I'm wearing a fire suit, so go ahead

Geoff4rfc

I'm a little nervous to post this after just reading the thread closure on the XPA-3, but wanted to publicly thank gfong for his post.

I just made a purchase earlier today on the XPA-3, and being able to read that review gave me a little confidence in spending my hard earned money.

I don't have a ton of money and own a modest, but what I consider to be a sweet HT.

Comparatively, I have very little experience here but try to research as much as I can so I conduct educated strategies when it comes to making my purchases.

Money is tight, this is a hobby that follows 20 years of motorcycle road racing, I was sponsored in many areas so I didn't have to worry about money. Since I moved to this arena, there's no sponsorship and I'm not exactly rolling in dough, so, unfortunately, I have to compromise here and there and maximize my dollar to equipment ratio. I'd love to get all the really cool stuff that costs thousands of $$ but I get by with what I can.

So thanks gfong, I appreciated the read.

george daniel

don't be denied,:cool:

janmike

Congrats on the purchase and to hell with what the snobs think.

disneyjoe7

It is what it is, and I feel you know this in the end. If it what you can afford now and like it why not I say. Sit back and enjoy. We all started somewhere.

Ricardo

Congrats. Just enjoy what you own and don't pay attention to what people say on internet forums. The worst thing you can do for your wallet is believe what you read. There will always be a thread/post saying that this or that gives so much more detail, I heard things I've never heard before.........stay away.

gfong

Thanks, appreciate the words. Good luck with your new gear, with the addtion of any amp your 807 will not have to work as hard as it does not have to run the front 3 speakers.

Get 3 good RCA cords to hook between the amp and your AVR.
Make sure they are shielded. Don't go breakin the bank on your first set, but at least use better than the thin ones that come with cd players and digital cable boxes.

How do you like the Epik sub, I have only heard good things about them?

slk55amg

I have the XPA 5, your going to love your new amp. Just enjoy, so you did not spend a fortune on an amp, you bought a quality product, sit back and enjoy.

treitz3

Ricardo wrote: »

There will always be a thread/post saying that this or that gives so much more detail, I heard things I've never heard before.........stay away.

So, what you are saying is disregard any and all reviews or commentary that may be true? I'm sorry Ricardo but that's just plain bad advice.

Instead, one thing the OP can consider is the source when reading a review or observations from a post. After a while, you will get to know the folks on the forum and their likes and dislikes. You will also learn who is full of it [trolls] and who is genuine with their observations.

This may take time but I wouldn't stay away from or disregard any review or commentary that reflects someone hearing something that they haven't heard before. It happens some of the time on the upgrade path and I have personally experienced it many times on my audio journey. You may have even experienced it [more detail, things you may not have noticed before] yourself with your new gear.

Regardless, happy listening and enjoy the music.

cfrizz

Congrats on your purchase, I think you will be very pleased with the improvement.

FTGV

Congrats and Enjoy.

SCompRacer

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

...this is a hobby that follows 20 years of motorcycle road racing, I was sponsored in many areas...

I raced and had sponsors, but can't find one to fund my audio habit either.:biggrin:

One thing I liked about racing is the immediate measured feedback you would get. Change driving habits, different parts, a different setup could result in faster times, higher top speed, something lasting longer, etc. In shooting, experimenting with handloads can make for tighter groups. Audio is subjective. Advice from folks with more experience or reviews is great, but don't sweat it if you don't get what they say you should. In the end, select gear like you raced...keep what works for you and don't worry about what you don't have.

Ricardo

treitz3 wrote: »

So, what you are saying is disregard any and all reviews or commentary that may be true? I'm sorry Ricardo but that's just plain bad advice.

Bad advice? That's my story and I'll stick to it. Stay away from the internet. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

george daniel

We all were newbees once,, we all start our journey from someplace,,it's nice to have an 'end" to journey towards,, but in the end,,it's the journey that matters--enjoy yours--congrats on your new aquisition,,I mean that sincerely,,and thats coming from a guy who used to run two Adcom 555's bridged mono :redface:

mdaudioguy

I used to have one. It performed very well in a HT role. I'd have kept it if that's all I wanted it to do. For HT, it should allow you to really enjoy your system!

