Audiophile listening rooms

[audio.bill]

FWIW - Although your room truly looks great, I can tell from your images that there is entirely another level of immersive musical involvement & emotional response to your music that you could be experiencing - without changing components or spending money on room treatments - or hiring a set-up guy either...

Jim - It would be helpful to know if your comment is specific to one system shown above or in general to these setups, and would be of much more value if you could share some further details of what specifically you have in mind. I normally wouldn't ask since I realize it's part of your business, but since you stated "without hiring a set-up guy" I thought you might be willing to do so. TIA for sharing your valuable insight with AS forum members!

[nc42acc]

Great space Randy! I really like your new equipment rack setup.

[Randy Myers]

FWIW - Although your room truly looks great, I can tell from your images that there is entirely another level of immersive musical involvement & emotional response to your music that you could be experiencing - without changing components or spending money on room treatments - or hiring a set-up guy either...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Jim,

I would love to know what came to your mind when reviewing my photos. I also understand this is your business, therefore I would not want to ask more than a quick opinion. I am sure you know that I always very much appreciate and value others opinions and inputs .

Randy

[nicoff]

I would be willing interested to hear what Jim has to say also.

[Jim Smith]

Jim - It would be helpful to know if your comment is specific to one system shown above or in general to these setups, and would be of much more value if you could share some further details of what specifically you have in mind. I normally wouldn't ask since I realize it's part of your business, but since you stated "without hiring a set-up guy" I thought you might be willing to do so. TIA for sharing your valuable insight with AS forum members!

I actually see issues that restrict - often dramatically - the system's ultimate potential in almost every system image that I see here and on other forums. The exception might be Mike Lavigne's set-up, though without hearing it, I couldn't state it for certain. Even though he has fabulous equipment, IMO, it's not nearly as much about the equipment as it is how it works with (rather than against) the room.

Mike Bovaird's set-up requirements are quite different, as he has multiple systems on hand to demo. Even so, of the many dealers I've visited, going way back to when I worked in Sales & Marketing at ARC, and then National Sales Mgr. at Magnepan, etc., Mike's set-ups are among the best - if not THE best - store demos I've heard. When I say best, I mean in the realm of musical involvement, not some technically-excellent-but-musically-boring set-up.

I replied privately to Randy. There was enough to discuss (not really negative, just some insights) that I recommended to him that it'd be much more efficient if we first communicated via e-mail, and then via a brief phone call to cover the info supplied. As with most installations, some straightforward - often free - steps can be taken to lift the system's performance to a higher realm of musical involvement.

So my reply here is that each set-up has issues, and one public reply to the owner - even if it was OK to do so - does not necessarily apply across the board to others. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have made the post. Interestingly, it was a system shown and positively commented upon earlier in the thread that got my attention re publicly mentioning these issues, but Randy's was there when I thought of actually commenting.

FWIW - this is one of the reasons that I created the (relatively) affordable one-on-one StraightTalk sessions:

http://getbettersound.com/st.html

Thanks for your question - sorry that I couldn't answer it here.

[nicoff]

I actually see issues that restrict - often dramatically - the system's ultimate potential in almost every system image that I see here and on other forums. The exception might be Mike Lavigne's set-up, though without hearing it, I couldn't state it for certain. Even though he has fabulous equipment, IMO, it's not nearly as much about the equipment as it is how it works with (rather than against) the room.

Mike Bovaird's set-up requirements are quite different, as he has multiple systems on hand to demo. Even so, of the many dealers I've visited, going way back to when I worked in Sales & Marketing at ARC, and then National Sales Mgr. at Magnepan, etc., Mike's set-ups are among the best - if not THE best - store demos I've heard. When I say best, I mean in the realm of musical involvement, not some technically-excellent-but-musically-boring set-up.

I replied privately to Randy. There was enough to discuss (not really negative, just some insights) that I recommended to him that it'd be much more efficient if we first communicated via e-mail, and then via a brief phone call to cover the info supplied. As with most installations, some straightforward - often free - steps can be taken to lift the system's performance to a higher realm of musical involvement.

