Karma - Monoprice Fabulousness!

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    I am reminded of the redoubtable Roy Blount, Jr's poem on the gustatory delights (or otherwise) of oysters.
    Song to Oysters

    I like to eat an uncooked oyster,
    Nothing's slicker, nothing's moister.
    Nothing's easier on your gorge
    Or, when the time comes, to dischorge.

    But not to let it too long rest
    Within your mouth is always best.
    For if your mind dwells on an oyster ...
    Nothing's slicker. Nothing's moister.

    I prefer my oyster fried.
    Then I'm sure my oyster's died.

    - Roy Blount, Jr.
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,811
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    pdynnjfgqznc.jpg
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 12,015
    edited June 2018
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    I loved his character in kelly's heroes.
    https://youtu.be/ncbEucjsNFU
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.

    “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
    --Mark Twain.

    “If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    Not to change the subject ;) but...

    It's here.

    I looked out front and UPS was comin' in the driveway with it.

    rcrbxv2b8ccg.png


    Further details as events warrant.
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,811
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    I'm on my way!

    6f85r2kc5eqt.jpg
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
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    Mr. Fried and later his son are responsible for some of the best sounding speakers ever made. His Fried model H speaker kit (worth Googling) was the forerunner of the satellite/subwoofer systems we now enjoy. That subwoofer was just plain fantastic! We used to sell his speakers and hosted a few "meet the designer" soirees that were educational, to say the least.
    Sorry for the thread interruption.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    KennethSwauger wrote: »
    Mr. Fried and later his son are responsible for some of the best sounding speakers ever made. His Fried model H speaker kit (worth Googling) was the forerunner of the satellite/subwoofer systems we now enjoy. That subwoofer was just plain fantastic! We used to sell his speakers and hosted a few "meet the designer" soirees that were educational, to say the least.
    Sorry for the thread interruption.

    I concur (not that your opinion needs any affirmation from me!) -- and the IMF loudspeakers (with which he may have had little to do other than giving them their name) were also very fine in that British way. That same British way that inspired Mr. Polk & company, way back when (at least, according to the ads and catalog copy of the time). :)

    28112017459_e1e931639d.jpgIMF Supercompact2 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    Has the phoenix finally landed?
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    update -- looks like it's s'posed to be here tomorrow. Further details as events warrant.

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    KennethSwauger wrote: »
    ...We used to sell his speakers and hosted a few "meet the designer" soirees that were educational, to say the least.
    Sorry for the thread interruption.

    PS, Ken, not an unwelcome "interruption" at all; thanks for sharing perspective on Mr. Fried & his loudspeakers!

    Forgot to mention that before.

    Yes, @clipdat it is here -- the weather is too darned nice for hifi at the moment,
    but it will, eventually, get dark tonight -- late tonight -- and I'll unbox and have more to share.


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  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
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    Clipdat wrote: »
    Has the phoenix finally landed?
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    update -- looks like it's s'posed to be here tomorrow. Further details as events warrant.

    I believe so...

    Guys, we need to be ready to help Doc, so we should all probably start heading his way right about now, I can smell the smoke here in Florida...
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
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    I hear no sirens....yet.

    I'm not at all convinced Doc has given proper thought to this and self preservation techniques. :)
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    Man, we used to work with stuff like ethyl ether and chloroform in the lab -- I got this.

    ... Here, hold my beer and watch this.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    (interestingly -- chloroform isn't flammable... but ether is. Boy howdy, is it flammable.)
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
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    The H subwoofer was a two channel transmission kit and was known as the "coffin" woofer. It used two of the famous KEF200 woofers that had upgraded motor structures. It could actually play 16Hz with clarity and definition.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
    edited June 2018
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    The Monoprice hybrid amplifier is unboxed, hooked up and will go online presently.

    Anyone care to guess the first song that I shall play through it?
    (there are of course many apt choices given the backstory -- but one rose to the top for me very quickly).
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
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    "Light My Fire"
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,811
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaHEusBG20c

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m6SZhYt-d0
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    KennethSwauger wrote: »
    "Light My Fire"

    oh, that woulda been a good one!

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    Viking64 wrote: »
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaHEusBG20c

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m6SZhYt-d0

    ... as would those. :|
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 9,103
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    Talking Heads. Burning down the house...
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    7eo5tzvzehhx.png
    cpzc2ykcvv7o.png
    6lzhzfqvw9pu.png
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,520
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    https://youtu.be/ZD8YPY8RBQc
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited June 2018
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    This content has been removed.
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    How does it smell?
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The Monoprice hybrid amplifier is unboxed, hooked up and will go online presently.

    Anyone care to guess the first song that I shall play through it?
    (there are of course many apt choices given the backstory -- but one rose to the top for me very quickly).

    Burning down the house? Ken beat me to it, first one that came to mind. Speaking of talking heads @mhardy6647 :D:D


    Ding, Ding, Ding! :)

    I guess I need to send you something now -- what do you "need" that I might have extras of? :)

    Carousel CD player?

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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 12,015
    edited June 2018
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    I was thinking this one would be it;
    The Ohio Players "FIRE". :D
    https://youtu.be/3UvYHhIEASw
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.

    “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
    --Mark Twain.

    “If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    uwa220kb8k6y.jpg

    f2fte8a1oad8.jpg

    pjty7p5ibg0a.jpg


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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    Are those the Dayton bookies?
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  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
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    Clipdat wrote: »
    Are those the Dayton bookies?

    Yup!


    So... What's the initial verdict?
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
    edited June 2018
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    Comments:
    • This one seems to be working flawlessly out of the box. What's this, number four?
    • The general heft, fit and finish isn't bad at all for a ninety-nine dollar product.
    • The amber illumination (pilot light and meter light) is both apt and kind of scary at the same time.
    • Whatever is being done with them -- the tubes are run hard enough that the EL84s umm, 6P15s get pretty hot. Not EICO HF81 EL84 hot, but too hot to touch. The small signal tubes (6N1, whatever that is) run cool.
    • The amp does have an interesting bouquet. Slightly stale, musty, resinous and chemical, all rolled into one. It smells exactly like my grandparents' house in Glen Burnie, MD did -- ca. 1965. My grandfather was a dedicated smoker of very cheap cigars (El Productos -- my father called 'em "El Ropos") and the house bore mute testimony to it for many, many years.
    • The cassoulette :) of the amp isn't objectionable at all. I cannot smell it except right up by the tubes -- and my nose is pretty sensitive.
    • No flammulation, no funny noises, microphonics, etc.
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