Geoff4rfc

Ricardo wrote: »

Congrats. Just enjoy what you own and don't pay attention to what people say on internet forums. The worst thing you can do for your wallet is believe what you read.

treitz3 wrote: »

Instead, one thing the OP can consider is the source when reading a review or observations from a post. After a while, you will get to know the folks on the forum and their likes and dislikes. You will also learn who is full of it [trolls] and who is genuine with their observations.

This may take time but I wouldn't stay away from or disregard any review or commentary that reflects someone hearing something that they haven't heard before. It happens some of the time on the upgrade path and I have personally experienced it many times on my audio journey. You may have even experienced it [more detail, things you may not have noticed before] yourself with your new gear.

Regardless, happy listening and enjoy the music.

I agree with both, I believe Ricardo was actually trying to convey this, take everything with a grain of salt.

I believe in the filter process, take everything in and keep what works for me, and you're right treitz, I've come from an Onkyo SKS-HT870 speaker system to what I have now, and yes, I have noticed some things :cool:

gfong wrote: »

Get 3 good RCA cords to hook between the amp and your AVR.

I ordered three from Emo, should be the right ones?

gfong wrote: »

How do you like the Epik sub, I have only heard good things about them?

Wow, the Empire. Right now it's just plug and play for me. This sub gives great bass, nothing sounding like it struggles and only 1/3 to 1/2 volume and then eq'd at 1/4 of that. My wife likes it and she thinks we're all nuts. Her big thing here is always guessing who has a wife and who doesn't

SCompRacer wrote: »

I raced and had sponsors, but can't find one to fund my audio habit either.:biggrin:

One thing I liked about racing is the immediate measured feedback you would get. Change driving habits, different parts, a different setup could result in faster times, higher top speed, something lasting longer, etc. In shooting, experimenting with handloads can make for tighter groups. Audio is subjective. Advice from folks with more experience or reviews is great, but don't sweat it if you don't get what they say you should. In the end, select gear like you raced...keep what works for you and don't worry about what you don't have.

Absolutely, I appreciated the "back in the pits" evaluation of what just happened. I had the convenience of a crew chief so I could relay the info to him and he'd make the changes whether suspension, gearing, tire profile etc.
Wouldn't it be cool to have an HT crew chief?

A lot of times I read stuff I don't get, but like racing, when I achieve that level of experience, I then become knowledgeable first hand.

So what did you race? I did the Suzuki cup series from '86-'96 and then '04-'08. Ran Gixer 750's mostly but was given a liter bike in '06, coolest bike I ever rode, my students would come in after the practice sessions and say, "wow dude, 30 footers out of every corner", that thing would lay down some rubber, punishing rear tires :biggrin:

Thanks to every post, all were encouraging, I won't bore you with the results I get when I hook up my amp, but I'll leave you with a shot from T-4 at Pacific Raceway on the GSX-R1000 in '06, it was a nasty b*tch, would do 185mph on Portland's straight and spin up the rear in a 140mph lean in T-6.

slk55amg

I have the Ultra Emo inter connects. they are of very high quality, exellent build quality, they do the job just fine.

SCompRacer

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

So what did you race?

High marks on your accomplishments! I?ve had fast street bikes but didn?t have the nerve for laying them on their side dragging my knee.

I?ve raced NHRA Super Stock, Bracket Raced, NHRA/IHRA Super Comp, and crew chiefed two years for an old Super Stock turned nostalgia racer Arnie ?The Farmer? Beswick.

Best time was the year I spent with the Midwest Super Comp Series. It was a well sponsored and funded series. I was self employed at the time and funded rookie of the year for $500. At the end of the year, I finished 7th in the top 10. I was the only Altered in the top ten, the rest were dragsters (dragster guys sneer at suspended Altereds:biggrin:). Most notable, I won Super Comp at Cordova World Series of Drag Racing in ?96. If I had raced only NHRA events and won my division, I would have got $1000 from the NHRA. Runner up paid $500. Placing 7th in the MWSC series, I got $500. I mean it doesn't profit to race at that level, but the loss wasn't as great.

