how do people afford the new systems?

[massive88]

Lots of companies make small, stylish speakers, though.  It's not like Bose patented inconspicuous design.  Buying Bose is akin to buying Sky Vodka.  People think that they're getting something really good, because they see it everywhere and because they're paying so much for it.  They're not getting Popov by any stretch of the imagination, but they're still spending far more than they should be for what they are getting.

Skyy is expensive vodka now?

I haven't bought anything but Tito's in years.  Anyone in Texas should know what I'm talking about, anyone who doesn't, needs to switch to Tito's.

Actually I think its pretty well shipped around the country now, still cheapest in Texas though.

[DJ_Izumi]

I have a margerine tub stuffed with money I get from modding PSPs.  Eventually I'll turn that tub into a PS3.

[SavannahLion]

I have a margerine tub stuffed with money I get from modding PSPs.  Eventually I'll turn that tub into a PS3.

Get rid of the money then mod the tub into a speaker.

[shmokes]

Yeah.  Around $18-$20 a bottle last I checked.  Certainly you can get more expensive bottles than that (just like you can get more expensive speakers than Bose).  But Sky is a $10 or $12 bottle of Vodka at best, and nowhere near the likes of Kettle One and others in its price-range.

[ahofle]

Make sure you get some Monster Cable to connect those Bose speakers, or you won't be doing them justice.

 

[danny_galaga]

smirnoff. smirnoff is proper vodka. although its not made in russia, its still a russian vodka.

edit: or stolichnaya. at least its made in russia...

[ahofle]

smirnoff. smirnoff is proper vodka. although its not made in russia, its still a russian vodka.

edit: or stolichnaya. at least its made in russia...

The French make a damn good vodka:

[AtomSmasher]

The French make a damn good vodka:

Agreed.  That is my favorite Vodka as well, with Kettle One a close second.

[Samstag]

I saw something on 20/20 or some similar newsertainment show a while back where they took 20 or so vodka lovers and had them do blind taste tests.  Despite the majority of them saying Grey Goose was their favorite brand, I think every single one of them picked a cheap no-name brand over Grey Goose.

There was no mention of their favorite speaker brand.

[DaveMMR]

I saw something on 20/20 or some similar newsertainment show a while back where they took 20 or so vodka lovers and had them do blind taste tests.  Despite the majority of them saying Grey Goose was their favorite brand, I think every single one of them picked a cheap no-name brand over Grey Goose.

There was no mention of their favorite speaker brand.

Speakers or Vodka, as consumers we are suckers for brand recognition.   

[AtomSmasher]

The only reason I've even heard of Grey Goose was because it won a tasting content   
After reading it won, I went and picked up a bottle and agreed that it was the best vodka I had tasted.  But as I said, Kettle One is a close second.

[HaRuMaN]

Mythbusters took a cheap arse vodka and filtered it through a Brita pitcher 6 times, and that improved the taste considerably.  Looked like a bottle of Bowman's...

[patrickl]

Mythbusters took a cheap arse vodka and filtered it through a Brita pitcher 6 times, and that improved the taste considerably.  Looked like a bottle of Bowman's...

I think you remember that one wrong, the myth that this actually works was considered "busted"

MythBusters: Bullets Fired Up

can filtration make crappy vodka top shelf quality? Busted. The MythBusters try filtering some rotgut through a Brita filter several times, and though it makes the vodka better, top shelf beats it out.

[HaRuMaN]

I never said it made it top-shelf quality, I said it made it better.

it makes the vodka better

[DrewKaree]

Mythbusters took a cheap arse vodka and filtered it through a Brita pitcher 6 times, and that improved the taste considerably.  Looked like a bottle of Bowman's...

I think you remember that one wrong, the myth that this actually works was considered "busted"

MythBusters: Bullets Fired Up

can filtration make crappy vodka top shelf quality? Busted. The MythBusters try filtering some rotgut through a Brita filter several times, and though it makes the vodka better, top shelf beats it out.

IIRC, the person who was consistently able to tell the difference was a "professional" taster, while everyone else seemed to rank the filtered vodka as a bit better than others, although, as was stated, not making cheap vodka into top-shelf stuff.

I switched water filters due to the wife wanting to try a different type of water that was only offered by the other filter manufacturer and figured I'd give it a go as well.  It definitely makes cheap vodka BETTER, but it doesn't make it top-shelf quality.  I'd say it turns Fleischmann's into something more closely resembling the red label Smirnoff's.  Not worth the time, effort & money IMO, but perhaps to someone with time, effort & money to burn, and little value put on any of those things.....

