I've greatly enjoyed persuing people's Virtual Systems and looking at their cool pictures. I've had a system posted for about a year that has changed considerbaly since then, and never had any attached images. There's a good reason for that. I'm ashamed of my listening room. It's messy beyond belief, and some would consider unfit for high end audio.
Incredibly, I'm very happy with the results of my efforts. The room is approximately 12 x 14 feet, but has tons and tons of cabinets, desks and equipment. My 2-channel set up shares space with an HT seup, two computer stations, wall mounted bookcases, dressers and a bed.
I decided to post photos because some of you may want to see what that goofy Gunbei guy has at home. Well, if you look carefully you might notice a bathroom behind the left ProAc and a walk-in closet behing the right one. I have photos that better illustrate this, but I'm too shy to show them.
I promise, one day I will get this room together and pictures of a real system like the rest of you. But I've spent buying equipment and tuning my system to work in this bedroom/storage space, so I'm afraid if I clean it up the sonics will change completely.
I restarted my computer and "Disk Cleaned" my hard drive, yet, like Dave, I still can't upload the pics on this page. But, I do have the pics you sent me through email. Are those the same on this page?
Just occured to me, does the BC preamp have XLR preouts? I read those BAT equipments like balanced connections. Maybe you should splurge more on balanced cables *smirk*.
Junji of 47 Labs has one of the messiest listening rooms too. You guys might be on to something with your "natural" room treatments.
I like your statement, "organizationally challenged audiophiles". I definitely fall in this category. And yes, you're correct about the creative cropping. I'm a graphic designer and digital retoucher, and I've done everything possible to make these pictures presentable.
The shot of the cables behind the rack and the one with the Hologram leading to the ProAc was shot in absolute darknessat 4am on a sunday morning. Who the hell knows why I woke up and decided to shoot those shots. Acoustic Zen cables glow like iridescent eels when you shine a light on them in the dark. Unfortunately, it seems the human eye can see much more than what a CCD digital camera can capture and what an RGB monitor can display, so I had to brighten the cables in Photoshop.
And yes, I hopes Rives doesn't drop in and see that I;ve broken every acoustic rule in the book, heheh.
I have the "Anti-Ewha System". Yours is so cool looking. While you have to search through the rubble to find my components! Your listening room is a great babe nest, while mine is a great roach nest, hahah!
I've had pretty good luck getting the Bryston/NHT to integrate with the rest of my gear. I forgot to list that I have a Paradigm X30 controlling both. I think many people would consider my sub-bass system a bit hodgepodge or low tech, but it has worked quite well for me. The NHT SW3 is located on the right side wall half way between the monitors and the listening position. Possibly another Gunbei-Rives-Sin! The sub is shared by the HT setup. While the location is not conducive to super low extended bass, I feel it works for both systems. HT bass doesn't go super low, so impact isn't compromised too much, and I feel this location makes the bass sound tighter and faster with better pitch than if I placed it in the corner.
Yeah, I'm pretty happy with my sound Eric. And, the funny thing is, is that no one besides my dad has sat in my Herman Miller Aeron chair to enjoy it. Hopefully, everything will be presentable the next time you swoop in from the Windy City and revisit LA.
I'm still breaking in all my Acoustic Zen cables, but I'm very happy so far. As a fellow ProAc owner you're aware of the outstanding imaging and soundstage size they're capable of, and I feel that is also one of the Acoustic Zen's attributes.
Following the advice of many experienced Acoustic Zen owners, I placed the Silver Reference II between the DAC and preamp and the Matrix Reference II between the preamp and amp. The sonic characterstics of the two cables are quite different in that the Silver Ref imparts a very extended yet smooth top and while the Matrix offers a fuller, richer sound. The Silver Ref brings the detail the MAtrix lacks and Matrix has the richness the Silver Ref doesn't. Therefore I feel they compliment each other very well. In my current rig I can't imagine using two Silver Refs or two Matrix.
I used to own a run of Cardas Golden Cross and liked it very much, but sold it along with a bunch of other cables to help finance some upgrades. Comparing the Golden Cross to the Acoustic Zen from memory, I would say that the Acoustic Zen definitley throw a bigger soundstage, but the Golden Cross has a nice balance of warmth, detail and imaging that the Silver Ref or Matrix can't match by themselves.
How are you liking the D15s with the Concentra? It should be killer!
Hey Gunbei- You've got nothing to be ashamed of whatsoever. Looks like a great system to me! Perhaps your post will encourage some of us more organizationally challenged audiophiles to come out of the closet and post some pics! Organization and neatness have never been my forte's either. I can't say that what I see in your pictures would have struck me that way anyway (must be the shy modesty combined with some creative cropping). Looks like you could even wire an additional set of speakers to listen to while you are sitting on the throne too!! Talk about challenging spaces and acoustical nightmares! You'd probably just crash the Rives calculator with those dimensions and surfaces so don't even bother!
Your system looks great! And I bet it sounds even better... Nice to see that you now have all sorts of tube components in your system. That tube sound really is infectuous!
How well do you feel the NHT sub integrates with your ProAcs? I've been contemplating the addition of a sub into my system, but it seems like a tricky proposition. Have you been pretty pleased with the NHT?
Congratulations on a top-notch system, Dean. Enjoy the tunes!
Hi Gunbei, How do you like to AZ speaker/interconnect with the ProAc 1SC speakers. I have the Proac Response D15 in a solid state (JR Concentra II Amp) "flavor" working with the Proacs speakers and Cardas speaker/interconnects......very musical!
