound receiver in the lounge. > > I've only had my system up and running for 24 hours in and can certainly say > without a doubt that I'd never go back to computer speakers again, the world > is your oyster with this sort of equipment, sizes of speakers are many and > varied along with the components you can use. > > I'll be adding a Denon Internet Music player to my system in the future, I > know its accessible as it works with the iPhone Remote controller that > controls my Denon Surround-Sound in the lounge. > > What the message below clearly illustrates is that there are more than just > 1 way to make equipment accessible and usable to people. > > And finally, I'm very glad that someone from the shop came out to set things > up for you, with this second system I just set up I didn't need extra help > though with the Surround-Sound I did need help with the initial setup and > someone from the shop I bought that from came out to give me a hand. > > The only problem I had setting up my second system for the den was the damn > speaker cable, its more than 3 quarters of an inch round so that had to be > cut, then the insulation pealed back and then the 2 wires in the cable had > to have their ends stripped, took absolute ages to do. > > > On 01/08/2013, at 5:52 PM, "Jackie Brown" <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hi Dane >> >> This is definitely my cup of tea, so to speak, so I found your system and >> the reasons for purchasing one very interesting. >> >> I bought a hifi separates system last year, so I will briefly share my >> experience with it. >> >> Mine is a Denon system, comprising a matching amp and CD player. But I >> added to it a 10-band Sony graphic equaliser and Sonata Plus Internet > Radio, >> plus a pair of floor-standing Wharfdale speakers. I live in Northern >> Ireland, and staff at the shop where I purchased the amp, CD and speakers >> were really helpful. The guy came out and set it up for me as part of the >> sale, and I am delighted with the sound. I have plugged my Acer laptop > into >> one of the amp's line-in sockets, which now gives me access to my large >> music collection from the computer hard drive. >> >> I was going to purchase a matching tuner, but when I added up the price > and >> hassle it would give me to use this tuner/Internet radio combined without >> sight, I decided to purchase the Sonata Plus from British Wireless for the >> Blind Fund. It gives me all the stations I could ever want, plus the >> ability to go through menus that have text-to-speech, in addition to the >> many podcasts and other stuff that is broadcast. >> >> Like yours, my amp has all its controls on the front, and the remote > control >> is pretty easy to navigate. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that > a >> graphic equaliser enhances the sound if used correctly too. >> >> At the end of the day, my whole system is accessible without sight, and > that >> is the most important factor. >> >> Kind regards, >> >> Jackie Brown >> Twitter: @thebrownsplace >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan >> Sent: 31 July 2013 19:48 >> To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! >> Subject: My Hi-Fi - A Review >> >> The following is a review of my new sound system, it was delivered > yesterday >> and I've just spent an enjoyable time both setting it things up and >> listening to the result. >> I decided to review my system not through sheer vanity but in the hope > that >> my review may help some people, I know that the list often gets asked > about >> accessible sound systems, computer speakers, amplifiers and associated >> equipment so perhaps I can deal with all these topics in the 1 review. >> The system I set up is cheap by professional audiophile standars but >> nevertheless its certainly not the worst system out there and the system >> does your ears justice without a doubt. >> The system isn't complete yet by a long shot but the basics are in place > and >> that's what I'll be focusing on. >> My interest in building a new-hi-fi system was rekindled due to 2 factors, >> the first being the very poor quality of computer speaker systems around, >> there's no doubt that if you're prepared to pay you can get some > wonderful! >> computer speaker systems but by the time you've paid? Well you may as well >> have gone 1 better in a complete Hi-Fi system and take advantage of all > the >> extra benefits that brings, - excellent sound, your choice of custom >> components and the thrill of letting your imagination do the talking when > it >> comes to building and trying it out. - >> The second factor was a well known quality Hi-fi shop several miles out > from >> Melbourne's City Centre, they've been in business now for 60 years and >> should know there stuff, they certainly have many of the big well knownw >> high end brands on sale such as Denon, Rotel, Audio Research, B & W etc, > it >> so happened that the store - Encel Stereo - were having a big sale, I just >> happened to be following Encel Stereo on Twitter thus could see the many >> items on offer. >> So when going through my Tweets one morning I noticed that Encel Stereo > had >> a 40 watt per channel continuous power entigrated Rotel amplifier for sale >> for under $400.00, I jokingly replied "So what speakers could you sell me >> for this amp" and I got the suggestion back of some Polk Audio bookshelf >> speakers for around the same price. >> At the same time I was becoming more and more annoyed at computer > speakers, >> I had purchased the Harman Karden Sound Sticks and was extremely >> disappointed at the cheap construction, - non replaceable cable between >> speakers etc - so I began thinking about Amp, Speakers and associated >> topics. >> The usual arguments filted through my head, "I already have a good >> surround-soud setup in the lounge, what do I really need another Hi-Fi >> system before? Its a good amount of money I'll be spending, will it all be >> worth the while? Don't want to waste money on Hi-fi like I've done with >> computer speakers" and on it went. >> So time to use my friend "Google" and do some research into Rotel > amplifiers >> and Polk Audio speakrs and all reviews and associated articles spoke of > Polk >> Audio and Rotel in