erik_squires's System

by erik_squires on

Description

This is a combined Home Theater and stereo system. The TV, Anthem HT receiver and Luxman integrated play exceptionally well together both in terms of remote control use and in terms of sound quality.

The GIK visualizations are ideas and for reference of a good target state.
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 17’ × 13’  Medium
Ceiling: N/A

Components Toggle details

    • Butcher Block Acoustics Rigidrack
    42" wide, 20" deep.
    Maple top, walnut ends.
    • Luxman 507ux
    110 wpc integrated.  This was probably the last new-in-box model in the US, and since I picked it up I got an amazingly good discount.
    • Mytek Brooklyn DAC
    This is the original.  MQA disabled because I don't like the apodizing filter.

    Power provided by iFi wall wart.
    • Raspberry Pi 4 Roon endpoint
    The Mytek DAC is fed via USB from the Pi 4 which runs the Roon client on top of Ubuntu 20. Power supply provided by iFi wall wart.
    • Squires SNR-1
    Custom built 2-way, ported speakers featuring Mundorf AMT tweeters and ScanSpeak Revelator 6.5 woofers.  Cabinet by Lee Taylor of TaylorSpeakers.com . Speaker design by owner.

    Crossover uses Clatiry CMR or CSA caps, mills resistors and Jantzen inductors.  There's a separate picture for those.

    The end tables under the speakers hold the passive crossover components in the drawer. Originally had planned to build little boxes but after 3 moves the speaker and end tables have become one.
    • Anthem MRX 540 HT Receiver
    Uses ARC from the TV as well as direct from the UHD player.  Significantly better sounding than the AVM 50 even before room correction was applied.

    L and R go to Luxman receiver while surround and center are powered from the Anthem.
    • LG Electronics UBK90
    UHD 4K BluRay disk player.  The user interface is totally from the Commodore 64 days of graphics design.  Extremely basic.  I really wish Oppo was still making BD spinners.
    • Furman Elite 15i
    This powers the video stack.
    • Furman PL-PLUS DMC
    This powers the stereo stack.  Both conditioners are powered from same breaker, but different outlets.  Keeps the cables tidy. A slight modification in the sensor circuit has improved the voltage reading accuracy to within 1 volt.
    • GIK Acoustics Soffit bass trap
    Rectangular corner traps.  Really amazing performance under 100 Hz.
    • GIK Acoustics Acoustic Panels
    2 x red standalone panels. 3 Ivory panels.
    • LG Electronics 65" OLED TV
    • IsoAcoustics Aperta 200 Speaker Isolation Stands
    These stands are letting me tilt the speakers.  Truth is that they sound better below the tweeter axis.
    • Furman M-8x AVR
    Big iron AC voltage regulator.  Keeps my VAC between 118V and 122V at all times.  This is the first power conditioner after the wall, then it feeds the Furman PL-PLUS I use for the analog stack. 
    • iFi Audio Power
    I use 2 iFi wall warts in my system.  A 12V/1.8A unit for the DAC and a 5 V unit for the Pi 4 I use as a streamer.  I don't think the Pi 4 needs power this clean, but I hope that the low noise units will prevent the Pi from polluting the power after the AC conditioner.
    • Squires LM-1C
    Center channel.  Pretty basic, but the use of the Peerless ring radiator and woven fiberglass mid-woofers leaves an exceptionally smooth presentation.  An early design, which sounds great for movies but if I did it again I'd probably use FaitalPro mid-woofers for the power handling.
    • DH Labs Encore 3 Power Cord
    The power cord is a totally custom job using DH Labs shielded 14 gauge cable and Connex carbon fiber/rhodium plated plugs.
    • Mogami 3104 / 3103 Speaker Cables
    Custom made cables using 3104 (4.0 mm x 4, about 11 gauge) from amp to crossover, and 3103 (4.0 mm x 2) from crossover to speaker.

    If you are building, strongly recommend the 3103 unless you are bi-wiring as the 3104 is hard to strip well, and the 4.0mm conductors are hard to fit well in a plug or spade.
    • Connex BL-Ag
    The DAC to integrated cables are balanced, shielded, pure silver cables branded as the Parts Connexion house brand, Connex.  They are actually made by DH Labs.  They can be a little brittle but if you are nice to them they will hold up to gentle plugging and unplugging.

    The plugs are Neutrik silver-contact connectors.
    • IsoAcoustics ISO-PUCK
    These sit beneath the center channel.  I also had an Iso-stand for the center, but after moving things around the pucks were the right height and I no longer needed the center channel tilted.

Comments 12

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A poorly designed speaker system will cause all the sonic issues you say your hearing in your many many many many many threads and replies.

johnk

Looking very good ;-)

lak

Looks great Eric. I bet you are enjoying it.

ghdprentice

Nice system Eric and great job on your speakers!

jond

Looks great Eric nice work.

jerryg123

Wonderful system enjoy it in good health.

ebm

erik,,nice setup and system. Wise choice for the GIK. It transformed my room more than any component. Congrats on the new house

mike

mikepaul

Owner
Sorry for a mistake, I have the Luxman 507ux, not the 509.  I can't figure out how to change the items.

erik_squires

Erik, you have a nice home.  I look forward to seeing your equipment in place — I know you do too. 

Thank you for all your helpful comments and advice on the forum.  ☺️

bob540

How difficult was it to do the room drawing with the program GIK lets you use? Also can you change it now to represent how you envision it, ie., the TV in the window on wall facing neighbor. That's going to put the laundry room at your back. You have a pocket door there? All the bells and whistles on new appliances blend right in with the tunes (;

dadork

If you have  actual sound reinforcement there, good job. That's how a listening room should look-no obnoxious audio stuff.

Very similar to my room, lots of windows and hardwood. 

tablejockey

Hmmm big empty room.


skypunk

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