to teh tune of merry xmas

We wish you a merry DUPMAS
We wish you a merry DUPMAS
We wish you a merry DUPMAS
and some happy new gear !

with DUP just now banned
the forum is still
we sit in our rooms
just drinking DUP swill

Chorus

he don't like teh vinlyl
nor flea watts nor tube
and if you don't agree
he'll call you a boob

chorus

5,000 watts
will set you free
if you are feeding
teh big Legacy

pondering this about the audiophile community this morning while getting psyched up for my International Economics final today: are your friends audiophiles? have you turned any of them into audiophiles? have they experienced your hobby and said they loved it and chose not to go down the same path? do you consider getting your friends into it an equivalent to religious conversion? and how many of your friends have told you you're just plain crazy?

Okay, now that I've gotten excellent advices on speakers (thanks jackfish and Stephen), I have another either/or question. Harman Kardon HK3485 or Outlaw RR2150? Price-wise, HK just seems like a steal, but does the sound performance of Outlaw justify the price differential?

i have an onkyo integra integrated amp circa 1996 that is in good shape except that the source selector keeps rotating even when the knob itself is not moving.this happens as soon as i turn on the unit.therefore,my amp is unusable as it wont lock onto the sorce i want.anybody know what could be the cause of this,any solutions?
bill in milwaukee.

I see a lot of rave reviews for the Alpha B1's (view Stereophile votes Jan 2007). I own a pair of the more expensive Image B25's which I like but sometimes find they lack detail. Is it possible that the Alpha B1 is actually a better speaker than the B25? I even listened to the new Synchrony One B and was not that impressed - especially for the price they were asking.