Apex

Thanks for reading. Please post comments or suggestions.

http://www.gotapex.com/reviews.php?r...003/index.html

Time to nap; it's 8:30am and we've been working on this thing for the last 10 hours.

M_A_C

Awesome pics and reviews! It makes me wish I was rich.

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mcs328

So is that your real name on the name badge huh Mr. Apex

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attgig

walking shoes?!?!?!
you mean you don't have a segway yet???

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ufcrusher

Yes...must spend money....must spend money......food second...home theater first.

Seriously though, that looks like it would have been a lot of fun. Although I would probably feel even worse about my pitiful home theater. I have been told that I am not allowed to buy anything else until after we get married and buy our new home. I have a funny feeling I am not going to be able to meet that requirement. My receiver just doesnt cut it anymore...I want my new speakers, which I held off on because of space concerns....and I need to get a new TV/Projector.

Oh how I hate having to be reasonable and responsible. I was talked out of buying a couple of things already.

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whitak24

women!

they just don't understand the importance of a quality home theater setup.

my GF already thinks a.) i spend too much money and b.) my ht stuff is big and ugly.....and i hardly have a system yet

oh well.....the sacrifices you make

Johnnymac

Amen... I hear that all the time. I also get why don't you get one of the Bose systems and never buy anything else. Geesh. Not that there is anything wrong with those but I don't know why she can't understand that an upgrade every year is needed.

Tommy Boomfiger

reading that actually made me shudder because it is so true. i know so many that would rather spend 2 grand on a bose system than getting matching separates under 2k.

ufcrusher

Well the thing is, I do have several full home theater systems, and by most peoples standards they are more than sufficient. I just happen to think differently. Now the thing is, she loves our HT, thinks its great and complains and laughs at what everyone else has. But she doesnt think that I need to replace my main system and speakers yet.

I guess its all about what level of equipment I want to get. SHe happens to know that the minimum I was going to spend on my new speakers was $7000, but more likely higher. I would have to upgrade to biwiring so add another grand or more in wires. The receivers I was looking at were $3000+ unless I go with separates, which was what I wanted to do, where I would probably end up higher. So I was looking at least over $10,000 to get started. That doesnt include a new tv or projector.

That said, my current receiver is only 2 years old and does everything I need it to do. I just want Component video switching, Five (or 7) channel stereo, and a rear center.

Johnnymac

lol... I would be divorced.

I don't know if my wife thinks I'M worth 10K never mind my HT.

whitak24

see, you're my role model in this department. i think that the ideal house should have an HT setup in basically every room (a subtle one for the living room, a big setup in the den, a system for the bedroom, etc).

so i keep trying to plant the idea in my GF's head that when we're together, we're going to need all these home theater systems. for instance, i keep telling her that the ideal for a living room is a 42" plasma screen, because it will just hang on the wall and not be in the way at all. hell, she can put some victorian lace around it for all i care. on the other hand, she thinks that a tv "detracts from the decor of the living room"

and don't even get me started on her opinions about HT in the bedroom

of course, we're talking about a girl who is perfectly satisified with a 13" tv. she looks at my 25" sanyo and says "wow, you have such a huge tv!" i look at it and say "MY TV SUCKS!", as visions of projectors with 60" screens or 42" plasma screens flash through my head

makes me think that there's something to that whole "men are from mars, women are from venus" idea. i'm thinking the HT systems on venus suck big-time

Kim

How sad that most of those set ups cost more than my WHOLE HOUSE!!! Someday though....

Thanks for sharing your pics with us Apex.

Merlin

So I take it from the pictures posted that you went all the way to CES and were not able to sneak into the porn convention/awards. Funny how that always goes on the same week as CES.

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Apex

You, my friend, need a 3.5lb projector hidden in a ceiling mounted hushbox and a retracting ceiling mounted screen.

whitak24

someday

ufcrusher

Well, I have to admit that I did have several advantages to ensure that my jones for HT was well known.

When my fiance and I first got together I already had what most people would consider a good HT. I thought that it was great when I bought it, but explained to her that I needed a new one to go with my DVD player. Then on top of that I started working at Goodguys during law school. (Whitak you will find that many places dont want to pay you since other people are all willing to work for free as unpaid interns just for the experience.)

So she was exposed to all of the equipment all the time. Plus, whenever we went back to my Dads house, she would see what equipment level I grew up with. So within a short time I had her being a HT junkie too. Now if I could only figure out a way to convince her that we need to upgrade now.

zipgoku

The Monster Cable booth had these two yellow car that were wired with an awesome sound system.

-A yellow 360 Ferrari Modena

and a

-yellow Lamborghini Mucielago

Apex

Monster Cable has more money then they know what to do with. You should have seen their concert & VIP after party.

ufcrusher

Its because they make money hand over fist so they can spend it the same way.

Apex

No joke. Next to Bose, they're probably the best marketing company I've ever come across. When you have people asking if they can "upgrade" the optional Mark Levinson audio system in their Lexus LS430 to a Bose system, you know there's a marketing guru cackling his b*tt off somewhere.

If some computer company had Monster Cable's marketing and margins... one can only imagine.

whitak24

"upgrade" to a bose that's a good joke.

maybe if the original system was an audiovox

ufcrusher

I remember when I was working at Good Guys, we used to have so many Monster Cable contests, that it was one of the best ways to make a lot of money fast. For instance, if you were the top sales person you could get a $2000+ bonus directly from monster. Since they have categories of cable in every area, provided great demo equipment, and visually looked better than other brands...it was a simple sale.

Now to get an idea of how little the cables cost them - employees were able to buy directly from Monster for 30% off of cost. This means you could get things that sold for $50 for about $15...the only catch was you had to wait for them to come in the mail.

kimchicowboy

i was hoping to get a glimpse of my dad at work. he works for samsung's visual displays dept and was at CES. i wanted him to take me, but um, NO. hehe.

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ray

Uhh, old thread? I was supposed to be there this past weekend, but my friend who was supposed to meet me couldn't find a cheap plane ticket. There was no way I was going to go alone..

bachviet

I told my wife that if we get a new house, no furniture (except bean bags) because I want to get my home theater system first.

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raimin

psst..where's the booth babes

lei

Nice work, Apex ! I hope I should have meet you there. The worst memory of the trip was the 10 hours delay at the airport on Sunday. Two hours check-in and three hours security line. Nobody could catch their planes. I guess you probably drove there, which to me was like in heaven.

BTW, should the title be "CES 2003" or "CES 2004" ?

Apex

Man, this thread is A FULL YEAR OLD.

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lei

My bad Were you there this year ?

Apex

Taking care of my newborn. 8+ diaper changes a day instead of sampling high end audio/video. Oh how my life has changed.