GuntherBKK

5 hours ago, J Town said:

Of course, the question on many minds - what about the booze ban?

Extended till May 31 ????

On 6/1/2016 at 3:20 AM, gandalf12 said:

For now I would not buy a hybrid and the reason is the technology is still in its infancy. I would let it mature a few more years then think of buying one.

Its a quite old threat, I admit, but reading this and just could not ignore replying to a false statement like this. Hybrid technology exists on the consumer market since the late 90's and was used in more specific and more professional / experimental applications even before that. The technology is actually very potent and full-grown. Although for Thai market I think they better concentrate on hybrid cars which don't need to be plugged-in. I read a lot of articles about Mercedes and BMW going to offer this types of hybrid cars for Thai market which doesn't make sense at all as most condos / apartments / homes still aren't equipped to do this. 

 

If for anything to be called being in its infancy I would say battery technology is still at that. But hybrid technology is not. This is by the way the technology to let a combustion engine and electric motor work together where the combustion engine also serves as the generator. That is hybrid technology. That this technology relies on batteries is a fact, but battery tech is a whole different thing and yes, it progresses far less speedy compared to the technology where they are being used for. So stating that hybrid technology's Achilles heel is battery tech is far more accurate than stating that hybrid technology is in its infancy

@Jai Dee thank you. Very useful link which I certainly will look into

Although I have always been interested in electronics in general like sound and video equipment I only broke the bank one time to get myself a home theater back in 2001.

 

This setup involved:

 

* NAD T762 AVR

* Panasonic 42" plasma (professional line)

* Totem Dreamcatcher speakers (2 centers, and 4 bookshelves)

* REL Q150E subwoofer

* NAD T550

 

 

Over the course of time I actually never really changed much about this setup, except adding a blu-ray player and replaced the TV after using the plasma for about 10 years. So I guess it is safe to say I am not an audiophile in the sense of having all the latest tech but I do value quality sound and video. 

 

By the end of this year I will move permanently here to Thailand and I figure this move to be the perfect timing to already start delving into the long list of options to buy myself a new, more up-to-date home theater. I will work with a budget of about 80,000 baht to 100,000 baht for the AVR and preferably a 7.1 speaker setup if this is possible within my own criteria, otherwise I might have to opt for a 5.1 or 6.1 again which I really want to avoid because I can certainly hear the difference from a 7.1 system, even in smaller rooms and with cheaper all-in-one sets (talking about the surround effect, not the audio quality and not taking the center sound into account with this comparison)

 

So, what are my criteria? Well, this:

 

* Budget 80,000 to 100,000 Baht

* Not have to import myself

* Speaker set-up need to have full range floor standing / tower speakers as main L and R and very good channel separation so voices actually do come from center speaker

* will be used for 50% movies and 50% music (ambient, jazz, EDM, pop)

* preferably network accessibility and services (I stream a lot from phone, Netflix, Spotify, Popcorn Time, etc)

* ABSOLUTELY NOT A SOUNDBAR !!!

 

 

The problem with the current setup mainly involves the limitations of the Totem Dreamcatcher series as these are tiny speakers speakers and although they deliver top notch in-class sound they fall short compared to full range surround systems. I also feel the center channel is not defining enough which often gives the impression the voices are coming from the front L and R speakers, even after calibrating each separate channel. This might just be because of the NAD receiver or the center speaker isn't all that good. No idea. I just notice the issue. The NAD also falls short on features and realistic connections, yes, even back then I had to opt for a component solution instead of using HDMI. 

I, however did like the soft warm tones of this setup. Even in a living room with materials considered far from beneficial for acoustics it (lots of glass, no carpets, etc) delivered a tender smoothness and the REL is a perfect backup when things need to go deep. The problem however here was the crossover from the tiny speakers to the subwoofer. That is why I want to opt for full range floor standing speakers as the front L and R speaker.

 

I have been looking around here in Bangkok and first thing I already notice is the poor technical knowledge of staff working at places like Power Buy or Power Mall. They care only of trying to sell you something and go straight to the product that needs to be pushed in sales. The moment you throw in your own thoughts they fall through the ice. Then there are places like Home Hi-Fi who have a nice selection of brands but miss many options you can buy outside of Thailand but for some reason not in Thailand (try to find JBL full tower speakers here not included in a set and you will find NONE...unless imported and crazy expensive) and then there are the places that are TOO Hi-Fi like Discovery Hi-Fi to name one :)

 

In Belgium it is very easy to make a selection and criteria and send that information to the Hi-Fi store that then in return will contact you to have a listening session within the boundaries of the criteria you set and with your own listening and viewing material. You can not avoid these sessions to be in an all-perfect acoustic environment but at least you can experience every single combo backed up by someone who actually knows the products they are selling and knows how the products will perform in a real life environment like a living room.

