In this system, the goal is to provide a satisfying home theatre without sacrificing high performance 2 channel music reproduction. It is a hybrid system utilizing a Home Theatre digital controller and a separate tube phono preamplifier. I am trying out an Integra RDC7 prepro in order to take advantage of the analog direct mode for my LP and CD systems as well as the multi-channel 5.1 analog input. We'll see if the fuss about DTS Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD represents a worthwhile advancement. Also the RDC7 is reputed to have dual differential PCM 1704 Dacs in the front right and left channels which I will run balanced into the Dreadnaught II.
I have decided to utilize a signal chain that is balanced from the processor through the front three channel amplifier and single-ended to the surrounds and rear subwoofer. The large Magnepan dipoles make for an imposing yet visually attractive statement. They also provide the big sound necessary for a fairly large room. As well as trying to put together a good sounding system, an attempt was made to make the system friendly and comfortable for the spousal unit as well as the pets.
The legendary Linn Sondek LP-12 record playing system is the primary analog source. It was recently acclaimed by Stereophile (11/02) as the most important audio component of the past 40 years. Digital playback source is accomplished by a Denon DVD 756s and a Oppo Universal player for CD,SACD and DVD-A. The analog 5.1 multi-channel outputs of the Oppo are connected to the Integra with a Precision Audio cables DB25 to RCA snake to take advantage of the Oppo s internal decoding of DTS MA, Dolby True HD, SACD and DVD-A formats. Legacy DTS and Dolby Digital are handled by Bluejeanscables coax. Only the superb tube phono section is utilized in the Audio Research SP-14 and the Integra RDC7 is utilized as the active line stage in analog direct mode. The Sp-14 is still sought after for its very musical phono section. The front three channels of the Integra RDC7 is run balanced into the the Theta Dreadnaught II amplifier, which provides 450 wpc to the 4ohm Magnepans. The Dreadnaught II is a muscular amplifier that also reveals the softest musical detail. The Magnepan MG 3.6R is a true world class speaker. It offers outstandingly natural reproduction of both large scale instrumental work as well as the most subtle musical detail. The stereo pair of Vandersteen 2WQ subwoofers blend seamlessly into the system due to its unusual crossover design. The full range signal from the Integra RDC-7 is filtered via the Vandersteen M5 HP Balanced crossover which sends a high pass signal to the left and right channels of the Dreadnaught II amplifier which feeds the 2WQ's.
The heart of the home theatre system (which incorporates the Maggie/Vandersteen/ Theta speaker/sub/amplifier combo for the L/R channel duties) is a Integra RDC7 which offers Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Prologic II processing for legacy surround sound formats. The Integra RDC7 is connected by balanced XLR to the Theta Dreadnaught II for the front 3 channels. This signal is high-passed to the Dreadnaught via Vandersteen M5 HP Balanced filters. The surround speakers are Magnepan's 1.6QR powered by a Classe'25 amplifier providing 500 wpc @4ohms. The theatre subwoofer is the Hsu Research VTF-2 subwoofer. The critically acclaimed Polk Lsi Series speaker handles the center channel duties. The system easily handles the 105db peaks that good home theater systems must achieve. Bluray discs and standard DVD's are handled by an Oppo Digital BDP-83SE. The Oppo also handles internal decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio surround codecs. HDTV is received via AT&T Homezone Dish Network HD DVR connected with component video cables. The primary seating area is 10 feet away from the Sony 52 16x9 LCD screen. The system is controlled by a Home Theater Master MX-500 Universal Remote Control. Testing equipment include a THX calibrated Radio Shack SPL Meter using AVIA & THX-EX setup DVD audio test tones and ETF Acoustic 5x software (using MLS) running on a Toshiba Laptop PC with a calibrated microphone. Power distribution and AC surge as well as line filtration is provided by a Panamax M5400-pm.
Well now! It certainly helps to remove the protective backing on the ribbon tweeter so that it acts like the dipole transducer that it is. Highs are certainly attenuated now. Tweeters will remain on the outside for now. The balance is much improved.
