Sanctum Sanctorum

by jtori on Done For Now

Description

System Updated: I added a pc-based music server, something I had been contemplating for the past year or so. The opportunity presented itself when a friend was preparing to scrap a Dell C521 low-profile desktop computer. I fitted it out with a a 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor, 2 GB RAM, Windows XP Pro, iTunes 9, USB 2.0, Musiland Monitor 01 USD and Blue Jeans Cable BNC/BNC digital cable. Digital bitstream is fed to the S/PDIF in on my Wadia 16. I shuffled a few things around and have sited my ARC LS5 Mk. III on a Black Diamond Racing Shelf with two sets of #4 cones and placed the PC on the Towhshend Seismic Sink. Things sound just a little tighter, with greater impact and more image specificity. This move supplements the tweak I implemented recently, fabbing an acoustic treatment which hangs from the plasma screen in my listening room. The treatment employs three ASC Sound Planks, which are oriented horizontally. Otherwise, I've had the same audio system for going on 12 years and made only minor adjustments to it. This system, more than any I have owned before (and there have been a few) communicates the emotion and magic of the music. The system is situated in a lower level dedicated listening room. Walls were constructed using two layers of 5/8" drywall on 16" stud centers. Floor is concrete slab and is covered with the best fiber-based padding I could find and wool carpet. There are four dedicated 20-amp circuits on isolated grounds, as well as one separate 15-amp circuit for non-audio ancillaries. Room dimesions are the closest I could get to golden-rule proportions. The room is prewired for a future plasma screen and Magnepan 5.1 surround system, however, I'm a two-channel guy at heart. The room is treated with RPG abfusers (side walls), RPG bass traps (front corners), ASC tube traps (rear corners) and ASC Sound planks (front wall). Measured performance of the room/system combination is really pretty good (up 5 db at 80 Hz is the only real anomaly). A non-audio feature of the room is an ultra-quiet vent fan situated above the hot seat, which I installed so I can smoke the occasional cigar. Make-up air is supplied by a large thru-wall return vent. It was a nice idea but I have only smoked one cigar in the room so far. The fan is effective for venting heat generated by the tube amp, however. Overall, I'm pleased on this, my third and hopefully last, dedicated listening room adventure.
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Components Toggle details

