Audio Altar

by zmanastronomy on Budget Minded

Description

This is my humble listening room where I spend many hours before the Audio Altar. I have made my own acoustic room treatments from DuctBoard. The same thing as Corning rigid fibreglass but it has a black finish already on it. I done the whole room for $150. That included the 6inch bass traps in the corner and there's two treatments behind the curtains. After the room treatments where added the imaging was increadible. It was the best improvement I've ever heard. I didn't know that room treatments could make such a huge difference. I've also run a dedicated power supply for my CD player. The depth and width of the stage grew quite alot after that. So far I've been blessed with this system and with a friend that is an audiophile guru and bring over ICs and power cords to test out. It has so far saved me alot of time and money with searching for the right upgrades. I hope you enjoy the photos. zmanastronomy
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Components Toggle details

    • Custom 2024 Tripath
    No expense was spared in the building of this amp.
    24v battery power, Cardas binding posts, Fururtech RCA inputs. Very lively and neutral.
    • PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC

    I've heard DSD for the first time without resampling on my system today with this DAC.

    Sounds a lot better than I expected.

    • JW Audio Cryo Nova
    These are a great upgrade to my system.
    • JW Audio Reference
    These are a great improvement in my system.
    • JW Audio The Rock
    I built this rack myself. It turned out much better than I expected.
    • Gallo TR3d
    The Gallo sub is one of the only subs that can sound better than a floor standing speaker. It is so fast and clean, it's hard to make it sound bad. Integration with stand mounted speakers is too easy.
    • Elrod EPS-2 Signature
    I now have 4 Elrod signature PC's in my system. They have done wonders to my system.
    • Signal Transformer DU-2 (2000va)
    I have this isolation transformer wired in balanced mode. The noise floor droped considerably.
    I built this box to hide it.
    • Signal Transformer DU-5 (5KVA)
    I've added a second balanced transformer to my system. It's for my amp. Words can't describe the improvement it made. I am stunned.
    • William Schaefer Audio Design 4 column
    This is one very heavy duty stand. Filled with lead and sand, they weigh in at 105lbs each.
    • My Room Treatments
    Finnaly there's the treated room. THE biggest sonic upgrade I ever made. I didn't realize what I was missing until I added treatments. The imaging got so good I couldn't believe what I was hearing. If you've got a mega bucks system and don't have a treated room you're only tapping into 50% of the systems potential. I'm glad I took the step and treated my room. My meager system sounds the best it can now. I hope you enjoy the system photos and my attempt to write something. Thanks. zman
    • PorterPort Cryo treated AC outlet
    I use a dedicated AC line with a a PorterPort that Albert sent to me from Here at AG. The improvments in my system was a great leap forward. Without this outlet, I could have never accomplished what I have.
    • Custom LDR Tortuga
    Wonderfully transparent.
    • Sonus Faber Venere

    I just bought these based on reviews and I am very glad I did.

    They sound as good as they look. They didn't overwhelm my small room either. I've learned that front ported speakers are much better for a small room than rear ported.

    • Fanless PC for Server
    I've taken the plunge into Computer Audio. I'm running JRiver on my PC and have about 6tb of music to enjoy.

Comments 129

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I like your idea of using DuctBoard for acoustic treatment. Can you explain in detail how you constructed it. I have an unfinished basement which I want to convert into a AV room but can't afford the treatments.

ei001h

Nice set up! What Speaker and ICs Cables you are using?

r_naraine

Owner

If your looking for an affordable speaker from SF that will reach the low 30's with in room support, I would recommend the Venere 3.0.

