Canon takes it up a notch with the 7D</h1> <article> <h1>Canon takes it up a notch with the 7D</h1> <p>ZakB — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:01:00 GMT</p> With the 7D, Canon has taken the crop-sensor camera to new heights. Photographers using Canon's "prosumer" xxD line of cameras are trained to expect sequential upgrades with each new model. In some cases, photographers were passing on the newer camera, lying in wait for the next model to address their needs. After shooting with the Canon 7D for a while (and as a longtime 40D shooter), I can say without reservation that the bar has really been raised this time. Canon EOS 7D , shown with...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/11/18/canon-s-7d-a-significant-upgrade.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>How I made my own photo softbox for less than $10</h1> <p>ZakB — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:45:00 GMT</p> I read a great (as always) post on Strobist about building your own softbox for less than 10 bucks, and I was instantly intrigued. A softbox is used for taking those nice product photos you see on Crutchfield's website and in catalogs. But the word that got my wheels turning was "Ebay." Anyone who's bought or sold anything on Ebay will tell you that good photographs make a huge difference when making a decision to buy. A big part of the online auction process involves trust —...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/11/17/how-i-made-my-own-photo-softbox-for-less-than-10.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>From many to one: a review of the Universal R50 remote control</h1> <p>Jim Ralston — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:13:00 GMT</p> I recently brought home Universal's R50 , hoping I could replace the five remotes cluttering my home theater room with a single, smarter remote. All those remotes were a pain to manage — to literally keep from disappearing between the sofa cushions. And they also represented the unfortunate fact that guests, visitors, and even some family members found my system daunting and complicated to operate. Learning new tricks A system like mine, consisting of components from many different brands...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/11/11/from-many-to-one-a-review-of-the-universal-r50-remote-control.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Rear speakers, amplifier, and subwoofer</h1> <p>MLS — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:04:00 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span></span>Now that <span>the front door speakers were in -- and we could ably demonstrate the difference between the front aftermarket and rear factory speakers -- it was time to install the new rear speakers. Matt and I decided that this next phase would be big; not only would we be mounting <a target="_blank" title="JL Audio C2-600X speakers" href="http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136C2650X/JL-Audio-C2-650X.html?search=650x&ssi=0"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">JL Audio C2-650X</span></span> </a>full-range 6-1/2"s in the rear doors, but we would be installing JL's magnificent new <a target="_blank" title="JL Audio HD900/5" href="http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136HD9005/JL-Audio-HD-Series-HD900-5.html?search=hd900&ssi=0"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">HD 900/5 five-channel amplifier</span></span></a> under the rear seats, adding a <a target="_blank" title="JL ProWedge W7 " href="http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136S110R7/JL-Audio-CLS110RG-W7.html?search=JL+ProWedge+W7+&ssi=0"><span class="apple-style-span"></span></a><a>JL ProWedge</a> 10" W7</span> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"> </span>boxed subwoofer, and wiring the whole system with Streetwires <a target="_blank" title="Streetwires 12-gauge speaker wire" href="http://www.crutchfield.com/s_211UCT12/StreetWires-12-gauge-Ultra-Cable-Speaker-Wire.html?showAll=N&search=streetwires+12+speaker&ssi=0&tp=2917&avf=N"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">12-gauge speaker wire</span></span>.</a> While threading the 12-gauge wire into the rear doors would prove to be challenging, the rest of the installation went quite smoothly --<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:blue;"> </span>thanks to the acres of room afforded the backseat area by GMC. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b>Choosing rear speakers</b></span><br />Since I do all of my listening from the front seats, and since our goal is to create a truly high-performance system without using top-of-the line components exclusively, we decided to put a set of mid-level, full-range speakers in the Yukon's rear doors. Since we went with JL Audio C2 components up front, it was a no-brainer to voice match the rear speakers as much as possible. A quick check of our <a target="_blank" title="Outfit My Car" href="http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/autoinfo/autoinfo.asp?lp=%2fapp%2fCar%2fMyCar.aspx">installation database</a> confirmed that the C2-650X models would fit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At left, the Yukon's factory rear speaker; at right, the JL Audio C2-650X coaxial:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/4382.FactoryVAftrmrk.