Actually, I was lucky enough to obtain a pre-owned pair through Audiogon. They should already have enough hours on them to be broken in, but you never know. I just wanted to say that you just can't drop a major new piece of gear without some elbow grease to properly intergrate it into a system. The journey has just begun. I'll probably try putting the tweaters on the inside next.
Congrats Jim! I'm still running my new 3.6R in. I started with the tweeters in, now I have the tweeters out. I too thought i may have to attenuate the ribbons on mine but you might want to hold off a bit before you do it. After a couple of hundred hours, they are beginning to smooth out quite a bit. They are not there yet, and I have not dismissed attenuation, but they are not as "in your face" as they were right out of the box. Wait till you hear the quality of the bass as these things break in! Not just quanity, but quality AND quantity. I am hearing bass runs and notes on my LP's that I never heard with my MGIII's.
System edited: The Maggie 3.6R has arrived. Initially, they are set up with the tweeters on the outside. In my room and system, I had to pull them 4 inches further from the wall than the 1.6's to avoid overloading the room with bass. I also had to adjust the subwoofer level and Q. In addition, I'll need to attenuate the tweeter. This will take some work to optimize.
Jimburger's system is fun and pretty revealing of front end changes. It was a treat to be able to try the Genesis Digital Lens / Theta TLC in line with the No. 37. Now I know not to spend any effort there! I can honestly say that the Levinson on CD sounds better than DVDs of the same music on the Carmen II I have. It also makes me happy to wait for SACD and DVDA to sort itself out before I make a leap.
A friend of mine brought over a Levinson 37 transport and it was unbelievable how good it made the CD playback. It did show just how well the Theta Dac can perform with a first rate transport. The 37 straight into the Theta Dac was much better than the Rotel into the Genesis and/or TLC into the Theta. And it put to shame SACD's played through my Sony DVP NS900s. Playback of good cd's were just so musical and natural. It is clear to me that a first rank transport looms sometime in my future when I can afford it.
The Theta Timebase Linque Conditioner was added to the system between the Rotel CD transport and the Theta DS Pro Basic IIIa DAC. Initial impression after a short warmup of about an hours time was an increase in liquidity. The system no longer has the slightly dry character. The bass is bigger and the overall effect is more dynamic and powerful. There was also a an increased transparency effect. The sound of voices and instruments now have a quality of floating in a three dimensional space instead of just being presented as a wall of sound. I was quite surprised at how the addition of the TLC changed the overall sound for the better.
The Theta DS Pro Basic IIIa was inserted into system yesterday. Using the Rotel as a transport with the Theta DAC, cds sound more like analog than Rotel CD player by itself. Presentation has slightly greater clarity on both regular cds and HDCDs. With the Theta, there is better leading edge definition but overall is a tiny bit drier. Bass with the Theta is somewhat tighter and just as deep but possibly not as strong as Rotel by itself. Jury is still out on the bass. Big plus with Theta is that I am finding I want to hear more and more music with it. It is very difficult to stop listening to music! I found myself wanting to listen to "just one more song." The system definitely is improved by the addition of the Theta. However, the little Rotel is a might fine budget player. As a stand-alone player, it definitely did not embarrass itself against the much more ambitious and expensive but much older Theta(1996). The Rotel is a big beneficiary of modern digital engineering(2003). The differences, although musically quite significant were more subtle than you would have suspected. Careful and extended audition(about 6 hours worth) was needed to define the differences. A quick A/B could lead you to believe that the Rotel reveals as much information as the Theta, which is not the case. Thumbs up, then for adding the outboard Theta DAC. Finally, switching to the Linn LP12/Akito/Blue Point Special combination still revealed that listening to records is a more musical experience. For me, there is still a better emotional connection with lps.
I know that it breaks common practice to listen to dipoles in the near field BUT there are exceptions. One of the best demonstrations of high end gear I ever experienced was my introduction in 1988 to an Apogee Diva system powered by a Threshold S/500 amplifier,Threshold Fet10 preamp with an old Stax CD player. The track was Dazed and Confused from Zep I and the sales guy sat me in the near field not more than 6 feet away from each speaker and he turned it up to "eleven". I was blown away and a dipole convert ever since. I could never afford Divas but I'll never forget the experience. Common practice is to listen to dipoles in the far field but some rules are meant to be broken!
