Rooster_Ties

Thanks Kevin. Yeah, just moments ago I started looking at the low-end home-theater systems for the very first time. I figured just a pair of standard stereo speakers was the way to go, since we didn't have much space. OK, I'm really ignorant about multi-speaker set-ups for home-theater. My problem is that I really don't want wires running all over the place, and I suppose I'd have to have speakers in all four corners of the room, plus I guess the low-low-bass speaker in the back of the room too. So that's like three speaker-cables I'd have to run from the shelves up front, to the speakers in the back, right?? (Or I guess I could probably get some wireless system, but then you're talkin' probably a whole 'nother class of audio-products, so we're probably adding lots more $$$ to the base-system price. Anyway, that's why I was thinking just regular stereo would be OK. (Like I said, we're used to old, mono-TV's. So even just stereo, with speakers farther apart than the width of the TV -- would be a big step up for us.) Hadn't realized that there were integrated DVD/receivers before. That's definitely a good thought. Maybe I should run around to a bunch of audio-video stores, and talk to some (I shudder at the thought) salesmen!!! Problem is, as cheap as I am, I know they're gonna wanna pump me up into getting some $2000 system, and I'm all about value for my $$$ (AND I'm CHEAP!!), so they really don't wanna talk to people like me usually.

Thread topic expansion alert!!! I was originally leaning towards separate DVD and VCR units too, for all the reasons Kevin mentioned. But, space turns out to be a little bit of an issue too. We've got a wall of built-in bookshelves in our library (which is only about 12 feet by 14 feet in size), and we want to put the TV and DVD/VCR in the bottom of the middle bay of three banks of shelves. Luckily, the shelves rest on pegs, and are adjustable, so we should be able to fit everything in, without taking away from very much book storage space. Also, we're planning to include a couple small bookshelf-sized speakers, for stereo sound. (Don't care about Dolby Surround much, and we don't have space for all the extra speakers anyway. Simple stereo would be fine with us, and would be way better sound than we've ever had before anyway --- having only had crappy mono-TV's for years and years.) Probably gonna use a very small "office-sized" low-end bookshelf stereo system (with aux inputs, RCA phono-jacks), in order to amplify the audio coming out of the DVD/VCR unit. It'll also give us AM/FM reception, and play one CD too (no audio cassette, but who cares - haven't touched one of those in years). Yeah, I know, I know - the DVD will probably play CD's too. But I don't know how else to get AM/FM in that room?? -- PLUS, I'm gonna need some kind of amplifier for the audio coming out of the DVD/VCR anyway, so I gotta have something. I even saw a very low-end bookshelf receiver the other day at Target (of all places), that was just two small bookshelf-sized speakers with an AM/FM receiver integrated into one of the speaker units. And it had standard RCA-type phono-inputs too for audio from an aux source --- for only like $50. Unfortunately it was some crappy brand (Emerson, I think), but it did at least make me think about looking around for something similar, only a better brand. And heck, for something like that (with no moving parts, other than the radio dial and volume control), I might even consider something like an Emerson (which I would otherwise avoid like the plague), for an application such as this. (And then I'd just use the DVD player for CD's in that room.) Any overall suggestions for how best to do this whole deal, on a budget??? 1. I've already got the a TV that fits into the shelf-space nicely. 2 . But in addition to needing the DCD/VCR combo, I would probably be wanting to buy a new (very inexpensive, meaning cheap, $150 or less) mini-bookshelf audio system (AM/FM, integrated amp, maybe with a CD-player, or maybe no CD-player since I have the DVD player in the chain). I do already have a nearly perfect bookshelf CD/AM/FM unit, but the CD-player door opens up -- so it wouldn't fit into the shelves as easily (since I need to worry about clearance for the CD door). It's one of those motorized doors that opens and closes (up), very smoothly. Great for a desktop (or in it's current use, on top of a dresser in our bedroom), but less good for being in an actual bookshelf. OK, any minor details that I'm forgetting, in terms of all the input parameters of our room, the shelves, what I already have, and what I'm looking for??? The room is small, with typical old-house plaster-and-lathe walls, and medium carpet. I'm not a wonk about speaker quality and system quality in general (although I want stuff to last!!!), which I know is probably sacrilegious to many of you. Thanks a bunch for any input anyone has for a cheapskate low-tech guy like me.