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The larger magnet structure, better basket construction, and superior sealing of cone to basket flange give the impression that the speaker on the right will perform better when mounted in a door panel:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/2475.FactoryLeftJLRight.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We knew we would have to run the speaker wire through the existing wire looming from the body of the vehicle into each door:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Exposing the flush-mounted wiring harness in the door jamb:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/6560.gettingatplug.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So we pull out the harness and discover that there's precious little room to run<i> any </i>additional wire, to say nothing of high-performance, 12-gauge speaker cable. Oops? Well, almost -- the brilliant Matt Freeman peeled back StreetWires' clear jacket and wrapped the positive and negative strands on either side of the plug, in the plastic grooves: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/6648.wirewrap.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Major installation hurdle negotiated, the harness is once again in place and yes, we struggled (successfully) to wrap the looming back on top:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/1256.pluginplace.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I should note that when screwing in the speakers, I had to be careful not to overtighten, as the bolt head seemed to stretch the speaker surround quite easily. Another small issue with the speaker design were the connecting posts -- they were thin and pliable and weren't stiff enough to scrape through some stray solder on the speaker wire's spade connectors, forcing me to re-attach new spade terminals. Neither of these were issues with the higher-end C2s up front. Relatively small concerns, as the speakers sound smooth and sweet in the back seat.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b>Choosing amplification</b><br />When we started this project at the beginning of the year, we didn't anticipate using JL's killer 5-channel amp, which wasn't to be on the market for several months. And we figured we'd be working slightly quicker than at the snail's pace into which we've seemed to settle. The original plan was to connect a four-channel amp to the main speaker system and use a mono or bridged-to-mono stereo amp for the subwoofer. By the time we were ready, however, the HD 900/5 was in house and seemed the perfect choice for our Hi-Fi 2.0 project. Audiophile-grade and Class D means efficient high-fidelity. These things run cool, never shut down, and control your speakers effortlessly. I’ve wanted one of these amplifiers ever since I heard them demoed at CES 2008 (Consumer Electronics Show – our industry’s biggest trade show, held in Las Vegas every January). JL had a Beetle wired up for true high-fidelity, and these amps were at the core of a mind-bogglingly accurate car audio system.<span style="color:#1f497d;"></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Amplification was the one gear category where we knew from the outset that we would go top of the line. That's because the power source is the heart of an audio system. </span>When we later fired up the system, the difference the amp made was obvious; an amplifier is the <i>force</i> behind your speakers, similar to the way a musician ‘powers’ his or her instrument. We put the Keith Jarrett Trio’s latest disc “Yesterdays” in, and the tonal complexity, warmth, and level of detail was so pronounced it just made us laugh. I think the harmonic richness of Gary Peacock’s upright bass is what hit me first, followed quickly by the delicate sparkle of Jack DeJohnette’s ride cymbal dancing around Keith’s resonant Steinway articulations. You’re never really ready for that kind of experience in a car.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">(A note about the power wiring: Since we realized that we would be powering the entire system with this super-efficient, low-profile technological marvel, we realized that we wouldn't be needing the 1/0-gauge power wire coming off the battery into a distribution box with multiple fuses, outboard capacitor, etc, and running individual 4- or 8-gauge power leads to each amp. All we needed was one length of StreetWires 4-gauge to stretch between the battery and the amp. So, we disconnected and removed the <a target="_blank" title="StreetWires Power Station Capacitor" href="http://www.crutchfield.com/p_211PSC401D/StreetWires-Power-Station-PSC401D.html?search=psc401d&ssi=0&tp=2614">StreetWires PowerStation capacitor</a>, pulled the 1/0 cable we had used to pre-wire the vehicle, and ran the smaller wire in its place. Sure, that was a bit of a drag -- unnecessary step -- but at least it was easy. We simply tied the new wire to the old wire and pulled the new 4-gauge through as we removed the 1/0-gauge cable. Such are the vicissitudes of spending a year on a vehicle overhaul.