System edited: Just changed the speaker cables to AZ Holograms from Satori's. Full report to follow. Still love the effect of the room treatments. For the future, I am considering a new digital front end. AA Capitole, Cary 306/200 or a Wadia 861?
System edited: I've read on this site many times about the importance of room treatment. I finally bit the bullet after reading up on the subject here and on Audio Asylum. Overall, my room is pretty quiet. I have angled ceiling, a cross shaped floorplan (as opposed to the rectangle) and the floor is carpeted. There are lots of bookshelves and furniture around. The speakers are placed about 6 feet off the rear wall (shoulder of the cross) with about 15 feet of space to the rear wall at the center of the speakers (head of the cross.) Listening position is about 10 feet in front of the speakers which are about 10 feet apart from eachother. I constructed the panels according to Jon Risch's design, using 8" fiberglass as the main absorbing material. I used a 5' x 3' pine frame. The backing is a sound absorbing particle board as opposed to Rock Wool or Owens Corning 700 series material. Listening confirmed the worth of these panels. The already excellent imagings is even more palpable. I finally understand what is meant by "air" and "space" around the instruments. The bass response is a bit tighter and better integrated. This was a great tweek. I recommend it to anyone thinking about it to just do it. I thought my room was already pretty well configured but the improvement here is not subtle. For info check out Jon's site. http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/index2.htm
As I understand it, the external crossover has two advantages. 1. Unrestricted design of the crossover. The North Creeks use 8 AWG inductor coils for the midrange/bass drivers ( http://www.northcreekmusic.com/NorthCreekKits.html ) and they are big. So you wouldn't need to alter your speaker designb to fit them internally. 2. Isolation of the crossover from vibration in the speaker cabinet.
The only disadvantage I see is the need to add another set of binding posts at the crossover.
Seems like a great match-up. If you don't mind my asking, what are the advantages of an external cross-over -- can you adjust them to better match the acoustics of the room? Thanks.
System edited: Acoustic Zen Satori now in place of the Zu Cable Wax. Both are excellent cables with different characteristics. After the Satori's settled in I was able to percieve their true character in my system. They do a better job at presenting the depth of space in a recording but perhaps a bit more compact soundstage. I like the realism they present, the sense of an actual performer in your room. They are more dynamic than the WAX. I was initially worried because they sounded flat when I hooked them up. But they settled in quite nicely.
I love the way "North Creek Music Rhythm Revelator" rolls of the tongue. Add an s to revelator and you have a great name for a band. Good speakers,huh?
Only one, why mess with success? It is the rare moment in ones life when the pebbles are so well placed in one's brook that the water's sound brings such harmony and peace.
