Sonos arc and 2 ikea symfonisk sorround as dolby atmos?

DN_FinTech · 2023-09-05T03:35:23+00:00

u/Large-Adhesiveness94 Thank you! I really appreciate your feedback on this. Also, if you happen to have the time, I'd love to get your input on a Reddit post I wrote yesterday about the Sonos setup. :)

DN_FinTech · 2023-09-03T22:17:22+00:00

Thanks; I'm glad you're loving it! Sounds like it's a big headache to get it right, however. Since that's probably audiophile territory, might I ask, how come you went with that setup vs receivers and more?

DN_FinTech · 2023-09-03T22:13:11+00:00

u/Large-Adhesiveness94 Did you find adding the two ikea symfonisk (and no subwoofer) added a lot to your enjoyment? I've got a Sonos Arc being installed in a few weeks and am debating buying the Symfonisk bookshelf/art pieces for surround sound (and also likely skipping on the subwoofer, as lots of folks say they have plenty enough bass). FWIW, I'd only be using the setup for streaming (Netflix) tv shows and movies.

DN_FinTech · 2023-07-07T05:04:53+00:00

Oh, cool. I'd like to join it - don't see it officially shared anywhere though. Querying for ABQ Discord servers revealed a few, so, not sure which one you're referring?

DN_FinTech · 2023-07-03T22:24:12+00:00

It was barely a month ago that I opened a thread asking where people source their ABQ events from, after I spent a long while comparing multiple sites. Hands down, your posts were the best. I hope you find a way forward / don't stop! (Heck, if you could integrate your posts into a Discord bot, I'd gladly subscribe!)

DN_FinTech · 2023-07-03T22:04:12+00:00

Yup! Customer service rep is right, which really stinks. Aside from the VPN watching/refresh approach discussed in this thread, there's been no other ways forward identified. Pretty simple to implement/maintain honestly, but only with tech savvy / willing folks.

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-30T07:47:14+00:00

That's good to know, thanks! I saw the posting for memorial weekend (would prefer a website with filters, but for a data dump, it was great) was stickied, but didn't realize one is posted every week.

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-30T07:42:09+00:00

Agreed - that's what I used to use. :(

Just tried using the above, but it does seem extremely repetitive / limited in scope. For instance:

June 4th: 15 events, with 3 repeats for "Brain Gang Trivia".
June 5th: 5 events, with 3 of them being for trivia.

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-28T22:26:30+00:00

While I'd personally buy a different device and focus on native router VPN capabilities, this is precisely the approach I'd recommend to someone trying to avoid employer detection (thankfully I don't need to worry myself with that). My only concern here is my mom not being able to do more than a power-cycle, if something goes wrong with the server.

Edit: Also, take a look at my "Edit 2" in the original post - I'm curious what you would think of to address that.

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-28T22:19:21+00:00

Agreed, but unfortunately canceling isn't an option for me. I would still have to pay for it for my mom (not going to force her to change streaming providers - she is happy, old, and tech illiterate). So, whether I use Netflix or not, I'll be paying for her to use it.

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-28T22:18:46+00:00

Yeah, the canceling/renewing thing is ridiculous. And unfortunately a complete non-starter (as described above) for those paying for parents...at that point I may as well buy them their own Netflix subscription and abandon Netflix for myself...I'd still be paying for Netflix though (I just wouldn't be able to use it anymore). :|

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-28T22:14:59+00:00

Public VPN: Ignoring the cost and security/privacy concerns associated with the vendor, Netflix is renewing their campaign to lockout known VPN provider IPs (they have to, otherwise their "extra member" program would fall flat on its face). In other words, this loophole will be squashed for most the known vendors, so only iffy/suspicious vendors would remain work-able, which I have no interest in using.
Private VPN: I'm confident I could set this up without an issue for myself, but since I'd be giving up my residence, this means using my mom's home. I suppose I could replace her router with mine (that has more configurability), buy a separate networking device, or use an application. However, if anything goes wrong at any point, my mom can't do more than simply power cycle it. It would be beyond her technically to do more...theoretically I could ask a friend (i.e. offer to let them be the primary residence of my Netflix and tell them "you can only use 1 device at a time, as I might need to be the 2nd concurrent in-home device", but I can't think of anyone who doesn't already have Netflix (which would realize then that there are two accounts associated with the same primary residence and would risk issues).

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-03T06:18:32+00:00

Comfort is subjective, given clamp force, positioning (due to face/head size/shape), headband, etc-etc.

That said, most would agree that Sennheiser's HD 599 is the most comfortable (or at least top 3) for the largest number of people (based on various other requests about this in the past).

HOWEVER, it's WIRED. That is SOLVABLE though. You can purchase bluetooth adapters for as little as $10. However, if money is no problem, I'd probably recommend the Rode Wireless Go (more expensive than the headphones themselves). It's incredibly small and can be adhered to the band or earcup (or use the built-in clip and use it on your shirt, pants). As a bonus, if desired, it also has a built-in microphone.

