Hall of Shame

makersmark & killerpiggie, twas *i* who mentioned the art d/io (yup, that's "io", not "10" - it stands for in-out, as the device is actually an adc as well as dac.) as a matter of fact, i even posted a thread about it, where more info can be had:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ymisc&1011197293&openfrom&15&4#15

also, do a search on the forums here for dio, or d/io. also search the audio asylum's digital forum for *lotsa* information...as a matter of fact, i ordered my d/io after reading *this* thread:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1003098758&openfrom&2&4#2

regards to all, even those who are *wrong*! ;~)

doug s.

btw, my personal belief is that any decent $300 cd player will offer 95% of the best redbook cd has to offer, from what i think is basically a flawed medium - i'm w/ya on this, makersmark, really! :>) that said, i also believe a modded art di/o will get ya at least to 99.5% - why spend more? :>) for the 1st time, i can actually really enjoy redbook cd playback. but, i think a tubed preamp (or amp?) is really a requisite to make cd's listenable...

My Hall of Shame nomination goes to the makers of those shit speakers they sell out of the back of white vans. You know, the "Omni" and "OmniTech" crap that they make in an industrial park in Elmhurst, Illinois (seriously!) and then pitch to you at gas stations and in parking lots. "Hey, dude- we just finished a big (convention, audio show, pick one) and these are left over and my boss said to take whatever we could get for them." Did you ever hear one of these masterpieces? Perfect for the audiophilistine!

Man! audiophilistine, damn why didn'y I come up with that?

vdub, i *have* to laugh!!! this *exact* thing happened to me just yesterday! *EXACTLY* the way ya describe it! :>) i was pumping gas, when this van pulls up; two guys lean out & say "we just finished this job & have some speakers left over, & the boss said to sell 'em for whatever we could get." i told 'em "sorry, i have a *real* stereo at home already... ;~)

oh, there was *one* thing different - the van was champagne metallic, not white - to look more profesional?!? it even had some bs sound-type company logo on it!!!

doug s.

Vdub and Sedond that scam goes back some and it may have originated in the Sunshine State. I remember a pair of those guys trying that on me back in the late 70's in Orlando. The common elements are white vans, 2 young, enthusiastic guys, large, cheap vinyl clad particle board speakers with very cheap drivers at "bargain basement" prices. Price is very negotiable. "You can fool some of the people most of the time and that's all it takes baby".