Svedka, as someone pointed out to me, is a pretty darn decent vodka.  Tito's, as well, is all kinds of good! 

And Grey Goose makes a good vodka lemonade, but just isn't worth it, to me

[boykster]

I like expensive vodka, but mostly I drink Smirnoff

I think Bose is overpriced, but sounds pretty good (you can do better though for the same $$)

Monster Cables are like Bose - overpriced for what you get, I build my own cables from Belden Cable and Canare connectors for 1/4 the price and they're 10x the quality

I don't like to buy new consoles when they first come out; I waited to buy my Xbox360 until after the price drop, and only own about 5 games for it.

My household income is 6-figures plus, but still don't like to squander my hard earned $$

[Blanka]

I Thought wodka is the only spirit that closely resembles 40% industrial quality ethanol and 40% purified water. I mostly use it fore cleaning purposes therefore.
Second thought: Bacardi Breezer is proven to be industrial grade ethanol with water and childrens lemonade syrup. Best cost-profit ratio of any drink alog with Redbull, industrial grade caffeine with water and children's lemonade syrup.
Mac Donald's cheese is supposed to be industrial made cheese and is an ingenious oil derivate.

[ark_ader]

Taking 20% off the top (for refurbs, no less) is not enough to hit a price-point that matches the quality of his speakers.  Bose didn't develop its reputation for marking their speakers up a tiny bit.  Equivalent speakers can easily be purchased for less than half, maybe a quarter the cost of a set of Bose speakers.  

I don't really know how to respond to your last line.  You say that most people say they are terrible, but in your last post you said:

. . . the general consensus seems to be they are completely average, not great, but not horrible. 

It seems to me that my assessment accords pretty well with the general consensus.  They are mediocre speakers with astronomically high prices.  If you're happy with your free speakers, and why wouldn't you be, then that's fine.  I suspect that the average person will find Bose speakers to be perfectly adequate.  But the average Bose buyer incorrectly thinks he is buying high-end equipment.  I am simply trying to help someone to not pay high-end prices for perfectly adequate equipment.  He should either actually get high end equipment or he should pay a perfectly adequate price for his perfectly adequate equipment.  I honestly don't see why such a concept is so inflammatory.

I'm not buying those Bose speakers now, I'm going for THX certified Creative speakers now!!!!  So There! 

[danny_galaga]

Mythbusters took a cheap arse vodka and filtered it through a Brita pitcher 6 times, and that improved the taste considerably.  Looked like a bottle of Bowman's...

I think you remember that one wrong, the myth that this actually works was considered "busted"

MythBusters: Bullets Fired Up

can filtration make crappy vodka top shelf quality? Busted. The MythBusters try filtering some rotgut through a Brita filter several times, and though it makes the vodka better, top shelf beats it out.

IIRC, the person who was consistently able to tell the difference was a "professional" taster, while everyone else seemed to rank the filtered vodka as a bit better than others, although, as was stated, not making cheap vodka into top-shelf stuff.

I switched water filters due to the wife wanting to try a different type of water that was only offered by the other filter manufacturer and figured I'd give it a go as well.  It definitely makes cheap vodka BETTER, but it doesn't make it top-shelf quality.  I'd say it turns Fleischmann's into something more closely resembling the red label Smirnoff's.  Not worth the time, effort & money IMO, but perhaps to someone with time, effort & money to burn, and little value put on any of those things.....

Svedka, as someone pointed out to me, is a pretty darn decent vodka.  Tito's, as well, is all kinds of good! 

And Grey Goose makes a good vodka lemonade, but just isn't worth it, to me

it takes talk of booze to get drews attention nowadays (",)

[shmokes]

I'm not buying those Bose speakers now, I'm going for THX certified Creative speakers now!!!!  So There! 

That's cool.  I have some THX certified Klipsch speakers which sound fantastic, but they also have a chronic problem with the amp in the sub burning out.  Mine did it once and, even though they were out of warranty, Klipsch generously replaced the sub for free.  Now, a few years later, it's done it again and will probably cost me $100 to fix.  Sad.

