Building around Wilson Alexandria

by bflowers on All Out Assault

Description

I wrote the comments below years ago. I will keep them for a while as a reminder of my newbie thinking at the time. This hobby is a series of plateaus. I have reached a new one with my current gear. Having a lot of fun.

Have made quite a few changes to this system as my fledgling knowlege of audio has begun to mature. I still have a long way to go...in the knowlege department! I probably won't change components for a while. My goal is best possible 2 channel playback with secondary theater application. Have dedicated room 24 x 17 x 11. There are 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits. My recent focus has been on minimizing negative effects from the room. I have recently added ASC tube traps behind the main speakers and in the ceiling behind the listening position. The most interesting thing I did was to cut a 50x12" hole in the double sheetrocked wall behind the main speakers. There is a large floor to ceiling enclosed cavity that I filled with fiberglass. Then we covered the opening with an ASC custom built sound plank with an open back. The other issue I have worked on feverishly is speaker placement. Getting that right really improved clarity. timbre, and air. Before there was a bit of "congestion" in the sound. Finally, the bass trapping did more for the quality of the bass than I would have expected. Now I have zero bass boom; very tuneful low frequency. Nothing is perfect, but I (with the help of many others!!), have really achieved an outstanding quality of 2 channel music reproduction. Maybe now it's time to focus on the theatre side for a while.
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Components Toggle details

    • Wilson Audio Alexandria X2 Series 2
    Aspen Silver
    • DCS Vivaldi
    Transport, DAC, Upsampler, Clock
    • Boulder 2060
    Stereo amp used with Wilson Maxx 2
    • Boulder 2010 Preamp
    Replaced 1012 DAC/pre. Similar neutral sound with significantly more detail yet musical.
    • Goodwins Silent Server Server
    Custom server for High Rez downloads. Connected to an 8Tb NAS drive
    • Wilson Audio watch
    center channel
    • JL Audio Fathom F113
    Pair of stereo subs. excellent quality. Integrates well with the Wilsons
    • Theta Digital Casablanca 3
    with extreme DAC'c
    • Oppo BDP-95
    DVD/Blu-Ray
    • Balanced Audio VK 250SE Mono
    Center channel amplifier. Replaces BAT VK 110 mono. Sounds great and not nearly as hot.
    • Balanced Audio vk-220
    SOLID STATE for surrounds (pair)
    • B&W SCM-8
    side and rear channels
    • Transparent Audio Opus MM2 Speaker cable
    12 ft pair. Great synergy with my equipment
    • Transparent Audio Opus MM2 Interconnect
    2 ft pair from preamplifier to amplifier.
    • Nordost Odin
    analog interconnect from Vivaldi DAC to preamp
    • MIT MA-X Digital Proline
    3 Digital cables, Vivaldi Transport to Upsampler and Upsampler to DAC
    • Tara Labs Zero digital
    Stereo Pair from Vivaldi Transport to Vivaldi DAC for SACD. Clearly one of the best digital cables made
    • Tara Labs The One XL Cobalt Power Cable
    On pre-amp, and all Vivaldi components
    • Tara Labs 0.8
    balanced 50 ft interconnect run to right and left channel preamp from Theta casablanca
    • Kimber Hero interconnect and speaker cable
    balanced from processor to center channel amp and from amp to center
    • Running Springs Jaco
    power conditioner on theater front end
    • Sound Application RLS-1
    Very transparent. I used this in the past with my Maxx 2's than changed for the Audience AR6T. The Sound app is better on the alexandrias.
    • Sound Application Brass Alloy Power Outlets
    Highly conductive modified Hubbell outlets. Remarkably better that the PS Audio. Used on 2 channel front end and amps.
    • PS Audio Power Port
    Modified Hubbell power outlets used in 2 dedicated circuits on theater front end.
    • Pagoda Finite Element Master Reference
    Rack for Pre amp and transport. Also master reference amplifier stand for Boulder 2060.
    • ASC Tube traps
    This photo shows 16" full rounds behind Maxx's. Recently added a second pair of 16" super traps behind speakers. Unbelievable improvement in imaging. Can't understate the difference this made. The panel on the rear wall covers a 12" by 50" hole cut into the sheetrock which allows low frequency to pass into a floor to ceiling enclosed cavity which is filled with fiberglass. Homemade (sort of) bass trap. There are also 3 16" half rounds on the ceiling behind the listening position.
    • Sony SXRD
    1080p projector
    • Room Acoustics Custom
    Custom designed combination of diffusors and absorption covered in fabric on walls and ceiling.