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Running RCA patch cable from the rear panel of the radio ...</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/0284.RCAradio.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/3482.radioconnect.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">... rightward behind the glove box ...</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/6457.gloveboxone.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/0825.glvbxtwo.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">... down behind the right front kick panel ...</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/1738.kickpanelRCA.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/7128.kckpnl.jpg"><br /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">... along the floor trim ...</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/8551.passngrseat.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">...and to the amp location, joining the power and speaker wiring (speaker wire not visible in this picture):</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/6648.readyforamp.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The controls are easy to access under the seat (and are nicely hidden behind an elegant, removable metal plate) and they give me total flexibility over each set of outputs. High- and low-pass selectable, continuously variable filters with adjustable slope, multiple channel configuration, input sensitivity, subsonic filter, etc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Listening, evaluating, and making these kinds of adjustments is nothing but fun for me. It's like tuning a fine musical instrument.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/6523.136HD9005_2D00_o_5F00_adjusting_5F00_XCI.jpg"></a><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/8637.136HD9005_2D00_o_5F00_adjusting_5F00_XCI.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just after I made all the adjustments. Flip the seat down, turn on the stereo, and it's ready to pump:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/5344.SokoAmp_2B00_sub_2D00_installed_2D00_8_5F00_XCI.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b>Choosing a bass speaker<br /></b></span><span>With respect to the subwoofer, I considered a few options. I gave very serious thought to replacing my front, between-seat console with a <a target="_blank" title="JL Audio Stealth Box" href="http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_13694092/JL-Audio-Stealthbox-1999-2002-Medium-oak.html?search=JL+Audio+Stealth+Box&ssi=0"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">JL Audio Stealth Box,</span></span> </a>but ultimately decided against the idea as I would have lost my rear A/C ducts and front seat cup holders. The cup holders could have been remade with fiberglass, but sacrificing rear seat climate control was too steep a price to pay for low-frequency high fidelity. If this vehicle wasn't also the family road car, I would have done it in a heartbeat. A Stealthbox would have been a true hi-fi solution, as they're designed specifically for a vehicle's physical and acoustical environment, utilizing a high-end 10" W3v2 subwoofer in a super high-quality, handcrafted enclosure (which would be located in the listening area of the vehicle's cab).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>So, what could be our great-sounding alternative? Matt and I explored the driver's side rear quarter panel factory subwoofer location to see if a stealthy replacement could be managed. We could have installed an entry-level 8" sub of some kind, but the results would have been less than ideal: moderately deep bass physically separated from our listening area. We decided to go with a high-quality loaded sub enclosure and position it right behind the rear seats. When I have passengers in the back, the woofer fires into the seat back; when I don't, I pull the seat back down and enjoy unobstructed low end. It takes time to gradually break in a new woofer, and this one sings a little sweeter with every passing day. I love it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>So, here again, we really are going top of the line with a JL Audio ProWedge: solid-as-a-rock cabinet construction loaded with the best subwoofer they make. From symphony music to slamming electronic beats, this woofer fills my enormous vehicle with bass energy -- and barely breaks a sweat doing it. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><br /><b>Note: </b>while the picture below looks nice, it's not set up optimally. For safety, the enclosure should be secured to the floo</span><span></span><span>r. I've also discovered that if I position it in the middle of the left-hand seat back and turn it around to fire <i>into</i> the seat, the response tightens up considerably. And if no one's occupying the spot, the seat back can be folded down for greater clarity:</span></p> <p><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/listening_5F00_lab/7635.136S110R7_5F00_InSokosYukon_5F00_XCI.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next up: applying more Dynamat to previously untouched surfaces and Alpine IMPRINT [TM} signal processing. Stay tuned.