Edwood

OK, my newly upgraded server is up and running finally. I managed to get Vista Business down to around 6GB after drivers installed. Absolute barebones with vLite. Rain into all sorts of Hardware and Software issues. Was a PITA to get it to recognize my old 3Ware 7410 card. Am currently formatting the 3.7TB Array. Going to take quite awhile. Here's the current specs: DFI 855GME-MGF Motherboard Intel Pentium M 765 @2.1GHz 1GB ECC DDR SDRAM Ass Loads of Temperature Controlled Fans Samsung 16GB 1.8" SLC SSD (vLite Vista Business) with 3.5" IDE Adapter Patriot Convoy Dual Drive Holders with 2x 40GB 2.5" Samsungs in RAID 1 (Win2K Back Up OS) 3Ware 7410 with 4x 400GB Seagates in RAID 10 3Ware / AMCC 9550SX with 3x 2TB Seagates in RAID 5 1x 1TB Seagate Back Up drive (eSATA) for 7410 Array 1x 2TB Seagate Back Up drive (SATA) for 9550SX Array 16GB 1.8" Samsung SSD drive is mounted on the side of the drive cage area with stand offs. The 4x 400GB IDE Seagates are at the bottom. The Hot swap enclosure has 3x 2TB Seagates in RAID 5, the 4th drive (the red SATA cable) is the single 2TB Drive that's the Back up drive. I really am not going to miss IDE cables. Ridiculous Cablegami action to fit so many IDE cables in a tight spot. It didn't help that the 64Bit PCI-X slot was in the middle and 3Ware 9550SX card needed it, while the 3Ware 7410 could only fit in the top PCI slot, because the bottom one has the CMOS battery blocking the bottom of the slot. Just for shits and giggles, here's a pic of the very first version of my Server. The 3Ware 7410 and two 400GB Seagates from this original build are still being used today. -Ed

Mine shipped today.

Yes. Angle, seal, and depth have a significant effect. And those are also important with sound quality.

Funny you guys should mention the body proportions of the logo. Jerry said that the boobs were originally larger, but were toned down.

Looks like the lines are filled in completely, unlike mine which have gaps.

Oops, realized that I didn't have the correct close up pic in the previous post. Since I can't edit it, here it is. Close up of Custom Art. It is clear to me that they use an inferior Epilog type laser that does not actually use Vector art to provide a clean outline and is then "filled in". Instead the machine burns horizontal lines like an inkjet printer. Either that, or they are not using their laser etching machine properly. Either way, the artwork quality is subpar IMO.

Pics of Drivers

JH13 Refit #2 vs. Refit #3 comparison pics. Refit #2 on Left, Refit #3 on Right. As you can see the Refit #3 is significantly larger. As a result it seals better. But it's a lot thicker (Inside to Outside, see how much taller it is in the pic below, lots of empty space inside) than it needs to be.

Lots of Pics incoming. ES3X on Left, JH13 Refit #2 on Right. As you can see, they copied the ES3X shell mold exactly. Very nice that they can do that, but I told them specifically NOT to do that, I sent in my ES3X's as a reference for modifying the original pair of JH13's. Original JH13 JH13 Refit #3. Really wish they had done the custom art correctly. Oh well. Close up of Custom Art. It is clear to me that they use an inferior Epilog type laser that does not actually use Vector art to provide a clean outline and is then "filled in". Instead the machine burns horizontal lines like an inkjet printer. Either that, or they are not using their laser etching machine properly. Either way, the artwork quality is subpar IMO.

Keep in mind I'm being very picky, and the sound difference is relative. It's mostly in the soundstage and imaging. The tonality difference is much more subtle. I'd definitely chalk it up to fit differences. It also could be that the treble driver length is slightly longer than the previous one. (looks like about 1-2mm) But it also looks like the ear canal parts are a little longer with #3 than #2, so it might be the same distance to the inner ear anyways. Really wish they had kept my original #1 and made subtle adjustments to the right side like I asked for in the first place, rather than remaking the entire thing. But I guess this is as good as it's going to get. Sending it back again for anything will likely be a case of 1 step forward and 2 steps back. It'll be a roll of the dice of wrong color, wrong fit, missing artwork, incorrect artwork again. -Ed

Been trying to spend as much time as possible with Refit #3 and #2 to compare them before sending one back. Seems like despite the latest one (#3) being so much larger, it's the best fit and comfort so far. Also, I notice that there is a significant difference in sound quality between them. #2 does not fit as well. It doesn't get as perfect a seal as #3, so the bass is slightly less. Also, the angle and depth is different, so imaging is off. Weird part is because of slightly less seal, the treble seems brighter in #2. But soundstage and imaging are significantly more precise in #3. Of course the bass is stronger with #3 since it has a complete seal. Tonality wise, I think I prefer #2 as it seems more neutral with acoustic and classical music. The "proper JH13" sound I'm getting with #3 seems a bit too bass heavy at times. Overall that extra bass is more exciting, but it's a bit too much for pure orchestral music. Of course, the soundstage and imaging of #3 are spot on, so the tonality difference is less of an issue for me. So despite the massive PITA the multiple refits were, sound quality is significantly affected by having a perfect fit. I took a bunch of comparison pics, will post them later when I have the time. -Ed

Is the left side serial number and name initials a light blue or dark blue for the third time?

