Anyone taken their stereo with them to a vacation rental?

jqp · « **on:** 23 Jul 2004, 04:27 pm »

Anyone taken their stereo with them to a vacation rental? I will be here

http://www.hobbsrealty.com/rentalPropertyDetails.asp?ppId=REEL+STATE

for a week and I want to take most of my system with me. That means CD-1, ACA, at least three of my Marble 9.0s and all the fixings, including XBox and a 27" TV. A week at the beach is a great chance to relax, and I figure after a few days I will be ready to do some focused listening and even play some games with my brother and nephews.

It will take two trips to get everything there. My folks live 45 mins from this beach so I can move stuff there the weekend before.

This is a little ambitious, but is it just too ambitious? Tell me if you have ever done this kind of thing, or if you have decided it would be too much.

Carlman · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 05:55 pm »

Wow, and I thought I was bad...

I've never done this for a few reasons...

1. I'm married.
2. There's already too much to transport (see 1.)

3. Possibility of damages (in the transport or from others using it)
4. Possibility of theft
5. Time required to listen would hamper other's required time to 'vacation' (see 1.)

But, also it's really tough to be alone and quiet on vacation.
6. Sometimes I need a vacation from hifi.

So, while I've never done it or considered it, it could be done if many variables I have aren't the same. I'd still be worried about damages and the time to deal with it all.

Why not just take a really good headphone setup?

-C

doug s. · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 06:17 pm »

i've taken receiver/cdp/speakers before. i wouldn't take any more if i were you. (but, i'm *not you!)

also, i'd be wery surprised if there were not a big tv at that rental place awreddy. personally, i'd wanna *lose* the tv - i don't like it, *or* videos... but again, that's yust me....

doug s.

eico1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 06:55 pm »

Sounds fine if you are going alone or expect bad weather, but why not pick up a sports-kite if you might need a hobby?

Just got back from a week at the Jersey shore myself:)

http://www.kittyhawk.com/rcomProM/shop/index.cfm?sid=1&pgid=detail&pid=1437

steve

Carlman · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 07:39 pm »

Kiting is fun! Great suggestion...
Another option would be to take a fishing pole and a cooler. There's so much to do at the beach...
Frisbee's, volleyball, surfing, swimming, reading, mini golf

etc...

jqp · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 08:17 pm »

Yes, and the water temperature will be 77F

There is also a fishing pier near the house, and a canal connecting to the inland waterway. I will have my canoe, two dogs, and various friends and relatives dropping in during the week.

I have been trying to build up a reasonable tan. I will have a beach umbrella, but still it is hard for me to avoid getting burned if I am out in the sun at all for more than a few hours. And after a few days it can add up. So I will have to entertain myself at some point out of the sun.

And these days I don't need a vacation from audio, I need to spend more time with it!

The TV would go because it has SVHS for the XBox. My stepfather can watch TV all day long, and I want him to not have to go through withdrawl on my vacation. So with that TV my nephews (and my brother and I) can do something other than watch what my stepfather is watching

There will be an emphasis on cooking at night, so I really want the music to be there fot that as well. I would show some restraint by not bringing my surround speakers!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 08:24 pm »

Quote from: jqp

So I will have to entertain myself at some point out of the sun.

Make it easy on youself....bring the Bose Wave radio.....

jqp · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 08:29 pm »

Yeah that is the real issue. Thats why I am inclined to make a trip to bring the equipment to the "staging area" (parents house) ahead of time, and leave some stuff there after I check out. Then I can take more time to move it carefully.

Also, packrat that I am, I have ALL the excellent norh packing material!

Tyson · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 09:11 pm »

What you need is a great set of headphones. I highly recommend the Sensaphonics 2x-soft, they are custom molded to your ears, and sound absolutely fabulous. How fabulous? About on par with my VMPS MR40's. Expensive but worth it, and they are great on planes or buses because they isolate so well.

For use at home, all you need is a good headphone amp that accepts RCA connections from your source and you are set.

For portable, they sound pretty darn good out of a Hard Drive digital audio player (iRiver iHP-140 or Ipod, Rio Karma, etc).

