RimBlock

1. Check out the Dolby website here which gives you speaker placement diagrams for various setups. 2. Audition the speaker cable with the kit you want. Depends on how much you wish to spend and how sensitive your hearing is. You can go from S$1/mtr, S$2/mtr for cheap to around S$7/mtr for something like Chord Company Carnival which would be fine for most people in a home environment at your price level or up to S$XXX. I have cheap for the side rears and back and Carnival for the fronts. The sides and rears usually carry very little information compared to the fronts and centre. I have had no issues and I put mine through a light box and laid my own trunking (can see in my T-blog) 3. I had a look at the 608 but bought the 667. Both are very good but the 608 is end of life and will be replaced very soon with the 609. I know the big chains are out of 608's as I spoke to the distributor as well as floor staff but I hear KEC still has some, or did last week. I do not regret the 667 in any way and am very happy with it. Either will serve you well although I had feedback that the Onkyo can have issues with HDMI splitters and as I am feeding to both a TV and projector I played it safe (that and availability of the 608). The 667 has no problem with a HDMI splitter from Amazon at S$50. Also note that if you get some big(ish) fronts then you could possibly get away without a sub. I have large stand mounted speakers on the fronts and they provide a pretty reasonable bass alone. I still get to feel my chest tremble with the low rumbles in the movies. Going this route also allows me to add a sub (well two with the 667) at a later date if I wish. RB

Np, to be honest, we use gas water heaters for the most part in the UK which are on demand but have an insulated tank holding hot/warm water. Storage heaters were generally phased out or only used as the cheapest option as it was a pain waiting for the water to heat. Note though that the UK was generally much colder so the water in the heater became much colder much faster. The always on water heater for drinking water was a surprise to my when I came here 4 years ago but was what my wifes family always used. To be honest, I still think a kettle on the gas or even an electric kettle is much more efficient and uses less power but my wife likes the easy of always available hot water and as she is now in around her 30th week of pregnancy, she wins . RB

Thank you for adding nothing of value to this thread. To add value you could have suggested an alternative for S$200 which has a slim profile and is available in white. Admittedly I am stunned that you didn't use you post to spout about the quality of Wharfedale products whilst providing anything to back up your claims like usual. Standard post from you really. RB

One question for you..... Does your drinking water boiler for tea or coffee overheat and burn out ? For any reasonable storage water heater, it will head to a pre-set temperature and then turn the element off. Once the temperature drops below a set point the element will turn on again. Leaving the heater on all day is quite expensive and we saw a fair drop on our bill when we turned it off and only turned it on again just before (10-15 minutes) taking a shower. I have used Ariston and now am using Jovan. I would buy either again. RB

