Room friendly speakers

Mike Anatta hit the nail on the head. I'd look at stand-mounts & the Torus or 2 from Wilson Benesch. You can tune the sound & bass to where you need it & set-up properly they sound absolutely incredible.
 
Mike,

While visiting Munich last week and enjoying the opportunity to listen to most of the top speakers in the world I was also paying attention to room acoustics. Most companies used extensive acoustic compensation measures like diffusers and absorbers. One presentation fell apart because there was no acoustic stuff in the room. And the room was a shitty as the rest I guess. But boy what a great sound! Very natural and realistic. Deepest bass I have ever experienced in reproduction. Almost 22 inch bass driver but no booming or humming. Very impressive. This was a top three speaker together with the Magico Ultimate and the Focal Grande Utopia III. It was the Cabasse La Sphère. Maybe it's the form and the fact that they are like floating. I know these things are not cheap but I think worth every dime.

ISSE2011-Cabasse-La-Sphere2.jpg
 
Thanks. We are starting to see some great new designs. Very exciting.


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Mike Anatta hit the nail on the head. I'd look at stand-mounts & the Torus or 2 from Wilson Benesch. You can tune the sound & bass to where you need it & set-up properly they sound absolutely incredible.

Kev - its a looooooong story. But let's just say, the Alexia's are sounding terrific with the D'ags. I was pretty down in the dumps. But, I moved them around (a lot less toe in) and now the ports aren't firing at the side walls. I then removed the Stillpoints (they were robbing the life out of them) in my room - especially after the treatments I added and I returned to the spikes. I removed the DSP and power conditioning AND my Shunyata HC's are finally broken in. All of those things have made a world of difference and I'm getting some serious indigestion on whether to keep them or go back to Strads - which worked wonderfully in my room and I should NEVER have sold them. Aida's were not an upgrade in my room. But as of right now, the consensus is the Alexia's as they sit now are even a step above the Strads in my room.

As a side, I have ordered the Spatial Audio Lumina Statement speakers to play with. Supposed to be extremely room friendly.

I sure wish I had all the answers or some secret sauce, but I'm on the same journey as everyone else.


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Like I mentioned before, I thought your Alexia's were doing 90% near perfect as they were. With some cable changes (?) or other minor tuning, you should have a beautiful sounding system .......considering that room. Every speaker is going to present a new set of challenges with a roof line like you have. Sounds like you have been fighting to get back to a system that was as good as the Strads. Sometimes we have to learn to leave well enough alone. Lord knows I have went backwards a bunch of times. More experimentation often works better than trying to buy ourselves out of a problem. Just rambling.....

Jerry-
 
You're right Jerry and I'm glad I have guys like you and the others from the club and golden ears like Brent from VAC to listen. Sometimes us audiophiles are our own worst enemies. Chasing the last 1% can often lead to a negative net sum gain.

When you come over next week, you will be amazed (I think) in how they sound sans Stillpoints and toed out a bit more.


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I really wanted to get that set of Nordost Frey speaker cables to you for try-out, but my Mom is having serious issues with her heart. Hopefully soon. I tried (4) other sets of cables in my system the last couple of days, but kept going back to the Freys. You might get a shorter loan period than I first planned....lol. They are not uber-expensive, but do particularly well in my setup. I even tried Nordost cables a few notches above the Freys, but ultimately returned and purchased the Freys to keep. They might be an asset in your system as well. I cannot wait to hear the changes you've made, since my last visit.
Clayton's speakers will be a different world altogether. It will be interesting to hear how they communicate in your upstairs room. Did you try the Rowland integrated on the Alexia's ?? I know you are trying it on the D3's right now.
I have to tell you, I am gaining even more respect for these VAC amps, now that my system is really fleshing out details. The Direct Stream dac has really opened up my system more each day, as it continues to break-in. Every change is easily detectable now. This is probably the best "bang-for the-buck" purchase I have made in several years. Keep on tuning my friend !!

Jerry-
 
Sorry about your Mom - I can relate. Mine has two brain tumors. She is battling hard, but....

As for VAC, other than on the Alexia's and a friends Revels, it's generally a great fit.


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Sorry to read about your Mom Jerry. My prayers are with her, and you to help her through her health issues.
 
Mike, I am sorry to know that about your Mother. I am sure you have many of the trials I have been through, as well. And thanks Joe for your kind words. It has been a long battle with her, starting with a heart attack at 39 yrs. old. Then open heart/valve replacement, stints, vein stripping, difibulator, congestive heart failure (died/revived by yours truly), etc. I don't mean to drag this thread down with health troubles, but rather be a reminder to all of us who still have their loved ones around.......to be appreciated. Times have been trying with my Mom's health, but I treasure my time with her while she is still here.

Jerry-
 
Jerry,

You are a great son, and she's lucky to have you. Enjoy every moment and try not to leave things unsaid. Thank you for sharing.

For everyone else, tell your family and friends how much you love them. :heart:

When you get down to it, they are all we have.
 
You're right Jerry and I'm glad I have guys like you and the others from the club and golden ears like Brent from VAC to listen. Sometimes us audiophiles are our own worst enemies. Chasing the last 1% can often lead to a negative net sum gain.

When you come over next week, you will be amazed (I think) in how they sound sans Stillpoints and toed out a bit more.


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Hey Mike, will you be at Howards for the SAS meet next weekend? Since I will be, don't make me self invite if you're having Jerry over at the same time.:D
Sorry, no Golden Ears, but I'd still like to hear your current setup (it changes faster than I can visit!).

As for "room friendly" loudspeakers, that's my Soundfield motto.:)

cheers,

AJ
 
Hey Mike, will you be at Howards for the SAS meet next weekend? Since I will be, don't make me self invite if you're having Jerry over at the same time.:D
Sorry, no Golden Ears, but I'd still like to hear your current setup (it changes faster than I can visit!).

As for "room friendly" loudspeakers, that's my Soundfield motto.:)

cheers,

AJ

I don't think I will be able to make it. I have a hockey game at 4:45pm, so I would have to leave about 3:30. Does it start at 1pm? Maybe....

As for listening, you're welcome over any time. Just give me a call. I think Jerry was planning on coming down some time this week. Maybe you can hitch a ride with him?

Mike


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I don't think I will be able to make it. I have a hockey game at 4:45pm, so I would have to leave about 3:30. Does it start at 1pm? Maybe....

It starts at 2:00, but you're welcome to come at 1:00 for an early listen if it meshes better with your schedule. :)
 
Thanks Howard. I will check with Management (wife)


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I'm a workin' man, so in the week is tough. Just figured with your turnover rate, my window of opportunities are limited;)
I read through the thread. I need to show you what my version of "room friendly" entails, before you go crazy and build a new room or do anything else.

Not surprised the Salon was possibly the easiest adapted. The down firing port was only a small part. The fact that Harman spends more on R&D alone that most "high end" companies combined, has something to do with that. Their research into speaker/room acoustics wrote the book so to speak. Especially for monopoles.
The Spatials you have on order should be a much better for fit that room.

cheers,

AJ
 
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