More on the stereos

Dear Gentle reader, wherever you are,

(Since carefully editing this so there are columns for the figures, then posting it, (twice!) I find that the carefully made columns gone! So, I overcame with dots!)

First off, I don't think I mentioned that aside from the two TVs, and the BOSE 301 speakers, ALL of the equipment was bought used at fractional cost of new or even "book" value as determined my Orion's and eBay trends. For instance the Yamaha receiver that is in the den, had listed new for $1,600. I got it used for $50 via eBay. Now that's a bargain!

I decided to do some research on the various pieces of equipment that makes up the four sound systems in the house. As mentioned before, I have Orion's Audio Book. From that I gathered the build dates and original list prices of the equipment. Then I used the Consumer Price Index web page that determines inflation. Thus, if the same piece of equipment was produced today, it might sell for the 2008 value of.........So, without further ado and the magic of cut and paste:

Office System

Item....................................................................Year(s)............MSRP...................2008

Denon PRA-1200 pre-amplifier............................1988-91.............$475.................$853
Kenwood Basic M1 power amplifier.....................1982-84.............. 330...................726
Denon TU-600 tuner...........................................1986-90...............400...................775
Denon DR-M203-head cassette deck....................1986-87...............400...................775
Denon DP-7F turntable (Stanton cartridge)............1985-98...............325...................642
Denon DCD-690 CD player.................................1992-93...............300...................454
Denon DVD-757 SACD/DVD-A player................2005-08...............400...................400
Insignia HD Radio tuner......................................2006-08...............200...................200
MXR 147 graphic equalizer.................................1981-83...............250...................584
LYRIC/Eosone speakers.....................................1997-06...............900(x2)............1191(x2)
RCA PRO-X44AV speakers................................1999-05................60.....................76
Grand Totals................................................................................$4,940...............$7,867

Living Room System

Adcom GFP-565 pre-amplifier.................................1989...............$900................$1542
Adcom GFA-585 power amplifier........................1990-92...............1200.................1950
Adcom GFT-555 tuner.......................................1987-89.................300..................561
(2) Adcom ACE-515 power conditioner/distributors...1987.................200(x2)............374(x2)
Denon DP-23F turntable....................................1985-94.................425..................839
Shure M97xE cartridge......................................2000-08.................140..................140
Rotel RCD-940BX CD player............................1994-96.................380..................545
Pioneer PDR-555RW CD recorder.........................1998.................700..................912
Samsung HD-950 SACD/DVD-Audio player...........2005.................250..................250
JVC TDV-711 3-head cassette deck..................1988-89.................620.................1113
KLH TNE-7000A Transient Noise Eliminator....1975-83.................330.................1303
Coustic HEQ-7000 equalizer............................1985-89.................130...................257
Optimus PRO-4000 speakers...........................1984-97.................520.................1063
Grand Totals................................................................................$6,295.............$11,223

Family Room System (less TV)

Yamaha RX-V493 5.1 Receiver...........................1998...............$400...................$521
Sony DVP-NS775V SACD/DVD player...........1998-05................125.....................165
Sherwood ST-875 Turntable...........................1986-89................120.....................233
Ortofon OM-5 cartridge..................................2005-08..................60.......................60
BOSE 301 speakers........................................2002-08................300.....................300
Pioneer center channel speaker........................2005-08................100.....................100
Dual surround speakers...................................1999-05.................50.......................75
A-Neutronics ANS12 sub-woofer.....................2005-08...............150.....................150
Grand Totals...............................................................................$1305..................$1604

Den System (less HD TV)

Yamaha RX-V2092 7.1 Receiver.........................1997............$1600....................$2118
Infinity TSS-450 6-piece speaker system.........2002-08................350........................350

Yamaha DVD-S1500 SACD/DVD player........2000-05................450........................531

Grand Totals............................................................................$2400.....................$2999

So, what is the point of this exercise, you may ask? We have long been believers in buying used, "previously enjoyed" if you prefer. The best thing to do this with is vehicles. A one year old car will be at least 30% less than the current modcl year, for example.
I love crisp, clear, tight sound from my speakers. I can close my eyes and at the proper volume "see" the band or orchestra in front of me. That's what high end audio is all about. I joined this elete, some think snobbish, some think insane, group of music lovers on a budget.

