I'm now solidly middle aged and have been an enthusiast since my first system when I was 14; Kef C-80's, Carver 900 Receiver and Carver CD player with Sonic Hologram technology.
Years ago (about 10, pre-kids) I had a killer top tier system. Talon Firebirds, Tenor Audio 150hp amps, Vac Ren Sig mk II with phono, MF Trivista CD, Teres Table with Graham arm, Ricks Rack Rack. I listened almost every day and it made my soul happy and content. Then I had kids, moved, and my practice got crazy busy and I lost my free time and sold my entire system except for my table/arm combo.
It's been way too long now and I am finally building a whole new system. I have been speaking with Guido and several other great guy/audio resources to help me re-start my search. I started doing a lot of listening.
I purchased the Veritas amps and 2 pre-amps to compare; a Levinson 326s (with phono stage) and a Rowland Capri S2 with PL1 external power supply. The amps and pre-amps are sitting on my floor and on amp stands. Lonely. Not connected. Sigh.
I auditioned a number of speakers (TAD Evo 1/Ref 1, Kef 207/2, Revel Salon 2, Vienna The Muzik, Sonus Faber Ellipsa SE) and decided on The Muzik's. Guido was rather happy with that choice. Happy to add thoughts on the other speakers if anyone asks. The Muzik's are arriving Friday. Yay!!!
FYI - Stay away from European sellers. I got snubbed and lost a boatload of money on an attempted purchase of Faber Amati Futura's. Buy from Europe only through PayPal. NO wires!!! He had good feedback and solid references.
I also just purchased an Adona SR4 (4 shelf) rack with oversized top shelf for my turntable, a Teres Audio with Graham 2.2 arm and Denon MC cartridge. Currently using an Electrocompaniet ECP1 phono stage. Rack will be here in 2 weeks. Yay again!! Great people at Adona by-the-way.
Source is a PS Audio Perfectwave 2 DAC being fed by a Core Audio modified Mac Mini running iTunes and Amarra via a Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB cable.
Cables are Shunyata Z-tron Anaconda XLR from DAC to pre and pre to amps, Audience AU-24SE bi-wire 1.5m speaker cables and a Shunyata Z-tron Alpha digital power cord for the DAC and the high level stock PC's that came with the Veritas amps.
Still need a better PC for the pre-amp, and deciding on power conditioning. Currently running an old PS Audio Duet with the pre, DAC, phono and table power. It's actually a great conditioner performer for what it is.
And with ALL of that, I haven't heard it all together! Sigh. But in 2 weeks, music will flow.... Then I can start rejoicing and commenting on the gear and what, if anything, needs to be changed. But I needed to start somewhere and I think I'm starting off pretty darn nicely. :)
External power supply. Running Amarra software with iTunes. Using Atomic Mac Mini isolation platform.
Aurender N10
Borrowed until I decide what will stay permanently.
Davinci Light Harmonic 2
This DAC does everything better then any other DAC I have ever heard, at any price.
Empirical Audio Over Drive SX
Hand made Hynes Regs CUTF Coupling Caps
Burmester Audio 077 with internal power supply
With built in DAC. Simply stunning performance and a heavenly match with the 911
Burmester Audio 911 mk3 monoblocks
Factory wired monoblocks with 770 watts into 4 ohms.
Dynaudio Consequence Ultimate
This is Dynaudio's true Flagship speaker. It is quite special and I have heard very little that offers its full dynamic range, tonal accuracy, palacial soundstage, subtlety and refinement. And nothing else at this size. It fills my smallish room, but doesn't overload it.
Just Wow!
Shunyata Z-Tron Anaconda XLR Interconnects
Connects DAC to pre-amp and pre-amp.
Shunyata ZiTron Anaconda S XLR Interconnects
8.5m XLR stereo run from pre-amp to monoblock amps
Analysis Plus Inc. Big Silver Oval
5' run.
These are amazing value and mesh seamlessly with my system.
Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB
USB - the best there is
Shunyata Z-Tron Cobra Power Cord
1 running to each monoblock
Shunyata Z-Tron Alpha Power Cord
DAC and SACD power cord.
Audio Magic Oracle Power Conditioner
Fully loaded with Audio Magic magic!
Shunyata Hydra AV
Power conditioner
Stillpoint Ultra 5
4 for each speaker
Adona SR4
Audio rack.
Adona Nemisis ALGC
Audio rack
Square D 125 amp 20 breaker sub-panel
70 amp GE double breaker from the main GE commercial panel running through a 4/3 Romex to this 20 breaker sub-panel. Five dedicated 20 amp circuits all running off the same Line in the sub-panel to keep phase constant.
