Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

kosmo wrote:
So since this is the defacto A/V thread…  Maybe I'm missing something but it seems that none of the network ready Home Theater receivers support connections to wireless speakers, only wired speaker connectivity.  There are multi zone receivers that support wireless, but not the primary setup.   Is there such a setup?  I'd really like to have rear surround speakers and if possible wi-fi wireless and not bluetooth.  Looks like the Sonos is the only option out there that does wireless speakers for surround…  Wired rear speakers aren't really an option due to have concrete walls.

Sorry - I forgot to put my out of office on.

You're about two months too late on this request.  Before I switched to SONOS I used this Rocketfish Product and sold mine for $50 to an audiophile on Craigslist who actually wrote me back to tell me how much he liked the product.

It allowed me to use wired speakers in the front and for the subwoofer and created a wireless connection to my rears (though wires wtill come out of the Rocketfish rear receiver, they just don't have to be strung across the whole room).  I found them a little low in volume, but if you have a separate volume control for your rears, just set that little higher than you main volume and it will balance out.

Ben Sherman's new owners are closing all US stores.  Deals to be had if you want to replace your wardrobe….

vansmack wrote:

kosmo wrote:
So since this is the defacto A/V thread…  Maybe I'm missing something but it seems that none of the network ready Home Theater receivers support connections to wireless speakers, only wired speaker connectivity.  There are multi zone receivers that support wireless, but not the primary setup.   Is there such a setup?  I'd really like to have rear surround speakers and if possible wi-fi wireless and not bluetooth.  Looks like the Sonos is the only option out there that does wireless speakers for surround…  Wired rear speakers aren't really an option due to have concrete walls.

Sorry - I forgot to put my out of office on.

You're about two months too late on this request.  Before I switched to SONOS I used this Rocketfish Product and sold mine for $50 to an audiophile on Craigslist who actually wrote me back to tell me how much he liked the product.

It allowed me to use wired speakers in the front and for the subwoofer and created a wireless connection to my rears (though wires wtill come out of the Rocketfish rear receiver, they just don't have to be strung across the whole room).  I found them a little low in volume, but if you have a separate volume control for your rears, just set that little higher than you main volume and it will balance out.

Cool I'd seen the Rocketfish and wondered how it performed…. It still seems that a wi-fi connected receiver would support wi-fi speakers, but most people can probably run wires for their speaker systems.  Plus, those wi-fi speakers aren't cheap..

Got a snap judgement on the new HTC A9?  My worry is that a higher end model will come out sooner rather than later and I'll have jumped to soon.  i've been very happy with my M7, but it's not getting marshmallow and it's battery life is a little wonky

and i'm fully aware that the new Nexus line looks pretty awesome, but would involve leaving my carrier to get it.   

Do you have any preferences, brand-wise, for wifi LED lightbulbs?

kosmo wrote:
Got a snap judgement on the new HTC A9?  My worry is that a higher end model will come out sooner rather than later and I'll have jumped to soon.  i've been very happy with my M7, but it's not getting marshmallow and it's battery life is a little wonky

and i'm fully aware that the new Nexus line looks pretty awesome, but would involve leaving my carrier to get it.   

I would never buy a mid-range phone on contract.  The A9 would fall into that category and would lock you into two years, but the phone won't last that long.  And if you're concerned about the battery life of a two year old M7, the 2150mAh battery of the A9 is going to make you very unhappy.

When is your two years up with the M7?  I expect the M10 to come out in the beginning of April, just like in the previous M's.  But if your two years is up now….

Carlos wrote:
Do you have any preferences, brand-wise, for wifi LED lightbulbs?

I have only used Philips Hue WiFi bulbs, but that's mainly because I was given a Lux Starter Kit to try out and was told to keep them.  They only did white, which was fine, because I only used them in the bedroom as I found them most convenient when I would get in bed and forgot to turn the lights out.   They were easy to use, easy to set up, and I'd imagine the color ones would be the same.