BTW, make sure whatever you get matches up with what your speaker outputs.  I'd guess that some Creative speakers will only take a digital input (because they're made for a PC), while many home theater receivers only have analog speaker outputs.  Additionally, if the Creative speakers are made for a PC, they're going to be tuned for near-field listening, and may not make a very good solution for your living room, where you'll be sitting ten feet from the center channel.

[ark_ader]

When I get around to buying them I'll ask you for your advice before splashing out.

Thanks! 

[shmokes]

Honestly, before splashing out, you ought to post in EE.  There are quite a few people there who probably know more than I do.  Boykster immediately springs to mind.  He's done all kinds of stuff with his home theater.  He does have a bit of trouble grokking budget limitations, though  .   He has a tendency to give recommendations on the apparent assumption that everyone has unlimited resources.  Still, though, he and others can probably give some really good advice on the subject.

[boykster]

Honestly, before splashing out, you ought to post in EE.  There are quite a few people there who probably know more than I do.  Boykster immediately springs to mind.  He's done all kinds of stuff with his home theater.  He does have a bit of trouble grokking budget limitations, though  .   He has a tendency to give recommendations on the apparent assumption that everyone has unlimited resources.  Still, though, he and others can probably give some really good advice on the subject.

Hey, I never suggested Martin Logans to anyone 

(serious budget breaker speakers)

[massive88]

I like expensive vodka, but mostly I drink Smirnoff

When I first graduated college and started working, I bought only Grey Goose, as mostly I drink Vodka in Martinis, and believed Grey Goose to be the best.

I did several blind taste tests with myself and friends.  Using Titos, Smirnoff, Grey Goose, Stoli, Belvedere, and a few others.

Most everyone picked Titos as their favorite, and those who didnt, agreed it was on the same level as the top shelf Vodkas.

In Texas at least, you can get a handle of Tito's for $26, where the same of Grey Goose will run you in the 40s.

Everyone has different tastes, and like I said, I dont expect everyone to think that Tito's is better than Grey Goose, but I have yet to hear anyone say its not at least on par with it.  Then you take the price into consideration, and you get that Tito's is the only Vodka I buy anymore.  In 2002 I think it was, it won a Vodka contest in California where 71 vodkas competed, including all the major top shelfs.  Reading about that made me try it for the first time.

One Review on it

If you like Vodka, do yourself a favor, and try Titos.  Try it blind even, Im willing to bet you find it agreeable.

Though the price point may be moot outside of Texas, I dont really know.

[AtomSmasher]

If you like Vodka, do yourself a favor, and try Titos.  Try it blind even, Im willing to bet you find it agreeable.

I just checked the prices for 750ml bottles (which is generally what I buy since I don't drink too often) and Grey Goose is around $25 and Titos is around $15, so it's significantly cheaper in California too.  The last cheap vodka I bought was Skyy (which I got on sale for $10), and it was incredibly nasty, even worse then Absolut which I also hate.  You've sold me on Titos though, so I'll give it a try next time I go drinking.

[massive88]

Let me know how it goes   

[SavannahLion]

I just checked the prices for 750ml bottles (which is generally what I buy since I don't drink too often) and Grey Goose is around $25 and Titos is around $15, so it's significantly cheaper in California too.  The last cheap vodka I bought was Skyy (which I got on sale for $10), and it was incredibly nasty, even worse then Absolut which I also hate.  You've sold me on Titos though, so I'll give it a try next time I go drinking.

Skyy's beer is OK. Not the best, but OK.

Anyhow, I've read that Skyy is "manufactured" or whatever you want to call it. They buy the alchohol and truck it in. Then it's "cleaned", blended, and flavored.

[Jdurg]

I'm not really much of a vodka drinker as I honestly think it is only used to provide alcohol content to drinks and not flavor, but in drinks where the vodka is the main ingredient i do try and get a good one.  I found that Tanqueray makes a pretty decent vodka that's not that expensive.  I think I bought a 1.5 Liter bottle of it for only $20 or so.

When I am making a drink where the point of the vodka is to add alcohol, I just use concentrated vodka.   

Graves XXX is 190 proof ethanol.  The highest concentration of ethanol you can get through distillation.  Take that, dilute it down to 80 proof or so and you get a lot of vodka for a cheap price.   

[massive88]

Let me know how it goes   

I went tubing on the Guadelupe last weekend and got ---my bottom--- chewed when someone brought up Tito's and I said I had never tried it but 'some guy' had said I needed to. 