 

So, after writing all of this I will come to the real intent of me writing all this. I need to have information from people who have experience with this in Thailand and have experience with their own AV systems at home. What are your suggestions, what are you using and what are the ups and downs of the system, how would you describe your impression and do you have some other insights which I may have forgotten to think of?

 

At the moment I feel my interest is going towards this:

 

* AVR: Denon or Marantz

* Speakers: 2x full tower full range mains, 1 center and 4 surround speakers from either JBL or Polk...maybe Infinity

* Subwoofer: I really liked the REL but seems hard to get in Thailand and seems Polk comes highly recommended for subwoofer

* Speakers within same series but do not think a subwoofer needs to be from the same line

 

 

So, please feel free to correct me where I might be wrong and all information you can give regarding different sound signature, channel separation, sound quality and AVR / speaker combination (as I expect a Denon AVR combined with JBL or Infinity speakers for instance will surely sound different) will be much appreciated. One last thing, I will be living in Chon Buri so narrow it down to that area if possible

 

I use My Size 64 condoms and I also have the issue of obtaining the correct fit here in Thailand so I just order them through Amazon or Ebay. It takes about 9 business days to get them delivered at your place. Only now I ran into issues with customs / import taxes and I had to read if there maybe were some other alternatives already as I heard last year the government is acknowledging the fact the younger Thai need bigger sizes.

But the quote below isn't true at all. In that regard I haven't stumbled upon anyone refusing to have sex

Just an old threat but I was reading it and adding my thoughts

I agree Ville the correct fit is important nothing worse than spending 5minutes trying to get the damned thing on not to mention breaks. I think your 69mm size must be a different measurement system as 56mm is he maximum here and that's pretty much XL. I would like to see 59 sold but any bigger than that and you ain't going to be having sex with a local anyway.

Hi TomBKK,

I quit being active almost 4 years ago and followed some peoples advice to first check out Thailand and also spend time there with my GF and her family. I've been in Thailand for 3 years (language schools...so easy to have no Visa worries) and have some connections through people from IT-City and graduates who finished their IT studies. Most of these guys need to go abroad to find decent jobs as there are alot of expats taking their jobs with more on-the-level knowledge and skills while the knowledge of these graduates should be more then suffice to be tweaked to Western levels and standards

I value your input quite alot and will surely take a deeper look into the things you wrote down

Thanks

@ Jim

Thanks, will surely do that. Working on this with a 3 year time-window

@ Harrry,

That remark is indeed an interesting point. I was already looking into that as there indeed exist a big difference between a 'training institute' and a school.

Thanks

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I will try to give a better view on what I did here in Belgium the last 9 years as it this similar to that what I was thinking about to do in Thailand

The training institute I worked for was a Microsoft and Adobe certified facility where companies sent their employees to to learn faster and more structured techniques in publishing and advertising. The software we used covered 3 methods to get to an end-product which included a full package that existed out techniques to plan, manage all the different part of the concept into one product and attach commercial channels in it. This was done by database software, design software and a bit of own programming to connect everything as a whole.

However, this was too much of a niche to take it in that format to Thailand so I thought of breaking the pieces down and offer courses in each of the different software fields so more people / employees can benefit from the taken lessons...either persons who are of the beginning of their careers to already seasoned users who still can use a view on the latest techniques or just wish to progress through to a more skilled and thus for a more attractive possible pick for a job they wish or the positions they wish to obtain.

End-users are a whole different ball-game. They prefer short-term courses with much more practical excercises and most of them aren't interested in the whole idea of how a certain software package can get you somewhere...they wish to do why they bought a computer for and within the least amount of time. That is why I also need to break the packages in different pieces...so it becomes more easy to put something together that suits the different markets.

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The reason of a having a location is actually simple. The software, the equipment needed is better kept at one location. Certainly because there are several fields that will be trained. This from short-term courses to courses that will take 6 months, 12 months and 24 months.