So my reply here is that each set-up has issues, and one public reply to the owner - even if it was OK to do so - does not necessarily apply across the board to others. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have made the post. Interestingly, it was a system shown and positively commented upon earlier in the thread that got my attention re publicly mentioning these issues, but Randy's was there when I thought of actually commenting.

FWIW - this is one of the reasons that I created the (relatively) affordable one-on-one StraightTalk sessions:

http://getbettersound.com/st.html

Thanks for your question - sorry that I couldn't answer it here.

Very thorough and understandable response.
I am sure that Randy will be happy too.

[Randy Myers]

I appreciate all of the insight, opinions, and suggestions that I have received from everyone since jumping back into this crazy hobby. Getting thoughts and opinions from someone as experienced, and with the renowned reputation that Jim has is simply fantastic.

You guys are always great! I could not ask for better input then what you all have given me ...

Thank you to all AS members ...

[PeterA]

Have you noticed when you see pictures of fellow audiophiles sound rooms they are usually devoid of wall art, reasonable furniture, knick knacks and such? Most of the time I see an equipment rack and maybe some sound deadening panels or devices. Very spartan and stark to say the least. Is this because these are typically our "man caves" that the wife or significant other have no entry or say? I am not bashing this look just wondering why we never see our rooms decorated like the elaborate rooms in the audio equipment advertisements of what we typically buy. Maybe we spent all our dead presidents on the equipment and have none left for the fluff. Things that make you go hhhhmmmm.

Here are two photos of my formal living room in an 18th century colonial house. My goal is to get the compressor for the Vibraplanes into the basement as well as perhaps the amps and stands and then run all cabling through the floor. My wife is a saint for tolerating the intrusion of the stereo system.

[Randy Myers]

I had a very nice conversation with Jim. Very knowledgeable indeed. I highly recommend anyone to have a Straight Talk session with Jim, or at the very least get his book. I can't wait for mine to arrive.

I have completely reconfigured my room, and then again with some compromises with my wife. Sounds much better, but still have considerable more fine tuning to do after reading Jim's book.

[a.wayne]

Here are two photos of my formal living room in an 18th century colonial house. My goal is to get the compressor for the Vibraplanes into the basement as well as perhaps the amps and stands and then run all cabling through the floor. My wife is a saint for tolerating the intrusion of the stereo system.

A big SME fan myself , Nice ......

[PeterA]

A big SME fan myself , Nice ......

Thanks. It's a wonderful table. Not much love for SME these days, certainly not much discussion. An example of typical British understatement designed by quiet engineers for music lovers.

[a.wayne]

I actually see issues that restrict - often dramatically - the system's ultimate potential in almost every system image that I see here and on other forums. The exception might be Mike Lavigne's set-up, though without hearing it, I couldn't state it for certain. Even though he has fabulous equipment, IMO, it's not nearly as much about the equipment as it is how it works with (rather than against) the room.

Mike Bovaird's set-up requirements are quite different, as he has multiple systems on hand to demo. Even so, of the many dealers I've visited, going way back to when I worked in Sales & Marketing at ARC, and then National Sales Mgr. at Magnepan, etc., Mike's set-ups are among the best - if not THE best - store demos I've heard. When I say best, I mean in the realm of musical involvement, not some technically-excellent-but-musically-boring set-up.

I replied privately to Randy. There was enough to discuss (not really negative, just some insights) that I recommended to him that it'd be much more efficient if we first communicated via e-mail, and then via a brief phone call to cover the info supplied. As with most installations, some straightforward - often free - steps can be taken to lift the system's performance to a higher realm of musical involvement.

So my reply here is that each set-up has issues, and one public reply to the owner - even if it was OK to do so - does not necessarily apply across the board to others. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have made the post. Interestingly, it was a system shown and positively commented upon earlier in the thread that got my attention re publicly mentioning these issues, but Randy's was there when I thought of actually commenting.

FWIW - this is one of the reasons that I created the (relatively) affordable one-on-one StraightTalk sessions:

http://getbettersound.com/st.html

Thanks for your question - sorry that I couldn't answer it here.

Any info on the book Jim ....

[a.wayne]

Thanks. It's a wonderful table. Not much love for SME these days, certainly not much discussion. An example of typical British understatement designed by quiet engineers for music lovers.

True Dat .....