I just finished building a dedicated listening room in my new apartment. It took me one year and a half to complete, but it was well worth the wait. I simply love it.
The room size is 14 x 19 x 8 feet.
The room was designed by a company that specialises in acoustic design. Not the popular Rives Audio, since I live in Europe and that would increase the costs of the Level 3 project well past $10k mark, but a reputable local company.
The room acoustics was was first designed in a digital domain and then improved upon with the real world measurements taken during all stages of construction work.
The room is soundproof and - among other things - features soundproof windows, double doors and 11" thick double walls. The measured noise level inside the room is 26dB during the day (measured during rush hours, at 16:00), so it is almost dead quiet.
The room has two dedicated lines, each rated 20A @ 230V, one for analog and one for digital gear. All cables, circuit breakers and mains outlets are of audiophile quality.
MSB DAC IV Signature with Diamond Power Base - replaced the dCS Scarlatti, which served me as my reference for the past 3 yaers.
MSB S200
Fully balanced 200 Watt stereo amplifier. Class A, Zero Negative Feedback design. Fluid, palpable, a bit on the warm side of things. An amazing piece.
Magico S5
New addition to the system. Replaced Wilson Sasha speakers.
MUSA S21T USB
Computer based transport with SOtM PCIe USB card, SOtM sata filter, fanless PSU, fanless i5 CPU, SSD, 8GB RAM and Synology 2x2TB NAS. Running Win 7/64 with Jriver and Jplay.
AudioQuest WEL Signature
Replaced Tara Labs The RS-1 interconnects.
AudioQuest Diamond USB
USB cable.
Shunyata Anaconda Z-Tron
A new model from Shunyata. Replaced van den Tara Labs RS-1 cable.
Shunyata Anaconda CX
I have two of those, powering Dart and dCS.
Pure Power 2000
Battery powered AC Regenerator.
Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference HD09
Top of the range component stand from Finite Elemente, with their resonator technology (3 used). I favour those over a 4-tier Pagode rack, since they do not interfere with soundstage when placed between the speakers.
Finite Elemente Ceraballs
I have two sets placed under my speaker cables. Very unussual location, I agree, but works a treat.
Finite Elemente Cerapuc
I have two sets placed under my speakers. A simply stunning improvement in low-level detail retrival and microdynamics. Worth every penny !
HMS Energia SSDB mains outlets
Two of those finish off my two, 230V/20A, dedicated power lines.
AHP Klangmodul 3+
Audiophile circuit breakers. Gold plated, solid copper contacts. Each of the two dedicated power lines has his own breaker.
ACS Diffusors
Diffusors made by german company Acoustic Control Systems. I have 3 sets of those, one on the rear wall and two on the side walls. As you can see on the pic, the whole part of the rear wall, to which the diffusor is attached, pertrudes 12" into the room.
Custom absorbers
The whole room is fitted with custom absorbers, tuned to specific frequencies. The pic shows one of the six absorbers fitted to the front wall. If you look carefully, you wil notice, that there is an MDF plate with lots of small holes fitted inside, which divides the internal volume of the absorber into two smaller chambers. The sound enters the traps by the front gaps, goes to the first empty chamber and then through the holes to the next chamber, where it can dissipate in a mineral fiber (not fitted on this pic).
Custom diffusors
Set of 5 custom diffusors fitted over the listener's head.
RT-60 curve
This is the RT-60 curve of my room. Black trace is our target curve, blue one is base curve (empty room, no acoustic treatment, no floor), red curve shows how the room responded after ACS diffusors, wooden floor and sand stone were added. Green curve is the most recent one. It is still not perfect, but we are working on it.
Room Frequency Response curve
Room Frequency response. Quite nice if you ask me :-)
Daikin ultra quiet A/C unit
Daikin A/C split system replaced McQuay unit. The difference in noise levels generated by those two units is staggering. Daikin is so quiet (22dB) that you can barely hear it from the listening chair. There are CD-players that generate more noise than this ! The other outstanding feature of this unit is that it can work when outside temp drops to 10'F - so it can be used during winter too.