    • Wadia 16
    VRDS disc clamping system, digimaster D/A conversion, 80 MIPS processing, 24-bit resolution, balanced outputs, 45 lbs. Sound compares favorably to newer players, so I haven't been able to bring myself to upgrade it.
    • Dell C521
    Music Server - AMD Athlon 64 x2, 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, Windows XP Pro, iTunes 9, USB 2.0, Musiland Monitor 01 USD, Blue Jeans Cable BNC/BNC digital cable.
    • VPI Industries Aries
    I have been very pleased with this table. I am just now considering the addition of the new Mini Super Feet and SDS from VPI. The table is sited on a Bright Star base designed for the Aries, which I have found to be quite effective.
    • VPI Industries JMW Memorial
    Unipivot design, easy to adjust and swap out for another. Sonic characteristics can also be tuned by increasing/decreasing the amount of damping fluid in the cup.
    • Benz Micro Glider
    This cartridge mates well to the JMW Memorial arm and Aries table. I prefer it to my van den Hul One
    • van den Hul MC-One
    Very low output and very pleasing sound, though I prefer my Benz Micro Glider. Alignment can be difficult due to the short cantilever.
    • Audio Research LS-5 mkIII
    To my ears, an absolutely terrific preamp. Dynamic and clean with great bloom. A keeper.
    • Audio Research VT-200
    I love this amp. An absolutely synergistic match with the Magnepan 3.5Rs, and there is not much it will not drive.
    • Magnepan MG-3.5r
    I'm a real fan of their sound, especially with the ARC VT200. The transparency, reproduction of acoustic instruments and voices, and the soundstaging are, in my opinion, superb.
    • Vandersteen 2wq
    Supplementing the Magnepan 3.5Rs with a pair of these was one of the best investments I've made in my system, allowing the Maggies to do what they do best and releiving the amp/speakers of the need to reproduce the lowest frequencies. I'm running them balanced with the optional Vandersteen high pass filters.
    • Kimber KCTG and KCAG
    Balanced throughout, with the exception of the run from turntable to phono preamp.
    • Audioquest Emerald
    Balanced 9-meter run from preamp to amplifier. Great cable.
    • Audio Research PH-3
    A nice phono preamp. I will probably send this to ARC in the not-too-distant future for upgrading to SE.
    • Audioquest Clear
    Bi-wired 8-foot run from amp to main speakers.
    • Kimber 8TC
    One 8-foot run from amp to each subwoofer.
    • Kimber Homemade
    Kimber 8TC with a copper ground lead down the center, connected to Hubbell connectors and jacketed in a woven sleeve.
    • Audio Power 116
    Just for that extra measure of protection and filtering
    • Audio Power PE-1
    Though there are claimed benefits to sound, I like it for the reason that I am able to monitor line voltage.
    • Black Diamond Shelves and Cones
    Under CD player and phono preamp, each using two sets of three cones.
    • Townshend Seismic Sink
    Under preamp
    • Sound Anchor VT200
    Situated under VT200
    • Ensemble Tube Sox
    Replacing the OEM damping rings on all 6922s in the LS5 and PH3. A noticeable reduction in microphonics can be attributed to the tweak.
    • Panasonic TH-58PZ800U
    58-inch HD plasma screen TV
    • ASC & RPG Various
    Acoustic treatments, including bass traps, Tube Traps, Abfusors, Sound Planks and Skylines. Devices are applied as required according to room measurements.
    • ASC Sound Planks Plasma Treatment
    Home-brew acoustic treatment for 58" plasma screen TV -- I've got my image back! Today I fabricated a simple but effective acoustic treament to hang on my flat screen. I used 3/4" flat stock to make two hooks for hanging, some velcro and three Sound Planks. The insides of the hooks are covered with velcro (loop side) to prevent damage to the TV. The outside of each hook is covered with velcro which enables two 33" "ribbons" of velcro to hang down. The sound planks are affixed with velcro in a horizontal orientation, helping to tame front wall reflections. The device was a breeze to make, is easily stored and affixes in about 30 seconds for critical listening.
    • Nixie Clock and Single Malts Various
    The Nixie clock blows the Tice clock away. It gets the timing right and is much more analog (and therefore real) in its presentation. The single malts greatly improve soundstage width and depth, take the edge off highs, and make 100 dB sound like 90 dB. Using them I have had occasions where I heard things I didn't know were present on the medium of being played (perhaps they weren't).

Comments 51

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Your system is one of the best laid out I have seen. I bet you have a very good sounding system. I too had the Maggies 20.1 at one time.

booboobaer

Owner
System edited: New photos added, in addition to one new tweak.

jtori

Owner
System edited: I've been intrigued with the notion of building a music server for about a year. The opportunity presented itself when a friend was preparing to scrap a Dell C521 computer. The computer is in a low-profile case, has a power-efficient processor and runs cool and quiet. After cleaning, reformatting and reconfiguring the computer, I ordered up a Musiland Monitor 01 USD USB-to-S/PDIF convertor and hunk of BNC-terminated digital cable. The server is running only Windows XP Pro and iTunes 9. Output from the Musiland is fed to my Wadia 16, which handles D-A conversion. The result is beyond my expectations, and the convenience is outstanding. Now all I have to do is rip the rest of my library.

jtori

Owner
Breezer,

I have to confess I haven't changed the tubes. The only change I implemented was to replace the elastomer tube dampers with Tube Sox. The net effect was a reduction in microphonics. After the change, I thought the pre sounded a bit dead. Then, after swapping back and returning to the Tube Sox, I realized the sound was more truthful, a little less euphonic. I'm probably coming up on a tube change in the not-too-distant future. For now, though, the ARC is dead quiet and sounds great to my ears. As I do with every purchase, I'll likely deliberate carefully before buying replacement tubes. Any thoughts you or others may have are appreciated.

jtori

Hello,
what kind of tube-rolling-experiences do you have with the Audio Research LS-5 MkIII, which i also use, but until now just with stock Sovtek and JAN Philips tubes.

