MonkY`s Place

Ooops. O pagina pentru audiofilul din mine ? Pentru cinefilul din tine ? Sau poate doar o simpla pagina in care sa-mi pot admira sculele. Cine oare nu e innebunit dupa fidelitate ? Cine nu isi doreste sa vada un film la rezolutie maxima, cu un sunet perfect ? Well, intrucat nimeni nu a raspuns negativ, va exista si aceasta pagina. Voi incerca aici sa mai deslusesc din tainele HiFi.

Momentan ceea ce pot numi cu modestie HiFi pentru mine ar fi iubitele mele PSB Image (T65 + C60 + S50), un monstru numit Yamaha RX-V3800, un Panny 50PY70, impreuna cu un HTPC custom made (more about that later)….

We live in times when the technology pushes further and further, sometimes forcing us to not even stop and enjoy what is beeing offered by that technology. Fortunatelly, some of us actually take time and discover the beauty behind the techonology beast. For example, take a look at what Art Lebedev Studio is offering, starting with Optimus Maximus Keyboard (an lcd keyboard), continuing with the Crazy Remote and Super Phone. They even covered small things, like digital ashtrays, digital clocks and unbelievable hifi items. Hit the picture to go to our gallery, or click here to visit Art Lebedev Studio’s homepage. Enjoy !

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“Romania se lupta cu morile de vant !”. Pare o expresie tipica pentru vremurile lui Don Quijote dar atat de des intalnita in ultima perioada incat a intrat deja in domeniul banalului. Chiar daca in locul morilor de vant punem giganti precum Microsoft, Sony si Nintendo, tot nu mai impresioneaza. S-au inradacinat atat de rau in roman lipsurile incat nimic nu-l mai poate soca, nimic nu-l mai poate impresiona. Mai ales cand vine vorba de niste gameri. Pentru presa din Romania in general, cuvantul game deja inseamna stire de nisa. Atat timp cat in continut nu se regaseste Basescu sau Tariceanu, stirea este deja de mana a doua. Sa nu mai vorbim de game (joc), care pentru romanul suparat in general nu-si mai are locul. Putini sunt cei carora un astfel de cuvant le provoaca un zambet ascuns, cei pentru care viata inca inseamna un joc. Sau cei care dupa o zi nenorocita de munca se retrag in linistea micii garsoniere unde apa calda este taiata si caldura vine de la un amarat de resou. Aceeasi care in liniste isi pornesc consola sau calculatorul si se retrag in mica lor lume virtuala. Sa nu-i uitam si pe cei care isi educa micul prichindel cum sa conduca de la 4 ani masina la Need For Speed, sau cei care la o petrecere uita de orice grija cu prietenii la un SingStar, Tekken sau Guitar Hero…

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Almost everyone these days is talking about High Definition, Full HD, BluRay and HD-DVD as present HiFi technology. But how about taking a look in the near future ? Well, seems like Panasonic as part of APDC (Advanced PDP Development Center) is already developing next generation plasma. Instead of Full HD, the main words are now “Super HD”, which is “just” 4 times higher resolution than Full HD (4000 x 2000 vs 1920 x 1080). I think we are finnally going to put the television next to photography. You can now think Super HD as beeing 8 Megapixels while Full HD beeing only 2 Megapixels. But, what’s more to like, is the fact that the next gen will feature a 42″ Super HD resolution with only 70W needed ! I mean… WOW ! My 50″ Full HD plasma needs now arround 600W. So going 4 times higher resolution and 8 times lower power consumption… that’s what i call “The Future Sounds/Looks Good !”. For more details check in here.

Another day, another gadget. De data aceasta, o jucarie pe care o doream cu toti, care sa ne inlocuiasca PC-ul sau vechiul DivX player si care sa poata reda filme FullHD fara probleme. Si cum la moda acum sunt .mkv-urile si deja vorbim de 1080p, ar trebuia ca “jucaria” respectiva sa aiba suficienta forta sa randeze asa ceva fara probleme. Well, jucaria in cauza vine de la un producator coreean numit Dvico, iar modelul din review este cel numit si “coffee maker”: TVIX 5100SH. Hit read more pentru review-ul complet.

