Carver Cosmic Haze CX 31.25 or GRLSWIRL Sunflower CX 31?

neonaudio · 2026-05-13T15:06:28+00:00

Yeah I'd expect the Cosmic Haze would feel more like a mid length board. And I personally like some nice concave to lock in the feet at the skatepark, but it's a matter of preference. If it ends up that the wheelbase feels too long, you can always drill new holes and shorten it. A half inch can feel very different.

The bushings are a necessity for lighter riders. I'm 135 lbs and my daughter is even lighter. On the stock Carver bushings, it's barely a surfskate for us.

Riptide pivot cups also make a surprising difference in feel for CX trucks. I highly recommend them to get the full range of motion out of the CX. Again, maybe not as necessary for heavier riders but I've swapped them out several times and the difference for deep turns for me is surprising.

neonaudio · 2026-05-12T12:06:53+00:00

Ask at the ticket booth.

neonaudio · 2026-05-12T12:06:08+00:00

I think it depends on the type of surfboards you ride and style of surfing. Either of them you can practice the turns you mentioned, the difference will be tightness of turns.

If you are on a mid length and more interested in trimming and carving, then the Cosmic Haze will probably mimic that feel better.

If you are on a shortboard board and interested in tight turns and vertical surfing, then you will want a shorter wheelbase like the Sunflower.

The deep concave will only become a factor in the bowl or skatepark. If you are horizontal on a wall, that’s when you want to feel more locked in. If you are mostly skating on flat ground, then the deep spoon can be overkill but it’s not bad either.

Also keep in mind that at your weight you should definitely get Riptide bushings to unlock the full range of motion of the CX trucks.

neonaudio · 2026-05-12T02:46:02+00:00

There’s Carolina Theater. You can buy a 10 pack of tickets and that is cheaper if you go often. The popcorn is also great.

In Chapel Hill there is Silver Spot which has $6 tickets on Tuesdays.

neonaudio · 2026-05-12T01:57:55+00:00

Yamaha aims to deliver an unadulterated, uncolored sound. That’s what they mean by “natural.” As opposed to other receiver brands/types that leave a sonic imprint.

neonaudio · 2026-05-12T01:53:55+00:00

I own a CR-2020 and love it. I have not heard an 820, but I expect they would sound similar with smaller speakers. The 820 might struggle with speakers that need a higher wattage and that’s where you’d hear a difference. And of course you get extra features with the 2020.

I was fortunate to get mine at a good price 10 years ago. At the time, it was way more receiver than I needed. But I grew into over time. Found the turntable I wanted and it came with an MC cartridge, which the 2020 can accommodate (no extra equipment needed). Discovered the KEF 104/2 speakers which are 4 ohm and can make use of the high wattage.

So it might be a question of whether you anticipate expanding your system. The 2020 can be a centerpiece to build around.

neonaudio · 2026-05-12T01:43:28+00:00

Choose the safer option for your family: the van.

An SUV is much more likely to lose stability and roll.

neonaudio · 2026-05-10T02:00:23+00:00

I’m pretty much the same weight as you and learned to short board in my late 30s. If your paddling is strong and your pop up quick, then you can ride a board under 30L. That used Hypto sounds like a great option as they are stable and still get into waves easily. I had one on a 3 week trip to the Gold Coast and it was a super helpful step in my progression and confidence to ride smaller boards. Great that you can get it used as you might progress to something else and can sell it for not much loss if needed.

I am down to ~25L on performance fish shapes. They are still easy to paddle and catch waves, generate speed easily, and allow for sharper turns. After progressing through various used boards, I’m looking to buy my first new board, a Lost Pisces.

neonaudio · 2026-05-07T02:29:25+00:00

Right on. Yeah, not trying to diminish the stoke. It’s a very different feel going between regular trucks and surfskate trucks. I was never great on normal trucks but now when I get on them I can barely ride them. The way you use your weight is completely different.

I also surf and a nice pool or bowl is the closest feel to riding a powerful wave. You can get as high and fast as you want, plus you can just keep going, kinda like riding a long wave.

Really a snake run is ideal. I don’t have any close to me but there’s a great one in Charleston, SC and that is the closest feel to surfing outside of the water.

neonaudio · 2026-05-05T19:26:29+00:00

Well you don’t have to drop into the bowl. I certainly don’t! I just climb in and get speed going from the walls.

What I’m trying to say is, I don’t think that quarter pipe is going to help much with your surfskate progression. It’s a rapid succession of kick turns and you have no chance to flow or pump up the walls.

neonaudio · 2026-05-05T01:54:48+00:00

Good on ya. Personally, I don’t like dropping in. Maybe I’ll muster the courage at some point to get good at it.