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>[Once again, </span>installation photos were taken with Canon's versatile and fun <a href="http://www.crutchfield.com/p_280XSI55IB/Canon-EOS-Digital-Rebel-XSi-Kit-Black.html?search=Canon+VENDORID280&searchdisplay=Canon&tp=263">EOS Digital Rebel XSi SLR camera</a>]</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>The Canon EOS 7D: First Impressions</h1> <p>Elijah — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:39:00 GMT</p> Wow! That was my reaction after checking out the new Canon EOS 7D . At a recent Canon product training session I had an opportunity to get my hands on a 7D. I had been patiently waiting this day for quite some time after hearing about this new DSLR, and I was not disappointed. The first thing that caught my eye was the new layout of the camera's menu buttons. I've used Canon products for a couple of years now, and have always been a fan of their menu design. But this new menu layout goes...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/11/03/canon-eos-7d-reviewed.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Ugrading to the Logitech Harmony 900 remote control</h1> <p>Harley — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:45:00 GMT</p> The Logitech® Harmony® One has been reborn as the Harmony® 900 . This new remote features the same great ergonomics and features of the highly rated Harmony One, and adds RF compatibility. I already own a Harmony One and a Harmony 1000 , so I was glad to have an opportunity to try out the Harmony 900. Simple online setup As with any Harmony remote, setup was extremely easy. I just plugged the remote into my computer’s USB port using the remote’s transfer cable. I then went...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/10/29/harmony-900.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Out-of-place Beauty</h1> <p>Amanda — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:03:00 GMT</p> <p><a target="_self" title="Ugly beauty radio" href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/Amanda/Uglybeautylarge.jpg"></a>Our fifth photo topic was somewhat hard to define, so it went by a few names -- "Ugly Beauty," "Out-of-place Beauty," "Urban Decay." Basically, the idea was to find objects without traditional visual appeal, and find a way to photograph them that makes them beautiful. (click on the image at left to enlarge)</p> <p>You can check out the rest of our shots in the <a href="http://crutchphoto.shutterfly.com/103">Crutchfield Photo Club "Out-of-place Beauty" album on Shutterfly</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>The vinyl records comeback from the musicians' POV</h1> <p>Ralph — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:17:00 GMT</p> About this time last year, Jim R. posted his thoughts on why vinyl records appeared to be making a comeback . Jim outlined what he thought were three reasons for the return: The sound of vinyl The ritual of listening to a record Vinyl as artistic expression A recent article by Matt Debenedictis for Noise Creep may add some additional insight -- Vinyl in the Digital Age: Straight From the Horse's Mouth, Talking to Bands puts the question straight to a number of up-and-coming and mainstay indie...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/10/15/the-vinyl-records-comeback-from-the-musicians-pov.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Crutchfield Signature -- It's About the Experience</h1> <p>Ralph — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:31:00 GMT</p> Have you visited Crutchfield Signature yet? The tagline says "it's all about the experience." And that's just what we mean. The site features the best products we carry. And it provides more detailed — and reader-friendly — information, along with some enhanced services for those products. (And if you're familiar with Crutchfield's everyday standards of customer service, you'll know that's really saying something.) Signature offers free expedited shipping...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/10/07/crutchfield-signature-it-s-about-the-experience.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Video: Samsung TL220 & TL225 Digital Cameras</h1> <p>Crutchfield Video — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:46:00 GMT</p> (Please visit the site to view this media) When Samsung loaned us two TL225 digital cameras to try out, we knew just what to do. We rounded up some Crutchfield employees, headed to a local eatery, and let them have some fun. The Samsung TL225 and TL220 cameras are designed for easy use, and their front LCD screens let you frame self-portraits and group shots easily. We took a lot of pictures with the two cameras, and shot a fair amount of video with them, too. You'll see a goodly portion of it...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/10/05/video-samsung-tl220-amp-tl225-digital-cameras.