a positive light. >> The fact of customisation and all replaceable components drew my attention >> even more so a fortnight ago I went to the Encel Stereo web site and made > my >> purchase, I also bought some screened speaker cable with the thought that, >> "If a job's worth doing then its worth doing well', after the purchase >> including shipping I had change from $1,00.00 Australian so bare in mind > if >> you're living in the U.S. that prices are bound to be cheaper than here. >> Now for the juicy bits and I'll start with the Amplifier which actually >> resembles a slim line tuner more than an amp given its thickness which is >> more thin than thick. >> When Rotel said they'd gone "Back To Basics" with the design then they >> weren't kidding in the slightest, this amp is indeed a very basic amp with >> most of the features you'll ever need. >> All the controls on the front of the unit are rotary controls accept the >> "Loudness" and "Power" buttons. >> The amp has the usual volume, balance, Bass and Treble pots along with a >> couple of surprises. >> There are 2 3.5MM jacks to the right of the power button, at first I > thought >> these were both headphone jacks but no, 1 is a "Music Port" so you can > plug >> your music player directly into this and the other is the headphones jack, >> first time I've seen a 3.5MM headphones jack on an amp but I guess it > makes >> all the sense in the world. >> The amp has 4 sets of line in sockets, tape in and out, a set of fono >> sockets for a turntable and preamp out sockets, quite a good collection of >> connections by anyone's standardards. >> The speaker output connectors are your usual A/B configuration of binding >> posts. >> The Polk Audio bookshelf speakers are smaller than what I expected, > actually >> they're not all that much bigger than some of the computer speakers I've >> seen but when connected? Well there's no doubt about it, the sound > produced >> from those puts most computer speakers to absolute shame, a little of the >> bottom is missing but its hardly worth worrying about and we are talking >> about bookshelf speakers and not floor standing models. >> The speaker cable was the cheapist Encel Stereio offered at $12.00 per > metre >> and I can assure you that proper speaker cable makes all the difference to >> the output sound however I do think that the more expensive ccable I was >> recommened at $375.00 per metre is overkill <smile>. >> The system isn't complete and I'll be adding to it in the next few months, > I >> intend to purchase the Rotel DAC - Digital To Analogue Converter - which >> will provide me with both digital inputs and a direct digital bridge > between >> the system and the computer. >> I'm also looking at "Stand-Alone" CD players and there are some real > rippers >> around now from such brands as Rotel, Cambridge Audio, Onkyo etc. >> I have the Yamaha TD500 tuner I've spoken about in previous eMail > connected >> and it too sounds utterly brilliant. >> >> >> ********** >> >> Dane Trethowan >> Skype: grtdane12 >> Phone US (213) 438-9741 >> Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 >> Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 >> Mobile: +61400494862 >> Fax +61397437954 >> >> >> >> >> ======================================= >> >> The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus >> and worm-free >> >> To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated > web >> pages located at >> http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat >> >> You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at >> either of the following websites: >> >> http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html >> >> Or: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> >> you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> >> >> --------------------------------------- >> >> >> ======================================= >> >> The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus > and worm-free >> >> To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated > web pages located at >> http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat >> >> You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at > either of the following websites: >> >> http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html >> >> Or: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> >> you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> >> >> --------------------------------------- > > > ********** > > Dane Trethowan > Skype: grtdane12 > Phone US (213) 438-9741 > Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 > Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 > Mobile: +61400494862 > Fax +61397437954 > > > > > ======================================= > > The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus > and worm-free > > To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web > pages located at > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at > either of the following websites: > > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html > > Or: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> > you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> > > --------------------------------------- > > > ======================================= > > The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus > and worm-free > > To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web > pages located at > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at > either of the following websites: > > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html > > Or: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> > you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> > > --------------------------------------- ********** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954 ======================================= The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and worm-free To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web pages located at http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at either of the following websites: http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html Or: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> ---------------------------------------
