New Dedicated Listening Room

[Kingrex]

I was joking. I don't want a table under a tree shedding branches. That thing has dropped about 5 or 6 good size limbs this last year. These Doug Firs are designed to grow fast and tall to out compete the other trees around it. That means they shed the lower branches as they shoot for the sky. Sitting out in the open, it has grown the lower limbs far greater in size than normal. They keep breaking off. That was actually a small one. Many that fall are 6 to 8 inche in diameter.
The way down the road plan is for a couple small outbuildings at the bottom of the yard looking back to the house. They would be a space to enjoy wine with a friend. or a remote sleeping space for guests.

 

[Kingrex]

At times I am surprised how good my system and room sound. I have done nothing to the room. My friend Bob wants to bring a bunch of ASC stuff to my house. And I do want subwoofer reinforcement. But really, its darn nice sounding. I spent some time tweaking the speakers here and there when the mood hit me. Mostly getting them level, toed the same and set equal from side and rear walls. Not much else. I know I sound like who cares how good it sound on the Is High End Worth It Thread. I do care. I just don't believe the attachment to music is as tied to how close a stereo can get to a live sound as other believe. Heck, I have been on a weird POP phase. All sorts of rhythmic driving music. That just need bass.
A while back I mentioned I spun up some of my #10 THHN with a drill. Not the way to do it. I terminated it in a heavy outdoor plastic box and used a Furutech Rhodium NCF duplex. I have the male end plugged into my Torus RM20. My mono 40 watt PP KT88 amps are fed off that line. It took about 50 hours to break in. I find myself pretty pleased with the Rhodium duplex. Normally I would never purchase a $250 duplex. A friend that is a dealer pushed me to get it. I got a fair price.
I can not say for sure its the duplex, branch wire or connection cables. Prior to making my extension, I was using DDK Ching Cheng cables into my custom power strip made from Oyaide cable and Hubbell 5362. That is plugged into the Torus also. Now I am using cables made by the guy that made my amps. 14 awg wire. All copper ends. Those are plugged into te rhodium duplex. After 50 hours I have way better liquidity and foundation than prior. FWIW, Torus uses Hubbells so I am still plugged into a Hubbell. As it sits now, I feel no need to change anything.

And I will admit, my tapes with classical music play way better than my digital. With Steely Dan or Billy Joel, the tape is technically better. But I don't feel I am missing anything with the digital. How good does Billie's Piano have to sound. Classical is different. It does matter how defined the individual instruments are. While I like some of the playing style of Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto 1 from different performers on digital, the tape version allows much better insight into what the rest of the orchestra is doing. I enjoy that with classical. Its not a make or break thing. I have classical tapes that are recorded and play amazing, but I am not that into the performance and rarely play them. I have some digital files of classical I found and really like the performance and play them often. I just need to be in the mood. Lately that mood is hard driving pop. Generally I am working out when listening. PT/Yoga type stuff. On the floor in front of the system. Plenty of times to stop, sit up and listen. Then back to another set.

 

[Kingrex]

Taking about grounding. I think this house has a rod and thats it. Built in 91. It should be tied to the water. There is a copper stub, but, I think its CPVC in the ground. I will need to look harder in the future. Just observing now. Bought the hardwood floors last week. We will start gutting in about 3 weeks.

 

[Kingrex]

I'm shocked at what i've been hearing out of my system lately. I fiddled with the speaker placement a little bit. This has kind of happened over time. I put a laser on them last week. I also adjusted the power cables. I got rid of the ching chang. I also put a Furutech rodeum duplex in that feeds the amps. I've always liked my Hubbells, but I may switch to Furutech. I am impressed enough i'm going to place one in my Torus RM20. As well as the outlet feeding the Torus. I would try a QSA. But I'm not impressed with the cheap stuff. And $750 a duplex for what I read is where they get good is ridiculous in my book. I have somebody making me a power cord to feed the Torus too. Possible I capture the cord and ditch the IEC.

