Description

The primary goal of this room and equipment is to create a dedicated listening room purposed to optimize music playback. Software consists of SACD discs, a music server containing DSD and high resolution Flac files, and ripped RBCD's.

A house addition that included a dedicated media room was completed February 2015.

Acoustic Frontiers (Nyal Mellor) established the optimum room size consistent with the house addition, designed the room acoustics and provided optimum inside wall dimensions.

The media room acoustic "foundation" consists of an isolated wall system comprised of 130 Kinetics IsoMax clips attached to 1-1/2" furring strips nailed to CBS blocks on all four walls. 440 linear feet of 25mm hat channel is supported by the isolation clips. R-11 open faced fiberglass (3-1/2" thickness) fills the empty areas between the CBS walls and drywall. Soundboard XP damped drywall is attached to the hat channel. Acoustic sealant seals the areas between the top, bottom, corner areas of the damped drywall.

The ceiling utilizes Soundboard XP attached to the ceiling joists. The media room attic has R-38 fiberglass insulation. A knee-wall with attached R30 fiberglass insulation separates the media room attic and the original structure interior attic area.

The A/V electronics are served by a dedicated 100A electrical sub-panel with (4) 20A circuits and 20A Furutech GTX-D duplex receptacles. Twisted pair wiring (#12) is used for each circuit with the neutral and hot wires wrapped on 2" centers and the ground wire placed parallel in PVC conduit. A paper presented at the 2010 AES 129th Convention shows this method has the lowest ground voltage induction tested.

The media room has a dedicated 1-1/2 ton A/C system. Large exhaust ducts in each room corner, and a large return duct on the rear ceiling leading to the air handler/evaporator minimizes room noise.

Acoustic Frontiers incorporated my existing Rives Audio ceiling "clouds" and using room dimensions and frequency measurements specified the interior room acoustic products and locations. The acoustic design creates a flatter frequency response; lowers the room reverberation time; and provides bass trapping. Clarity, sound staging, and imaging are all improved while keeping the room as live as possible.

The interior acoustic panel positioning:
- Ceiling: (4) 6'x6' wood frame acoustic "clouds" hung with all thread from the ceiling joists room centered. Each wood frame consists of (4) 2'x4' RPG BAD panels supported by the frame support structure. UltraTouch R19 sound absorption batts are placed on top of the structure.
- Front wall: (2) 39"x59" RPG Modex type 1 plates (outward positions), (2) 39"x59" RPG Modex broadband panels (inward positions). Panels with 6" spacing except at side walls, hung 23" from floor.
- Side walls: (3) 2'x2' RPG BAD ARC panels @ the L/R wall first reflection points; (3) 2'x2' Listen Audio natural birch diffusers @ the L/R 2nd reflection points; (3) 2'x2' Listen Audio natural birch diffusers flanking the listening positions on the R sidewall and behind the listening positions on the L sidewall. All panels hung 18" from floor.
- Rear wall: (1) 6'x6'x12"d absorber box (R38 fiberglass filled) centered. The existing floor standing RPG BAD panel templates wrapped with acoustic cloth attached to the front of the absorber box. The absorber box is hung 26" from the floor.

Room dimensions, equipment positions, D3 Measurements: see Media Room Floor Plan drawing in photos.

A JL Audio F212v2 subwoofer has been volume matched and phase degrees aligned with a 90Hz crossover, DARO applied. DH Labs SubSonic II RCA cables are connected to the F212v2 from the JL Audio CR-1. The CR-1 is set with a 24 dB octave slope. The (3) D3 bass ports have are plugged with closed cell poly foam to prevent front wall reflections. The system has a palpable low end that blends completely with the stereo speakers. The stereo amp no longer has to support low bass, and the mids and highs from my D3s are appreciable improved.

A JVC RS2000 front projector is suspended from the rear ceiling; Definitive Technology SR-8080BP surrounds are hung on rear left/right walls 6' above the listening position, and a DaLite JKP Affinity 16:9 (67.5 X 120" viewing area) motorized screen hung from ceiling at the front wall.