breezer

Owner
System edited: I got my image back! Yesterday I cooked up a home-brew acoustic treatment for my 58" plasma screen TV. I used 3/4" flat stock to make two hooks for hanging, some velcro and three Sound Planks. The insides of the hooks are covered with velcro (loop side) to prevent damage to the TV. The outside of each hook is covered with velcro which enables two 33" "ribbons" of velcro to hang down. The sound planks are affixed with velcro in a horizontal orientation, helping to tame front wall reflections. The device was a breeze to make, is easily stored and affixes in about 30 seconds for critical listening. I spent some time listening and am extremely pleased with the outcome.

jtori

Owner
Home-brew acoustic treatment for 58" plasma screen TV -- I've got my image back! Today I fabricated a simple but effective acoustic treament to hang on my flat screen. I used 3/4" flat stock to make two hooks for hanging, some velcro and three Sound Planks. The insides of the hooks are covered with velcro (loop side) to prevent damage to the TV. The outside of each hook is covered with velcro which enables two 33" "ribbons" of velcro to hang down. The sound planks are affixed with velcro in a horizontal orientation, helping to tame front wall reflections. The device was a breeze to make, is easily stored and affixes in about 30 seconds for critical listening.

jtori

Owner
Kehut,

Thanks for the enthusiastic endorsement. I've thought about moving to the 3.6s but I can't find much fault with the 3.5s. As for the LS5 and VT200, they're not going anywhere. The VT200 is kind of like a big-block V8: There always seems to be plenty of torque on hand. And I just don't have any gripes with the LS5; it's a great preamp. I've thought about sending it off to GNSC for an upgrade sometime in the future. To me, the PH3 is the weak link in the chain. It should probably be upgraded first. Thanks again for the kind remarks

jtori

Killer Classic system! Super room and treatments! I especially like the pairing of the 3.5's with the Audio Research gear. Classic LS-5 and VT-200 Woo-Hoo!

Congrats and enjoy it!

kehut

Owner
Thanks for your kind remarks. I own and play an eclectic variety of music. I like acoustic -- mainly bebop, mainstream and straight-ahead jazz -- as well as female vocals. I also enjoy Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Wilco, The Who, The Kinks, Chris Isaak, Oregon, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Elvis Costello, John Hiatt, Lou Reed and Joshua Redman. Like I said, I'm all over the map. Depends on the mood. I like to rifle the pile of LPs or CDs and play whatever strikes my fancy. I'm also always on the prowl for interesting new music. Suggestions are welcome. Thanks again!

jtori

Wow - awesome setup! Great choice of gear. Sanctum Sanctuary needs some great music - my suggestion is something loud - how about The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary? More seriously what do you enjoy most on your system?

shadorne

Owner
Sage advice. I followed this rule in selecting the present treatments for my room. I will heed your recommendation with my plasma cover. Now, I just need to find the time to create the device.

jtori

Sounds interesting. I'd be judicious with absorption in the middle - it will selectively absorb upper-mid and high frequencies and can give a lifeless sound. I have found a combination of diffusion and absorption preferable with Maggies(as you did with the soundplanks).

tympani

Owner
Thanks, Dan. I'll check this out. I had been sketching out a sort of "fitted bedsheet" kind of covering encapsulating an absorptive matting of some sort. Because they are lightweight, I even thought I might be able to attach three of the sound planks, oriented horizontally, to the arrangement. In the end, I'd like it to be easy to deal with, attractive in appearance and, most of all effective.

jtori

Joe,
I tried the "flanking" options you describe, but the effect was negligible until I controlled the brightly reflective glass. For this, a lightweight, removable device seems to work best. I have experimented with absorption panels, and various diffusors. As mentioned, the Furutech diffusers work reasonably well. They're light enough to be supported by the TV frame itself, provided your plasma mount isn't at its weight limit, and they also provide modest bass absorption. With a 58" plasma, you may be able to use just one, in the middle (they're about 2' by 4')
Dan

tympani

Owner
I sure have! I noticed after removing the sound planks and installing the plasma that there is still quite a soundstage, just not with the image specificity that existed before. By this I mean that while the the stage extends beyond and above the speakers, the placement of players within the stage is less (maybe not at all) precise. I'm playing with the Sound Planks now to determine where I will remount them. One option is to place one on either side of the screen vertically and one above the screen horizontally. This doesn't address the large reflective surface, though. Another option is to place two vertically on either side of the screen more or less directly behind the speakers; this may address the front wall reflection some. Also under consideration is some sort of absorptive covering for the plasma in conjunction with option 1 or 2. I am open to any suggestions you or fellow brethren may have. Music and sound quality are most important to me.