I am not the one who will give the lessons. I already know qualified persons and all I will do is give them the chance to keep developing by letting them attend official training courses by the major software companies. Something I did myself.

The reason I ask of the amount of money is because it was thrown at me. Some say 1.000.000 baht and others say 2.000.000. When asking what the deal is about that, the official agencies give me different information as well. I would bring in 2.000.000 baht. I only need to know what licensing, registration, etc costs. Doing it without the BOI will require more control by myself and the Thai market and business structures are a bit...uhm...different to say the least.

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Any difference in the amount of money one needs to have as starting capital?

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Hi James,

I have a quite advanced business plan which included an hierarchy, a fully detailed description of the business, a detailed market strategy including a list of already interested existing companies, an operation strategy but two key elements are still lacking from it, namely a financial strategy and a design and development plan.

I did not think about a cheap internet shop at all as what I was aiming for is far more advanced and too specific and because of that the BOI already noticed there is opportunity in it. They just asked me to work out the training institute more in detail and for now forget about a shop-based business. I wasn't planning on teaching Thai to use a computer...they are perfectly capable of that themselves. My idea goes to other companes who wish to train their employees in several advanced fields of software...going from website design to software programming using todays modern techniques which I took classes for most of my life.

The problem of the Thai educational system is the lack of modern know how and this resuls in alot of foreigners getting expat jobs where I believe Thai's are perfectly capable getting those jobs themselves with the right training and support. Does this means I wil ignore the normal end-user who just like to take a regular 'course' on a short term basis? No, but they will not be the core activity of the training institute.

I am just looking for information about the advantages and disadvantages of certain business types from people who know what they are talking about as setting up a business in Thailand doesn't at all look similar to having one in Belgium...which I had btw but decided the Belgian economy and financial pressure are not worth it anymore and so I shut it down to invest in another region in the world.

So, if you have some constructive information I am always happy to hear about it

Hi all,

I am a Belgian who is interested in starting a business in Thailand, not for fame or glory but simply because of the challenge and interesting economy.

I've been in contact with the Belgian Embassy in Bangkok, Flanders investments & trade counselor in Bangkok, Thailand Board of Investment, The Belgian Embassy in Brussels and the Office for Commercial Affairs and although I am getting bits and pieces together from all of them which are helpfull I still feel there is no real structure in that information so that why I decided to adress myself to people who have experience with starting and managing businesses in Thailand in the hope everything gets more structured and fundamented on facts rather then 'mights' and 'ifs'.

I started out with the idea of opening a shop with extra facilities in training and offering people a drink but the BOI told me that even when it remains possible to do that, the BOI will not approve a business plan with those commercial activities in it as they only wish to support / guide business who come to benefit the Thai economy. There are too many shops already and as for they are not considered a god investment in the Thai economy.

I have ears to this and their advice to forget about a shop and re-direct my focus to the training part of the idea would get me the support of the BOI...this does not mean the case will be approved at once as it still needs to be explained in detail in a business plan that will be send to Hannover, Germany for evaluation and the Thai administration of Economy.

The advantages of getting the support by the BOI are the following: "it is an official quality label, 100% ownership, several tax exemptions, etc..."

The 100% ownership alone is already appealing to me but although I am not sure, I believe I would not be able to apply for a corporate loan. Does anyone know if this applies as the BOI itself did not gave me a clear answer to that and directed me further to The Offoce of Commercial Affair here in Brussels and they, on their turn, direct me to the Belgian Embassy in Bangkok so I am starting to chase my own tail which is not helping or informing me at all.

So, if anyone knows the advantages and disadvantages of being 100% owner, please share!

The other option is to follow a path without the BOI which immediatly means I have to start thinking of a business with share holders. Is this advisable and what do I have to keep in mind with a company based on such structure? My first idea would be my GF and her family but how many share holders I need to search and what do they legally have to bring in the company?

Also, what is the difference in starting capital between those 2 types of businesses and how is this starting capital being treated? Does it need to be on an account or can it be used to build up the company (renting a place, decoration, equippement, etc).

Now, a more practical question which may be a bit too preliminary but nevertheless of importance. How would you all recommend building the business? I mean in terms finding a suitable office, decorate it and get it ready for its opening day. I can imagine this is time can be stretched and weighs heavy on expendures without income...this initially is the reason why I would consider to apply for a corporate loan to bridge the time and costs of setting it up

Thank you,

Gunther