Apparently it's the unspoken favorite amongst everyone in Texas.  :/

Ive never heard that much fervor for Tito's, now Shiner Bock on the other hand...

Though I think Shiner recently got bought by the Gambrinus Company, as long as they just handle shipping and marketing though, the beer should be the same Texas Favorite coming out of the Spoetzl Brewery.

[shardian]

The only Vodka I've ever tasted was Skyy, and it tasted awful. I only used it as a mix in for my version of  Applebee's Spiced Oreo Milkshakes, which it worked perfectly fine for. So what does a 'good' Vodka taste like? I assume that the better it is, it should have little or no flavor - is that right?

[shmokes]

I can't ---smurfing--- stand Texans.

[massive88]

I can't ---smurfing--- stand Texans.

What an amazingly wonderful comment to add to the discussion.  It was both on topic, and not inflammatory in any way.  Its not like anyone here has flat out said they are from Texas, so making a condescending statement about them should be totally acceptable behavior.  Besides, making a generalization about 20% of the US population is both an accurate and informed thing to do.  So thank you for putting that forward.

[boykster]

I'll check to see if my local liquor store carries Tito's.  I think I pay $12 for 750ml of Smirnoff red label (the regular stuff) and a bottle of Ciroc is $30.  I also like Vox, Grey Goose, Ketel One, and other "top shelf" vodkas, but as a mixer, its less important than as say in a martini.

If you like rum, see if you can get Cruzan rum.  It's pretty inexpensive (not like potters though) and is darn tasty.  I'll drink their light rum over Bacardi any day, and they have a darker rum and a spiced, among some other flavored rums.  Here, a 750ml of Bacardi white rum is $16, and Cruzan light is $13.50.  Their spiced is good, but it's no Sailor Jerry's 

[Dartful Dodger]

I can't ---smurfing--- stand Texans.

Its not like anyone here has flat out said they are from Texas, so making a condescending statement about them should be totally acceptable behavior.

This is a topic about new systems being expensive and the last page of posts is about alcohol.

Not that it's right but condescending statements always follow alcohol.

[shmokes]

The alcohol thing is a good point. Plus, you know how Texans are pretty much invariably intolerable . . .

[AtomSmasher]

For rum I generally go with Pyrat or Pussers if I'm drinking it straight (no, they're not cheap, but they're also not too expensive), or Captain Morgan Spiced if I'm mixing it with coke.  I'm not a big fan of Captain Morgans, but it's cheap, mixes well with coke and is as good as gold at Buccaneer Days (a pirate party I go to every year where the entire town gets horribly drunk and dress up like pirates).

[shmokes]

I just found Admiral Nelson.  I picked it up by accident because it is deliberately made to look like Captain Morgan.  It was considerably cheaper, though, and since I was getting it for rum-and-cokes I decided to give it a shot.  Tastes exactly the same.  Highly recommended if you're in the market for Captain Morgan.

[boykster]

If you like rum, see if you can get Cruzan rum.

I'm a little biased for it, but yes, Cruzan Rum is the best deal rum out there - particularly the dark.

See?  It only took what, a year for us to find something to agree on?   

My local liquor store guy turned me on to Cruzan a couple of years ago - I don't buy it for the savings, I buy it for the taste and quality.  I've not tried their flavored rums (not my thing), but damn if their light and dark rums aren't outstanding.  I prefer Sailor Jerry's spiced just a tad over Cruzan dark, but even that's a tossup depending on what I'm using it for since they're not really the same "class" of rum.

I've tried their light, 2 year and 5 year dark, and navy rums, but I've never even seen the estate single barrel.  I'll ask my local guy if they ever get any in or not.  I love their "pedestrian" stuff, I'd love to try the good stuff from them.

[boykster]

The Navy is good, if you like very dark, high proof rums.  I prefer Sailor Jerry to Cruzan Navy, but not because it's bad; they're just different. 

thanks for the tips!  I gotta hit the liquor store today, I'm all outta rum!

[AtomSmasher]

I gotta hit the liquor store today, I'm all outta rum!

I didn't exactly go into detail about the rums like you guys did, but I highly recommend Pyrat or Pussers.  Pussers is the same recipe used in the British Royal Navy for hundreds of years, so it's really strong stuff, but an excellent rum.  Pyrat is one of the most unique tasting rums there is and is my overall favorite, I highly recommend it.  It also comes in a very cool looking bottle