kevinzoe's Current System | Virtual Listening Room

Description

July 2025

My current incarnation of my 2 channel stereo rig. And quite possibly my best yet in terms of sonic quality but also frequency response, time alignment, and more importantly flexibility to control each speaker/sub individually for crossover (frequencies and slopes), delay, volume all via DSP and FIR correction filters. But it's taken a long time to learn, measure, learn more, measure again and finally go with a multi-channel DAC that was the key ingredient to allow such flexibility and control. But having the puzzle pieces doesn't mean that they go together easily so more learning and finally bought another key piece which was the Audiolense XO software to create a FIR correction filter for frequency and time alignment. The multi-channel DAC and FIR filter capabilities were BIG TIME upgrades worth more than any amp or preamp!

Happy listening to you . . .

Room Details

Dimensions: 25’ × 11’ Medium
Ceiling: 8’

Components Toggle details

- JRIver Media Centre v31
> Used to manage my digital music library
> It's DSP capabilities assign speakers/subs channels to my 8-channel DAC and its convolver runs a FIR filter for frequency response and time domain corrections.
- exaSound e48 8-Channel DAC
Stereophile A+ rated digital DAC with 8 channel inputs/outputs.
I use 6 of the channels to bi-amp my mains and to send signals to two subwoofers.

Audiolense XO software is used to digitally set crossovers for the subs and biamped mains and to correct frequency response and phase which gets all wrapped up in a FIR correction filter. JRiver then plays this FIR filter and sends its contents along with 6 channels of musical content to the DAC which deciphers it all seamlessly and routs the right signal to each amp. This setup provides me with the most flexibility to control each speaker and sub on an individual basis for crossover freq+slope, delay, polarity reversal, EQ etc. which you can't do using just a 2channel DAC. It's micro level adjustments rather than macro level with a 2 channel DAC.
- Teddy Pardo Linear Power Supply
> used for the exaSound DAC
- PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Preamplifier
> build like a heavy tank and great sounding
- VAC (Valve Amplification Company) Renaissance 30/30
32 magical wallts/channel of 300B tubes.
Output tubes: 4 Shuguang 300B-Z Treasures (Chinese)
Input tubes: 4 Tung-Sol (Russian)
- PS Audio BHK Signature Premium stereo power amp
> Bascom H King designed 250watts/8ohms hybrid amp with a tube input stage and solid state output stage
- Acoustic Zen Crescendo MKI speakers
> awesome looking and sounding main speakers that are fed by the PS Audio BHK Signature stereo amp for the woofers and bi-amped with the VAC 300B tube amp for the mids/highs.
- Rythmik F15 subwoofers (two)
> servo controlled, 300watt subwoofers - two in total
- RPG Skyline Diffusors (both the 7" and 4" versions)
- Dayton Audio OmniMic acoustical measurement software tool
- Audiolense XO Frequency & Time Domain Acoustical Measurement & Correction Software
> used to create FIR filters that run in JRiver convolver that correct frequency response and time domain problems.
> extremely flexible and powerful but has a steep learning curve
> very effective at smoothing out the sound and reducing listening fatigue caused by out of phase drivers/speakers and aligning the frequency response to my customized target curve.
- TEO Audio GCII RCA Interconnects
- Audio Sensibility Signature Speaker Cables
- Cardas Clear Power Cables
- GIK Acoustics Q7D - one dimensional quadradic residue diffusion
4 units used on the front wall that scatters sound horizontally to aid in soundstage width. A 5th unit sits atop the back left subwoofer near the rear left sidewall.
- Acoustic Manufacturer (Poland) 2D QRD - two dimensional quadradic residue diffusion
Two units on the rear wall blocking a large window and helping scatter/diffuse sound horizontally and vertically.
- Studio Solution (Montreal) Membrane Bass Traps
3 membrane bass traps that affect slightly higher frequencies than the GIK Scopus T40's do.
- DIY Wooden Skyline Diffuser Wooden Skyline Diffuser
Prime Number Used = 547 which is 26 rows by 21 columns
Max depth = 10.5"
Depth Varies: from 0 - 10.5" in 1.5" increments (1.5/3/4.5/6/7.5/9/10.5")
- DIY Polyfuser / Bass Trap Combo product that reflects mids/highs and absorbs low frequencies
12' long x 4' wide SONO tube used in the construction industry cut into 120degree arcs (for 3 units) with Owens Corning 701 fiberglass in the interior cavity and all covered with black speaker cloth. The curved surface is a polyfuser affecting mid/high frequencies while the insulation absorbs bass.
- GIK Acoustics Tri-Traps, Monster, Monster with FlexRange, and Scopus T40 bass traps
6 pressure bass traps (Scopus T40 membrane traps)
6 Monsters + 2 Monsters with FlexRange velocity type bass traps
6 Tri-Traps

Comments 4

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Owner

Hi all - I have been away for a while and realized that I should update my list of gear and add some recent pictures. While the main components have not changed, I have added more room treatments, including: membrane bass traps for < 100Hz coverage with the most benefit being from reduced bass decay times; 1D and 2D QRD diffusion for the front and backwalls respectively; and a ceiling covered in RPG Skyline diffusers.

kevinzoe July 14, 2025 18:54

Nice Kevin I think I just missed the Vac in your gear list and that sounds like a great setup biamping! And thank you for your comments on my system.

jond August 24, 2022 17:22

Owner

Hi Jond - thanks for stopping by and for your compliment. I'll have to check out your system!

Yes, I've still got the VAC 300B tube amp and just put it into the rig a few days ago in a bi-amped configuration along with the PS Audio BHK amp so it sings very nicely . . . I'll update pictures and add the amp to the gear list.

kevinzoe August 23, 2022 18:07

Very serious looking system those Crescendo's are huge! Not using the VAC amp anymore?

jond August 23, 2022 17:51

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