Component Switching
Posted on | December 27, 2007 at 11:47 pm | 4 Comments
How I’m spending my Christmas vacation…
As expected, there was more snow today. Luckily I’m still on vacation and I didn’t have to be anywhere. As I mentioned back in this blog entry, I ordered an Onkyo TR-SX605 receiver. I ended up getting a refurbished unit direct from Onkyo for a total of $305. I got it a few weeks ago, but haven’t had a chance to hook it up. So that was my project for today: Switching out the Denon AVR-4800 for the Onkyo, and moving all my components to the stand underneath the new plasma TV (although I’m not sure I’m going to leave it all there; I might miss my old Tower of Components). Mission accomplished. The only thing I have left to do is reprogram my Philips Pronto remote to control the new setup. Since I mostly use the remote for component switching, I’ve got my work cut out for me. No macro left untouched.
The $300 Onkyo does everything my old $2000 Denon did and more, like HDMI switching, for one. I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough inputs, since I didn’t bother to count everything up beforehand. And you never really know until you start hooking stuff up. But everything came together and I didn’t have to ditch any components. I did, however, ditch a lot of cables. I really love how the Onkyo allows you to have only one connection to the TV (an HDMI one) and it converts all other video input signals to that one output. That saves on a bunch of cables right there. The sound quality on DVDs, CDs, SACDs and DVD-Audio discs sounds just as good as with the Denon to these old ears. I’ll miss the Denon, but it appears I really don’t need it.
So now I’m still thinking about BluRay or HD-DVD, especially now that I can get the full audio experience as well as the video. I suppose I could wait out the format war. My main purpose in buying the Onkyo was to future proof the system, and to get that part out of the way so that it would simple to add a new HDMI component. But knowing me, I’ll probably dive right in and get something; I’m still leaning toward the PlayStation3/BluRay player. Stay Tuned. Like I really need more toys. I don’t have time to play with the ones I do have.
Speaking of PlayStations, I took out my Sony PSP tonight for the first time in a long time and downloaded the latest software update (3.80 – I was on 2.71). Wow! Lots of new features. I was especially impressed with the Internet Radio feature. Commentor 2fs may be interested to learn that the first song playing when I fired it up and switched to the “Indie” genre was a tune by The Wrens. Anyway, the PSP update has this new Remote Play feature, which may also factor into my decision to get a PS3.
Another, more altruistic reason to get a PS3 is to run Folding@Home distributed computing and help out Stanford University in their disease research. Although I could do that on my regular PC as well. I’m for anything that could help find a cure for Huntington’s Disease.
So right now I’m in my post-Christmas techie nirvana. And it may not be over yet. Though I really wish I had about two more months of vacation.
Jogged Today: No
Today’s Weight: 165 lbs
Lunch Yesterday: Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich at Racines.
Pet Peeve of the Day: Steeeeeeeeeeve! We’ve both been posting daily since Oct 30th so we’re in an unofficial contest (”Master of my Internet Domain”) to see who misses a day first. Unfortunately for me, Steve never runs out of actual interesting things to talk about, and even had a running theme throughout December. I’m doomed.
Latre.
Comments
4 Responses to “Component Switching”
December 28th, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
I’ve run SETIatHome for years, one of the first distributed computing screensaver-deals. I reckon if we find aliens, they can cure Huntingdon’s easily AND they’ll have better games for your PSP than some boring old geneticists. Go Team Banzai!
December 28th, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Oh, so I’m only a “commenter” now, eh? Just because I haven’t posted 60-some days in a row, I’m no longer worthy of being a “blogger” – just a “commenter.”
Uh-huh: just remember that the people you snub on your way up are the same ones who’ll laugh at you on your way down.
Not that I’m bitter or anything.
December 28th, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Oh, so I’m only a “commenter” now, eh? Just because I haven’t posted 60-some days in a row, I’m no longer worthy of being a “blogger” – just a “commenter”
You just haven’t earned it yet, baby.
Oh, and BTW, it’s “commentor” in my world.
December 29th, 2007 @ 2:55 am
I see, so 2fs gets his spelling errors corrected, but I misspell “Huntington’s” and get a pass?