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Well, cei care ma cunosc, stiu ca sunt pasionat dupa nebunii HiFi, in special ultimele aparitii pe scena asta tumultoasa si din ce in ce mai evoluat. Cei care nu ma cunosc, probabil ca au ajuns pe aceasta pagina cautand pe web un review la un produs pentru care in Romania nu se agita nimeni sa-i faca o prezentare mai serioasa. Nici macar la recentul HiFi Arena un astfel de model nu a putut fi gasit, cei de la Panasonic neprezentand alt model decat din seria PY700. Dupa cum se stie neoficial insa, seria PY700 are inca un strat protector antireflexiv, fapt ce ii da un aspect mai mat si totodata ii scade din contrast de la 10.000:1 la 5.000:1. Acesta fiind unul din principalele motive pentru care am optat pentru PY70, care in mod normal ar trebui sa fie versiunea mai “slaba”. Well, sa vedem in continuare daca este asa sau nu. Apasa read more pentru review-ul complet.
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Well, sunt un maniac al HiFi-ului, si cred ca e vremea ca “vechiul” meu NAD sa fie inlocuit. Desi nu eram un fan Sony in ceea ce priveste fidelitatea sunetului (in special la speakers si receivers), seria ES m-a tentat dintotdeauna. Dupa ce am trecut in revista cam tot ce s-a lansat mai recent de catre Danon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Pioneer, NAD, Harman Kardon, Marantz si Sony, m-am decis sa fac pasul catre noul model din gama ES de la Sony. Avand un raport pret/calitate imbatabil, Sony STR-DA5300ES mi se pare alegerea perfecta. Read more for specs, pictures and links.

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Trying to add a new poll for the website, i just found some “old” wallpaper i’ve created, called Black Vs White. It’s actually a two “teams” war. PS2+PS3 vs Wii+X360. I love black, and those white consoles are ruining my hifi table… but, tha’ts life. You got to have some contrast to see what you really like. But i’m happy, as Xbox360 Elite will be soon released for Europe also… so my Black collection will be almost complete… Muuuust haaaaave blaaaaaaack Wiiiiiiiiii !?!@#?

We kinda live in a HD (High Definition) era. Everything is evolving from SD (Standard Definition) to HD. Even sound. While some got used with their mp3 files at 128kbps, some of us want more (how about 25mbps ?). WhatHiFi has just created a small chart trying to show the bandwith needed by some of the most used formats. Check their page in here for more infos.

Well, again, BornRich has done it. This time, a “Top 10 Luxury Speakers Everyone Can’t Afford”. The title says it all, so i guess you expect to see some speaker systems upto 1 million $. Yup, it’s a rich men’s world. Read more for full Top 10 or click the picture below to get the full article.

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You probably heard about it, you probably haven’t. Now you do. The new gadget coming from Microsoft, a new SciFi table with a lot of power underneath, called “Surface”. Watch the video, and pls, after you buy it, don’t put your drinks on it !

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Nu stiu cati dintre voi cunosc defectele enumerate in poza de test, dar daca vreti sa va mai uitati la TV-ul personal fara sa va enervati, mai bine sa nu stiti despre ce este vorba. Pentru ceilalti, maniaci ca mine, puteti sa aruncati o privire. Pe scurt, am incercat sa pun in colectie cele mai des intalnite si mai problematice erori de afisare: banding, solarisation, dithering, over sharpening, pixelation, tearing, posterisation, ghosting, bad lamp. Daca gasiti un TV care sa nu aiba macar una din problemele enumerate, let me know. Il cumpar ! Dati click pe poza de mai jos pt. full view.

Who is MonkY ? Sau, altfel spus, aici ar trebui sa fie o pagina despre mine, cu mine si numai de bine. Therefore, MTV style, as dori sa multumesc parintilor mei… fanilor mei… regizorului meu fara de care nu as fi reusit… etc, etc. Cat despre MonkY, nu, nu cautati in dictionar, este practic un cuvant inventat pe cand eram copilandru. Se vrea a fi o combinatie intre Monk si Monk_Y (niciodata nu mi-a placut litera Z, altfel ar fi fost MonkZ). In traducerea mea de acum vre-o 20 de anisori, ar fi insemnat calugaras. O alta definitie ar fi aceea data de un logo de-al meu mai vechi, cu un M pe o cheie (M-on-key).