My new house, though, is 95% track lighting so I did not bring them with me (I gave them to a neighbor).

what . . . thats it?  post of picture of beibers beiber and then right on back to phone talk?  good lord.  like really, man.  I wonder what he feeds that thing.

vansmack wrote:
Nope.  Just a once proud Audi A3 TDI owner with 80,000 miles on it, that might never meet CA Emissions standards.

Vansmack's car - Causes cancer

ggw wrote:

vansmack wrote:
Nope.  Just a once proud Audi A3 TDI owner with 80,000 miles on it, that might never meet CA Emissions standards.

Vansmack's car - Causes cancer

I will be one of the named plaintiffs in the suit, at least in California.

Not having Biden Welcome the US Women's National Soccer Team at the White House today is a crime against the internet.

vansmack wrote:
Not having Biden Welcome the US Women's National Soccer Team at the White House today is a crime against the internet.

Especially now that he's announced he's not running. Can you imagine how handsy he would've gotten without any political career to keep him in check!?

so in a perfect world with wads of cash stuck in every corner of the house, I'd buy the sonos soundbar and all of the accouterments

sadly the reality of little children getting fed is making it hard for such lavish expenses

I'd like to get a decent Wifi sound bar in the $200 range…does it exist?

SideBiach wrote:
I'd like to get a decent Wifi sound bar in the $200 range…does it exist?

What are you trying to stream out of your soundbar?

vansmack wrote:

SideBiach wrote:
I'd like to get a decent Wifi sound bar in the $200 range…does it exist?

What are you trying to stream out of your soundbar?

well I want something that I can have for the tv/movies
but that I can also run things like Spotify or my own digital files from phone/pc

Just trying to see what's good value out there with WiFi
vs getting a Bluetooth speaker

Cool.  There are a number of Soundbars that do Bluetooth, and in that price range, that's probably the best you're going to get.  WiFi capable soundbars survive on the interface that handles the content, and there really aren't any good ones in the price range.  You're looking at about $500 and up…. 

So what I would do then, is buy the best sounding Soundbar in that $200 price range and purchase a streaming device to go with it - I would recommend the Chromecast at $35, but Apple fans may want to get an Apple TV at &149 (though the old one works too at $69). 

The best soundbar at that price is the Vizio S4221W-C4, if you can find one.  Vizio replaced this model with a much worse sounding version that I won't recommend, but if you can find one in a Box Store, then grab it immediately. 

An alternative that I almost tried was the Sony HT-CT260H, which has it's own HDMI port that I was going to plug a Chromecast into for streaming music.  You'll need to plug into a TV to set it up, but after it's setup I assumed it would work as a music only device that you would control through a phone.

SideBiach wrote:

vansmack wrote:

SideBiach wrote:
I'd like to get a decent Wifi sound bar in the $200 range…does it exist?

What are you trying to stream out of your soundbar?

well I want something that I can have for the tv/movies
but that I can also run things like Spotify or my own digital files from phone/pc

Just trying to see what's good value out there with WiFi
vs getting a Bluetooth speaker

Save money on brewing mediocre beer and put it towards your AV needs!  ;) ;) ;) ;)

Yada wrote:
Save money on brewing mediocre beer and put it towards your AV needs!  ;) ;) ;) ;)

I was going to say sell a kid and use the proceeds to upgrade your audio system, but this might be a better solution to try first.

I'm not sure if anybody is still using laptops or desktops to listen to music, but if you are Zoorloo just released an affordable USB Audio Class 2 compatible DAC that supports up to 192kHz and 24-bit high resolution audio. If you've got a decent set of headphones, this things a must:

24-bit/192 kHz ]Review

ZuperDAC

I've been recommending their MicroUSB Z:ero in-ear buds to any Android user who will listen.  This will open it up to everyone.

dang, married life has got you pulling back it seems  ;D

so could you conceivably buy one of these and drop your cell phone service, but continue to use your phone (ie with Googlevoice)?
although honestly…make about 5 cell phone calls a month it seems

Light usage (under 1 gb a month) is only $14
$50 is unlimited

Just don't know how reliable the service is