OK, I will admit it, I really don't know what to say. Stella Utopia's. One away from the Grand Utopia. I have no doubt that system sounds out of this world. Vac, Esoteric, Utopia EM. Not sure how much better it can get from there. Enjoy that mighty fine system.

mikeduke August 15, 2011 13:08

A very enviable system indeed. I am sure you are thoroughly enjoying your music. I really like the way you have treated your room. I looked closer at your system and see that a turntable is missing. Generally when people invest so much in a system (and your system includes top-of-the-line TUBE amps), a TT is generally around. What was the reason you did not include a Turntable?

milpai August 15, 2011 12:06

jfrech--
couldn't agree more....:->

adamg--
thanks alot.
yg anat,rockport altair,magico m5.all very very good in their own right,but lacked what i was looking for.

ozy August 14, 2011 12:12

incredible system (once again)

what other speakers were you auditioning before deciding on the Stella's?

adamg August 14, 2011 08:10

good looking and effective is a tough combo to beat :-),

jfrech August 14, 2011 07:10

jim94025--
i tried rpg's and other diffusers on the celing and didn't like their effects. so i installed only 4 T/A clouds in the center of the ceiling to very good results.
then i added several more in 2 separate incraments , and each addition resulted in much more controlled and less fatiguing sound. besides, the T/A stuff is not only good- looking but effective.( kinda like my first girlfriend.....:->)

ozy August 13, 2011 12:44

knghifi--

you are most welcome. yes, this system sounds very different then any previous itiration i had-- very musically accurate , with very detailed bass(thanks in part to the em module)and wonderful dynamics, yet with very elegant and resolving sound. is it tube magic? no doubt, but overall i'd say it is a whole system synergy.

Douglas_schroder--
thank you doug.yes , i had the tidal sunrays and the gryphon colleseums amps and mirage preamp.an elaborate system, that i felt was way too convoluted, and didn't yield the kind of sound i am/was after.after hearing the vac gear here locally and trying several speakers prior to getting the focals, i just went for it.so far so great. i also added quite a bit of light absorbers(ceiling) and wood diffusers which add warmth and spaciousness to the room/sound.
i have heard the king panel speakers and they were an eye and ear opener!( k.hayes from vac swears by them)- excellent & detailed sound .maybe in time i'll expore them further.

ozy August 13, 2011 11:30

shadrone--

thaks alot. yes, i have moved the focals( fairly easy to do -they slide on their casters), another foot into the room(12ft from front baffle off the front wall). that opened up the sound stage and made it even deeper, well behind the speakers themselves.
not sure if i had thought of EVERYTHING.... you know how it is- there's always something to add... ah, what a crazy hobby!

ozy August 13, 2011 11:11

Ozy, very well done; the passion for excellence is evident.

Didn't you have a big SS/Tidal system prior? I'm sure this is a sweeping change to that rig. There are so many forms of excellence in the High End that one will never tire of them.

Have you ever considered a big panel speaker? You seem like the kind of person who would appreciate them as well. I keep an example of dynamic and panel speakers on hand always as I found it was the only way to sate my continuous thirst for variety.

douglas_schroeder August 13, 2011 10:43

Why did you choose the TRANSPARENT ACOUSTIC CLOUDS for the ceiling treatments over other chioces? Also,the front corners appear to have bass traping? Type?
Jim

jim94025 August 13, 2011 10:39

What a beautiful and thought out system. It must sounds fantastic ... thanks for sharing.

knghifi August 13, 2011 09:42

Absolutely Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Those Focals look stunning and they definitely sound optimal placed well out into a room. You appear to have thought of everything?

shadorne August 13, 2011 09:21

kirk930--
thanks alot... makes 2 of us then..i'm in the atlanta area.

albert--
you are too kind, as always!. i'll try and take some better, higher resolution pics. these were taken haphazardly... but please enjoy ,nontheless.

cyrus--
thank you. i humbly believe that adding the vac sig.2 preamp to an laready excellent stereo amp(ahhmm) would take your sound to a completely different level.
please give us some f/b when you get it.

ozy August 13, 2011 06:49

Ozy,

Wonderful system, pleased to did photos and put it up so all of us can enjoy.

I've read your posts for many years here at Audiogon, now I can see where all your experience comes from.

albertporter August 13, 2011 01:39

Ozy, Room looks SUPER. I took yours and Devs advice and bought the Vac pre. Installing it this weekend. I will report back to you and Dev in a week or so.

cyrus August 12, 2011 23:00

One of my favorite speakers on earth. Good job. Where are you located?

kirk930 August 12, 2011 22:40

dev--
thanks alot dave.... yes ,we discussed the vac 's attributes and just how much kevin has pushed the sound- quality envelope with these objects - of- art.
vinyl? what vinyl? not anythime soon, but one never knows... thank you and enjoy your vacs as well.

ozy August 12, 2011 13:51

mribob--
thank you , you are too kind.
your venture speakers were on my radar screen while i was looking for a new pair.they are beautiful thru and thru!
room acoustics- auralex offers several great solutions at fair prices. i like their diffusers as they are light and very effective. trial and error are kind the key to this. auralex would be a good starting point.gik makes some very good panels as well but heavier and larger.depends on your room size.please let me know if i can help you further .

ozy August 12, 2011 13:48

Congrats! on a very nice set-up over all indeed.

You are of few very fortuante individuals to own as I am also the same VAC combo except mine are in Silver finish, those 450 mono's are very special indeed and paired up with the Sig. pre-amp has gotten me off the merry-go-round.

My MBL 101E's are truely lovin it too.

I really like the colour combo of the Stella EM's also, my favourite colour combo for those speakers.

I see only one thing missing and that's a top notch vinyl set-up, oh I love my vinyl with this combo.

Enjoy!

dev August 12, 2011 12:39

let me add my congrats to you; and stand in awe; fantastic system; and beautiful room; clearly a lot of thought and effort went into this creation...the room itself rivals the state of the art equipment you put together. Please share with me your thoughts on room treatments, especially the diffusors. I want to start now on my room; was considering the S/R ART system; but have no idea how to start or proceed on this room tuning; and wish to avoid 'snake oil' products; and get something of quality and value. Thanks again; one of best rooms I've seen posted.

mribob August 12, 2011 11:08

Arthursmuck--

can't thank you enough, art! .....ask and you shall receive.... and btw, your great comments on the vac gear were instrumental in my descion to pursue it...

Focalfan--
thanks alot! you should try and hear the vac gear when the opportunity presents itself.
as for the stellas, i like them for so many of their attributes, but mostly for their accuracy and coherency top- to-bottom. as for them being the best? what is the best?
my previous speakers were a stepping stone to something i now percieve as much better.
there's no sense on dwelling on them or comparing lemons to oranges. but again ,thank you for your kind words.

ozy August 12, 2011 10:59

Wow! Another superb system you've assembled there my friend...I am in awe and also very happy for you...congrats!

arthursmuck August 12, 2011 09:58

my god ,what a system set up you got! this is fantastic! we dont have vac in europe but ihear it is very good.
some say the stella em is the best speaker in the new utopia. what do you think? how is it compare to the sunray speakers you sold?( i think no comparison...).
enjoy ,this is a beautifull room and system.

focalfan August 12, 2011 08:18

Lloydelee21---

thank you !prior to the p-01 i had the p-03 the dcs one. none are built or sound as good as the p-01...

Himiguel---

thank you as well. yes, ended up wth the stellas after trying out a few other speakers, and they are terrifc!

ozy August 12, 2011 08:12

Congrats on your new system. I see you ended up with the
FOCAL STELLA. Enjoy

himiguel August 12, 2011 04:57