Arnie had two cars, the coupe, (which had too much motor for the chassis), and the ?66 GTO. I took the GTO to its fastest times of 7:08/198MPH. I got to take a lap in it before quitting. Arnie offered me a chance to license and drive one of the cars if I stayed on but I had enough fun drag racing. I am a 57 year old has been that loves SOMA time (Sit On My Arse).

A lot of times I read stuff I don't get, but like racing, when I achieve that level of experience, I then become knowledgeable first hand.

When I started I went the path others suggested, then I went off on my own. You just need seat time with audio. Experience all the gear you can. You can check for audio groups near you. We have a bunch of local polkies that belong to the RAS (Rockford Audio Society) that gets together to listen to gear. I found my sound and am pretty much done with listening, but love getting together for music meets. There is also a Chicago Audio Society near me that meets regularly to demo different gear.

disneyjoe7

Love the GTO Pontiac.... I'm a great Fan of Pontiac.


GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

SCompRacer

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Love the GTO Pontiac.... I'm a great Fan of Pontiac.


GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

I still have my uniform with the Pontiac long pants and the "Tameless Tiger" flame shorts and tennis shoes. The shoes are the only thing that fits anymore.:biggrin:

disneyjoe7

Sweet

SCompRacer

I blame the wife...shrinkage. She says it was too many twinkies.

renowilliams

Congrats on the new amp. I am sure you'll be pleased. I just bought a new amp myself,an older Rotel RB-870BX. I am very happy with my purchse.

disneyjoe7

SCompRacer wrote: »

I blame the wife...shrinkage. She says it was too many twinkies.

Blame the wife, she tried to clean them and over dryer them.

Geoff4rfc

SCompRacer wrote: »

High marks on your accomplishments! I?ve had fast street bikes but didn?t have the nerve for laying them on their side dragging my knee.

I?ve raced NHRA Super Stock, Bracket Raced, NHRA/IHRA Super Comp, and crew chiefed two years for an old Super Stock turned nostalgia racer Arnie ?The Farmer? Beswick.

Thanks! Wow, a drag racer. I do hand it to you guys, I never understood going like a bullet in such a short distance. I was once involved with RFC and invited to attend an NHRA final in Pomona back in '05. I got to walk up and down the staging area mingling and praying with the racers, the field director would introduce me and tell them I raced bikes, their first reaction (thinking I dragged) was "Oh" (unenthusiastically), then he'd say, No, he road races bikes, the drivers would look at me and tell I was crazy, I'd say, uh excuse me, you're sitting on explosive rocket fuel and fixin to go like 300mph in a qtr mile, you're crazy.

george daniel

Sunday,,, Sunday,,,, Yellow River dragstrip,,,, Arnie,,,the Farmer' Beswick in his tiger stripped GTO goes up against Dyno Don Nicholson ,,in a one thousand foot grudgematch,,, Sunday,,Sunday,,be there.

Gates open@ 7

slk55amg

I live about 10 miles from Laguna Seca race track in Monterey Ca. I know a few people from the Concours de elegance ( pebble beach in aug) so a friend let me take my slk 55 on the track, drove it at 150 for about an hour, what a thrill, yetwhen I picked up the car in Stuttgart in 2006 I was at 170 on the autobahn...............................

Willow

Are you happy with your purchase? that's all that counts. It's your money so unless others are going to pay for your new amp don't worry what they say......and take your flame suit off!

Geoff4rfc

Willow wrote: »

Are you happy with your purchase? that's all that counts. It's your money so unless others are going to pay for your new amp don't worry what they say......and take your flame suit off!

Thanks bro, well said. I'll receive my purchase this Friday, just in time to try over the weekend so I'll find out then how well I did.

I was wondering if anyone was going to make reference to my title