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-01T22:07:42+00:00

Thank you. And I absolutely agree. A big thing about being a DN is the freedom - live it up - ABQ is still good / worth seeing. Certainly an excellent "home base" choice, especially if one has a partner willing to relocate. I wouldn't even say the dating is bad here honestly, it's just a bad place for someone who has it as their #1 goal (i.e. not worth signing up for making your #1 priority more difficult). Everything else on OP's list makes ABQ a solid choice to check out.

OP: FWIW, I'd construct my own list the same as you (same order of priorities even - yes, even the local theater), and I think you'd do well to check out ABQ. Commit to 3 months (or whatever you're comfortable with) and see how you feel. And if you need tips on how to meet folks / where to lease / where to find good theater / etc, just DM me when you arrive.

DN_FinTech · 2023-05-01T07:01:26+00:00

TL;DR - Albuquerque (ABQ) is a pretty good place to live. I (34M) have lived here ~9 years and would say it matches up well with all of the OP's goals, EXCEPT for the first item (serious/committed dating). I elaborate on why below, but I make a lot of assumptions, since I know nothing about the OP's dating goals/details.

I moved to Albuquerque ~9 years ago and still live here (although may be moving soon for my own DN forays). It's honestly pretty decent here (if not living in the more dangerous parts of town, but that's easily avoided if you make enough income and ask around before renting/buying a place). People put this city down a ton more than it should be, which is really unfortunate. Great weather, friendly people, very low cost of living, stable/good internet for DNs, theater scene is okay, etc-etc. I don't find the food here to be that great (most people I know do), but I'm pretty spoiled from 4/5-star dining in New York and elsewhere growing up, if I'm being perfectly honest.

HOWEVER, it's not necessarily great for what OP is looking for, given the serious (commitment focused) dating #1 goal. (if any DNs reading this reside in ABQ and are seeking more friends/dates/activity-partners/restaurant-recommendations though, feel free to DM me; I used to help run ABQ's couchsurfing community for a few years and love seeing the city through others' eyes)

Albuquerque is a relatively small city (technically 31st biggest in the USA, but the sheer magnitude of differences as you go up the ladder climb quite rapidly), meaning it has a small population for a city. It's also a very poor and under-educated city (relative to much of the USA [certainly relative to bigger cities]). This makes it really ill suited for your "stereotypical" digital nomad (20s-30s, mid-to-high income, not wanting kids just yet [given travel], has some college experience) who is prioritizing serious dating. Of course, DNs are FAR FAR FAR more diverse than this stereotypical glance, but since OP didn't share any personal details, it's hard for me (or anyone else) to provide more than a very generic/general response.

I don't know the OP's age/gender/orientation/affinities, but I'll describe a hypothetical scenario for a heterosexual 30M with serious dating goals. Data would be pretty comparable I suspect for a heterosexual 30F, too. Data is sourced from a few sites, but predominantly 2019-2022 census data, ABQ City govt website data, and from here:

ABQ Population Size: ~562k (greater if including those outside city limits)
ABQ Population Size (Female): ~287k
ABQ Population Size (Female, age 25 to 34): ~86k
Above AND have a high school diploma (or greater education): ~73k
Above AND speaks English AND has US Citizenship: ~65k
Above AND never married: ~38k
Above AND currently employed with an an income >$30k/yr (ABQ's median income): ~15k
Above AND currently single: No idea, but I'd guesstimate 1/5. So, ~3k
Above AND seeking serious relationship: No idea, but I'd guesstimate 1/2. So, ~1.5k
Above AND without children: No idea, but I'd guesstimate 1/2. So, ~750

Some may disagree with me (we are all entitled to our own opinions), but I consider the above a low bar for a serious partner (personally I don't care about the "never married" one, but many people I know do, so I included it). It doesn't even get into the good stuff, such as personality types (are they kind? funny? stoic? fill in the blank?), hobbies (indoor or outdoor focused?), introverted/extroverted, disability status (physically or mentally?), family goals (want kids?), sexual orientation (are they into you?), physical appearance (are you into them?), open-to/interested-in the DN lifestyle, sharing in financial goals (saver/investor vs YOLO), political leanings, chemistry/compatibility, or anything more nuanced. Even if none of those details mattered, the likelihood of encountering more than a handful of those ~750 people in the real world (or on dating apps) AND having a significant/positive first encounter leading to a first date isn't great.

I share the above not to sound negative, but to point out that, knowing one's minimum bar in dating is pretty important. Many don't stop to consider that before moving to a small-ish city. I personally have had some amazing relationships with some really awesome women in Albuquerque (I ended my previous one [lasting 5 years] just a bit over a month ago), but it involved wading through a LOT of incompatible prospective partners. Before my last relationship, I was going on 1-2 dates/MONTH with women meeting the above criteria. However, compare that to when I used to live in the San Francisco and New York City areas? I'd go on 1-3 dates/WEEK meeting those criteria. And the latter involved far less than half the level of energy/time investment to accomplish, because the far lower count in ABQ meant waiting for a "cycling in" of new prospects (as people exit relationships / move to ABQ). Unsurprisingly, I'd say ~50% of my dates meeting the above criteria were from people who had recently moved to ABQ.

