Pete's Write

https://www.engadget.com/2019/05/15/sound-united-buys-onkyo-home-audio/ Actually we all have to adapt, think positive and move on.. The old 5.1 systems were never really replaced by Atmos / DTS etc... our homes are getting smaller, and the WAF factor plays a far bigger role. Soundbars rule, and wireless speakers are the mainstay of many homes. Streaming and it's convenience is more important than sound quality. Our forum has also gotten more quiet over the past ten years. A system with wires dangling everywhere is no longer a mainstay in homes. No doubt choice is important, and having all the companies under one roof is not ideal. But in reality we often use components that have been shared by many companies already. Burr Brown makes chips for many companies and so do Sharc etc. So like VW, who produces similar cars branded as Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda, we may see different product lines, streamlined with similar components but different sonic signatures. These mainstream brands...

It's may have been discussed in many places, but here's a summary of the pros and cons of landed housing vs a condo or other types of private housing. (YMMV, and these are generalisations of course) Landed pros - it's yours and no one shares anything with you except the adjacent wall if you aren't in a bungalow - the ultimately in exclusivity (no shared elevators, your very own car park, porch and garden etc) - if you love to brag, this will give you a significantly higher 'I've arrived' bragging rights (YMMV and some will have extremely exclusive condos too) - you don't pay maintenance fees (but your conservancy charges eg clearing rubbish will be higher) - if it's freehold or 999 yrs, it's your forever (yes, the government can reclaim anything) - you can redo the place to any style you want - space, the ability to do it as you like, and most landed places are larger than condos and great for multi-generation homes ...

Oh, how about a pool?  You do need space, and length to be specific..  10m is a minimum and even then it might be small. The cost of adding a few more meters is not as much as you think, so long as you have the space. But do make room for the pool pump and related items.  There are vinyl, fibre glass and concrete pools with rebar. The last is the more solid and will last you a long long time. But $$$.  Many rental homes will get the former two, because they are cheaper and more temporary. Think about how long you want to stay there. A sunken pool cost more, but it's more sturdy and looks nicer. Remember to cater for steps or even a relaxation area, like a bench to sit on and lights.  Be prepared to to spend upwards of 50k for the pool. Don't forget the cost of the pump, and make sure you have enough space for the pump room. This should be close by, it can be above ground or sunken, but make sure the valve switches are easy to turn.  Do take note of...

Basements: These evoke a lot of interest and emotions for the buyer, especially the men... Man cave, bar, hifi den, billiards room and more... even a wine cellar. If you want to build one and the ground is not naturally meant for it, be prepared to spend and dig deeper to get the foundations right. And spend on piping for sanitation, and oh, did I mention that it won't be cheap?  But hey, what's cheap and good in life ? Maybe it's now better to buy that car for 70k than the house eh...  But the den and the rest of the home will provide immeasurable fun if you do it right.

Cable is now going obsolete, and those cable points in your home will become redundant soon. But you still want internet access and for those reliant on cable to provide this, what are your options? Your new internet provider will firstly need to create an ONT in your home, and if you aren't familar with this term, do read up first on the net or my past posts: https://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2019/01/setting-up-mesh-network-in-your-home.html https://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2012/10/open-net-tips-and-info-on-installation.html Most providers will do this for free if your home isn't already fibre enabled. Otherwise it can run into a couple of hundred dollars to do this. Check for offers. So you need to decide where to place this ONT. Choose a point which is high up and close to the rest of the home. From this point, you will need either a cabled solution or wifi. For the latter, your mileage may vary. If your home is small, has few walls and your Modem & Ro...

I've consolidated what I have previously written here, so everyone can benefit  Before we even go into the list, there are some basic things to do: - make sure everyone in the family agrees to this purchase, and whether it's for investment or as a home - check your financials well and get a large enough budget to buy and for renovations or other costs - do your homework! Check the online property forums, buy and sell places and see what your money can buy and which regions suit your needs best So, now onto the buying process Is it going to be landed, a flat or a condo? Some of the general principles which apply to all three types: Is the home paid for or is the seller still in debt and not bankrupt  How many owners are there, and any divorce in process. Who is the legal owner or executer of the property if the owner is deceased? Is it tenanted and when does the lease run out Can you break the lease How old is the place. As a general...

The soundbar market has been moving ahead with great strides, especially in place where space is a premium and the true boss of the home (nope it's not you mate, it's your wife) demands less clutter and cables. The trend of making slimmer TVs with tiny bezels also helps as the sound coming out from the TVs is as thin as their bezels. So now we review a product which comes in at the high-mid levels and promises to give sound, convenience and maybe looks in a reasonably priced package. First the technical blurb from their site: https://www.harmankardon.com/soundbars/ENCHANT+1300.html?dwvar_ENCHANT%201300_color=Graphite-USA-Current https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DRumUABQPs The soundbar is situated in front of my Pioneer TV, and slips in nicely with a low profile form factor. The subwoofer, which is wireless, also fits nicely into the front left corner of my room, where there's a power socket convenient located.  The sub is sold separately, but yo...

It took a while to assemble and it's still being tweaked as more gear arrive..  Review equipment: Sony ZD9 75" ( Sony TV review) Denon AVC X8500H ( Denon AVC X8500H review ) Dynaudio Confidence 1 Platinum (  Dynaudio C1 Platinum Review  ) Sony UDP X800 ( Sony UBP X800 Review  ) Sony UDP X700 Dynaudio Confidence C1 and Centre Platinum front and centre Usher 520 side surround back Monitor Audio RXFX in dipole mode for rear surrounds JL Audio E112  REL HT/1205 subwoofer ( http://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2019/04/rel-ht1205-review.html ) Starke SW12 subwoofer (https://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2019/08/starke-sw12-subwoofer-review.html) Anthony Gallo A'Diva for ceiling Atmos placement QED XT Revelations for front and centre speakers QED Micro speaker cable for the surrounds Monoprice Premium Cables from 4k players to amp and onwards to the TV Audioquest Snake subwoofer cable  Blue Jean subwoofer cable Wireworld Oas...