My hat's off to you, your room is the most tastefully designed (to my modernist loving eyes) I've yet seen. The integration of acoustic controls into the room's architecture is very artfully done, you should be very proud. Please describe the maple finished front wall sound absorbtion system's construction for us, I'm very curious. Thanks for sharing this with us.
System edited: I have just completed the front wall construction - we have added a custom made and custom designed absorbtion panels, made in maple finish. I have also upgraded my 12 months old McQuay A/C split system to ultra silent Daikin unit from Japan. The difference in noise levels generated by those two units is staggering. Daikin is so quiet (22dB) that you can barely hear it from the listening chair. There are CD-players that generate more noise than this ! The other outstanding feature of this unit is that it can work when outside temp drops to 10'F - so it can be used during winter too.
Oh, them. The Audio Aero amps. The 50W push/pull model or their 40W Prestige momoblocks. As I can't get hold of them in my end of the world too easily I would value an opinion from someone with a similar system.
Please do not take an offence from my remark regarding your 'empty' room. As said, it looks fantastic! What I was trying to say was that I got the best sonic improvements in my system not by changing components but by carefully tweaking the room acoustics (after starting out with a room close to reference dimensions).
Jaspar - please explain what "them" you are reffering to.
As for the room acoustics - it is almst perfect right now (look at the RT-60 graph) - not too lively, not too damped. Just right. It may look (and is) empty, but the room acoustics is shaped here by a combination of absorbers/difusers, not by pieces of furniture. Adding a thicker rug would probably make the room over damped.
Hi elberoth2, a very nice setup you have. I'm pretty much in the same boat allthough I do not tend to change my gear very often. The last two years I was running the Eidolons on Pass X350 and a AA Capitole CD in a custom build room about the size of yours. When I was setting up the system I also bought a new CAT JL2 amp and was very satisfied with the musical outcome. Much better soundstaging than the Pass and a lot more musical. Probably the best I have heard in my own room. But that monster amp burned(!) out twice within six months and I don't dare to put it on any more. But what made me consider tubes in the first place was the AA Capitole amp I trialed on my previous rig. Did you ever have a chance to audition them in your system? Btw, your room looks beautiful. It seems a bit empty though. My room acoustics improved a lot after putting a persian rug and some shelving on the side walls and dampening the rear wall a bit as well.
I recently purchased an Orpheus Zero transport to go with my Reimyo DAC, it sounds amazingly natual and beautiful. You may want to look into its player, transport, and DAC.
System edited: Sold the AA capitole player. I'm currently running Krell KPS-20i that I borrowed from a friend. The search of the Capitole replacement is still runing. So far, I have tried AA Capitole Reference, AA Capitole Reference Signature/SE, EMM Labs CDSD/DCC2 and MBL 1531. I have to say that the last one was head and shoulders above the rest (and is was NOT the most expensive of the lot) and I may end up getting this one eventually. I also added some new pics. The wall behind the speakers IS NOT ready yet. Stay tuned.
Elberoth2, My system is very similar to yours (Lamm 1.2, BAT 51SE, B&W 800 Sig.). As for PC, you should try the new version Shunyata Helix. Try the Python Alpha Helix's on your Lamm's (make sure you have a 20a delicated to each of your Lamm's), you will be amazed. Also, Hydra8 has 4 analog connectors and 4 digital connectors. Connect your digital gears to the digital connectors on the Hydra8, you will gain some ambience information and HF-air.
I know that AA is now a bit behind both Avalons and Lamms, but it also is the oldest piece in my system. I'm currently selling it. I already have a new AA Capitole Reference at home, which is a bit better sounding. It is on dealer loan, 'cos I also want to try the Reference Signature and SACD Prestige before I hit the trigger. A friend of mine also promised to bring his EMM DCC2/CDSD, so I can see where I am right now.