Enthusiastically recommended, especially since they are ultra discreet and you don't look like a big dork with huge headphones on your head all the time.

Check it out:

http://www.sensaphonics.com

doug s. · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 09:37 pm »

you *really* need to find out what is there before ya go. on these types of vay-cay's, i have found that as long as folks who wanna do the toob thing can do it, that wideo gamers can play their games, & that the music heads can listen to music, it doesn't have to be all that hi-quality...

doug s.

Carlman · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 09:41 pm »

Quote from: Tyson

What you need is a great set of headphones. I highly recommend the Sensaphonics 2x-soft, they are custom molded to your ears, and sound absolutely fabulous. How fabulous? About on par with my VMPS MR40's. Expensive but worth it, and they are great on planes or buses because they isolate so well....

A visit to the audioligist, getting impressions of ears made... probably several hundred dollars for the buds... yes, they are a bit pricey.... My guess is this would be a 1,k investment. A good suggestion in general but maybe not practical for a jaunt to the beach.

Tyson · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 10:21 pm »

Actually, it's $750 + $50 for the audiologist, so it is definitely pricey. But, it's going to be sound that is at least as good as you main speakers (probably better), and it fits in your pocket. Hell, you can even wear them out in public without attracting odd looks.

Another (much cheaper) option would be the Etymotic ER-4s or the Shure E5, both of which are universal fit canalphones (ie, no trip to an audiologist neede), but they do not sound nearly as good as the Sensa's (I've owned all of them.

jqp · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 10:48 pm »

Quote from: doug s.

you *really* need to find out what is there before ya go. on these types of vay-cay's, i have found that as long as folks who wanna do the toob thing can do it, that wideo gamers can play their games, & that the music heads can listen to music, it doesn't have to be all that hi-quality...

doug s.

Yeah as you can see from the pictures and text in the link there are a few tv's but I doubt they have SVHS - the main one looks like a TV/VCR with a DVD plugged in. That one will not be used for games. There is a dishwasher though!

jqp · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Aug 2004, 09:50 pm »

Well the Outlaw 950 will be back in time from getting its DSP board replaced, and I have bragged to my brother about my system with the XBox and the Outlaw, so that settles it. Its all going to the beach (almost).

I think I will bring 3 Marble 9.0s and 2 Prism 3s as surrounds. I will use my parents house as a staging area/safe house and move much of the gear to the coast the week before.

MaxCast · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Aug 2004, 12:23 pm »

You are insane!

Don't forget your RTA and EFT software or your digital cable!

We should start a thread on the most outragous things you have done because of a-phileism.

ohenry · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Aug 2004, 12:31 pm »

Quote

I have bragged to my brother about my system with the XBox and the Outlaw, so that settles it.

Just some friendly advice: Don't get bummed out when some (or all) of your folks don't share your enthusiasm over the electronics after the initial amazement fades.

You can probably win as many smiles with a Tivoli PAL, a big cooler, a few kites, fishing equipment, plenty of ice cream and lots of outside time.

I wish I had a chance to watch the tube or sit on the porch with my Dad again. Don't miss out. . .
Henry

8thnerve · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Aug 2004, 01:06 pm »

I always take my trusty vacation system. iPod, Griffin Powerwave, Gallo speaker cable, and Acoustic Energy EVO 1 speakers with Sound Org stands. Everything but the speakers and stands, which lay nicely in the trunk, go in with the rest of my luggage. The speakers retail for only $300 so I'm not too worried if they get stolen, scratched, dented, etc. but they sound wonderful. There is nothing like telling my iPod to just random play everything categorized as jazz as you sit on the balcony watching the sunset. Of course I also bring my Grado SR-60s and Shure E2s if I want to listen on the beach or in private, but I rarely use them there.

It's worth the bit of trunk space and the 5-10 minutes of setup and break down to have good music away from home.

viggen · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Aug 2004, 10:38 am »

I've traveled pretty much all over the world with my highend Aiwa walkman and Sony MDRV6 headphones. I suppose if I am still traveling I'd get an Ipod.

I like to travel lite. I can't imagine lugging anything more then a few carry ons.