A solid "system foundation" ensures optimum performance of audio equipment:
- precise stereo speaker positioning relative to front, back, parallel walls; the listening position; and away from obstacles;
- Room acoustics designed to minimize sound reflections and room modes that can "smear" audio and create spikes and nulls;
- a 100A sub-panel with (4) Dedicated 20A A/V circuits;
- Synergistic cabling (PC's, IC's, SC's) ensures design continuity throughout the electrical path;
- Resonance control to isolate audio equipment EMI and vibration.

Thick wool area rugs with jute are used to partially cover wood floor surfaces at the rear wall, and between the listening position and speakers.

White LED strip lights at the outside perimeter of the ceiling "clouds" provide general purpose room lighting. Blue LED strip lights around inside perimeter of the ceiling "clouds" provide mood lighting.

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Room Details

Dimensions: 19’ × 15’  Medium
Ceiling: 11’


Components Toggle details

    • Raidho D3 Speakers
    (1) sealed ribbon tweeter; (1) 100 mm Diamond Midrange driver; (3) 115 mm Diamond Bass drivers; Piano Black
    • Boulder 1160
    PEAK POWER, 8 OHMS, 300W; 4 OHMS, 600W; 2 OHMS, 1200W
    Output power can drive any reasonable loudspeaker to realistic levels.
    • JL Audio Fathom 212V2
    Powered, sealed-box subwoofer. Drive-units: two 12-W7 12" cone woofers with 3.5"-diameter voice-coil and 3" peak–peak excursion:
    - Amplifier: switching, class-D, 3600W RMS short-term;
    - Dimensions: 31.96" H X 14.92" W X 20.39" D. Effective cabinet volume: 574 in;
    - Weight: 224 lbs;
    - DMA-Optimized Motor System;
    - DARO optimizing system;
    - LP Frequency/slope adjustment;
    - ELF adjustment;
    - Phase Alignment 47 degrees
    • EMM Labs DV2 Integrated D/A Converter
    • Proprietary & discrete dual differential D-to-A converters (MDAC2™)
    • New high resolution volume control system with automatic output gain control (VControl™)
    • Latest generation Meitner Digital Audio Translator signal processing technology (MDAT2™)
    • Enhanced technology for instant signal acquisition and jitter-free performance (MFAST™)
    • Proprietary asynchronous clocking system (MCLK2™)
    • USB interface with custom hardware galvanic isolation isolates the DAC from any dirt that may be passed along from the external source. Asynchronous input circuitry now supports PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz, DSD, 2xDSD, DXD (352/384 kHz), and MQA via the USB input.
    • User controlled signal polarity
    • Custom aerospace-grade ceramic circuit boards
    • EMM Optilink for connection to an EMM transport

      Excellent writeup of EMM Labs design philosophy and build quality:
      https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/ansuz/
    • EMM Labs XDS1v2 SACD/CD Transport
    Used exclusively as a CD/SACD transport using EMM Labs OptiLink cable (AT&T fiber optic).
    The XDS1 retains these capabilities as a stand alone device:
    2-channel CD/SACD/DAC, discrete Class A circuitry, all output.
    - 2014 V2 factory upgrade, all new COAXIAL, TOSLINK, AES and USB inputs. Each able to support up to 24bit 192kHz. USB input also supports DSD streaming as well;
    - 2015 MDAT2 firmware upgrade, an improved new DSP engine with:
    • Increased sonic detail from all digital audio streams (PCM and DSD) using new high-resolution algorithms.
    • Time and frequency response filters that are greatly optimized.
    • A new signal processing engine built for very high-precision audio up-sampling (2xDSD up-conversion).
    • A new more accurate 2 x DSD up-sampling algorithm.
    • Ansuz Acoustics Mainz8 D-TC
    Greatly improved the sound dynamics and articulation. Ansuz offers four price levels of these power distributors: Mainz 8 A2, C2, D2, DTC.

    Ansuz dislikes power conditioners based on transformers, capacitors, and inductors. Instead of filtering AC, their open coils attenuate the peaks of transients atop the 50/60Hz wave to soften the HF spikes and change the shape of the noise. A transient in a coil creates a current which the counter-rotating coil cancels.