Before I had a center channel speaker, sitting on the ends of the couch really was not very good for dialog. Most films are dialog intensive and with the hard center channel handling dialog, the wide stage of the Maggies are not too distracting even from the end seats of the couch. Of course, the center seats are better. As for the couches being in the way for 2 channel cash seat, it does not seem to be too much of a negative factor. As you notice, the hardwood floors are uncovered. The room does need something to breakup reflections and provide some absorption to aleviate the liveness of the room. Of course, dipoles like Maggies do better in acoustically "live" environment than direct radiating speakers. I measured RT60 of the Maggies with the microphone placed above the back of the couch with ETFacoustics 5.8 software and the reverb rate from 800ms @ 200hz to 400ms at 20kHz which is about ideal. It stayed about 800ms from 200hz up to about 4khz and started a slow rolloff to 400ms @ 20kHz. So I believe that the couch doesn't hurt the setup to much at all. I suppose the big test is how the system performs at night with the lights off and one of your favorite movies is playing. I watched the Matrix Reloaded DVD last week and let me tell you, I was NOT at all aware of sound coming from speakers. It was Agent Smith and Neo emanating from all directions, period!
Doesent that affect the performance of your HT setup? I read your statement of the other "Cash seat" Those couches in the way dont hurt do they?
Im not sure how the time delay works for the whole couch. seems like it would be optimal for right or left but not both.
Ever think about running a set of "B" speakers for HT?
Your setup has a very appealing, albeit it, strange look to it.
I guess i cant say anything about compromising sound quality. My fiancee felt the need to rearrange the living room which holds my pathetic rig. In the process i lost all imaging.
its a shabby system anyways. once i get back into the game with decent gear ill tackle that battle.
Upgrade for Redbook CD is coming soon. I will be adding a Theta DS Pro Basic IIIa with HDCD option. CD transport duties will fall to the Rotel RCD 1070.
Astute observation! This was actually a bit of a compromise. 8 feet is the optimal distance for the video presentation to preserve the 26 degree THX specification for screen width. With the DC-1 controlling the time delays for the 5 speakers, this setup works pretty good for theatre. The best sound for 2 channel sound is 3 feet further away. Not shown in the picture of the room is a 6x2.5'table behind the couch with 2 chairs. One of those chairs(with the listener about 11 feet away from the Maggies) is the "cash seat" for critical listening.
Jimburger, nice system, I love your Maggies colour. One question - don't you find your sitting couch a bit too close to those speakers? I have a smaller Maggies Smgc and find them sound better at least 3m from them. Enjoy.
The dogs have to be with you. Try a hundred pound lab in you lap!! The only time he was ever scared was when he was a pup and heard Jurassic Park. We have bedroom system now so he is right in front of screen, but new stand is on it's way.
Nice setup Jim, I like the couch also and need to get something along that line myself. I passed by your post many times because of it's header...nice to see that I was wrong on my first thoughts, you have a great wife and a great system! Enjoy the ride
Thanks for your kind words. It was the third seating arrangement we tried in this room. Initially we had a small couch that was too small for the room. Then we tried two recliners but that didn't work because our two Jack Russells like to watch movies and video with us. We finally settled on the home theatre style couch and it fits in the room quite nicely. The room is actually a combined living room/dining room about 25 ft in total length. The photo shows the low side of the sloping cathedral ceiling in the living room portion and it is an already about 12 feet tall. It vaults to about 24 ft high. The ceiling over the dining room portion is only 8 ft high but total cubic ft of the listening area is over 4500 cubic ft. That's why its nice to have powerful amplifiers in this setup. That's also the reason I chose the Maggies. They have a reputation for sounding best in large rooms.
Very nice system and your sofa/home looks very cozy. I like the window on top of the wall. The floorplan of the house must be well-thought out as well. It must be a true joy for you and yours to enjoy such a nice system. Wish you well...Bill
