Ron’s New System

[Ron Resnick]

For the last several months I've had the Matrix Panel just leaning up against wall section. I wanted to make sure I like the effect before installing it permanently. I think I hear a touch more open sound.

I used Matrix Panels in my dedicated listening room in my apartment in Manhattan for many years with Martin-Logan Prodigys. In that 10 foot wide X 16 foot long room the listening chair was only inches from the rear wall. In that situation I heard a significant improvement with the Matrix Panels behind my head versus drywall -- less closed-in sounding.

I don't hear nearly as big a difference now, as the listening chair is four or five feet in front of the rear wall. In general I think diffusion behind the listening position is a good idea.

 

[microstrip]

For the last several months I've had the Matrix Panel just leaning up against wall section. I wanted to make sure I like the effect before installing it permanently. I think I hear a touch more open sound.

I used Matrix Panels in my dedicated listening room in my apartment in Manhattan for many years with Martin-Logan Prodigys. In that 10 foot wide X 16 foot long room the listening chair was only inches from the rear wall. In that situation I heard a significant improvement with the Matrix Panels behind my head versus drywall -- less closed-in sounding.

I don't hear nearly as big a difference now, as the listening chair is four or five feet in front of the rear wall. In general I think diffusion behind the listening position is a good idea.

Just for those who are not familiar with the Acoustic Sciences Corp. Matrix Panel, it is not a diffuser. Unfortunately proper diffusion needs a significant distance between wall and listener - typically 4-5 feet minimum, depending on the target frequencies. I have used RPG diffusers at a 7 feet distance and they were great. Acoustic Sciences Corp. Matrix Panel is a selective mix of absorption and reflection, and can be of help in the described circumstances, where the listener is close to a back wall. See https://www.acousticsciences.com/product/matrixpanel/

 

[Ron Resnick]

Francisco is correct. The Matrix Panel is a combination of diffusive and reflective properties.

 

[Johan K]

For the last several months I've had the Matrix Panel just leaning up against wall section. I wanted to make sure I like the effect before installing it permanently. I think I hear a touch more open sound.

I used Matrix Panels in my dedicated listening room in my apartment in Manhattan for many years with Martin-Logan Prodigys. In that 10 foot wide X 16 foot long room the listening chair was only inches from the rear wall. In that situation I heard a significant improvement with the Matrix Panels behind my head versus drywall -- less closed-in sounding.

I don't hear nearly as big a difference now, as the listening chair is four or five feet in front of the rear wall. In general I think diffusion behind the listening position is a good idea.

Thank you for that in detail information.

 

[Johan K]

Like you Ron, I have a matrix panel (DIY) behind the listening position maybe 2 feet behind, plus I have three different absorbing/diffusing tubetraps at the floor/wall corner behind the listening position as well. The combination is due to A LOT of trial and error, listening for the best possible results. I am very happy how it turned out.

 

[microstrip]

Francisco is correct. The Matrix Panel is a combination of diffusive and reflective properties.

Well, I would not say "diffusive". Diffusion has a proper meaning and IMO we can't consider that something that is not specular reflection or absorption is forcefully diffusion. Unfortunately the concept of diffusion is poorly and abusively used in most marketing materials - it is why we see so many audiophiles denigrating treated rooms, as many of them are poorly treated and sound terrible.

IMO the RPG page is a reliable source on these matters - see https://www.rpgacoustic.com/ and the many exhaustive graphs in their products data sheets. Or read the pages of the F. Toole book on this subject ...

 

[Folsom]

One small addition: the custom size Acoustic Sciences Corp. Matrix Panel is now installed behind the listening chair.

View attachment 153406

One small addition: the custom size Acoustic Sciences Corp. Matrix Panel is now installed behind the listening chair.

View attachment 153406

Wait a second, that isn't a Freedom chair....

 

[Ron Resnick]

Wait a second, that isn't a Freedom chair....

No, for the listening chair I did not like the Freedom chair as much as this kind of thing. I still use a Freedom chair in my office in the loft.

 

[Atmasphere]

@Ron Resnick did you get that input filter for your amps sorted?

