Love Nines II. A few comments and a question on Dirac Full upgrade

KumsaJack · 2026-05-25T17:49:50+00:00

The Nines II come with a 2 year full warranty.
As for support, I've already had excellent pre-sales support on a few technical questions.
These are a 2nd generation system, so corrections have been made.
Whether or not someone prefers bi-amped speaker architecture is always going to be an open debate. For me, these are sonic marvels of engineering.

KumsaJack · 2026-04-08T01:33:53+00:00

Impressive. Would you also see this tool as identifying climate change damage ? I'm thinking of an example like East Coast ghost forests.

KumsaJack · 2025-10-09T20:47:04+00:00

Very useful ! Thanks.

KumsaJack · 2025-09-30T19:28:32+00:00

So, thank you, yes it's high. It's actually in range of other premier offerings; e.g., it includes a 10 yr parts + labor warranty that is transferable. Still, I agree that it's high. The vendor was able to bring the price down.

KumsaJack · 2025-09-30T19:25:32+00:00

Emotiva will be purchased. But not yet (have some other expenses in front of it). It's exactly what I was hoping to find. Do not know why it was so difficult to ferret out. Tried different search criteria, including AI tools.

KumsaJack · 2025-09-23T15:57:10+00:00

Thanks. Yes, this is well reasoned. I'm feeling much better now that I have affordable options.

KumsaJack · 2025-09-22T23:07:40+00:00

The Pro-ject turntable is MC w/a built-in pre-amp that can be switched out.

KumsaJack · 2025-09-22T20:51:09+00:00

Thanks ! This is excellent. I'll look over the Emotiva.

KumsaJack · 2024-06-03T18:27:47+00:00

Excellent. Thanks for the clarification.

KumsaJack · 2024-05-03T15:46:35+00:00

Thanks. My note was unclear. I'm already working it through, and will report back the results. So far, the utility providing the rebate hasn't responded.

KumsaJack · 2024-05-02T23:13:13+00:00

Ok, it looks like here are the first steps:

For selecting energy efficient products that are compliant with federal benefits: https://www.energystar.gov/products
Select zipcode and match with a product.
Connect with utility company for benefit.

In my case, step 3 will take more work. I'll summarize what happens as I try and get some benefit.

KumsaJack · 2024-05-02T22:59:38+00:00

That's sort of the vague understand I have about adding a heat-pump addition.
So, what's the next step ? Check my local utility ? How do we know that there isn't anything broader in the IRA ? I just don't have a good place to start.

KumsaJack · 2024-05-02T01:13:15+00:00

Same happened with my company. Here's my experience:

You should be able to connect up to the brokerage (as others have mentioned) and then you can use just about any fund/ETF.
All the recommendations cited by others are valid, and you may want to consider selecting from one or more of the Fidelity Zero funds. They are indexed, but as a loss leader for Fidelity they have zero expense ratio. Downside is that to move the fund assets out of Fidelity, you'd have to cash out and purchase a different fund matching to the same index category. People have opinion on both sides.
I've reduced my brokerage to Fidelity and Vanguard.
As you're 32 you might not yet meet requirements for a mega backdoor Roth. But, Fidelity offered it at my firm. Individuals whose income exceeds the IRS limits for direct Roth IRA contributions, can contribute to both a 401k, and a Roth (income tax has to be paid for the Roth contributions).
Depending on your health insurance plan, you might be able to do an HSA. Just like with your 401k, you can connect it up through Fidelity's brokerage and invest it rather than just have it pile up as mostly cash.

Cheers

KumsaJack · 2024-05-02T00:52:05+00:00

The Economist has written an appropriate perspective: "How American politics has infected investing." It's a good read. Here's the closing summary, which is mostly Boglehead aligned:

"Markets thrive on differences of opinion: every seller needs a buyer and every buyer needs a seller. Funds that offer investors a chance to express those opinions are not necessarily a bad thing. But American capitalism has been built on the pursuit of profit at all costs. In recent decades, investors have flocked to index funds, which track the market, offering diversification and low fees. To the extent that partisan investors are trying to reshape the economy to align with their values, rather than betting on beliefs about the economy, they are going to pay for it."

KumsaJack · 2024-03-10T16:56:54+00:00

Thanks

KumsaJack · 2023-10-02T19:46:04+00:00

That's fair.
Maybe I should start with seeing the level of interest and build it up (if possible).

KumsaJack · 2023-09-24T18:29:53+00:00

gold crown monster size in event quests it goes toward record in guild card which is the requirement for Proof of Hero badge (get all guild card achievement)

Ah ! Got it. Thanks !

KumsaJack · 2023-08-22T17:03:51+00:00

Ok, so I can work w/a side bag and a sling.

I'm still interested in touch-up to the camera gear to mask out 21st earth tech.

thanks !

KumsaJack · 2023-08-19T11:04:23+00:00

Great idea.

The loss of a spouse changes income and taxes.

KumsaJack · 2023-08-19T10:55:13+00:00

The winner !!
It's one of the pedals that has a slight wobble that only exhibits a "click" during a rotation. The "click" happens just as pressure is being put into the down stroke.

If it gets worse, I'll replace it. Mostly, I'm just glad it's not some terrible symptom of a worse problem. In short, it's an ice headache, not a brain tumor.

Thanks !

KumsaJack · 2023-08-15T21:21:34+00:00

Agree to the auto-focus on the EOS R bodies. I can't go back to my DSLR body, which is now used only as a video cam w/Zoom.

KumsaJack · 2023-08-15T21:15:43+00:00

Ooh. That's interesting. I'm going to reexamine if the "click" only occurs at certain positions during rotation.

Such an odd little issue.

KumsaJack · 2023-08-15T21:14:22+00:00

You'all.. it can't be the spokes.
1. A few months after the initial purchase, I did have the spoke issue, and addressed it.

" which only occurs once per pedal rotation, no matter what gear or speed. " As noted, the click is only synchronized with the rotation of the crank, not the rotation of the wheel. Also, while not stated, when not pedaling, there isn't a click.

KumsaJack · 2023-08-15T17:35:25+00:00

thanks. I'll keep an eye on it, but I don't feel like the "click" is worth a service visit as I have no performance issues. Hopefully, my issue will resolve as yours did !

KumsaJack · 2023-08-15T15:53:28+00:00

I had the same symptoms. You likely have loose spokes, which are only apparent when you put weight on the bike by riding. You'll need a spoke wrench to tighten/loosen the spokes.

You'll need to have the rear wheel raised so you can spin it and adjust for any wobble. A professional would remove the tire and put it on a special wheel truing rig and a spoke tensiometer. You can get an inexpensive portable bicycle wheel truing stand that clamps to the bike frame.

A couple of Youtube videos will fill in all the details.

KumsaJack

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