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Reflections</h1> <p>Travis P — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:07:00 GMT</p> <p><a href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/Travis/Reflections.jpg" title="Shadows Photo" target="_self"></a>The fourth topic in the photo club was “Reflection.” The idea was to have the subject in a mirror image on a shiny object, or where the main subject would be reflecting a pattern or a background. In the photo at left, the focus is on a spoon that is reflecting a ceiling fan above it (click on image to enlarge).</p> <p>Look for plenty more really fun and inventive shots in the <a href="http://crutchphoto.shutterfly.com/82" title="Crutchfield Photo Club" target="_blank">Crutchfield Photo Club "Reflection" album on Shutterfly</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Shadows</h1> <p>Christopher — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:22:00 GMT</p> <p>Our third photo topic was "Shadows." The focus of this assignment was to think of the negative space and/or "shadow" as the main subject. Below is an example of a shot that not only uses the shadow as the subject, but also uses the negative space to help frame an object.</p> <p><a target="_self" title="Shadows Photo" href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/CWelte/Handsflying(2).jpg"></a></p> <p>Look for plenty more really fun and inventive shots in the <a target="_blank" title="Crutchfield Photo Club" href="http://crutchphoto.shutterfly.com/57">Crutchfield Photo Club "Shadows" album on Shutterfly</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Video: factory vs. aftermarket speakers</h1> <p>MLS — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:37:00 GMT</p> <p>OK, so we finally got the video formatting worked out. It's very informal; Matt sat in the back seat with the Canon XSi camera capturing our back-to-front-and-back-again fading demo by moving the camera's built-in microphone forward and backward along with the fades. We're listening for sonic improvements (detail, tone quality, dimensionality) when we fade to the JL Audio components up front from the stock GM speakers in the back. Check it out and see if you can hear the difference.</p> <p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p> <p> </p> <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Sony KDL-40XBR7: High Re-definition</h1> <p>Dave H — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:40:00 GMT</p> Generally speaking, there are two types of electronics enthusiasts — audiophiles and videophiles. I've always defined myself as an audiophile, but that may be changing now. I listen to music all the time, but I watch much less TV and fewer movies than most of my friends. In fact, I had planned to keep the 27" tube TV I bought in 1996 until it died. I might have made it that long, but now that I make the special offers show up on our website, I couldn't miss the deal we have going...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/09/11/sony-kdl-40xbr7-high-re-definition.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>A review of the Logitech Harmony 700</h1> <p>Kristen S — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:41:00 GMT</p> My fiancé and I have been using the Logitech® Harmony® 550 universal remote in our home for a little over a year now. And while it's performed exactly how we've needed it to, I was thrilled to exchange it out this past weekend for the new Harmony 700 . The Harmony 700 is Logitech's improved version of their 670 remote, and thus a vastly improved version of our old 550. It's amazing how much of a difference there was between the 500 and the 700 (see the photo at right...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/09/02/a-review-of-the-new-harmony-700.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Things That Fly</h1> <p>Julie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:19:00 GMT</p> <p>Our second photo topic was "Things That Fly." We weren't picky -- the photos didn't have to show things that were supposed to fly, or things that were actually flying. (Below is one example of a photo shot for this topic which contains neither things that are supposed to fly nor things that are actually, technically flying.)</p> <p><a target="_self" title="Hands Flying Photo" href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/julie/Handsflying(2).jpg"></a></p> <p>Look for plenty more really fun and inventive shots in the <a target="_blank" title="Crutchfield Photo Club" href="http://crutchphoto.shutterfly.com/25">Crutchfield Photo Club "Things That Fly" album on Shutterfly</a>.</p> <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>PS Audio Duet Power Center</h1> <p>Harley — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:11:00 GMT</p> I recently had the opportunity to try out the PS Audio Duet Power Center for a couple of days with my home systems. Power conditioning with the living room home theater system My primary TV is a Panasonic 50” TH-50PZ800U 1080p plasma HDTV plugged into a Panamax M8-HT power line conditioner and surge protector . I usually keep the TV set in the THX mode for the most accurate picture reproduction, but even so, the image can be a touch on the dark side when it comes to white levels. I plugged...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/staff_reviews/archive/2009/08/27/ps-audio-duet.