Pete's Write

A soundbar has become attractive for those with a smaller home and a desire for neatness. However it's also a compromise, because most modern homes are not built to look like a prison cell with square walls and hard reflective surfaces all round. It's hard to come to a compromise, but with a limited budget and a need for neatness, a full surround system with all the cables to be laid and connected can be very hard to do. For a real Atmos experience, you'll need speakers on top or at least, bounce off your ceiling. And reflections are tricky at best, since you need to have walls on the sides and a flat ceiling for maximum effectivity.  Then there's the auto -EQ or calibration, which is absent from most budget systems. So if the budget is limited, eg for under 1k, I'll suggest looking at the major brands, such as HK, JBL, Yamaha etc and audition for yourself to see what's out there. Don't just look at the paper specs. Furthermore, be realistic about what kind ...

Just sharing some tips, my friends and I learnt from our experiences.   First, choice: - right now you have no other choice, and that's not a bad thing, because the Pfizer vaccine is the front runner and thus far, millions of doses have been given and the frequency of side effects has been well documented and within control. Realistically there will be some issues, even potential fatalities, but it's also important to see the details, because it may not be a direct result of the vaccine or the jab. Do it now as you might get the sinovac, unless you're up for it - we also excel at logistics and the cold chain will be pretty much assured in SG Location: - if you're in healthcare, you'll probably do it in a hospital / clinic setting. That's good. If you have a choice, do it where there are resuscitation facilities. If you're going to a clinic, make sure they can rescue you if you do go into anaphylaxis What's that you say:  "Anaphylaxis is a serious a...

Some companies produce superb value for money audio equipment whilst others operate at the ethereal end with sky high cost no object materials and equally astronomical price tags.  Cambridge Audio has long been synonymous with value for money and tend to attract the buyer who wants top value for his money.  However for their 50th anniversary they have decide to do their own version of the cost no object tour de force equipment and the result is the Edge Series.  First the blurb from their website : https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/row/en/products/hi-fi/edge/edge-nq "Edge NQ boasts the very latest version of our award-winning streaming module. Designed in-house, right here in the UK, it features a new, faster chipset and support for both 24bit/192kHz and DSD128 files. The addition of Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Qobuz, AirPlay, Bluetooth aptX HD and Internet radio means you can enjoy your music whatever the source. Roon Ready certification enhances your browsing experience." http...

Why Should A Streamer Be Part Of Your Setup The media of choice in the world of audiophiles was previously used to be dominated by vinyl, then CDs and along the way, we even dabbled with DVD Audio and Blu Rays as well and SACDs. Then come downloads and now music is also streamed. The initial streamers weren't so good, and the content was sparse, resolution was low resulting in rather poor sound quality. These days, the audiophile is faced with a plethora of choices and often they come equipped with good DACs built in, and offer not just Wifi playback of internet radio but also commercial platforms like Tidal and Spotify. In addition most come with Roon and local wireless options like Bluetooth and AirPlay. So a streamer with a DAC can be the nerve centre for the modern home, connecting to the TV for better sound, or a CD player, as well as the streaming options, or simply listening to the internet radio.  So apart from having these, some of the features to look out for are T...

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...