Pete's Write

It’s the 110th anniversary of Denon and Covid or not, Denon is determined to have a celebration. They have done so by releasing a series of products, including the AV amplifier the A110. Now depending on where you live, eg in the States, you get the AVR version, and in Europe as well as Asia Pacific, you get the AVC A110, which is the same unit sans the built in tuner. For casual observers, it will bear an uncanny resemblance to their other flagship product, the AVC 8500H. Which I reviewed here: ( http://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2018/02/denon-avc-x8500h-review.html ) Which will remain in production and be upgraded to the HA designation, which means it will be equipped with the HDMI 2.1 board. So with such a close relative costing around 1-2 grand less, what gives? Apart from the change in logo, a new color scheme, how different are they?  First the tech blurb from the official websites: https://www.denon.com/en-gb/shop/avreceiver/avca110    https://www.denon.com/en-us/prod...

It’s the 110th anniversary of Denon and Covid or not, Denon is determined to have a celebration. They have done so by releasing a series of products, including the AV amplifier the A110. Now depending on where you live, eg in the States, you get the AVR version, and in Europe as well as Asia Pacific, you get the AVC A110, which is the same unit sans the built in tuner. For casual observers, it will bear an uncanny resemblance to their other flagship product, the AVC 8500H. Which I reviewed here: ( http://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2018/02/denon-avc-x8500h-review.html ) Which will remain in production and be upgraded to the HA designation, which means it will be equipped with the HDMI 2.1 board. So with such a close relative costing around 1-2 grand less, what gives? Apart from the change in logo, a new color scheme, how different are they?  First the tech blurb from the official websites: https://www.denon.com/en-gb/shop/avreceiver/avca110    https://www.denon.com/en-us/prod...

A 20 yr old place that is well built should still be in good condition. But I'll look out for and proactively aim to fix these items below. It's important to be strict and change if there is any doubt, because it's a real hassle if you need to fix it when you are staying it in already - roof - very important to check and look at it during a big downpour, but be careful don't change a perfectly good roof if it's working well... - also look at the false ceilings for stains - all electrical (added new light points) place your LED drivers in easy access places - relay switching for staircase lights and bedrooms - added generous LAN points (this is an entire topic in itself, but be generous with the number of points) - tiles : IMO, it's optional if the floor is very good and suits your style, eg some high grade marble. Otherwise replace because it's a big hassle in future, unless you are just laying LVT - termite checks - I'll change plumbing and toilet floor...

The original KEF LS50 was one of those landmark speakers, a pocket rocket which performed at a much higher level than what it’s price tag might indicate. The original LS50 has been widely reviewed, and is well regarded by audiophiles everywhere.  However it does have some bite in the treble and lacks some deep bass, and works better for music which does not go too deep or with a sub to reinforce the bass. But what it does have is fabulous imaging, which allows you to how off great soundstaging, depth, and definition. If you are into details, you’ll love them. The coaxial design is also wonderful for those who sit a bit off axis. The construction is a marvel in itself and with a modern design, a beautiful gloss finish and a quality build. No wonder it’s loved by music lovers the world over. Now recently KEF has introduced the new KEF Meta. This is an updated version of the original and whilst it can look deceivingly the same, there are significant differences. First a link to the of...

Ok, today, it's not about hifi, music or the usual stuff. But with the current Covid crisis around, and a bit of down time, I figured I should get a tad reflective and also share. Can we be or stay positive during these darks times? It is almost impossible to imagine or recall what it was like before Covid hit us. What were you doing back then, about 11 months ago? Many had imagined it to be a passing dark cloud, lasting for around the same duration as MERS, SARS or some of the other viruses and afflictions that have come our way. A minor blip, maybe a small drop in the share market, some cancelled leave and we will be back in business. However it has not turned out to be so. For those of us who live through this, it will be an event that will define us, that we will remember for the rest of our lives and it affects everyone, all around the world. Some of are suffering more than the rest, others can only watch helplessly, and yet there are those who will emerge unscathed, or even p...

Many cars these days come with a long of features and there is always a potential risk of these electronics failing. So if you see such an error message where you first see a message about a "park brake" issue, keep calm. Apart from seeing almost all the warning lights come on, the car feels different. The steering feels stiff and the car feels sluggish in response. So what do you do? First slow down if you aren't sure and try to make it to the roadside. Find the nearest Mercedes workshop and describe the issue to them. If you're confident enough, simply drive the car to the service person. Ideally if cost is no object, the authorized dealer should be your port of call. But many external workshops can handle this too. Most commonly the wheels sensors are kaput. It could be the ABS, the tire sensor and more. At the authorized dealer it costs about US$200 per sensor. Downtime is about half a day. So if you can nurse the car to t...

So you have gone out and bought the largest set you can afford? Good choice. Because it will begin shrinking once you get home. No one I know has ever said their TV was too big. More often than not, they regret not getting a bigger set. And with 4k Ultra HD, the suggested viewing distances have been reduced even more, so you have to sit closer to your TV.  (This link takes you to rtingscom's website to check the ideal viewing distances:  https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size/size-to-distance-relationship ) As TVs get cheaper, you may be tempted to get a really big TV. Previously when the largest sets were 65" in size, you had no such issues, but now when the largest sets can measure up to 100", you best check if the TV can be moved into your home. If you live in an apartment, there are some important logistics issues you should look out for: - is there a lift in your apartment and does it stop at your floor? - will it fit in the lift?  - are there additional charges f...