Well it seems someone here has some very 'interesting' ideas about wharfedale speakers, their quality and British speakers in general, making sweeping statements with nothing to back them up. It really is a shame that people take it at face value. Having used Wharfedale for quite a few years I have never had an issue with build quality. My current main speakers are 18 years old Wharfedales and are rock solid even after being used in countless audio shows and being freighted halfway around the world via ship. The diamond series is widely recognised as very good for that price point (entry level) and so if you have bought a diamond 10 set then you can rest assured that the money has not been thrown away. Enjoy your purchases. Comparing the diamond series (entry level) to audiophile standards (however that person believes they are defined) is just plain silly. Most people do not compare Ferraris with Civics or state everything below a BMW 7 series is crap, well some do but it is quite easy to work out what sort of person they are. The Diamonds are a consumer standard set of speakers and are priced accordingly. Whilst I don't doubt that some magazines give favouritism to high value advertisers, user reviews do not and there are many around the internet from very happy customers of Wharfedale or any other speakers from British brands. There is also a very good trade on EBay of old models which would not exist if they fell apart after a couple of years. If the previous poster has had a set which fell apart after a couple of years I would be very wary of taking any sort of advice from them as they had clearly been abusing the speakers. The Chinese ownership of Wharfedale that is being mentioned is due to IAG (International Audio Groups) ownership of the Wharfedale brand (along with QED, Audiolab, Mission, Castle and Luxman). Of course our esteemed contributor forgot to mention that Michael and Bernard Chang (owners of IAG) are in fact Taiwanese Chinese audiophile enthusiasts rather than just another business man with no interest in HiFi. More info here about the acquisition and a bit of background. The new director of acoustic design is Peter Comeau. Information about him and his 30 years with British audio companies can be found here. IAG is based in Shenzhen which is not surprisingly where the iPhone is built along with a lot of today consumer electronics due to that wonderful thing that is international globalization. We don't see many complaints about the iPhones build quality, design flaws yes but not build quality. Made in China does not automatically mean badly made. Other British HiFi companies which are British owned can be found here. They include B&W, Arcam, Spendor, Pro-AC, Rega, Roksan, Ruark, Linn, Keff, Cyrus and Chord. Ok, so on to some suggestions for people wanting to buy. Firstly, music is a very personal experience. By this I mean that to an certain extent, peoples likes differ as do their hearing. Our hearing changes as we grow older so if you are interested in buying equipment to give you an enjoyable experience then you have to go to a decent HiFi shop and demo some equipment in one of their listening rooms. I would work out three tiers of budget, bottom (would like to spend), middle (can to spend) and top (absolute maximum). Be realistic about bottom. Every one would like to spend 1 dollar and get great hifi but it really is not possible in this reality. Check the internet for reviews and suggestions. Good places to start are AVForums and AVSForums. Have a bit of a read and then post asking for suggestions within the three budgets. Both sets of forums are generally very friendly. Take the advice and do a bit of a search for reviews then shortlist maybe a couple to demo in each price bracket. Contact some shops, most are located in The Adelphi opposite Funan (City Hall is the closest MRT). Don't worry about going to more than one shop if one shop does not have all the equipment you want to demo. You can always go back and should not feel you have to buy on the spot. Try to work out what you like. Do you like a nice deep base, a detailed treble or a good mixture of both. Again this is a personal thing. If you are not sure then the sales person should be able to help you find out. Take a small selection of cds (dvd's / blurays if checking out a home cinema set-up) you like to use for the demo so you get to hear your music. Don't let anyone tell you what you should like. Just because someone on the internet tells you that you should like it if it sounds one way, make up your own mind on what you like. After listening to all three tiers of price, work out if the middle is worth the extra in price to you above the price of the lower priced system. Do the same for the higher priced compared to the middle priced. You may find that you are pretty happy with a lower priced system and save yourself a chunk of cash. Going in with a fixed budget will usually see you spending it all and maybe some on top when they may have been no need unless you are desperate to burn cash and if that is the case you can transfer it to my bank account . Remember, cables can be purchased on-line at places like Amazon. A high speed 3 meter HDMI cable can be bought for around S$20-S$25 rather than buying one of the expensive Monster cables. Cables are a good way for shops to add profit as they tend to have a high mark-up. For an example; I had a free surround sound set-up which came with a TV purchase. It was TBH very poor but it was ok for a little while. I upgraded to a AV amp and speaker package at just under 2K which was significantly better. I recently upgraded again to a better av amp and some speakers at around 3K. On demoing the 2K package which I am selling, the person looking to buy loved it. Point being it was good enough for him at the price I am selling for. My 3K system is good enough for me. Don't be bothered about what someone thinks you should spend. Work out what you need to spend to get the sound you want. Take your purchase home and enjoy knowing that you got what you liked best regardless of what some unknown person with access to a computer states. RB

We have bought from Bright House for two renovations over the last 3 years and have never had any real issues with them. We go to the Tampines branch though and used to rent in the same block. Maybe just that branch not so reliable. RB

Quote request for; Linn ClassiK UniK speakers (pair) Linn ClassiK UniK speaker wall brackets Wharfedale 10.dfs rear speakers (pair) Thanks RB

Just for your info, the Onkyo 608 is end of life and will be replaced with the 609 in a month or so. Quite a few places have no more stock. I went to buy on a couple of weeks ago. I ended up getting a Yamaha 667 which is also very good and at the same level. RB

I will try and dig it out. Work not bad and reasonably priced but I mainly had the trunking and wall boxes replaces using the existing wire already there. RB

Depends of what you want. If you want double aircon and the HDB inspection says the unit is ok then you can be quiet and keep the confirmation letter hands with some photos in case anyone later questions it. If you want to adhere to the rules then check with HDB specifically for that topic. Out new unit was cleared by HDB even though the previous owners aircon install put pipes through a supporting beam (big no-no). Our reno aircon install patched up the beam and went around. Not so nice to look at but in compliance with HDB. Our ID would not consider using the hole already there as it was not in compliance. RB

I have seen units with the newer square balcony and the older long balcony (like ours) both having roofs so I would imagine both are fine. Saying this I have seen a number of units with two aircon compressors as well which is not approved so bet to double check with HDB . RB

As far as I am aware; 1. Yes 2. I would imagine it is the RG. The ONT would be with the TP can your cat6 cable will connect the ONT and the RG by your TV. 3. Yes and Yes. RB