    Excellent writeup of Ansuz power conditioning and distribution philosophy and implementation:
    https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/ansuz/
    • JL Audio CR-1
    CR-1 acts an audiophile-grade “bridge”, seamlessly connecting a two-channel audio system with a top-flight, powered subwoofer system. Powerful features and a pristine, all-analog signal path make it a key component in optimizing an audio system’s spatial and spectral performance.

    Stereo frequencies <91 Hz from the EMM Labs DV2 XLR output are redirected from the Raidho D3s to the JL Audio F212v2. The CR-1 also uses the Integra DTC-9.8 full range stereo to reproduce movie soundtracks.

    Eliminated transient intermodulation distortion in the JRDG 625 and Raidho D3s, JRDG 625 has more current reserve to produce mids-highs, D3s reproduce cleaner and more dynamic mids-highs.
    • Ansuz T2s
    (6) Resonance Control
    - (3) EMM Labs DV2;
    - (3) Ansuz Mainz8 DTC Power Distributor
    • Ansuz Acoustics Darkz DTC
    (6) Resonance control:
    - (3) EMM Labs XDS1v2
    - (3) JL Audio CR-1
    • Ansuz Acoustics Darkz Diamond
    (5) Darkz D resonance control supporting:
    - (3) Pioneer BDP-62FD Blu-ray Player;
    - (2) Adcom Amplifier
    • Nordost Ti Pulsar Points
    (12) Resonance control:
    - (8) Raidho D3
    - (3) Marantz 7705 Pre/Pro
    - (1) Unused
    • SolidTech ROS Ref 4 Equipment Rack
    Used with Ultrasonic acrylic led shelves for additional stability, resonance control, and -aesthetics, to support:
    - Toshiba Laptop (music server)
    - EMM Labs XDS1;
    - EMM Labs DV2;
    - JL Audio CR-1
    • Toshiba Portege R825-P70
    Windows 10 based laptop optimized as music server using JRiver MC19. Connected to EMM Labs DV2 via 1M Kimber Kable AG USB B-bus.

    The EMM Labs XDS1v2 software removed and the DV2 USB software applied.
    • Ansuz Acoustics C2 1.5M XLR IC
    EMM Labs DV2->JL Audio CR-1
    • Nordost Valhalla 5M XLR IC
    JL Audio CR-1->Boulder 1160
    • Kimber Kable AG USB B Bus
    Toshiba laptop music server->EMM Labs DV2.
    • Nordost Valhalla-2 4M Speaker Cable/spades
    Boulder 1160->Raidho D3s
    • Ansuz Acoustics C2 2M 15A PC
    Furutech GTX-D NCF->Mainz8 D-TC Power Distributor;
    Mainz8 D-TC Power Distributor->EMM Labs DV2
    • Ansuz Acoustics A2 2M PC
    (2) Ansuz A2 Power cords:
    - Ansuz Mainz8 D-TC->EMM Labs XDS1v2
    - Ansuz Mainz8 D-TC->JL Audio CR-1
    • Nordost Valhalla 2M 15A PC
    20A Duplex Receptacle->JL Audio F212v2
    • DH Labs Sub-Sonic II
    JL Audio CR-1->JL Audio F212v2
    • DH Labs Silver Sonic BL1 Series II
    (2 RCA) Integra DTC 9.8 AVP->JL Audio CR-1 (stereo L/R)
    (2 XLR) Spare
    (2 RCA) Spare
    • DH Labs Silver Sonic BL-1 Series I
    (2 RCA) Integra DTC 9.8 AVP->Acurus 200X3 amplifier (rear surrounds).
    • Furutech GTX-D NCF(R)
    includes 104-D carbon fiber finished outlet cover, and GTX aluminum CNC processed chassis; shields against RFI (Radio Frequency Interference). Material thickness: chassis plate 13.0mm. Finish non-resonant coating. Special Teflon damping foil and SUS Receptacle fixed screw 4 pcs (M3) and SUS Plate fixed screw 2 pcs (50mm overall length). • Dimensions: 135.0mm (L) x 86.0mm (W) x 13.0m
    • SolidTech Radius Solo 3 Rack
    Supports:
    - Integra DTC-9.8;
    - Sony/UBP-X800 BD/Streamer;
    - Ansuz Mainz8 D-TC.
    • JVC DLA RS2000 Front Projector
    Native 4K (4096x2160) home theater projector that features new, 0.69 inch D-ILA devices coupled with a 17-element, 15-group all-glass 65mm lens. It offers dynamic contrast of 800,000:1, high brightness (1900 lumens), and a host of color reproduction features that ensure dynamic and realistic images.

