I wrote the comments below years ago. I will keep them for a while as a reminder of my newbie thinking at the time. This hobby is a series of plateaus. I have reached a new one with my current gear. Having a lot of fun.
Have made quite a few changes to this system as my fledgling knowlege of audio has begun to mature. I still have a long way to go...in the knowlege department! I probably won't change components for a while. My goal is best possible 2 channel playback with secondary theater application. Have dedicated room 24 x 17 x 11. There are 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits. My recent focus has been on minimizing negative effects from the room. I have recently added ASC tube traps behind the main speakers and in the ceiling behind the listening position. The most interesting thing I did was to cut a 50x12" hole in the double sheetrocked wall behind the main speakers. There is a large floor to ceiling enclosed cavity that I filled with fiberglass. Then we covered the opening with an ASC custom built sound plank with an open back. The other issue I have worked on feverishly is speaker placement. Getting that right really improved clarity. timbre, and air. Before there was a bit of "congestion" in the sound. Finally, the bass trapping did more for the quality of the bass than I would have expected. Now I have zero bass boom; very tuneful low frequency. Nothing is perfect, but I (with the help of many others!!), have really achieved an outstanding quality of 2 channel music reproduction. Maybe now it's time to focus on the theatre side for a while.
Replaced 1012 DAC/pre. Similar neutral sound with significantly more detail yet musical.
Goodwins Silent Server Server
Custom server for High Rez downloads. Connected to an 8Tb NAS drive
Wilson Audio watch
center channel
JL Audio Fathom F113
Pair of stereo subs. excellent quality. Integrates well with the Wilsons
Theta Digital Casablanca 3
with extreme DAC'c
Oppo BDP-95
DVD/Blu-Ray
Balanced Audio VK 250SE Mono
Center channel amplifier. Replaces BAT VK 110 mono. Sounds great and not nearly as hot.
Balanced Audio vk-220
SOLID STATE for surrounds (pair)
B&W SCM-8
side and rear channels
Transparent Audio Opus MM2 Speaker cable
12 ft pair. Great synergy with my equipment
Transparent Audio Opus MM2 Interconnect
2 ft pair from preamplifier to amplifier.
Nordost Odin
analog interconnect from Vivaldi DAC to preamp
MIT MA-X Digital Proline
3 Digital cables, Vivaldi Transport to Upsampler and Upsampler to DAC
Tara Labs Zero digital
Stereo Pair from Vivaldi Transport to Vivaldi DAC for SACD. Clearly one of the best digital cables made
Tara Labs The One XL Cobalt Power Cable
On pre-amp, and all Vivaldi components
Tara Labs 0.8
balanced 50 ft interconnect run to right and left channel preamp from Theta casablanca
Kimber Hero interconnect and speaker cable
balanced from processor to center channel amp and from amp to center
Running Springs Jaco
power conditioner on theater front end
Sound Application RLS-1
Very transparent. I used this in the past with my Maxx 2's than changed for the Audience AR6T. The Sound app is better on the alexandrias.
Sound Application Brass Alloy Power Outlets
Highly conductive modified Hubbell outlets. Remarkably better that the PS Audio. Used on 2 channel front end and amps.
PS Audio Power Port
Modified Hubbell power outlets used in 2 dedicated circuits on theater front end.
Pagoda Finite Element Master Reference
Rack for Pre amp and transport. Also master reference amplifier stand for Boulder 2060.
ASC Tube traps
This photo shows 16" full rounds behind Maxx's. Recently added a second pair of 16" super traps behind speakers. Unbelievable improvement in imaging. Can't understate the difference this made. The panel on the rear wall covers a 12" by 50" hole cut into the sheetrock which allows low frequency to pass into a floor to ceiling enclosed cavity which is filled with fiberglass. Homemade (sort of) bass trap. There are also 3 16" half rounds on the ceiling behind the listening position.
Sony SXRD
1080p projector
Room Acoustics Custom
Custom designed combination of diffusors and absorption covered in fabric on walls and ceiling.
I was thinking the speakers were going to really over whelm in size in your room and possibly look out of place but they don't and actually look really great!
I really like your colour choice, that would most likely be the colour I would choose also unless I went with some think bold like the blue or yellow.
Good to read things are happening for you, patience is all I can say and enjoy your journey.
I would say this hobby is most addictive and our search seems to be never ending including, speakers, amps, cables, sources and our room changes.
Wow! Impulse! Even getting a great deal you still had to lay out some serious $$ compared to the Maxx 2's which you seemed to be very happy with.
My thinking was that you had listened to the prior version and/or made arrangements to hear Dave Wilson's or some one else's.
Regarding the Lamm product, I believe Oneobgyn is just trying to direct you into that direction as he feels it's a great match. In the end it's your system so if your preference is with the Boulder than that's all that counts.
I have learned to be really open minded to try pretty well anything recommended if all possible, some I have agreed with and some others I have scratched my head just wondering what the heck are you guys listening to.
I still recommend if all possible go to Oneobgyn place for a listen, that would answer allot of questions. With all the money invested the flight would be only a small amount and what you gain is worth many times more.
looking back just 2 years ago when I made a purchase from you and present Wow!, now that's an upgrade.
I'm happy for you.
What made you go with these speakers? did you do comparison to others? if so what and what were you findings.
The MAXX3 looks very interesting also.
I have been following along with Oneobgyn system which is absolutely amazing and right down my alley, both video and 2 channel. I have not heard it but from what I read sounds very intriguing.
I had mentioned to you that I had two set-ups at the time, not sure if you recall it's been a while now. In my designated rm I had a pair of Avalon Isis speakers which I finally sold a while back so that room is sitting empty, what a shame.
Why might you ask is that room sitting empty, well I actually bought MBL 101E's to replace the Isis but when the MBL's arrived aprox. a year ago now the Isis speakers still were not sold. Haveing another set-up in the living room area which I had Eggleston Andra 2's I decided to do the switch and set-up the MBL's to break them in. Well the MBL's have cost me dearly, mainly because they are my favs. so they are staying where they are. That system set-up was suppose to be a moderate one, oh well. I bought some CAT JL3 Sig. MK2 mono blocks at the same time thinking my amp search would be over, well unfortunately I fell victim as so many others have had, not being a good experience what so ever so I sold them and I'm presently looking at replacing them.
Once I have this set-up completed then onto the designated room but in the mean time I have been doing research regarding which speakers interest me for this room and one on my list being the speakers you just got.
For what it's worth I seem to be leaning towards Oneobgyn's component choice. I already have a ARC REF3 which I really enjoy and have heard the Lamm amps he uses which I really like also, have not heard the Playback Designs System MS5 he has but is on my list as I have only heard positive remarks.
If I was you I would give your speakers a few months of break-in time with dialing them in with your current electronics and then go and to his place for a listen. You will then have a reference and see (hear) which you prefer. I will say I don't seem to be a Boulder guy (great product) my self and will be shocked if you stay with them long term especially with your current speakers.
Are you going to post some new pic's, maybe leave one of your current set-up.
Hi Bflowers, I have to say it's refreshing to read when someone such as yourself has just received such expensive speakers and so far seem to be waiting to hear that "holy ..." I hope it comes, did you hear Oneobgyn's set-up prior to your purchase?
The physical presence compared to your Maxx2's in your room must be an experience all in it's self.
Look forward to reading your on going thoughts and congrats on your new speakers.
