Kaiser Kawero or Raidho D3 or Vivid Giya G2?

wisnon said:
Excellent!

Happy holidays to you too.

Next Summer for sure...maybe before if I have some business travelk in the area. Airfares have gone crazy, BTW. Unbelieveable since oil prices are plummeting. Can we say price gouging? LoL
Click to expand...

No. Airlines buy on a yearly contract hedging the high and low prices for the year, giving them predictable costs. It helps them hedge against times when the cost is high (like it has been for years) but hurts when the price is low. Of course, once they've broken the frackers, the price will go up. So although costs have gone down for the public, it really hasn't for the airlines.

The reason the prices are high other than the holidays is all the mergers and cutting back of airline routes.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
No. Airlines buy on a yearly contract hedging the high and low prices for the year, giving them predictable costs. It helps them hedge against times when the cost is high (like it has been for years) but hurts when the price is low. Of course, once they've broken the frackers, the price will go up. So although costs have gone down for the public, it really hasn't for the airlines.

The reason the prices are high other than the holidays is all the mergers and cutting back of airline routes.
Click to expand...

Strictly speaking Myles, that's not true . Airlines, quite possibly the worst business over the last century , drove (flew?) themselves into the ground for decades with the onset of Reagan-esque Deregulation . It is only with the onset of bankruptcies and consolidation through mergers that the Industry has seen some semblance of market and price discipline . Plus the unions were brought to heel. That in turn has allowed them to pass on rising fuel costs to the consumer through fuel surcharges. However- many airlines were in such a parlous state that they lacked the cash to put up as margin collateral for futures hedging contracts . Even if they wanted to hedge out their avgas bills , they couldn't. Case in point - American Airlines - they don't hedge and pretty much never have , arguing that this was all swings and roundabouts anyway. Others , like Delta , hedged less but went out and bought a refinery - thinking that was a hedge.

Don't also look to the crackers & the E&P guys in the shale space to buckle under too quickly. Those guys HAVE hedged out forward production at prices averaging $90 & those contracts don't roll over till end-2015 for the most part. They're not going to start feeling pain for a while. Prices for crude in the $60's have to hang around for a while before the crackers get hurt (and the Canadian Oil Sands) . I believe that is what the Saudis intend. There's no such thing as a 6 month price war.

Full disclosure - I am a Hedge Fund manager with a large and long-time position in AAL & DAL
 
Exactly!

They were passing on fuel surcharges so even if all were hedging, they had the surcharge protection. In any case, even if this were so, they are facing at least stable costs, they are in the process of jacking up prices claiming that they are enhancing the flying experience. ROTFLMAO.

As to breaking the frackers, I dont really see how that is possible. Keep prices low for a year and many will fold up shop, BUT if prices start to rise again, many will simply jump back in. (Technology has created a natural ceiling). On top of that, Tar Sand production costs years ago was about $35 a barrell. I am not very up to date with these costs at the moment, but I could imagine its at about $25 a barrell now and if so, then even at $40 a barrel, they will keep producing, even if at lower volume waiting for better times.

Oil needs to go back to 2004 levels of $20 a barrell to really shake out the new guys. But then, that would kill the Russians, Nigerians, Mexicans and Venezuelans and would probably splinter OPEC irrevocably! Saudi/Gulf costs are probably like $5 a barrell. The other big variable I guess would be what currency oil will be traded in going forward. Lots of whipers that it could be SDRs.


All speculative but interesting, no?
 
How did we switch topics from Raidho speakers and their awesome, problem free bass to discussing free market oil prices?? :turban:
 
wisnon said:
Exactly!

They were passing on fuel surcharges so even if all were hedging, they had the surcharge protection. In any case, even if this were so, they are facing at least stable costs, they are in the process of jacking up prices claiming that they are enhancing the flying experience. ROTFLMAO.

As to breaking the frackers, I dont really see how that is possible. Keep prices low for a year and many will fold up shop, BUT if prices start to rise again, many will simply jump back in. (Technology has created a natural ceiling). On top of that, Tar Sand production costs years ago was about $35 a barrell. I am not very up to date with these costs at the moment, but I could imagine its at about $25 a barrell now and if so, then even at $40 a barrel, they will keep producing, even if at lower volume waiting for better times.

Oil needs to go back to 2004 levels of $20 a barrell to really shake out the new guys. But then, that would kill the Russians, Nigerians, Mexicans and Venezuelans and would probably splinter OPEC irrevocably! Saudi/Gulf costs are probably like $5 a barrell. The other big variable I guess would be what currency oil will be traded in going forward. Lots of whipers that it could be SDRs.


All speculative but interesting, no?
Click to expand...

