Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater New Anthem Receivers/Processors

rrlev - What I've learned about wines in the states is that most of them are not made to age. They are aged and bottled ready to drink within a year or they lose flavor. Most of the French wines I've had you can purchase and continue to let them age to enrichen the flavors. My favorite French winery is Lafitte. I haven't had any of their wines that have disappointed but at $100+ a bottle I only purchase on rare occasions.

Cranes, I always ask someone I trust before getting a bottle to age. The only Californian wine I have in that group is Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 ... we will see.

BTW I usually steer a way from California wines and big name vineyards because one can get better values elsewhere. That one I picked up at a bargain price.

Canes, you've probably been called many things but never Cranes.

Ooops ... sorry Canes

People mess up my surname all of the time so I am actually use to it. I order most of my California wines from wineries in Temecula. I like Sonoma and Napa wines but I've always been partial to Temecula but unfortunately you can't get them in stores. I think all Temecula wineries only sell direct.

My Omega broke as well.

As to speakers, I have heard some relatively pricey speakers (Wilsons, Harbeths) which are simply on a different level of sound quality. The difference is stunning. I have heard some more expensive speakers which do not sound as good. I have not heard less expensive speakers which sound nearly as good.

PS I like the look of the green Rolex Submariner, but I'm not spending $20,000 for one. I found the Loreo tribute to the Submariner on Amazon. It is an automatic, has a nicely finished good looking mechanical movement visible from the back, is accurate to 3 second a day, almost as good as my Tissot Le Locle, and cost $120. The watch is hefty, band is comfortable, and it is a fine looking piece. Go try you one, if you still wear a watch. You'll like it.

I've been an oenophile back the 90s as best as i can remember. Our cellar has a variety of wines across the world, varying ages and price points. I rarely buy anything above $40-45 unless there is an exception for some reason (the WolfBlass Black Label is one such wine; fantastic cellaring!). Too low a price though and you get some really faux stuff. It's quite hard for a winery to make a quality wine and also make it inexpensive (say defined by $14 or less, Cdn price).

I'm in that exact position right now. No AVR under $850 Cdn has pre-outs that i've seen (and i'm not talking about BStock). I found an Onkyo on sale last year, previous year model for $900 which i probably should have snapped up but missed the deal. Now everything i've seen, including USED units from 2 or 3 years ago, all selling for over $1k, anything new is $1300+ if you need pre-outs. That being said, try and find a cheap processor as a replacement. Even the Emotiva units fall into this price range. Then you would also need to add amps and hence the value added features of the AVR for your above average HT person.
You just can't get around having to pay a minimum that feels higher than you want to in order to obtain a quality wine or a HT processor with the features you need (like pre-outs).
It becomes a "suck it up buttercup" situation; you have to fork out the cash.

This is into the realm of audio myths.
There's many out there.
No one could ever peg such a number to things though some people believe in them enough they get ensconced in the audio world of belief. Years ago i heard things like how to break down your home audio budget.
40% speakers, 40% preamp/amp, 15% source, 5% cables, etc. etc. in many other numerical variations

What was that song lyric?
Don't believe the hype.

The three biggest factors on how humans perceive sound and quality if you will at any given time and place:
a) speakers
b) room
c) state of mind (e.g. personal emotion and mood)

I don't wear a watch anymore ... although
If apple ever designs something a bit thinner I might try one ... hate pulling my phone out of my pocket every time the damn beeps, buzzes or I need to check the time.

P.S. I did own a Tissot at one point in time but I might have lost it as I haven't seen it in years.

If you find your Tissot, I'll take good care of it.