Halo 3 ODST

Hope mine gets shipped out soon.

Finally got the latest refit today. I can tell they had the ear piece shells SLA'd this time, unlike the last time, which they were definitely UV bath cured. The Left side blue color is a lighter sky blue rather than the dark blue of the previous one. Also the shell has a lightly more satin finish to it, not as clear polished with the standard UV bath cured version JH Audio can make in house (for rush orders). It fits much better, going to have to give it a bit of time to see how comfortable it is for long term use. Seems to be the same as the first pair, only the right side is better. Of course, as you all already know, JH Audio can't take two steps forward without taking a step back. The artwork was not correct this time. They did a thin outline rather than the solid white. Oh well, close enough I'm leaving it alone for fear they'll mess up something worse. Also. my new JH13's have been eating out a lot. The ear pieces are significantly thicker (as in the top half sticks out more). It's nearly twice as thick as the first one. There is so much empty space in there, there's no need for it to be that big. I liked how low profile the original one was. I could lie down on my side, and not really feel the ear pieces being pushed in. The only bonus is that it makes it a bit easier to remove. In my final review, the biggest negative I'll have to post about is the inconsistent QC, and the below average quality of custom artwork. Definitely not worth paying for custom artwork until they get that new printer in eventually. My advice for custom art, is make sure it's very few solid colors, very simple, and it's best to submit vector graphics file. If you are very picky about artwork, just avoid it for now. Fortunately, JH Audio's customer service has a "will get it perfect" policy. Unfortunately that can take awhile (3 months for me), but they'll get there I guess. Honestly, if they didn't sound so awesome, it wouldn't be worth the effort. But in the end, it's all about the sound, right? -Ed

I read less, post less, troll more here.

Still have my Dreamcast. Loved it.

For vLite, which of the following features should I keep? Some are obvious to keep like File and Printer Sharing, but others I'm not so sure. Obviously, Aero Glass must go. _ Aero Glass _File and printer sharing (Server) _Internet Explorer (Internet Explorer, Microsoft HTML Engine) _Internet Information Sharing (IIS) (IIS, Windows Firewall, Internet Connection Sharing, Performance Counters, MDAC) _Recommended (MS HTML engine, Application Experience, SuperFetch, ReadyBoost, TCP/IP NetBios Helper, Network Explorer, Game Explorer, Multimedia Class Scheduler) _Scanners and Cameras _System Restore (Task Scheduler, Volume Shadow Copy, System Restore) _Windows Fax and Scan (Windows Mail, Fax Support, Windows Image Acquisition) _Windows Update (Windows Update, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Component Cache (winsxs), Quality of Service(QoS), IPsec Policy Agent) And then under "Applications" the only one I can see needing is: _DriveimageXML Dynamic Volume Manager

Funny you should mention vLite. I'm currently using it to slipstream SP1 into Vista install right now. Man, it takes a long time. Yeah, I love love love SSD's. I have them on 3 computers now. One desktop client (my 24/7 Bittorrnt'n machine), and in two of my laptops. -Ed

I guess I'd be good with Vista for my Server OS. Only problem is how bloated Vista is. I was going to install the OS on a spare Samsung SLC 16GB SSD I have laying around. -Ed

Oh, and it looks like Backblaze won't allow being used with a Server OS like Windows Server 2008 anyways. Hmmm. I have quite a few Windows XP machines. So, I guess I'm going to have to partition that RAID 5 array into two 2TB Partitions? -Ed

Hmmm. Yeah. I'm going to have two arrays. One 800GB RAID10 and One 4TB RAID5. I'm not an IT professional. Just an Industrial Designer / Graphic Artist with obsessive compulsive computer building habits. One thing I'm trying to avoid is too much baby sitting. Would upgrading to Windows Server 2008 be More Work or Less Work than maintaining just a regular Vista or XP (optimized for background services). I'm guessing the automated back up routines is what would set the dedicated Server OS's from Desktop OS's? I'm not running a database server, just a robust file/media server. -Ed

Since I'll have to reinstall the OS for the Server anyways, should I upgrade to Windows Server 2008? Decent price here: OEM Microsoft Windows Server 2008 5 CAL License No DVD-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com Since it's a license and key code only, looks like I can download the Trial version from here and install it. Windows Server 2008 Trial Software Otherwise, I'd end up using a Windows XP Pro as a Ghetto server. (changing System Properties -> Advanced -> Performance -> Advanced -> Processor scheduling to "Background services") 5 User license should cover all of my needs. How picky is Windows Server 2008 about drivers? Can I just use Regular Vista drivers for various hardware or are WinServer 2008 Specific drivers usually required? Just wondering if I can use just regular non-server oriented hardware (as in mobo's, video cards, etc.) -Ed