As for PC - I have tried both Anaconda Vx and Python Vx on my source components (I didn't have the high current versions to try them on my Lamms; besides I only got one of each). I didn't like the sound all that much, really. They lacked some ambience information and HF-air to my ears. I have also tried Supra LoRad, Fadel, AQ NRG-5, Acoustic Zen Gargantua II, Cardas Golden Reference, Nordost Valhalla and Tara Labs The One. Of all the cables I have tried, on AA I clearly prefered TL The One and that is what I'm using right now.
The BAT pre and Lamms are now powered with Valhallas. They are my preferable chioice here. In fact, those are BY FAR the best PCs I have tried on BAT and Lamms. Too bad they are on dealer loan and cost THAT much. When I'm done with my CDP, I will have to start saving for Valhallas.
For now the venerable AQ NRG-5 will have to do. They didn't make a synergistic match with AA (here I can agree with you 100%), but on the Lamms they sound not bad at all. Clearly not as good as Valhallas, but listenable. They were 5x cheaper afterall.
Very nice system, well thought out, great room, very nice source, there are some tweaks available for the AA player you use which take it to a much higher level of redbook cd playback ... if interested let me know and I can share my experiences.
Also I would urge you to consider swapping the NRG-5's ... they really don't do justice to that gear ... I have used the NRG-5 extensively in the past and found that their greatest strength lies in video applications ... projectors, TV's, video processors and the like.
I understand that you are not a shunyata fan, but if you ever consider the best powercords money can buy you should definitely try to audition an Anaconda Vx on the player ... it absolutely smoked ANY powercord I've ever tried against it ... I'm not exagerating ... comparisons against Audioquest NRG-5, Cardas Golden Reference, Revelation Audio Precept and Precept II, Electraglide Epiphany and Elrod Statement II were all very one sided. If you don't wish to go for shunyata pc's there are other companies out there that can offer similar performance: Elrod (in conjunction with Sound Applications Linestages), Transparent Audio (in conjunction with their powerconditioners), Electraglide, Maganan Cable (fabulous for half the price of the big names) and Revelation Audio Labs (the Precept in particular is very good bang for the buck but has some silver sonic characteristics in the highs, possibly the only drawback for my tastes).
I hope you don't take my post the wrong way ... I really think you have a fabulous system but I can see one serious obstacle in getting the real performance out ... and I just wanted to share my opinion with you.
Luke72 - well the room is almost done. We are still missing some diffusors/absorbers on the wall behing the speakers. We chave choosen the idea of small steps - we measure things, design a few new bits, measure again, analyse how it affected the sound quality, do some changes, measure again and so on, and so on. It is a time consuming process, but so far I'm very pleased with the outcome.
I have already the system up and running in that room.
do you think that the new room will be ready soon ? Are you now listening with your system or all is packed and stored apart ? Last, where are you located in Europe ?
System edited: Added latest RT-60 graph. Black trace is target curve, blue is base curve (empty room, no acoustic treatment, no floor), red curve shows how the room responded after ACS diffusors, wooden floor and sand stone were added. Green curve is the most recent one. It is still not perfect, but we are working on it.
System edited: I have added some new pictures. This time only side and rear wall since the front wall (and ceiling) is still not finished. BTW - The Lamms are doing great. The are much better tan BAT VK-150SE, Nagra VPA & PMA, Krell FPB-700cx and Classe M400 I tried before getting the Lamms.
How is the room coming ... I am not sure are you actually listening to music in the room yet ?? I would love to see more up to date pix. How are the Lamms working out ?
Congratulations! I have seen from another thread that you have tried a lot of amps so I hope you will be happy with this one. Looking forward to hear your comments when they have played some time, and also how you think the Lamms are compared to all of the other stuff you've tried.
Looks like it could be one of the stellar Audiogon rooms, once it is finished. I suspect a room of this calibre is going to be calling out for vinyl pretty soon !!!
Hi Elberoth, very imposing, the room will be something special. Congratulation. You asked me for the Shroeder D. photos. If you want, I can send you on your mail. Can I ask you, where are you living now.