Wow - that's a ton of speculation. Some points:

1. Airlines are jacking up prices because...they can . For the first time in a long time. Try shopping for fares - for the most part , they are within spitting distance of each other. And planes are flying at near-record load factors.

2. Oil sands prducers , on a proper all-in cost accounting basis , allowing for amortisation, depreciation and depletion is closer to $60-70/bbl. You can't use the marginal cost of producing the next barrel and assume investors and bankers don't require a full and comprehensive accounting of all the costs (and overruns) up to that point. They don't operate for incremental cash flow.

3. Saudi costs with a rising water cut and on the same basis are closer to $40/bbl. BUT - they need $90 to balance their budgets and remember - some of the fastest consumption growth on the planet is inside oil producers at a time when the West is actually decreasing consumption. The US will never again consume as many barrels of oil as it did in 2005 due to CAFE, conservation, alternatives ,etc.

4. SDR's ? - sorry but that is so 1970's it's not even funny . $ it is and $ it will remain especially after the Euro Zone implodes in the next couple of years.
 
mep said:
How did we switch topics from Raidho speakers and their awesome, problem free bass to discussing free market oil prices?? :turban:
Click to expand...

No idea !!! :huh:

But I have a better handle on the oil markets than I do on how to tame my Raidhos....
 
Bobolaclune said:
Wow - that's a ton of speculation. Some points:

1. Airlines are jacking up prices because...they can . For the first time in a long time. Try shopping for fares - for the most part , they are within spitting distance of each other. And planes are flying at near-record load factors.
Click to expand...
That IS my point!!!
 
Bobolaclune said:
Strictly speaking Myles, that's not true . Airlines, quite possibly the worst business over the last century , drove (flew?) themselves into the ground for decades with the onset of Reagan-esque Deregulation . It is only with the onset of bankruptcies and consolidation through mergers that the Industry has seen some semblance of market and price discipline . Plus the unions were brought to heel. That in turn has allowed them to pass on rising fuel costs to the consumer through fuel surcharges. However- many airlines were in such a parlous state that they lacked the cash to put up as margin collateral for futures hedging contracts . Even if they wanted to hedge out their avgas bills , they couldn't. Case in point - American Airlines - they don't hedge and pretty much never have , arguing that this was all swings and roundabouts anyway. Others , like Delta , hedged less but went out and bought a refinery - thinking that was a hedge.

Don't also look to the crackers & the E&P guys in the shale space to buckle under too quickly. Those guys HAVE hedged out forward production at prices averaging $90 & those contracts don't roll over till end-2015 for the most part. They're not going to start feeling pain for a while. Prices for crude in the $60's have to hang around for a while before the crackers get hurt (and the Canadian Oil Sands) . I believe that is what the Saudis intend. There's no such thing as a 6 month price war.

Full disclosure - I am a Hedge Fund manager with a large and long-time position in AAL & DAL
Click to expand...

So you're saying that airlines don't sign a yearly contract for AV fuel and fix the costs? That's not what I know.
 
Bobolaclune said:
No idea !!! :huh:

But I have a better handle on the oil markets than I do on how to tame my Raidhos....
Click to expand...

Apparently you and everybody else that owns them-except dealers of course. Dealers have a standard list of reasons why it's your fault for the bass issues to check down through just like a computer call center in India:

Excuse 1) The problem must be your room.
Answer 1) No, my room was purpose built by an acoustician with 5 degrees and it measures perfect.

Excuse 2) The problem must be with your power.
Answer 2) No, my power distribution comes from a balanced power transformer fed into 20A circuits with Furutech GTX-D(R) Rhodium Duplex outlets. We even dug up Nikola Tesla and had him check out the power and he said it was perfect.

Excuse 3) The problem must be with your grounding scheme.
Answer 3) No, I had my grounding installed by a professional electrician with 30 years of experience wiring recording studios. We dug up Nikola Tesla again just to confirm and he said it was perfect and to leave him in the damn ground.

Excuse 4) The problem must be you have resonant cables.
Answer 4) No, my cables were certified to be resonant free by the National Institute of Standards using a variety of network analyzers and spectrum analyzers.

Excuse 5) Your power amplifier has bass issues and you need a new power amplifier because our speakers are "special."
Answer 5), No, the real truth is your speakers have designed in bass problems and everybody who owns them has issues.

:weird:
 
mep said:
Apparently you and everybody else that owns them-except dealers of course. Dealers have a standard list of reasons why it's your fault for the bass issues to check down through just like a computer call center in India:

Excuse 1) The problem must be your room.
Answer 1) No, my room was purpose built by an acoustician with 5 degrees and it measures perfect.

Excuse 2) The problem must be with your power.
Answer 2) No, my power distribution comes from a balanced power transformer fed into 20A circuits with Furutech GTX-D(R) Rhodium Duplex outlets. We even dug up Nikola Tesla and had him check out the power and he said it was perfect.

