Daddyjt

Several years ago, I used to read before bed every night. Then, with the advent of the IPad, I got into the habit of surfing the web, doing crossword puzzles, and checking the various news sites I frequent before bed. Lately, I’ve gone back to reading, and I’ve found I sleep MUCH better than when I “IPad” before bed. I am always reading two books at a time, a fiction book, and a non-fiction book. I typically read fiction before bed, and non-fiction in the morning and at lunch. This thread is for the Fiction books that we are all currently reading. See THIS thread for your current non-fiction reads. Hopefully I’m not the only reader here (and willing to discuss some great literature)!

Both Raid films are a total blast, and infinitely re-watchable!

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” ~ William Pitt

KEF makes two distinct classes of speaker - a very nice, high-end line, and a “mass market” line that is “ok”... IME, they are capable, if not a bit laid back - probably not the best choice for a “warmer” sounding amp/pre... much like the B&W sound. If they are 950’s, they are very nice speakers...

Walking through FYE the other day, I came across the AC/DC River Plate concert DVD for $5. Needless to say, I bought it - my son and I watched it last night in the theater room, with the volume at 11 o’clock (Not really, but it was at live listening levels!). We intended to surf through it, but we ended up watching the whole damn thing, and even the behind the scenes featurette. What a show! Damn those guys can flat-out ROCK... Got me thinking though - I don’t think I can name a single ballad by the group (in the traditional vein of metal/rock ballads anyway). Anyone else think of one...?

Yes, the ones I just brought home from your place (Thanks again!) had closed-cell foam with such a low density that it might as well not even be there - but it looks really nice:-)

About the only Achilles Heel I’ve run across on the NHT speakers is the strip of diffraction foam that many models (2.5, 2.9, 3.3, etc) have running outside the tweeter/midrange drivers. The foam tends to degrade and crumble over time, creating quite a mess. I have been experimenting with various materials, and I have settled on a solution - 1” wide x 1/2” thick adhesive backed felt. I tried open cell foam, closed cell foam, EPDM rubber stripping, and felt. I left one speaker with the stock foam, and compared it to the other with the various other products. The felt is by far the best compliment to the speaker, even sounding better that the original foam - degraded as it was. The worst part of the job is removing the old foam. It tends to come off in a crumbly, tar-like goo that’s just gross. I used denatured alcohol to soften and remove the base adhesive. the whole removal process is MESSY - be prepared. The felt came in a 10’ roll for about $20. I cut the strips to length and rounded the top and bottom on my disc sander, and trimmed the stray edges. The felt is 1” wide, as I said - the original foam strip was 1.25” wide. Therefore, I mounted the new, narrower strip the same distance from the drivers, leaving the extra 1/4” on the outside. @PhilDent I will be sending you a set for your 2.9 pair.:-)

There is no conundrum James - while it is true that the benefits of a servo system will be most readily apparent in a 2ch system, the benefits to an HT system are also significant. Especially in extreme deep bass tracks (Think U571 or Saving Private Ryan). In those extreme moments, even the most powerful subs tend to lose control of the cone - especially in 15” & 18” diameters. The servo really helps control the “flab” as I call it, when the sub surrenders control and just starts making noise.

one to show, one to go?

You’re gonna fit right in.... welcome.

“I love my country, not my government.” ― Jesse Ventura

As Andrew stated, that amp will drive any <$1000 speaker system with ease. It would even drive Infinity Kappa 9, although not at what I call “room pressurizing” levels. If you want to hear a set of speakers that do really well at what the 901s don’t do well, try some vintage Polks, or even some vintage Klipsch. The 901s excel at imaging, but suffer a bit in the bass and treble ranges. Polk and Klipsch do both very well, and sub $1,000 options abound. Be warned though, vintage Polks can be a rabbit hole...

Does anyone know WTF the lyrics to Roundabout by Yes mean?? "Roundabout" I'll be the roundabout The words will make you out 'n' out I spend the day your way Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley The music dance and sing They make the children really ring I spend the day your way Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley In and around the lake Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you I will remember you Your silhouette will charge the view Of distant atmosphere Call it morning driving thru the sound and even in the valley In and around the lake Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land The eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand Go closer hold the land feel partly no more than grains of sand We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand Next to your deeper fears we stand surrounded by million years I'll be the roundabout The words will make you out 'n' out I'll be the roundabout The words will make you out 'n' out In and around the lake Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there Twenty four before my love and I'll be there I'll be the roundabout The words will make you out 'n' out You spend the day your way Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley In and around the lake Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

“I, myself, am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.” ― Augusten Burroughs

when I was just a kid, I thought all boxing was just like the “Rocky” movies. Imagine my disappointment when I first watched real boxing, lol. Over time I grew to (somewhat) appreciate boxing - then you realize that just one of those huge punches would likely send someone to the hospital...

And here we thought millennials were a new thing....:-)

Doobie Brothers - Daughters Of The Sea off the What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits album.

My sentiments exactly. Just think of some of the GREAT films that would be ineligible right out of the gate: Jaws Saving Private Ryan Goodfellas The Silence of the Lambs The Pianist Braveheart Good Will Hunting The Town The Sixth Sense The Great Escape ....I could do this all day The thing I find disturbing is that it’s just the Oscars - for now. How long until this PC agenda is crammed all the way throughout the movie making process? I would bet that before long a movie will not even be able to begin production until “all the boxes are checked”....

Starting in 2024, the Academy Awards are going WOKE! The relevance of the Oscars has been in decline for years at this point - this might just drive the final nail in the coffin... https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/09/08/oscar-best-picture-hopefuls-must-meet-new-inclusion-standards-2024/5753230002/ Two of the four following standards must be met in order to qualify for eligibility for the best picture award beginning with the 96th Oscars in 2024: On-screen representation, themes and narratives: The first requirement requires that at least one of the following criteria be met, including hiring "at least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors" that belongs to a marginalized population -- Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Black/African American, Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native, Middle Eastern/North African, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander or another "underrepresented race or ethnicity." Similarly, 30% or fewer "secondary and more minor roles" must be occupied by women, people in the LGBTQ+ community or a "racial or ethnic group," as well as those "with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing." The first standard also requires that storylines focus on the same underrepresented groups. This standard dictates that a number of behind-the-scenes professionals must come from such underrepresented populations as well. At least two "creative leadership positions and department heads" must be filled by those belonging to underrepresented groups, including the "casting director, cinematographer, composer, costume designer, director, editor, hairstylist, makeup artist, producer, production designer, set decorator, sound, VFX supervisor and/or writer." Additionally, at least six other crew positions must be filled by those belonging to underrepresented groups. Such "positions include but are not limited to first AD, gaffer, script supervisor" and more. Production assistants are excluded. Industry access and opportunities: "The major studios/distributors are required to have substantive, ongoing paid apprenticeships/internships inclusive of underrepresented groups ..." the release explained. Such positions must be available in several departments: Production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing and publicity. "Mini-major or independent studios/distributors" are required to have two such apprenticeships or internships in the "production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing [or] publicity" departments. Additionally, the film's "production, distribution and/or financing company" must offer "training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development" to people belonging to underrepresented populations. Audience Development: Perhaps the most straightforward, but demanding, of the standards, "audience development" requires a studio or company to have "multiple in-house senior executives from" the outlined underrepresented groups.

Welcome! Its hard to beat the Sunfire subs, especially if WAF (Wife Approval Factor) is a consideration. are you going to be running it in a home theater setup, or 2 channel?

Agreed - I remember the marketing strategy of this film was genius... Unfortunately, that's about all it had going for it. I don't recall ever being less "afraid" watching a horror movie, than I was watching this one!