Audio, hi-fi and car audio - Back in the Real World....

'Working at home' tomorrow, so a *late* night movie and now just off to bed.

This just in, before I shut down (obviously from the US):

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"Hey Keith,

Well, I randomly came across your website while trying to look up some
turntable info. Just have to say: I'm very, very impressed with the audio
components you have built. Wow! I love the speakers, and I love the
valve/tube amps. I'm especially looking forward to building some of those
speakers now. They are so cool looking! I've looked around online, and
it seems like those drivers are only about $10-$17...is this correct? If
so, I've gotta build a pair. You did a great job!

I'm pretty much a novice when it comes to hi end audio. I started buying
records a couple years ago, but by no means do I have an "audiophile"
system. If you get a chance, do you think you could answer a few
questions?

1. The first turntable I ever bought was a Technics SL-1400. I knew
nothing about quality and just wanted a record player. Later I found out
the Technics is not a "high end" turntable. I couldn't stand it, and
bought a Harman Kardon T-45C...and also a Harman Kardon T-60. While I
know HK isn't the highest quality available, it's about as "high end" as I
could afford. Harman Kardon uses a Microrace tonearm that's supposed to
be decent.

What I don't understand is the direct drive Technics has performed better
than the belt drive HK turntables. I don't remember the Technics ever
skipping. Skipping has been a real problem for the HKs...even when there
are no vibrations, no one walking by the turntable, etc. They seem to
skip at least once somewhere on every record. Is this normal? By the
way, I'm using decent cartridges: a Shure V-15, and an Ortofon OM-10.

The T-60 has a "floating suspension" which is supposed to minimize
skipping. Actually, it skips very frequently...I've slowly increased the
tracking force, but this hasn't helped. I've been pretty meticulous about
aligning the cartridge as well.

So...I have a cheap, direct drive Technics that seems to work much better
than a high-end TT, and sounds fine. It seems a shame to sell the Harman
Kardons, because they are beautiful to look at...but that's about it!
This doesn't quite make sense to me: why isn't Technics considered a
hi-end turntable? To me, it sounds great. Maybe I'm crazy, but it
actually seems to sound better than the belt drive HK's. Hmmm.

2. The speakers you built: they sound very clear, but how loud are they?
Like I said, I'm new to all this. It just doesn't seem like they could
be turned up very loud...also, the drivers are so small...it's difficult
for me to imagine how such a complex maze-like enclosure could actually
have an effect on the sound quality of such a little speaker....? This is
a very ignorant question, I know, but I've grown up listening to a pair of
huge boxy 100 watt speakers with 12" woofers! I know "consumer grade"
audio equipment isn't "pure watts"....but this is still difficult for me
to understand.

Well, sorry for my long email--I initially just wanted to say, you did a
beautiful job on your speakers (the colors are very cool)! I'm inspired
to build some now. Sorry for my dumb questions! You've got me dying to
hear what a crystal-clear, clean system sounds like.

Thanks a lot,

XYZ"
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Says it *all* really, doesn't it....???

(That'll be my 6th 'inspirational' now!!)

Have a good day tomorrow and let's all go careful out there....!!

;-)