I would say what I hear is not at all what people with a magico and solid state amp hear. But what I hear I prefer. I had some Aerosmith going last night. The grit and dynamics from the guitars was just outstanding. The sorting of details between different instruments on any type of music it's very high.
FWIW , i also switched to a KT 120 power tube as well as changed the voltage regulating tube. God only knows why a tube that sets the voltage has such a big impact on sound. I love Sylvania NAVY tubes. And they only cost me $12 a piece.

I can't wait to power that room correctly. As well as put appropriate treatments in it. I start gutting the house in two weeks. The stereo is going to be put aside for a little while. But it will be addressed soon enough. As it is, it's operating at an extremely high level. That other thread, and what would you buy with $20k. What a laugh People think you can't have an excellent speaker for less than ten. Mine are $8600.

And I feel my stereo will kick the snot out of most any that are far, far, far more expensive. It's not like anybody would go home and feel dissatisfied with theirs after hearing mine. But they would have a new appreciation for what an open baffle, and amazing tude amplifier will do. If they were thoughtful, they would realize what mine does, there's can’t. That doesn't mean other systems don't do things mine can't do. Mine just does the things I find important excellent.

 

[PeterA]

And I feel my stereo will kick the snot out of most any that are far, far, far more expensive. It's not like anybody would go home and feel dissatisfied with theirs after hearing mine. But they would have a new appreciation for what an open baffle, and amazing tude amplifier will do. If they were thoughtful, they would realize what mine does, there's can’t. That doesn't mean other systems don't do things mine can't do. Mine just does the things I find important excellent.

Rex, could you post a video to supplement how you are describing the sound of your system?

 

[Kingrex]

Rex, could you post a video to supplement how you are describing the sound of your system?

I haven't really figured out how to record the video and upload it on a youtube account. I know I did this in the past. It's just something I touch so infrequently.

You know I was thinking about how I described it. I would also say it has a sound that's sort of raw. Unfiltered. It sounds like live amplified electric guitars. It has awesome grit and bite. At least the rock I was playing.

I'm thinking when I rewire I will try some #6 branch wire. As well as solid 10. I like speed and attack. I am hearing the bigger wire does that well on amps. At least a 250 watt SS amp is liking heavier wire. Mine is about 45 watts. And I'm feeding my amps through a Torus. Other recient feedback, the amp is direct to the wall, no filter.

 

[Maryland]

I haven't really figured out how to record the video and upload it on a youtube account. I know I did this in the past. It's just something I touch so infrequently.

You know I was thinking about how I described it. I would also say it has a sound that's sort of raw. Unfiltered. It sounds like live amplified electric guitars. It has awesome grit and bite. At least the rock I was playing.

I'm thinking when I rewire I will try some #6 branch wire. As well as solid 10. I like speed and attack. I am hearing the bigger wire does that well on amps. At least a 250 watt SS amp is liking heavier wire. Mine is about 45 watts. And I'm feeding my amps through a Torus. Other recient feedback, the amp is direct to the wall, no filter.

Rex do you plug the Corelli into the RM20? And is the ground port on the RM20 connected to anything? Thanks!

 

[Kingrex]

Rex do you plug the Corelli into the RM20? And is the ground port on the RM20 connected to anything? Thanks!

I do. I should try it with and without. I have never heard it at my old house. Doesn't do much for me. Corelli doesn't do much for me. The jumper of twisted #10 going to a Furutech Rhodium NCF had a far more profound impact.

Torus has a much larger impact.

But I will shake it down. I guess I could try it before and after the Torus.

 

[Maryland]

I do. I should try it with and without. I have never heard it at my old house. Doesn't do much for me. Corelli doesn't do much for me. The jumper of twisted #10 going to a Furutech Rhodium NCF had a far more profound impact.

Torus has a much larger impact.

But I will shake it down. I guess I could try it before and after the Torus.

Thanks so much, very informative.