I have only seen one other room that was of this quality in my 15 years of being involved in audio.. absolutely 1st class - I'm still looking at the pictures in disbelief - stunning !!!

[email protected] January 27, 2005 14:38

your system is beautiful !! if you dont mind me asking. how much do you have in it.

thanks,
mark

martin06 January 25, 2005 01:56

wow - incredible system. congratulations!!! It will take me a very long way to get there.. have you ever experienced a Micro Seiki SZ 1 T Ultimate turntable?

Best regards, Frank

frankpiet January 24, 2005 20:54

Hello, Mike : Your room is the absolute top best I have ever seen. Congratulations !!! I have a question for you : I like the Stradivarius from Sonus Faber very much, but I will like to know how will you compare them to the Kharmas Exquisite ID , if you don`t mind? When a person owns a room like yours , with that kind of gear, his opinion carries weight, and wisdom . Thanks so much Josey

josey January 14, 2005 05:40

Wow! You have the best room and system ever seen on this website! Congratulations! I especially love the album collection.

hifimaniac January 12, 2005 02:42

Gee Mike, if I didn't know you better, I'd think I was being treated like the proverbial "red headed step-child!" LOL! If you are somehow offended that I asked about what speaker you are considering, then I apologize. I asked because the last time we spoke you were asking me about a sub-woofer and then a short time later I saw your speakers listed on A-Gon so I assumed you found a suitable alternative and I was curious what a guy with the best room on the planet would be using - simple as that.

fmpnd January 01, 2005 19:38

Mike: Thank you for your response. Appreciated it.

ryder January 01, 2005 17:39

Audiobugged; i have never tried any omni-directional speakers in this or my previous room. they seem to answer a question i'm not asking.....since i'm a 'sweet-spot' kinda guy. i have enjoyed listening to the big MBL's at shows......but somehow i prefer the presentation of better traditional dynamic speaker designs.....maybe slightly better image focus and overall coherence.....i dunno. the visuals of the Duevels would be (for me) an aquired taste.

i would agree that the Duevels might sound spectacular in my room.....as my room really excells at doing 'space'....a clear strength of the Duevels.

Ryder; thanks for the comments. the rear Lp racks and side CD racks are used as diffusers.....with the Lp racks actually slightly absorbant when full. i had tall bookshelves behind my seating position in my old (much smaller) room and i really liked that.

there are some cautions i would list. if stuffed full....a cd rack can be reflective.....there needs to be some variance in the face.....either space between the top of the cd's on a lower rack and the shelf above....or.....space between the cds. also, if the cd rack has a backing it can resonate. so you need to consider those issues if you want acoustical benefits.

i think it is best to keep media shelves toward the rear of a room.....those shelves are not ideal ways to control first reflections......especially since they are constantly changing as you use the media.

overall; i think you are on the right track with your ideas.

mikelavigne January 01, 2005 16:25

I've read that book racks or CD racks behind the listening chair will help improve sound quality. Since you have them at the rear and side walls, what is your comment? I'm going to emulate your idea of the CD racks by getting a couple of mount-on Ikea Lack shelves and stick them on the rear wall. The cheapest idea that I can steal from your room.

Agreed with all that your room is mighty impressive, and can see that you are extremely passionate about it!

ryder January 01, 2005 09:10

Mike, Yes enough with the bodily fluids, as you wouldn't want someone getting overly excited in your room upon visiting.

Have you tried any Omni-polar design type speakers? Just wondering what a pair of Duevel Bella Luna Diamante, or their larger full-ranger sibling the Jupiter would sound like in a room that was fully acoustically tuned from day one?

audiobugged December 30, 2004 19:37

Mike, I see your speakers are for sale. What have you decided on for the new room?

fmpnd December 30, 2004 19:02

guys, thanks for the comments......i do expect visitors to control their bodily fluids.

.....and that is all i have to say on that subject (i don't want to encourage this line of discussion).

mikelavigne December 30, 2004 17:04

Mike, You should have a drool Dribble Cup dispenser mounted outside the door w/ cups to grap as you enter. The Styrofoam cups should come with a chin strap of some sort? You might also want to keep your local Hazmat teams phone number on speed dial should things get overly messy?

audiobugged December 30, 2004 15:28

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous

ellery911 December 30, 2004 04:44

A long while back, I inquired about the cost of building custom bookshelves to fill up my alcove area. I ended up buying Ikea. Material cost is one thing, labour cost is another. Estimate the minimum number of hours it takes to finish the job and multiply it by $100 and you've pretty much got the minimum price, materials not included.

Jtinn, are you sure Mike didn't need a mop? Well he'll need one when I go visit. ;D

howie December 30, 2004 04:22

Thanx Jtinn, Ouch..... I best keep saving my pennies!

audiobugged December 29, 2004 21:03

Audiobugged: I understand your curiosity, but Mike will probably be embarrased by that question.

The answer would be very difficult as he converted a barn to a complete living area. The audio room is the main focuse, but it really was a total build out. Imagine you were building a 1500 - 1800 sq. foot house and you have your answer.

Mike followed me around with a towel cleaning up after me as I drooled all over his room. :)

jtinn December 28, 2004 05:33

Mike, Wow as I drool, & count my pennies could I ask what the total final construction cost of your room was?

audiobugged December 28, 2004 02:28

Speaking of Malhler's 2nd Symphony (Resurrection) ... what an appropriate wish for Tenor Audio !

thom_y December 19, 2004 23:35

Santiago.....don't worry.....no way i'm die'n now that the room is done...too much great music to listen to.

Tim, during the week about one hour in the morning (i awake about 5:30am most mornings)......and about 2 hours per nite (i always spend some time with the wife first....and invite her to join me). during the summer i do watch baseball most nites if the Mariners are winning.....so a little less.

on Saturdays usually 4 to 5 hours since i usually go to work for awhile.

Sundays about 5 to 8 hours.....although it varies. i have done quite a few 10+ hour sessions on Sundays.

there is a good reason i have such a comfortable chair.

i average about one audio visitor a week.....which may increase the listening time (since the room has been completed i have averaged about 3 audio visitors a week).

mikelavigne December 19, 2004 05:35

Curious as to how many hours per week you spend listening to music. With a set up such as yours I'd be hard pressed to leave the bungalow.

timrhu December 18, 2004 23:32

Oh Mike, I am a newbie at so many things in music. Ours is a hobby of discovery so, I’m in the rollercoaster car right behind yours!

My (poor) attempt at musical humor with Mr. Mahler’s ouvre was that, his Second Symphony is named, the “Resurrection.”

I didn’t want you to die without having further opportunities to listen to that sweet system of yours. 8>)

Best regards.
Santiago

vvrinc December 17, 2004 04:50

Mejames; thanks.

Scott; thanks.....and i look forward to our getting together soon so you can judge the room for yourself.

mikelavigne December 17, 2004 04:01

Congratulations on realizing a listening room that most will only dream about! Thanks for the article, it is very interesting and lets us share your journey. Reading the article and viewing the pictures generate many ideas that we can implement on a smaller scale. Great "trickle down" effect ;-)

scott

skushino December 17, 2004 00:50

System edited: here is a link to an article i wrote in Positive Feedback Online regarding the construction process of this room; [url=http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue16/lavigneroom.htm]room article[/url]

mikelavigne December 16, 2004 05:58