jtori

Now you've done it! What have you noticed in the soundstage with the plasma? As you can see in my system, it's a challenge. Currently I use Furutech Diffusor panels (elegant, covered in silk fabric) to place in front of the plasma for serious listening. Life was so simple before video...

tympani

Owner
System edited: A lifelong two-channel guy, after nearly three years of deliberation, I decided to pull the trigger and add a fancy-schmancy flat screen TV. The screen of choice was a 58" Panasonic HD Plasma. Since I'm not a videophile, I'm quite pleased with the image quality. Now I'm going moving carefully down the HT path so as not to compromise my beloved audio system.

jtori

I'm jealous of your room, your gear, and your music collection. What a beautiful and well thought out system and room.

But I'm happy with my 3.6 system so far. I have a mix of ASC, Sonex, and Michael Green acoustic items because my room is a bit tricky. I will be getting back into vinyl soon, as I see you are.

Again.....NICE!!

pummill

Thanks for the compliments on my altar, which looks quite a bit like your altar. :) I can't imagine what a dedicated large space must do for your 3.5/Rs.. and it's so aesthetically pleasing!

Mye stands are an audible upgrade, but they make moving your speakers quite a pain due to their spiked feet and added weight! Sometimes I miss sliding my 3.6s around little by little :)

Where are you using your new Skylines?

nils

Owner
Thanks for your complimentary remarks, Chadnliz. Like many audiophiles I think of ways to improve my system. The Vandy subs made a huge difference, not only by supplying that last octave but by allowing the Maggies and amp to concentrate on more convincingly reproducing music from the upper bass range upwards. The result was not subtle. On my short list of potential upgrades are the following (in order of priority): Mini Super Feet and SDS for the Aries, GNSC reference upgrade for the PH3, and GNSC reference upgrade for the LS5 Mk. III. Also, at some point in the future, I will probably upgrade/replace the Wadia. There is room for improvement on the analog side. On the digital side, I'm really very happy; whenever I get the notion to "improve" reproduction I ask myself, "Why?"

Again, thanks for the kind remarks. JT

jtori

Well what can I say that has not been said, it is simply a not only beautiful but also a very comfortable looking room and you deserve all the high-praise you continue to get. I have heard the Maggies with ARC equipment along with the Vandy sub and it is a supreme match, your careful thought from gear to room surely gives you excellent results!

chadnliz

Owner
Thanks for the enthusiastic support. Sounds like you've got a great system yourself. I used to run my setup with the ARC pre and Krell KMA-160s. Wish I'd kept them; I would have liked to try bi-amping. Like you, I like to swap out my speaks from time to time; I have a pair of Red Rose Music R3s and a pair of Vandersteen 1Cs. I rund the R3s straight, without subs, and the 1Cs with the subs. Each has its own sound, which I favor at differenct times. In fact, the 1Cs, for their price, are quite astounding in terms of timbre and imaging when paired with the Vandy subs. Re:: audiophiles being OCD, I don't buy it .... wait a minute, I've got to move my speakers 1/4 of an inch ...

jtori

Awesome setup!!! I also have maggies. I have the 3.6s and I switch back between them and my Martin Logan Quests every several months. If I had to give up a pair I would definitely keep my maggies. I am using an audio research preamp too and 2 Krell power amps. Dude, you can't get no better than what you've got. But we are always wanting to find something better? Do you think audiophiles have some sort of obsessive compulsive disorder? I wonder sometimes. Anyway, again AWESOME!!!

dan6053

Owner
The acoustic panels are from ASC and RPG. The tube traps and flat panels on the front wall are by ASC, while the abfusers on the side walls and bass traps in the front wall corners are by RPG.

jtori

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