Heck, Shoji, I didn't even look at the username and realize that was you. On second thought, don't tell her I said that!!

By the way, the Sony model wasn't the cheapest one available. Right or wrong, Sony seemed like a better brand than some of the other choices, so it seemed like paying what was only like $30 more (for a Sony), might have been worth it. Then I heard Spontoonious' tale, and had second thoughts. I'm will to pay more for quality. Just not twice as much.

You can always get married later (reschedule) -- but when a Mosaic goes OOP, it's gone for good!!! I'm sure she'll understand.

EDIT: OK, this thread started as just asking for suggestions for DVD/VCR combos, but it quickly devolved into my discussing all the audio/video issues I'm thinking about, in terms of this one small 'media room' in our house. We're planning to put a couch in the room, which is a small library just off of our living-room. We're NOT planning to have a TV in the living-room at all, actually. (Just in the library.) Anyway, this first post is just about the DVD/VCR combo. But farther down in the thread, I started posting about how to handle the audio, re: AM/FM, stereo speakers, etc. Overall budget is probably $500, and we've already got the TV part taken care of. And we could use a mini-bookshelf audio system I've already got, for the sound -- although a new one might be in order. (More discussion of that further down in the thread, from me). -- Rooster T. ========== (No longer looking at DVD/VCR combos, but here's what I said originally...) Looking for a relatively inexpensive DVD/VCR combo, and preferably one that's gonna last, trouble-free, for at least 5-7 years. (My current VCR, now on it's last legs, was bought 'used' in 1991 --- so I don't think 5-7 years is too much to ask out of a brand-new DVD/VCR combo, correct??) I might have probably already bought this here Sony DVD/VCR combo (for only $160)... Sony Progressive-Scan DVD Player/4-Head Hi-Fi Stereo VCR Combo; Model: SLV-D350P ...except our own Spontoonious said to me earlier this week that his folks had recently bought the same model (or at least some Sony DVD/VCR combo, probably this model?) – and they had some major problems with it. They returned it, got a replacement, and had problems with it too. (In fact, he even thought they had problems with yet another replacement after that!!) What's a good brand, that's not too expensive ($200 or less, or at least close to $200 or so), that's gonna last??? Any suggestions?? Either suggestions of good-brands vs. less-than-good brands (in general), or suggestions for specific models --- are equally welcomed!! Thanks!!! EDIT: FYI, I don't give a hoot about multi-disc DVD players, and the combo players seem cheap enough that as long as they last 5 years -- even if the DVD or VCR part goes out (and the other half still works), I feel I will have gotten my money out of them. My initial concern about getting a combo (instead of getting a separate DVD player, and VCR), was that half of it was bound to break at some point, and the repair costs would be more than the unit was even worth. But at only $160 to buy a new one, I guess I shouldn't care about repair costs.

So, Jim, how did you even come to hear about the "Fifth Third Bank" in the first place??? -- being that you're a Texahioan and all.

I don't have one yet, so if anyone gets one -- and doesn't care for it -- I'd be happy to take it off your hands (and I've got some trade-bait). Or if anyone has one to spare, drop me a PM.

Last Chance Uh, has anybody noticed that both sets are now on the "Last Chance" list??? Not on the "Running Low" list, but "Last Chance". Saw this on AAJ just now... Here's the AAJ thread: HERE I supposed this has already been brought up in the other thread on "Last Chance / Running Low" sets (which I haven't looked at), but I thought I'd mention it here - since it was news to me. EDIT: Adding the big "Last Chance" things in red, so that this post gets noticed by more . Last Chance

Spontoonious is coming by for lunch today, and said he'd bring his copy of this one (likely the CD). I'm sure I'll get a burn of it, and my guess is that I'll wanna get a real one.