 

[Ron Resnick]

A new arrival!

 

[morricab]

A new arrival!

View attachment 154597

That looks bigger than an Incito S. Ron…what did you get?

 

[AudioLibertarian]

If its Aries Cerat preamp , i would expect it will elevate your system's sound by a factor of at least 3 from that Hegel unit.

 

[Ron Resnick]

If its Aries Cerat preamp , i would expect it will elevate your system's sound by a factor of at least 3 from that Hegel unit.

Thank you for your kind good wishes!

But a 300% improvement by changing preamps? Three times more convincing that somebody live is in my room singing to me?

Please stay where you are. The Hyperbole Police will be arriving shortly.

 

[morricab]

Thank you for your kind good wishes!

But a 300% improvement by changing preamps? Three times more convincing that somebody live is in my room singing to me?

Please stay where you are. The Hyperbole Police will be arriving shortly.

Might be objectively 20% but subjectively 300%… as in you won’t be able to go back

 

[orfeo_monteverdi]

A new arrival!

View attachment 154597

[please forgive my poor English]

I haven't read the 392 pages of this thread, so I'm a bit lost, but I saw the arrival of the Gryphon Pendragon, and yesterday I saw the Clarysis. I remember you tried an Aries Cerat Incito S preamplifier that did not give gain enough in your system. So I guess it must have been a low gain version (for other members who may not know: the Incito S can indeed be ordered either in low gain or high gain version).

If this is a new/on trial preamplifier, I guess it should be a high gain version this time.
But which model? As @morricab says, the wooden crate seems big for an Incito S and its separate PS (Hifi-Advice: Incito S & Helene DAC). So maybe a 2-chassis preamp like the Impera Signature? (Aries Cerat preamplifiers compared – Incito S and Impera Reference).

Now I gonna Watch this thread, for sure ;-)

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Thank you for your kind good wishes!

But a 300% improvement by changing preamps? Three times more convincing that somebody live is in my room singing to me?

Please stay where you are. The Hyperbole Police will be arriving shortly.

So , which model is it?

Since I ve installed a new Mastersound tube preamp (and replaced factory tubes with the true NOS diamond Telefunken tubes) in place of very highly "Class A" rated solid state preamps (both active and a passive units) in my system couple of years back, it takes ALOT of will power on my part to attend concerts at the Carnegie Hall. Yes, I know, let the flame throwing commence...., but the degree of a sheer emotional involvement that a great tube preamp will bring to your system, in my view can be "measured" as a total system improvement by a factor of 3.
Imho of course

 

[orfeo_monteverdi]

[please forgive my poor English]

And regarding the "objectively 20% but subjectively 300%" upgrade, it all depends on the gear you came from (which I ignore; I guess from a very good one).

Nevertheless, years ago when I gave the Incito a try at home, just out of curiosity, I wasn't prepared for that unsettling comparison, as I thought that it wouldn't better the YBA 1 with dedicated PS I owned at that time.
Despite the fact that I initially had no intention at all to buy any new gear, after a few piano bars, I had decided to buy the Incito (I attended 46 classical concerts this season, it helps).

 

[Ron Resnick]

Might be objectively 20% but subjectively 300%… as in you won’t be able to go back

Well don't forget I had the low gain Incito S in my system for months, thanks to Robert Neill. This new one with appropriate gain for my system will only sound better.

But honestly one of my pet peeves in the industry is grossly hyperbolic fake quantification of subjective sonic improvement.

I totally agree with the ~ 20% improvement. That's the number I would come up with myself.

Thank you for the good wishes!

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Well don't forget I had the low gain Incito S in my system for months, thanks to Robert Neill. This new one with appropriate gain for my system will only sound better.

But honestly one of my pet peeves in the industry is grossly hyperbolic fake quantification of subjective sonic improvement.

I totally agree with the ~ 20% improvement. That's the number I would come up with myself.

Thank you for the good wishes!

Please post pictures of the new unit when you are able. Thanks

 

[Ron Resnick]

Please post pictures of the new unit when you are able. Thanks

I surely will!