Environmental Potentials EP-2750 & EP-2050
EP-2750 on each dedicated circuit - ground filter
EP-2050 on first 2 breakers of dedicated panel - surge protection and waveform correction.
Furutech GTX Rhodium Outlets
Doesn't get much better then these.
Edison Home Model A Cylinder Phonograph : 1902
One of the earliest model phonograph with horn output and 2 minute hand crank play time.
Victor Victrola VV-IX-A Talking Phono: 1918
Hand crank Talking Phonograph Machine with analog box horn
RCA Radiola III : 1923
One of the first personal radios available. Used two WD11 tubes: one for reception, one for amplification for the headphones. Battery powered.
Philco - Ford R-90 Cathedral AM/FM Radio : 1986
Transistor replica of an early 30's tube radio manufactured for True Value hardware as a gift in the late '80's.
GE Model P977E AM/FM Radio : 1967-1973
This was the same model as my first, ever, handheld radio. Battery or AC powered.
I ran 4 20amp dedicated lines. 10 gauge wire. 2 up front - 1 for each amp 2 into a double gang behind the rack. Analog and digital as far my thoughts go....
Matt, I would probably run multiple 20A lines for your system.... On first blush, I would put each Veritas on its own circuit. One circuit for MacMini, and one for the DAC.... And a few lines to spare. Does not really matter where you put Criterion... It is mostly insensitive to AC and PCs. G.
11-11-14: Mattnshilp It's a basement room. Not concerned about isolation.
the clips can be used on ceilings as well to prevent vertical transmission. My room is also in the basement, and that was key for peace in my homestead....
It's a basement room. Not concerned about isolation. The room acoustics, size and shape were designed by Rives Audio, I trust them. Any corners will be address with treatments. Thanks.
I'll definitely look into the wiring suggestions, and I ran cat6. It's the same price, although everything is wireless these days....
I also ran a 3 wire thermostat lead to the center of the ceiling if I ever decide to put low voltage LED's behind my ceiling treatments.
Acoustic insulation is a bit heavier/more dense to reduce airflow and subsequent sound transmission.
Thanks guys!
Zephyr- my house already has a whole house surge protection system installed in the main panel. Do I need to install the one you suggested on my dedicated sub panel? Where did you get your AC supplies from ? Sub-panel? Outlets? Etc?
The clips as Andrew stated work. I laid out a room which had mother in law quarters above. The family still gets along. The door is also key as one that seals in the pressure and spl will be best for those in or out of the room. Tom
From the two photos I see posted I would eliminate or reduce all the ninety degree angles in the room. You should look for smooth flowing angles in ceiling corners and even at the floor wall intersection. You should consider the same along the lengths of all the ceiling and wall junctions. The ceiling enclosures for lighting and HVAC should also have no ninety degree angles. Consider the shapes and profiles of your audio room as a aerodynamic F1 racer instead of a late 70's over the road 18 wheeler that was very much a blunt instrument to move air out of its way. With these ideas in mind you will be less inclined to reduce dynamics with the introduction of multiple acoustic panels. Have great success in all your audio adventures. Tom
I'd consider doing the wiring with one of these instead of a standard 10ga Romex http://www.cardas.com/3x10_power.php http://jpslabs.com/powercord.shtml#paciw http://oyaide.com/ENGLISH/AUDIO/products_category/power_cord/pg46 6.html
I'd also suggest running Cat6a rather than Cat5. http://www.belden.com/products/connectivity/copper/10gx-cable.cfm
And lastly I really like the Oyaide R1 outlets http://www.vhaudio.com/oyaide-r1.html
Thanks Goose. I'm concerned about that with a primary duct in my ceiling. But on the upside, it's a very wide conduit so resistance should be low. I'm insulating the crap out of that area.
What do you mean by "acoustic insulation"? I had spray foam shot into the joints and nooks and crannies and it can work well. Also, if noise isolation is a priority, you can also consider floating the green glued drywall on these clip systems: http://www.cascadeaudio.com/commercial_residential/sound_isolation_clips.htm
Cascase is a good company and engineer owned and run.
They also have solutions for the door: http://www.cascadeaudio.com/commercial_residential/soundproof_door.htm
Matt, The HVAC could be a source of noise. When we were building my brother's recording studio the solution was to build a series of boxes in-line where the duct work would come into and go out of. These boxes were lined with 703 insulation and did the trick. I'm sure there are other solutions, but this was cheap, easy and effective. Good luck.