Why the hell should any of us here vote?? People with power-dialers voting right and left, and kids hitting the redial button for 2 hours solid. You've probably got better odds trying to vote in Florida.

Did you happen to find out if there might be an extra track (alt. take, etc) on this one? Yes, there's an alternate of the title track, which is good - cuz I think the album is otherwise less than 40 minutes long (my memory tells me something in the 37-ish range).

Wow!! - Thanks for posting that article, and the link. Do check out the video, people. Very interesting. Also a great pleasure to hear a well done low-budget video piece put together by somebody in the newspaper business. What a relief to see and hear, as compared to all the over-produced schlock on commercial TV news and cable.

Well, about the already-released "One For One" material, I happen to really like half of it. That side with Tolliver, Maupin, and Pat Patrick is as good as anything Hill recorded for BN after 1966. And, it's totally got that early 70's "Strata East / Tribe" vibe to it too. I'm certainly less enamored with the other side (the one with the string quartet), but I still find it interesting (or at least two of the three cuts are). As far as "priority" goes -- once "Dance With Death" comes out on CD in October, then the only Hill BN material that hasn't ever been released anywhere on CD is that second "One For One" LP, plus all the unreleased sessions. Seems like exactly the right priority to me. I think there's a good chance we'll see more Hill Conns in the future, of "Andrew!!!" and "Compulsion". And then "Judgement" and/or "Smokestack" are likely to be RVG's at some point too.

Well, it's got Woody on it (and in a rare piano-less context), so I'm still looking for one (on CD). And I can't imagine it really being all that bad. Any other opinions out there on this one??

If this title has ever been on CD, I be lookin' for one. If not, why not?? Thanks!! Sound Samples and AMG review: click here The fact that there are even sound-samples on the AMG, implies that this has been released on CD at least at one time. But I can't seem to find any other evidence of it being digital ever.

How about now?? Seriously, I can't imagine any of the final three wining now. I mean, I know one of them will win -- but none of them deserve to win. /really doesn't care who wins now...

Well, I guess only time will tell. Hopefully most of the material will see the light of day, and I suspect there's at least a decent chance that all of it will (given what Michael has said most recently). Before today, however, I would have never guessed that Andrew would green-light this. Maybe one or two sessions, perhaps (at most), but to get all of it - was really something I never expected to fly. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed...

My thought is that they can't be all that choppy, if both Michael and Andrew are in agreement about releasing them. Sure, there'll be rough places, and stuff that coulda had more (or better quality) rehearsal time. Still, I'll take a "off-day" Andrew Hill session any day, over a whole hell of a lot of other things that I can think of (but I won't name names). It's like "Passing Ships" -- all over again!!! EDIT: And obviously (picking up on Jim's post that I'm quoting)... -- I DON'T CARE EITHER!! - if there's problems with some or most of these sessions.

Smartass...

Thanks Jim. I just confirmed that in the discography, and I missed "Fragments". Jim, if you wanna delete your post right above this, I'll update the big post with all the session info (and then delete this post -- and we can pretend this never happened. )

Don't sweat it. Johnny's got you beat by a mile. He 'chain-smokes' the Politics forum.

Hey, I want to discuss private bands too!!!

Miscellaneous - Non-Political ( 20% of this member's active posts )

By the way, from a previous e-mail exchange I had with Michael back in January, he said this about the unreleased Andrew Hill material... [And we now know that "Dance With Death" will be a Conn this Fall.] Meaning that there's previously unreleased material from both of those two late 60's "One For One" sessions (beyond what has been released from them, on LP). So, that's a little more Charles Tolliver too!!