Excuse 3) The problem must be with your grounding scheme.
Answer 3) No, I had my grounding installed by a professional electrician with 30 years of experience wiring recording studios. We dug up Nikola Tesla again just to confirm and he said it was perfect and to leave him in the damn ground.

Excuse 4) The problem must be you have resonant cables.
Answer 4) No, my cables were certified to be resonant free by the National Institute of Standards using a variety of network analyzers and spectrum analyzers.

Excuse 5) Your power amplifier has bass issues and you need a new power amplifier because our speakers are "special."
Answer 5), No, the real truth is your speakers have designed in bass problems and everybody who owns them has issues.

:weird:
Click to expand...


Uh oh, here we go. Round one....ding!
 
mep said:
Apparently you and everybody else that owns them-except dealers of course. Dealers have a standard list of reasons why it's your fault for the bass issues to check down through just like a computer call center in India:

Excuse 1) The problem must be your room.
Answer 1) No, my room was purpose built by an acoustician with 5 degrees and it measures perfect.

Excuse 2) The problem must be with your power.
Answer 2) No, my power distribution comes from a balanced power transformer fed into 20A circuits with Furutech GTX-D(R) Rhodium Duplex outlets. We even dug up Nikola Tesla and had him check out the power and he said it was perfect.

Excuse 3) The problem must be with your grounding scheme.
Answer 3) No, I had my grounding installed by a professional electrician with 30 years of experience wiring recording studios. We dug up Nikola Tesla again just to confirm and he said it was perfect and to leave him in the damn ground.

Excuse 4) The problem must be you have resonant cables.
Answer 4) No, my cables were certified to be resonant free by the National Institute of Standards using a variety of network analyzers and spectrum analyzers.

Excuse 5) Your power amplifier has bass issues and you need a new power amplifier because our speakers are "special."
Answer 5), No, the real truth is your speakers have designed in bass problems and everybody who owns them has issues.

:weird:
Click to expand...

MEP did you trip and hit your head on a Raidho at CES? Your zealotry is relentless. Oh, and let me guess, you still haven't listened to the speakers.

;)
 
I had limited exposure to Mike's D'3 speakers. His downstairs room is far from warm, IMHO. Lots of glass, hard flooring, and right side of room opens into a large kitchen area. But yet they had a very "ripe" and warm presentation playing a James Taylor album I've listened to at least 500 times. They did have an intoxicating overall quality though. To me, they seem like a fantastic speaker for the audiophile who excels at system tuning. I would imagine amazing results can be fleshed out, once the proper "loom and room" setup is found.
On the other hand, if you have a nearly impossible room like Mike does upstairs.......GOOD LUCK. Like wise, I do not think these are "set'em and forget'em" speakers for a newbie.....without dealer setup such as David would offer. David's imput would be very valuable with these speakers.
 
Well said Jerry. With my big living room and VAC phi200's - I had them dialed in PERFECT - with no bass issues. If I wasn't such a gear swapper, I may still have them.

I still think about getting a pair of C1.1's and a Devialet 200 with SAM - that would be incredible sounding I bet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike said:
Well said Jerry. With my big living room and VAC phi200's - I had them dialed in PERFECT - with no bass issues. If I wasn't such a gear swapper, I may still have them.

I still think about getting a pair of C1.1's and a Devialet 200 with SAM - that would be incredible sounding I bet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Mike,

I've often wondered why you didn't keep your D3 V2 when you had them working so well. When they are set up properly, they sound phenomenal.

Ken
 
Mike said:
Well said Jerry. With my big living room and VAC phi200's - I had them dialed in PERFECT - with no bass issues. If I wasn't such a gear swapper, I may still have them.

I still think about getting a pair of C1.1's and a Devialet 200 with SAM - that would be incredible sounding I bet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I missed hearing that combo. Those speakers do have some magical qualities that escape many others.
 
Alpinist said:
Mike,

I've often wondered why you didn't keep your D3 V2 when you had them working so well. When they are set up properly, they sound phenomenal.

Ken
Click to expand...

No reason other than I wanted to try some other gear and I still have my eye on the D5's. I would have them today, but my family room is complicated due to a pathway leading to bedrooms/office. The D5's would have to be too far out into the room.

Upstairs, they caused me no end of frustration. The D1's, D3 v1's and D3 v2's all were boom-boom city....no matter what amp, what cables, etc.

They really load the room, so the speaker/room interaction is HUGE.

That being said, the Raidho's were certainly not the only speaker to cause bass problems in my main room.

But generally speaking, the Raidho's are like the proverbial trophy wife. They require a lot of attention....but when they're right, they pay huge dividends.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top