Since grandson # 3 has just been handed to me, I need to sign off for now.

Second Sitting

Hello dear reader!

This is my second sitting posting to my Blog. I have messed around with things a bit earlier today and now have ONE post per page! Unfortunately, I still haven't figured out how to get the appropriate pictures with the correct pages!

To see the earliest posts from the beginning, look at the list to the right of these words. The first one is: "Here goes nothin'."

Before I continue with the listing of the collections, let me fill you in on my Saturday. As I started this on Friday, well this and doing the laundry was about it. I found out that I would be watching our youngest grandson, 3 1/2 month old Anthony most of Saturday.

Well, he is the sweetest tempered baby you will ever meet. Anyway being an experienced dad and grandpa, I didn't anticipate any problems. However, I had yet to change any of the boys diapers. I changed PLENTY of my kids when they were little, so I am no stranger to the act.

Nancy changed her hours so that she could see him. He decided to fill his diaper before she went to work, which was good for me. Later after ten or twelve ounces of formula throughout the day and evening, he exceeded the capacity of the diaper. So I did change him after all. It's like riding a bike, it comes back to you.

This kid likes to watch TV. So, it seemed like a nice thing to do. He reacts to what he sees and hears and the constant movement and sound is entertaining to his little brain.

Anyway, I saw that The Bourne Ultimatum was on and thought, "Cool." So we watched it. Matt Damon must have really learned a LOT of fighting stuff! Then to my surprise, I saw the Transformers followed it. Great! "We never got all these cool recent movies before." I thought. Turns out we now get HBO and Cinemax. I don't know if it is a free weekend or I'm now paying for it. Regardless, after Transformers we watched the forth Die Hard movie, then another one. Quite a testosterone filled day for the two of us.

His Momma came home and she picked Will Smith's I am Legend for us all to watch. We ate dinner together then it was off to bed for me, and back home for her.

NEXT ON THE COLLECTIONS LIST!

HO TRAINS AND TRACK

I just looked through all the digital pictures to see if there are any train related, there aren't. I can see in my mind at least one of Bekka playing with them, but it's a real film photo. I'll find some and scan them.
In the mean time, here's some info. Nancy's Dad, the late-Julio, had HO trains when he was a kid and she inherited them. So, we have some really old locomotives, cars and track.
Thanks to the toy shows we visited we obtained a lot more. I am not going into the attic today to pull the boxes, it's friggin' cold up there! So, I don't have anything like an accurate idea as to how many we have, nor how much track. But, it did fill a 4' by 8' sheet of plywood and there are so many it looked like a real train yard.

In the old townhouse that we were renting prior to moving here, we had a good sized laundry room. I came up with the idea of having two 4' by 8' sheets of plywood with 1x6 sides that nested one on top the other. The slot car set on the bottom, trains on the upper one. They were all on ropes and pullys and were secured to the joists above the ceiling. It was a cool arrangement because the bottom one had fold down legs.

Much fun was had by all over the years. The land-lady was less than happy with all the holes in the ceiling though!

GLASS BOTTLES

Nancy came across a large number of really cool and colorful glass bottles over the years. At one point I'd built shelves in one big window to display them and have the sunlight come through them. It looked great! Like the trains, slot cars, paperweights and Beanie Babies, they await freedom from the bondage of boxes in the attic for further display.

I realize to keep your interest, I'll have to do more than write words about all these things! Which means getting everything out and photographing them.

After the task of selling the Colonel's massive camera collection, it is not that great of task. Plus it may inspire me to take photography back up.

NEXT POSTING WILL BE ABOUT RACING PHOTOS AND POSTERS!