In rest, ce Dzeu sa mai spun despre mine ? Sunt un impatimit a tot ce inseamna IT&C. IT&C care mi-a mancat trei sferturi din viata. Mai adaugam si pasiunea pentru Console si o manie pentru HiFi si iese un hibrid caruia ii este foarte greu sa se mentina pe linia de plutire, in special intr-o perioada in care tot ce inseamna high tech si next gen explodeaza, intr-o perioada in care legea lui Moore e data peste cap. Dar indeajuns despre mine. After all, acest site micut nu este despre mine, ci pentru tine, cel care probabil nu ai ajuns aici decat din pura intamplare. Mai bine sa copiem o definitie a ce inseamna About, ce inseamna Monk, ca da mai bine la imagine si aratam ca avem si dictionar:

a·bout (…-bout“) adv. Abbr. a., ab., abt. 1. Approximately; nearly: The interview lasted about an hour. 2. Almost: The job is about done. 3. To a reversed position or direction: Turn about and walk away slowly. 4. In no particular direction: wandering about with no place to go. 5. All around; on every side: Let’s look about for help. 6. In the area or vicinity; near: spoke to a few spectators standing about. 7. In succession; one after another: Turn about is fair play. –a·bout prep. 1. On all sides of; surrounding: I found an English garden all about me. 2. In the vicinity of; around: explored the rivers and streams about the estate. 3. Almost the same as; close to; near. 4.a. In reference to; relating to; concerned with: a book about snakes; objectivity—a part of what biography is about. b. In the act or process of: While you’re about it, please clean your room. 5. In the possession or innate character of: Keep your wits about you. 6.a. Ready or prepared to do something: The chorus is about to sing. b. Usage Problem. Used with a negative to indicate strong intention: I am not about to concede the point. –a·bout adj. 1. Moving here and there; astir: The patient is up and about. 2. Being in evidence or existence: Rumors are about concerning his resignation. [Middle English, from Old English onb¿tan : on, in; see ON + b¿tan, outside; see ud- below.] USAGE NOTE: The construction not about to is often used to express determination: We are not about to negotiate with terrorists. A majority of the Usage Panel considers this usage acceptable in speech but not in formal writing. · About is traditionally used to refer to the relation between a narrative and its subject: a book about Cézanne, a movie about the Boston Massacre. This use has lately been extended to refer to the relation between various nonlinguistic entities and the things they make manifest, as in The party was mostly about showing off their new offices or His designs are about the use of rough-textured materials. This practice probably originates with the expression That’s what it’s all about and may partly reflect implicit deference to the postmodern doctrine that every social artifact and activity can be regarded as a text subject to interpretation. But the usage is still too voguish to have won general acceptance; it is rejected by 59 percent of the Usage Panel in the example A designer teapot isn’t about making tea; it is about letting people know that you have a hundred dollars to spend on a teapot.

monk (m¾ngk) n. A man who is a member of a brotherhood living in a monastery and devoted to a discipline prescribed by his order: a Carthusian monk; a Buddhist monk. [Middle English munk, from Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Late Greek monakhos, from Greek, single, from monos. See men-4 below.]men-4. Important derivatives are: monastery, monk, mono-, minnow. men-4. Small, isolated. 1. MANOMETER, from Greek manos, rare, sparse. 2. Suffixed o-grade form *mon-wo-. MONAD, MONASTERY, MONK, MONO-; PSEUDOMONAD, from Greek monos, alone, single, sole. 3. Possibly also suffixed form *men-i-, a small fish. MINNOW, from Middle English meneu, a small fish, from a source akin to Old English myne, mynwe, minnow. [Pokorny 4. men- 728, meni- 731.]

Later edit: Multi m-au intrebat care este treaba cu “romengleza”. Mai exact, am fost luat la intrebari despre modul in care imi scriu articolele, sau in care postez in calitate de moderator pe diferite forumuri, si in mod special de faptul ca scriu si in romana si in engleza, ba mai mult, le si intercalez. Unii sunt siderati, parca infricosati de faptul ca limba romana “evolueaza”, altii se distreaza. Eu unul, asa m-am obisnuit. Trecand prin etape de programator, analist, inginer de sistem, designer, sysop, administrator, product manager, etc. la diferite firme unde ba se vorbea numai engleza, ba trebuia sa discuti cu unii in engleza, cu altii in romana… normal ca in timp a inceput sa formeze ceva unitar. In unele cazuri este imposibil sa traduci ceva in limba romana, sau daca o faci, iese ceva hilar sau bizar. In altele, e chiar interesant. So, voi scrie si voi vorbi in continuare asa cum vreau, sperand inca in faptul ca traim intr-o lume in care exprimarea este libera. Amen to that !