Geek with Family

I spotted the Sylvania Dot-it LED lights at Home Depot this weekend. These self-adhesive lights are just what I'm looking for to light up my audio and video equipment cabinet while I have the lights out watching a movie.

Before I installed the small lights (the same size as half a yo-yo), I'd have to strain my vision reading a DVD label by the dim blue light of my player. Now with the one Dot-It light stuck to the ceiling of each cabinet illumination is only a click away.

The Dot-Its run on three AAA batteries each powering three LED bulbs that will blind you if you are staring at them trying to figure out how they turn on (I speak from personal experience). The lights can go anywhere with no wires and a simple sticky back.

Because of my solid shelves in the cabinet the light fades out by the time it reaches the bottom shelf with my turntable. I may get two more Dot-Its and attach them to the sides of the cabinet so I can drop the needle at the beginning of the record instead of in the middle of the first track or miss altogether.

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I spotted a full page ad for Listen Carefully in the back of the 2006 Hi-Fi Choice's "The Collection" issue. Listen Carefully is a high end hi-fi dealer that is taking a synergistic, limited and whole system approach to a two channel digital and vinyl playback (I think more dealers should attempt this, though it does have fundamental problems I detail below). He only offers three different systems featuring components from only a half dozen manufacturers. His most affordable system:

System 1: Ayre CX-7e & AX-7e integrated. Thiel CS1.6 loudspeakers. LAT power distribution, XLR connections & speaker leads. Cassiel CAS4 power cords. This is by far the most musically satisfying system I've heard up to £10k—yet it costs far less. Add the Brinkmann Oasis and you have a magnificent vinyl replay facility too.

The sole proprietor of Listen Carefully, Howard Popeck, will personally demo, sell and install the system, guaranteeing its performance. In his view, he's tackled all the difficult to research and expensive to try hi-fi system synergies for you. Buying a whole system up front saves you from wasting time and money chasing your tail with blind alley upgrades—hoping that new DAC or cryo treated interconnect will reveal that last bit of sonic resolution and truth.

Continue reading Listencarefully.co.uk Gets High End Hi-Fi Dealing Right

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