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>My Essential Touch-up Toolbox: Photo Filters</h1> <p>Julie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:22:00 GMT</p> <p>I've always felt that my Nikon SLR's primary drawback had to do with <a target="_blank" title="Crutchfield Glossary: White Balance" href="http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/home/digitalcameras_glossary.html#white_balance">white balance</a>. I just don't think the camera is that good at setting white balance automatically. It imposes blue tones outdoors, and orange tones indoors. While I realize that outdoor light does tend toward blueness, and incandescent indoor lighting does tend toward warm yellows and oranges, the result I see in my photos is just too extreme. And even when I do set the camera's White Balance controls to a more specific setting -- Sunlight, or Cloudy, or Incandescent -- the results are inconsistent. </p> <p>So that's when I turn to Photoshop's Photo Filters. </p> <p>Before I apply any filters, I try to make sure my exposure is exactly where I want it. (If I need to tweak it, I can use the "Levels" control.) Then, I go ahead and select <b>Image > Adjustments > Photo Filter</b>. (You'd think the Photo Filters would live in the Filters menu, but nope!) </p> <p></p> <p>I can preview the effects of the different warming and cooling filters, and also adjust their intensity by adjusting the Density slider.</p> <p></p> <p>That's what I did with this photo. (Yep, the toothy toddler is back!) Although this shot wasn't incredibly blue, it turned out more blue-looking than had been the case when I was shooting. I wanted to add just a touch of warmth back in, to better convey the sunniness of the moment.</p> <p><a target="_self" title="Baby on deck" href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/julie/Babydeck.jpg"></a></p> <p>I ended up applying Warming Filter 81 with the default Density setting of 25%. That warming filter is a bit less intense than some other ones, with a hair more green to it. It gave me the most accurate result.</p> <p><a target="_self" title="Baby on deck filtered" href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/julie/Babydeckfilter.jpg"></a></p> <p>This example was pretty minor, but it should give you the idea of how easy it is to make small-but-important changes with the photo filters. I'm finding them pretty helpful!</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Single stereo-input dash speaker for vintage car owners</h1> <p>Charlie — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:48:00 GMT</p> If you've ever tried to install a modern car stereo in a pre-1960s vintage automobile, you've probably run across the problem of getting stereo sound in a vehicle with only one center dash speaker. When I owned a '56 Studebaker Hawk, I faced two not-so-great choices: modify the car by installing speakers in the doors or keep the car stock by putting clunky speaker boxes on the back deck. We just got in a new product that gives vintage car owners a much better option. A speaker for your...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/08/21/single-dash-speaker-for-vintage-car-owners.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>My Essential Touch-Up Toolbox: Healing</h1> <p>Julie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:20:00 GMT</p> <p>As I've said before, <a target="_blank" title="Photoshop Help for Photos, Part 1" href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/thumbnail/archive/2008/12/19/photoshop-help-for-photos-part-1.aspx">I am a Photoshop novice</a>. (I work surrounded by skilled designers who would no doubt agree, as they spend their day doing crazy smart things with layers and Photoshop plug-ins.)</p> <p>But I mainly use Photoshop to touch up digital photos. And as a result, there is only a handful of features I tend to use over and over again. So I'm going to cover the ones I can't do without. </p> <p>Let's start with the Spot Healing Brush.</p> <p></p> <p>The Healing Brush in its most basic form lets you select an area of the picture to correct. I like to use it for lines or streaks that need remedying.</p> <p>But what I use even more is the Spot Healing Brush. That's because I take a lot of pictures of kids. And photographs of kids tend to expose things you just didn't notice when you were taking the picture, like a flake of oatmeal dangling from an earlobe, or a cookie crumb juuust inside the right nostril. These inevitably show up only on your very favorite shot, and you only spot them hours after shooting. </p> <p>Bring out the Spot Healing Brush! Like the regular Healing Brush, it's designed to intelligently compare surrounding pixels with the selected area, and fill in what it thinks should be there. But it's specially designed to handle things that occur as small spots.</p> <p>Here's an example of an upside-down toddler with a lingering breakfast crumb on her cheek, circled in red.</p> <p><a target="_self" title="Crumb" href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/julie/DSC_0060.jpg"></a></p> <p>I went ahead and made the Spot Healing Brush large enough for the crumb and a respectable border of skin around it. I hovered over the crumb, clicked once, and voila!