Comments 146

Showing all comments by dgad.

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Bflowers,

The Omegas have a cotton based shield, while the Omega golds are pure teflon. The Omega golds are supposed to be a bit more dynamic but also not as "warm" as the Omega Onyx from what I was told. If you purchased them from Tara or a dealer they will work w. you and maybe give you the increased amount of conductors in a cotton core. I know someone w. Maxx IIs who has this setup & prefers the teflon though. So it all depends on the system. You can't go wrong asking. I am in the "anti" power conditioner camp. I just don't want to go there unless it is for surge protection. I have heard slight differences but nothing major. Mind you the units you mention have been reported to me to be beyond excellent so I am just being stubborn, but these days I am much more careful as the economy has taken a toll on me.

dgad

Bflowers,

I don't like your answer about the Golds. That is not what i wanted to hear in this economy. I am sure they are that good. On a different note, I am a firm believer in software over hardware. Where vinyl wins is that there is more excellent vinyl out there than high res downloads (yet) and where SACD wins is when it is done right (only about 10% of my collection) CD is left in the dust. The remainder is better the CD on the EMM but on the new PC
Audio rig is yet to be determined. I would suggest your decision is a combination of convenience and what music is out there. You are commited to a great brand for vinyl (Boulder phono is amazing) so the incentive is there. If you need to come & compare one day you are welcome in Sunny Aruba. Just no X2.2s for you to listen to here. And honestly, I would rather save my shekels for the 2.2s and skip to Golds for now. I think the return on the $ is probably more than any move besides a move that gets you more access to music.

dgad

I was thinking about the Golds for a while but I changed my priorities recently and am getting close the a PC Audio setup. Basically the price of a cable upgrade. From what I understand they are just more of what the Onyx do. You should love them. Especially with high power amps.

dgad

Bflowers,

I am using a pair of Tara Cobalts myself. Very good, but the Elrod was just as good but different. The Cobalts are in my system "more dynamic" the Elrods more musical. I love both. Having the Tara on tubes adds a bit more punch in the low end, but the highs were more euphonic w. the Elrods. More detail w. the Taras but less warmth. I find it a lot of money for small changes, when I should save and do what you did. I need to learn to be patient for the big move.

dgad

Beautiful system. Besides impulse, what tempted you to upgrade from Maxx IIs to X2.2s? Did you compare them side by side to Maxx IIIs or was it just the deal?

I myself am tempted by the upgrade but got a few different plans for this year. In the quest for amplification alternatives for my Maxx IIs it is difficult for me to find one amplifier that does it all. For me the ideal is the VTL 750s for now. But on the Maxx IIs they could use even more power. The Alexandrias or Maxx IIIs would be fine w. the 750s. In the Solid State world, my short list includes Boulder, MBL 9008a's (a little warmer than most SS), Pass XA100.5s, and finally Spectral. Something special about Spectral (and for the price it is a true steal even at list) but you need to do the entire system & it would shut me down from playing around. (good or bad?). I read about your attempt of the Lamms. From what I have heard from different people, in some systems it is fine and in others it is not enough power.

Enjoy!!!

What is nice about the 2.2s is you can actually get away with less power. And even in Solid State less power can be better.

dgad

Bflowers,

Can you post some more pictures of your room to see the results of the room treatement? thanks in advance.

dgad

If your subwoofer integrates seemlessly w. your Maxx IIs then I suggest you move your Maxx IIs well out off the rear wall. It sets the image free and lets the speaker breathe. Bass will suffer slightly but the subwoofer crossed over at below 30Hz should solve it.

In my opion over damping a room is worse than an a slightly live room. Music looses life. Ceiling and wall treatment at the points of reflection is critical. This is done by placing a mirror along the wall & seeing your tweeters for each speaker while seated if I remember correctly. Then using a wall panel to damp it. Double check but I think I have it right. Also use corner busters in the ceiling / wall junction. Great improvements as it stops the "horn" effect. Your image will stabilize and differences will become more apparent.

The Wilson WASP system works fine. You need the help from a friend to talk & walk towards you & you can easily hear the "nasality" of the sound free from the side & rear walls to determine your neutrality zones, reference your seating position. Working inside the zone is just fine tuning. Try running your subwoofer full range w. the Wilsons & turning it on & off. You can determine if you like the effect. For me in my room a sub is a must. Who would think and neither would Wilson but the room dimensions make the difference.

dgad

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