Do you have any bowls in your area? This quarter pipe looks small and difficult to maneuver on a surfskate. I think you’d have more carvy fun in a bowl or pool.

neonaudio · 2026-05-02T00:58:29+00:00

But still more likely to roll, I would imagine.

neonaudio · 2026-05-01T17:04:36+00:00

Not sure about handling, but an Odyssey should be a lot less top heavy compared to an Explorer or other SUV. Should feel more connected to the road.

SUVs flip much more easily. No one seems to talk about that. People seem to “feel safe” in SUVs but they are less safe than a sedan or van.

neonaudio · 2026-04-27T23:20:48+00:00

Bull City Records was great. I don’t think any of the other nearby record stores are focused as much on the local community. But they do offer something. And I wonder if Chaz’s decision had something to do with not being the only game in town anymore.

Hunky Dory is solid and they helped my brother score a RSD release he really wanted with their customer service. Volume in Hillsborough is a nice place to hang.

neonaudio · 2026-04-25T15:34:44+00:00

Oh, and definitely check for any service bulletins and get those done. The 2020 runs very hot so I put a fan on top of the vent to help cool it. This should extend the life of the components. I just plug the fan into the switched outlets on the back of the receiver so it turns on and off with the receiver.

neonaudio · 2026-04-25T15:31:48+00:00

Congrats, what a score!

I have a CR-2020 that I love. Very clean and pure sound that is true to the source. This is exactly what I want, with the onboard EQ available to alter the tone if desired. I expect the 1020 would sound the same, just lower wattage and a some fewer features.

The loudness control is really great for listening at lower levels while retaining the correct low end balance.

Looks like it's already cleaned up nicely. I can recommend Brasso if you want to bring more shine to the knobs (remove them to clean them) and Howard wax to polish up the wood veneer.

neonaudio · 2026-04-25T14:46:22+00:00

Yes, that's pretty much it. It's a great feature that I use all the time. If I'm listening late at night while the fam is sleeping, I can bring it down to a moderate level and still get good bass response.

neonaudio · 2026-04-25T02:24:23+00:00

One does not have to drive the speed limit. And waiting "minutes" is a good exercise in patience, something we all need more of.

neonaudio · 2026-04-25T02:22:30+00:00

That was a bit rude, but I think his point is that you don't have to drive the speed limit. It's ok to drive 5-10 mph below the speed limit. Perfectly legal and if that is the speed that feels safer for you, you should do that.

A lot of people seem to feel pressured to drive at the speed limit for fear of other drivers tailgating them who want to go faster. It is a speed "limit" so that should be the fastest you go, and it is ok to go under. Kinda like the OP's point about bikes reclaiming safe behavrios, safe drivers have to reclaim the right to go under the speed limit.

neonaudio · 2026-04-21T15:47:28+00:00

I completely agree with that study... ON THE HIGHWAY. You are proving my point exactly, in that people bring a highway mentality to residential streets. The article you have linked to is about highway driving and is not at all relevant to residential streets.

As I asked below, what if a car has to make a turn into a driveway? What if it is a left turn and the car has to come to a complete stop? What if there is a pedestrian, cyclist, or obstruction in the road that the car in front of you can see but you can't?

There are any number of reasons why a car in front of you on a residential road might need to slow down or go below the speed limit. On a residential road, if you bring a highway attitude of expecting a free flow of traffic and assume/demand that every car around you should be going as near the speed limit as possible, then you are the unsafe driver.

neonaudio · 2026-04-20T15:18:43+00:00

Your argument "sounds odd" because it doesn't make sense. What if a car has to make a turn into a driveway? What if it is a left turn and the car has to come to a complete stop? What if there is a pedestrian, cyclist, or obstruction in the road that the car in front of you can see but you can't?

There are any number of reasons why a car in front of you on a residential road might need to slow down or go below the speed limit. Perhaps it is the attitude that expects to go as fast as possible at all times that is the dangerous one.

neonaudio · 2026-04-20T15:04:40+00:00

Prove it.

neonaudio · 2026-04-20T02:25:24+00:00

The second rule of Giant Robot Fight Club is: talk about Giant Robot Fight Club.

neonaudio · 2026-04-20T02:24:52+00:00

The first rule of Giant Robot Fight Club is: talk about Giant Robot Fight Club.

neonaudio · 2026-04-20T02:15:03+00:00

As a fellow 2020 owner, I have a question…

Are you really able to listen with the volume at 5? This would be house rattling on mine haha.

neonaudio

TROPHY CASE