</p> <p><a title="Crumb fixed" target="_self" href="http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/community/blog/julie/DSC_0060fix.jpg"></a></p> <p>Generally it works pretty well. Sometimes, if the spot or blemish you're working on is really close to another mark or shadow, the Spot Healing tool will try to incorporate that mark into the change. I usually cope with that by making my brush size as small as possible while still able to handle the size of the mark I'm trying to remove.</p> <p>I'd love suggestions on other tools that are either a mystery to you, or that you depend on heavily.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Way cool interactive frequency chart</h1> <p>Jim R — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:14:00 GMT</p> While doing some research, I stumbled across something remarkable that I just have to share. It's an interactive frequency chart published by the Independent Recording Network. What's it good for? Anyone who's looking to educate their ears will find it fascinating, and it should be of special interest to tweakers who are planning to equalize a car audio system or mix an audio recording. For example, as you mouse over the diagram, you'll learn that too much of a boost between 500 Hz...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/08/17/way-cool-interactive-frequency-chart.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Introducing the Crutchfield Photo Club</h1> <p>ZakB — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:01:00 GMT</p> <p>Crutchfield is full of enthusiasts — audiophiles, gamers, car audio lovers, you name it — and it has become apparent that a solid population of photographers exists here as well. So we decided to form a club that could share photos, talk about photography, and bounce ideas around. Here's what we do:<br /><br />On a rotating basis, members choose a topic. We then shoot that topic for 2-3 weeks. Each member submits up to three or four images shot during that timespan, which we collect on our Shutterfly site. Then we have a lunchtime meeting, and take over a conference room so we can bring up the slideshow and talk about what we did, how we did it, what gear we used, etc.</p> <p><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/photoclub/7651.spiderweb.jpg"><br /></a><b>Here's a photo taken with a Canon 40D, because you just can't post to this blog without including a photo.</b><a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/photoclub/7651.spiderweb.jpg"><br /></a></p> <p>One thing that we stress is that this is a photography club, not a camera club. We have members who shoot with DSLRs, point-and-shoots, even film cameras. What matters most to us are the pictures we take, no matter how we choose to take them.</p> <p>We'll post the results of each project as we complete it, as well as announce our next assignment. Our first project was "Patterns." More about that in our next post.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Searching for SACDs</h1> <p>Ralph — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:02:00 GMT</p> "So what's the deal with SACDs?" a friend asked recently. "I'm looking for a new disc player, but I never see SACDs in the stores. Should I even bother getting an SACD player?" He had a lot of questions, and I answered them as best I could. I told him that the SACD format is still around and doing well. They aren't well-stocked at retail, but they're certainly available online. And in my friend's case, since he had a high-end surround sound system, I thought...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/08/12/searching-for-sacds.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Big bass in a small-car world</h1> <p>Charlie — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:52:00 GMT</p> Gas mileage is a big issue with an ever-increasing number of people. Most recently, the "Cash for Clunkers" program has resulted in a lot of people driving more compact vehicles. A smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle is great news for your wallet, but it can really create problems if you like maximum bass in your car. And, fuel efficiency aside, there are some vehicles (Jeep Wrangler, for example) that make it tough for the bass enthusiast just by virtue of their design. So, how do you...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/08/10/big-bass-in-a-small-car-world.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>The point of point-and-shoot cameras</h1> <p>Ralph — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:02:00 GMT</p> Kathy, our customer support manager shared these pictures with us the other day, and with her permission, I'm sharing them with you. These pictures are her son at the beach. Last year, he was afraid of the water. Not now! You can see his new-found exuberance as he plays in the crashing surf (click on the images to enlarge). When Kathy was in the market for a new camera, she had a pretty good idea of what she was after. She wanted to take pictures of her children, but didn't especially want...(<a href="http://community.crutchfield.com/blogs/av_tips/archive/2009/08/07/the-point-of-point-and-shoot-cameras.aspx">read more</a>) </article> </main></body></html>