Links: Don’s Huge and Useful Link Page
These links are here to help readers learn about the breadth and depth of the market, which is far greater than most consumers realize, and to help you find products that are right for you. Though some links are international, all products are available in the United States. I am marking equipment I own and use, or which I think represents exceptional performance and value with a thumbs-up symbol:
-Don owns/uses or especially recommends, check it out
Likewise, my hall of shame will be marked accordingly:
– dubious/poor quality product or snake oil, avoid like the plague
The lack of a thumbs-up does not mean a product is bad or unworthy of your consideration- I may simply not know enough about it, or it may be OK but not extraordinary. Companies with more than one product category will be linked multiple times with separate identifying symbols as appropriate.
Links are organized as follows from top to bottom:
- Home Entertainment Links
- Vinyl Links
- Photography and Videomaking Links
- Personal Audio and Electronics Links
- Computer Links
There is a lot on here already but as I remember products or uncover new ones, they will be added.
Questions or link suggestions? Email Don
Home Entertainment Links
Electronics: Receiver and Amplifier Links
Many of the products you will see below are limited production, high-end amplifiers from cottage manufacturers. Many of these products are extremely expensive, often running into tens of thousands of dollars for a simple amplifier. In most cases the performance of these products is beyond reproach, but in real world use no better than much less expensive products. Because of this I do not typically recommend them. If you want really great electronics that deliver the performance of the highest of the high end at a small fraction of the price, check out separate amplifiers and surround processors from Anthem, NAD, Outlaw Audio, Parasound, and Rotel. These products are worth the investment if you have very good speakers that demand lots of power. I use Anthem in my own main system, so I put my money where my mouth is here.
Harman/Kardon ( for stereo receivers)
Speaker Links
Insignia ( for NS-B2111 bookshelf speakers)
Polk Audio ( LSi series and SurroundBars)
The Speaker Company (Especially TST, TSB, TSBL and TSAT speakers)
Television and Projector Links
JVC ( D-ILA Front projectors)
Blu-ray Player, DVD Player and DVD Recorder Links
Insignia (Blu-ray when on sale)
Lexicon (Blu-ray player appears to be Oppo clone at many times the price.)
Sony ( PlayStation 3)
Video Rental Links
Vinyl Links
Turntable Links
Technics ( SL-1200)
Phono Cartridge Links
Phono Preamp Links
Record Cleaner and Accessory Links
Audio/Video Furniture and Speaker Stand Links
Buy your audio/video furniture from companies that specialize in it, not furniture stores. Very rarely are A/V racks sold in furniture stores well ventilated or easy to access from behind, making installation extremely difficult.
Cables, Connections and Speaker Wire
These are easy to classify- it is either snake oil or it is not. Buy good quality, inexpensive cables from the likes of Meritline, Monoprice, etc. and put your savings towards better electronics. This is the biggest, most shameless scam in the industry, or most any industry for that matter.
Headphone and Earphone Links
Table Radio Links
Portable Audio Links
Camcorder and Videomaking Links
Video Camera/Camcorder Links
Editing and Burning Software Links
Photography Links
Camera Links
Quality varies widely amongst models and manufacturers and models, so do your research on the specific model of interest.
Digital SLR Links
It is hard to go wrong with any digital SLR. I like Olympus and Pentax for consumers because of the outstanding consumer-grade lenses and camera-based image stabilization. Canon and Nikon tend to be best for professionals due to the high-end bodies and availability of exotic lenses.
Sigma ( SD14)
Digital SLR Lens Links
Usually the best performance comes from lenses made by the camera manufacturer.
Digital Image Editing Software Links
Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
Camera Service and Repair Links- Coming Soon!
Community and Photo Sharing Sites- Coming Soon!
Computer Links- Coming Soon!
Multimedia Speaker Links- Coming Soon!
GPS System Links- Coming Soon!
Questions? Email Don