The termination point will usually be by where you will have the TV as that is where the signal is going (A STB plugged in to the TV). Most people want the stuff to do with their tv by the tv and most have one main tv and only one main feed. Placing the TP away from the tv is most likely due to cost of running the cable. The installation cost only includes a run XXX meters in to the property. Any extra is charged for. As far as I am aware, the service provided will supply a box to connect to the TP. The provider should have the specs of the box. Starhub are providing this unit. This has wireless N networking for computers but nothing wireless for TV. I can not advise specifically for Starhub but the specification posted on the super broadband site mentions connectivity to a PNA (netowkr to coax cable converter) and then, via coax and another PNA, cat 6 to the set top box. I would suggest the PNA -> PNA via coax connection more or less the same as using network over powerline type homeplugs. The advantage of coax over network cable is the distances and ease of installation. Any monkey with a tool box should be able to do it and do it well without special training. Network installation is seen as complicated and expensive. Simple solution, let Starhub worry about it when they hook you up. Another solution would be to use homeplugs to connect using the power lines but check for reviews to make sure the homeplugs can handle the bandwidth requirements. Best solution, run a cat 6 connection to each room that has a computer / set top box for TV. Letting Starhub run coax still means they need to run cables and you have to have one PNA device at each end as well as a set top box / modem. Network cable installation means no PNAs needed. PNAs have an advantage if you already have coax in place from a previous install for example. Network cables can be used for the STB and for computers. I would just get a cable run from the TP to behind the main TV in the living room. If you have any more STBs or computers then run other cables there either now or later. Call Starhub and see what they advise though as they may install the coax and give the PNA's for free...... RB

Hi Lazybum, For the bathroom window, just about the only suggestion I can think of is using a Venetian blind which can be open during the day and with a twist can be closed and opaque during the night. Just make sure you get one made from an opaque material like wood or metal and not cloth. To be double sure you can install a roller blind further in the bathroom as well. The roller can be used during the day and then both together during the night. Just make sure you close the Venetian blind at night and don't forget or you will be giving a fun shadow puppet show to the local neighbourhood. Someone might start selling tickets to the car park viewing deck . If you see seats left on the top floor you may know why . Being that the bathroom is a damp area, it is also worth noting that if not careful you may get mould. Some blinds come anti mould, might be worth checking of painting them with an anti-mould treatment. Good ventilation (an open window etc) may help prevent as well. Now to find your opennet thread RB

Thanks, it was nice to meet the two of you as well and the cakes were very tasty . Happy to share. We still have a bit of work to do on our side as well as the final parts of the reno work. It will be nice when it is all over. Might finally be able to unpack all the boxes . The two of you look great together and many best wishes for your future in your new EM with each other. Remember, with an EM there are many rooms to hide in if she starts nagging a bit too much . RB

Will check with Henry after CNY as he will probably have all the details. I found an old HiFi unit (three shelf metal and glass made by Target - i.e. a proper HiFi stand rather than a Courts or the like bit of furniture) and it seems to be very good for putting the networking stuff in and putting the server on top freeing the second desk for my sons machine. I also bought some 1GBit homeplugs for the Mio TV upstairs until I get the network wired up there and it is ok but every now and then the picture freezes for 1-3 seconds so I need to check all the cables just in case there is a dodgy one causing an issue. The homeplugs worked like a charm with just needing to plug them in and they auto connected. I will have to see if I can get the rest of the networking done over this 4 (well 3 now) day period as it would be really nice to finish it off. RB

Well she sort of used both, I sometimes think she manages to do it somehow both at the same time . RB

Thanks, The tiles are like bars of stone stacked up and are great. I am unsure of the name but can see if I can find out . The normal tiles are textured sandstone effect. THe floor tiles also blend in very well colour wise. This shower room is much brighter than the other. I will have to try and get some more pictures of the other one when my wife has not decided to take it over . RB

Common toilet. Inside. As you can see there is still a lot of unpacking to do and a bit of renovation still outstanding. I cant wait for the day it is all tidy which will probably be when the kids leave home and get married . RB

Master bedroom. Other direction. Master toilet (quick shot). Closeup of wall decal in blue room.

The green room. Inside (yes the walls arenot straight ). The blue room Decals.

Some more pics for you. Light just inside the front door. Study room with glass wall and doors Top of the stairs landing The daisy pendant lamp which caused so much trouble to have mounted.

Yep I will be buying a few more blurays on a more regular basis now. I still need stands for my speakers and cable for the rear speakers. I will probably change the amp for the Onkyo 667 around bonus time (March) as it has 4 HDMI inputs and two outputs with passive pass through so I do not have to turn the amp on to watch MioTV on the tv but can if I want surround sound. Need to speak to KEC again . RB

Thanks reglxt, I also like our two upstairs toilets very much. I will try and get some pictures with the vanity cabinet, glass shower screen and solid surface installed. It is now a lot cleaner with only a bit of cleanup required in the master toilet for pain and plaster marks. I will probably sort them out before CNY. RB

Principles are important but that would then leave Mae with her youngest son without a bed and mattress just before moving in and two days before CNY. Good solution found all round it seems. The power of complaint . My wife is also very good with it. I think it is all the practice she has on me that allows her to fine tune her skills RB