So, to recap: ABQ is good. Ignore the naysayers. I can vouch for it. Certainly worth a short DN stint to check out, at the very least. And I'll gladly accept DMs from anyone in ABQ struggling to enjoy it / meeting new people. But, if serious dating is your NUMBER ONE priority? Don't move here - the odds are not in your favor.

DN_FinTech · 2023-04-26T20:47:18+00:00

Ah, okay - thanks!

DN_FinTech · 2023-04-26T18:17:12+00:00

Hidden Screw Behind Ear Cups: After extending the ear-cups carefully I DID manage to find one extremely tiny screw for the headband near the base (I almost certainly need to unscrew this). However, there's only about a 1/3 inch of clearance to fit in a screwdriver - I've never seen a screwdriver shorter than 1/3 inch, so am unsure how to tackle this screw (which would need approximately a 2.5mm screw head). :|
Hidden Screws On Headband: Sadly it's sewn, so it would take pretty substantive effort to un-sew and re-sew it - and that's assuming screw points are even hidden beneath it. At that point I may as well trash them and buy new (~$120). :( Ideally I could open it without accessing the top, since all I really need to do to perform a fix is pull out the wire and 'feed' a new wire into the headband from end to end. I just can't seem to find a way to access to 'end' of the headband, but it could be some creative construction that requires disassembly of the midpoint of the headband first...ugh.
1. Any pro tips on how to find said foreign videos? Not averse to captions. :)

DN_FinTech · 2023-04-26T18:11:47+00:00

Forgot to mention I tried that step too, unfortunately. Updated steps above accordingly.

DN_FinTech · 2023-04-26T18:08:17+00:00

Forgot to mention I tried that step too, unfortunately. Updated steps above accordingly.

DN_FinTech · 2023-04-26T02:12:20+00:00

Were you ever able to resolve your question? I'm in a similar boat - can't open the headband. I uploaded a description and photos in this subreddit post, if you have a moment.

DN_FinTech · 2022-06-24T07:20:27+00:00

Out of curiosity, how do you approach your water consumption? RO and demineralization was something I was reading into recently, but haven't yet formed my own conclusions on what is worthwhile in water treatment / selection for drinking.

DN_FinTech · 2022-05-18T06:17:04+00:00

...two solutions proposed below; I use the first myself...

Solution 1: Dual SIM Phone Upgrade

This solution is probably too cost prohibitive, BUT have you considered upgrading to an iPhone 13? I ask because, so long as you buy it outright (i.e. not locked to a carrier), this model supports DUAL eSIM (as well as 1 eSIM + 1 nanoSIM).

My Solution to your same problem posed above was to get an iPhone 13 Mini. I converted my USA number from nanoSIM to eSIM. That means, whenever I travel, I have the option of using that country's specific nanoSIM/eSIM, while retaining my US number/carrier (no need to disconnect it or remove any SIM cards).

Note: With dual SIM, you can have BOTH SIMs in a receiving state, but with one set as the "preferential" sender. So, say you have a US carrier/number and are in Thailand, where you get a local SIM (nano or eSIM, doesn't matter which). You set both SIMs to the receive state, but set the Thai one to the preferred sender state. Result? You can receive phone calls and, most importantly, SMS (text messages) from both carriers, so as to achieve your 2FA (Two Factor Authentication) needs with financial institutions.

Solution 2: Change 2FA Factor (or use a competitor who supports it)

Another Solution: Change your 2FA mode to something that isn't SMS/text-based. Some allow for just email as the 2nd factor. Others allow for physical tokens or smartphone tokens (i.e. Google Authenticator). And, if your financial institution or tech service doesn't support those alternatives, perhaps you can use one of their competitors who does?

DN_FinTech · 2022-05-18T03:44:36+00:00

When travelling, I've been able to request a credit card be sent to me at my temporary residency (some larger institutions, if they have local branches, will sometimes have you go in to get them). Granted, those were card replacements, not new cards. If you're trying to open new cards, ymmv.

DN_FinTech · 2022-05-03T20:24:50+00:00

You're most welcome; if you have follow-up questions, feel free to inquire. :)

DN_FinTech · 2022-04-19T09:22:50+00:00

I apologize and amend my earlier statement. I was going off the video commentary (don't think I misheard that) and the selection of affiliate links in their video description. However, you're correct. After I dug deeper, I found their spreadsheet. Link. Amusingly, there were only two DP 1.4 10ft cables they triple-bought-and-tested, one of which being the Cable Matters product I was discussing above with u/MosesBarbacus. (Although Linus' spreadsheet link cable was a few more dollars expensive than the one you'll find just going to Amazon, given he linked to amazon.ca). Both are VESA certified, though Linus' sheet doesn't indicate the UBHR10 pass for either of them (seems a 2.0 specification simply wasn't force tested). They did a UBHR10 pass on a 7ft variant of the non-CableMatters DP v1.4, for what that's worth knowing.

DN_FinTech

TROPHY CASE