You have one hell of a great project and room going there; welcome back! Please check out my posts on my system thread and elsewhere viz. power conditioning with the Bybee v3.0 and Environmental Potentials Line Regeneration and Ground Filter modules (all separate products) and power cord journeys and results with Elrod's latest generation of products. Happy Listening! That is going to be a beautiful room....
System edited: Just posted early construction pictures. Room is in basement. I marked out my utility outlets and dedicated circuit outlets. 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits: 2 dedicated 20 amp outlets in a Double gang box behind the rack on the side (next to the listening chair). 1 for analog and 1 for digital. 2 dedicated 20 amp outlets on the front wall, each for a monoblock 1 dedicated 20 amp circuit on the opposite wall to the rack just in case... Dedicated circuits running to a separate sub-panel that will eventually be converted to an Equitech balanced sub-panel. All dedicated lines are 10/2 and are pre-measured to the exact same length. There are also utility outlets for code and for anything else I may need (up lights, led lights, accessories, etc). They are totally separate and run at least 12" away from the dedicated circuit wire for their entire home run, to the house circuit box on their own 20 amp circuit. I am also putting a wired cat5/Ethernet cable behind the rack on the side. I don't think there is a need for any more (unless someone thinks I should put one on the front wall). There will be 4 small pendant lights hanging from the 9' ceiling down to 7.5'' and 2 LED high hats in the lower rear soffit. The room is framed with 2x4's and the rock will be glued and screwed (Green Visco-elastic glue). Double layer 5/8" rock with glue between. Walls with standard house insulation, ceiling with acoustic insulation. Thin glued down basement carpet will be replaced with nice padding and a comfortable berber. Acoustic treatments will be a combo of GIK and Vicoustics. I am waiting for final suggestions from both. Please offer suggestions and criticism ASAP as I have 2 weeks to run my wire and do anything else behind the rock before it's rocked and buried.
Construction to begin this Friday final sizing: 15' x 18.5' x 9' The last 4'8" of ceiling will have to drop 18" to accommodate HVAC and a support structure in the ceiling. No side soffits, just the back ceiling drop.
My room will use a combination of GIK treatments and Vicoustics treatments. I am waiting for final recommendations from both companies to decide how I will proceed.
I am still currently enjoying the Burmester loaners (077 and 911). They are leaving next Thursday and I will be very sad to see them go, although I am in now way suffering with the Veritas mono blocks and Rowland Criterion pre-amp. But my Ferrari (Veritas/Criterion combo) has been outclassed by a Bugatti (Burmester gear).
The K-01 is in its last days of break in and I will post a formal comparison next week on my DAC thread.
I also finally got the built in DAC in the Burmester working, so I'll try that out as well
All for now. I'll post some pics when I can of the room going up.
Matt, that is exciting news. Your ceiling height is a good thing. A stepwise approach is indeed the way to go. I have heard one too many "dedicated," engineered rooms sound like mausoleums.
Simple things can have a lot of impact like a wool rug, choice of furniture, and speaker positioning. Proper speaker placement has incredible impact, is a two or three man job, and is often bungled. Even cheap, best buy grade speakers can sound good dialed into a room.
There are some tweaky, fringe products that can have impact such as the resonator bowls....enjoy.
2nd vote for the simpler approach to room treatments. You can judge each step along the way. It's true , acoustic room treatments can be over done or too ambitous as well. Good Luck, Charles,
Mattnshilp, love your system, especially the Esoteric gear and computer transport. That Rowland preamp looks stunning! If it sounds half as good as it looks you got a winner.
In terms of room treatments, I would also lean towards the latter and go simple. I am sure a full Rives design would be great but for the cost I think you can get some great improvements going the route of premade treatments. I recently added bass traps and was floored by the improvements. I am slowly adding more. My next move will be to treat the 1st reflection points. Needless to say I am very happy with the improvement I heard.
Good luck and looking forward to seeing what you do.
deciding if I want to go full court press with Rives Audio's design which includes fully treated walls, baffles and radiused diffusors (all custom built) or go with a more simple room with bass traps, pre-made diffusors and baffles.
Im actually leaning to wards the latter. I have heard more then once that Rives rooms can be overdone... And its always easy to add more later if I need...
Best quote ever - "My greatest fear is that I die and my wife sells my stuff for what I told her I paid for it..."
Matt, You have great wife indeed. Don't know why I ended up where I am but I am managing. Is your wife going to sell the Veritas once you find another amp because I am sure you don't tell her the full msrp?
