Very impressed with my Bose Companion2 computer speakers.

[madfloridian]

At $99 it was the most I had paid for speakers. I had the good quality Harman Kardan on my other computer, and they are still great...but old.

I have an old Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge CD. I had given up listening to it because of the quality. I have ripping some old albums to WMP 12 on my new computer. I decided to try the Breakaway CD. I was really impressed. It sounds really good, though not top quality...but enough to be enjoyable.

This was their 2nd album when they were together in the 70s. I am trying to find the other two...Full Moon and can't find out what the other was.

[Mnpaul]

1. I bought a used Logitech Z-5300 system

From a pawn shop for $50. It had two blown speakers. I replaced the two and now have awesome sound. The sound is better than many home systems.

As for the sound on your ripped CD, I'm thinking the quality of the sound may be limited by the onboard sound hardware. If you don't have an aftermarket sound card installed, that may be the weak point in your recording.

[csziggy]

2. The other Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge album

1978 Natural Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Coolidge#Albums_with_Kris_Kristofferson

It's listed on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Kris-Kristofferson-Rita-Coolidge/dp/B000007U71

[madfloridian]

3. Thanks I did see that this morning on a search.

Finally got on the very very slow Emusic site, and they do not have that album.

24 dollars is probably too much to pay, but they are two of my favorites...and it is the last one they have in stock.

Thanks so much for the link. I had looked before but didn't see it till this am.

[csziggy]

4. There are other vendors on Amazon that have it cheaper

Worth checking out if you want the album.

[madfloridian]

5. I checked out a few of them.

I often order used books that way. But the postage seemed prohibitive. Very high for just a cd.

I have been amazed at the used books I can get there. I ordered some from a vendor with USA in its name, but turns out the books came from Australia. Amazing postage, quick delivery.

They were in great shape.

[csziggy]

6. You do have to be careful with some of the vendors

I have in the past located the items and vendors on Amazon, but then contacted the vendor directly to actually order. Sometimes the Amazon link gives lower shipping, sometimes not.

For an item I wanted as a gift, through Amazon the S&H was twice the cost of the item. When I went directly through the vendor's website, they had a S&H discount that brought it to reasonable levels. I figure they have to give Amazon a big cut if the click comes through them. I don't mind cutting out Amazon and letting all the money go to the smaller vendors.

[madfloridian]

7. Good idea. Did you use the contact seller link to do that?

Several times I have decided against buying because of the postage. I love Prime, but sometimes the price is too high for it...and I go with a seller with minimal postage.

[csziggy]

8. No, usually I can find the vendor's own website by searching

A few of the vendors don't have independent web sites - one I called and told them I had seen certain books listed on Amazon, but wanted them to have all the profit.

I do compare the shipping & handling. Some places have exorbitant rates and I avoid those. The companies that I like and that have their own websites, I keep in my bookmarks so I can check out what they have. The problem is that most don't have very good search engines, so it is more efficient to find the items through Amazon, then go the vendor site to purchase.