    Ceiling hung.
    • DA-LITE 16:9 Tensioned Screen JKP Affiinity
    67.5 X 120" Viewing Area
    • Marantz AV7705
    • Dolby® and DTS® surround sound decoding
    • video upscaling (up to 4K) for analog and HDMI sources
    • Audyssey MultEQ® XT32 speaker calibration and system optimization
    • Marantz's Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module (HDAM) offers improved dynamic range and detail while reducing noise
    • high-quality 32-bit DACs on all channels
    • 4K/60p and 3D video pass-through
    • 17-3/8"W x 7-5/16"H x 16-15/16"D
    • weight: 22.9 lbs.
    • Sony UBP-X800
    Ultra HD Blu-ray Player. Used to stream NetFlix and Blu-ray discs.
    • Acurus A-200 x3 Amplifier
    Used to drive B&W CCM80 rear surround speakers.
    • Definitive Technology SR-8080BP
    - (2) Surround speakers mounted 1' behind and 2' above the L/R sidewalls from the listening position.
    • RPG Modex Plate
    - Modex Type 1 provides absorption from 65 Hz - 500 Hz in a surface depth of only 4 inches;
    - Modex Broadband provides absorption between 50 - 5000 Hz in a surface depth of only 4 inches.
    - Front wall: (2) 39"x 59" RPG Modex type 1 plates (outward positions), (2) 39"x 59" RPG Modex broadband panels (inward positions). Panels with 6" spacing except at side walls, hung 23" from floor.
    • RPG BAD ARC Panel
    - Hybrid absorber/diffuser panels:
    - Side walls: (3) 2'x2' RPG BAD ARC panels @ the L/R wall first reflection points.
    • Listen Audio Diffuse
    - Hybrid diffusion system panels, bandwidth scattering sound below 600 Hz:
    (3) 2'x2' Listen Audio natural birch diffusers @ the L/R 2nd reflection points; (3) 2'x2' Listen Audio natural birch diffusers flanking the listening positions on the R sidewall and behind the listening positions on the L sidewall. All panels hung 18" from floor.
    • RPG BAD Template
    (16) RPG Absorption/Diffusion templates:
    - Ceiling: (4) 6'x6' wood frame acoustic "clouds" hung with all thread from the ceiling joists room centered. Each wood frame consists of (4) 2'x4' RPG BAD panels supported by the frame support structure. UltraTouch R19 sound absorption batts are placed on top of the structure.
    - Rear wall (center): (1) 6'x6'x12"d absorber box  filled with R38 fiberglass. (3) RPG BAD panel templates wrapped with acoustic cloth attached to the front of the absorber box. The absorber box is hung 26" from the floor.
    • ASC (Acoustic Sciences Corporation) Picture Panel
    (1) ASC Absorption/Diffusion panel mounted on the left rear wall corner.
    • Kinetics IsoMax clips
    Acoustic Frontiers "floating wall" design: The walls and ceiling of the room should be used as a component of the overall acoustic design. If properly designed they can provide invisible absorption. Sound energy excites the shell into motion. The mass of the shell and depth of the air cavity form a resonant system. The motion is damped by frictional losses in the wall material. The absorption frequency can be tuned by changing the mass of the wall, the method of attachment to the structural framing members and the depth of the air cavity. Damped drywall is useful because its resonances are subdued relative to those seen in normal drywall, which tends to vibrate at around 60Hz. As in if you energize the room with a 60Hz note the drywall will keep on ringing (making sound) after the note has stopped. A single 5/8″ layer of pre-fabricated damped drywall works great as one component of a "floating" wall system. All wall and ceiling corners are sealed with acoustic caulking.

Comments 94

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Wow, fantastic room and components. The room makes such a huge difference in evaluating changes in a system as you know.

statman