I'm very pleased with the PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC. It outperforms the Bifrost by leaps and bounds. I'm finally hearing my SF's for the first time. :)

I've never heard the Chord DAC, but I've read a lot of positive things about it. 

zmanastronomy

Would like to hear your feedback on the PS DSD DAC. I am starting to look into a DAC and considered the PS and the Chord, since they are FPGA based. I have looked at the Sonus Faber series for upgrading my current loudspeakers. I am looking at a loudspeaker that would go at least 30Hz. With not many dealers around, user feedback is important to me. I did attend the AXPONA last year. But nothing beats a good dealer demo or in-home demo.

milpai

Owner
Hi milpai, To be honest, I'm using a Schiit Bifrost Gen2/Uber DAC that is known to be a little warm and polite. I'm getting a PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC tomorrow that I'm hoping to be a little less warm and address the warmth in the bass of the Venenre's. As far as the speakers fitting the room size (10ftX13ft), they fit very well. It's hard to find a large speaker that fits sonically in a room this small. I have no regrets in my choice of the Verere 2.5's. They have a beautiful midrange with a very nice top end, very lively and transparent. The bass is a little loose, but I'm sure I can get that under control with a less warm DAC.

zmanastronomy

Zman,
What do you think about the bass on the Sonus? Room looks awesome, as always.

milpai

Owner

I've added a pair of Sonus Faber Venere's to my system. I bought these based on many reviews and the fact that they would work in my small listening room.

They sound a beautiful as they look. Lively with a touch of warmth. The highs a well extended and very smooth.

I'm really enjoying them.

zmanastronomy

Owner
System edited: I have made some changes toward computer audio in my system. I have to say... I like it a lot. I'm currently using a Toshiba laptop with SSD and a Music Fidelity USB to S/PDIF converter going to my Schiit Byfrost DAC. VERY good improvement from CD playback. I'm currently using JRiver and Fidelizer, the improvements are great. My 5,000 album collection is on a Synology NAS 8tb HD. Using a Linksys router for wireless transport. Sound improvements are much larger soundstage, much better separation of instruments. Clarity and decay has improved also. Looking forward to a split USB cable and a linear power supply. I'm sure it will sound great. Until then, enjoy.

zmanastronomy

02-07-15: Zmanastronomy
System edited: I've just updated my system. It's been awhile.
Yes it has been a while, I was wondering where you went. Good to see you back.
Quite a change, speaker was especially.

sebrof

Owner
To the top.

zmanastronomy

Owner
System edited: I've just updated my system. It's been awhile. I have to say that all the changes I've made has been in the right direction. PC Audio is coming soon. :)

zmanastronomy

Lovely set up, must sound superb. I'm an a318b user and very interested to see the black treasure valve in there. I've just ordered one but it doesn't quite fit all the way in as the valve socket bolts get in the way. Is this how you are using it or did you make any alteration?

lordmortlock

Lovely set up, must sound superb. I'm an a318b user and very interested to see the black treasure valve in there. I've just ordered one but it doesn't quite fit all the way in as the valve socket bolts get in the way. Is this how you are using it or did you make any alteration?

lordmortlock

Zman,

Thanks for the info. I think I was expecting to hear some coloration (upper bass/midrange warmth?) with the Lore sound relative to Triangle in particular. That might not be a bad thing in that room. I am curious to hear.

I would like to go with floorstanders rather than current monitors on unspectacular current stands I am using there.

For neutral sound, OHm Micro Walsh is the other option that I could see in my wifes sunroom. I've had my larger OHM 100S3 speakers in there and results were good but bass slightly overpowering in that room, so smaller less expensive Micros might be perfect. I'm thinking I'd like to try something different there just to see before going with more of the same good thing. Plus I would likely go with latest and greatest Micro Walsh perhaps with a cutom finish, so I would expect probably 2X the cost of the Lores there.

mapman

Owner
Hi Mapman, the Triangles are more neutral than the Lore I owned. The Lore was pleasing, but colored. At the time I owned the Lore I thought it was a crossoverless speaker with a cap. for the tweeter, like the Zu speakers. I knew it wasn't as soon as I heard it. It's not a bad sounding speaker for the money, but they can't compare to my Focal Profile 918's that I paid $850 for. Unless you get an upgraded finish, which is extra, they're an eye sore. Then your spending enough that there are some better used speakers out there at that price point. Sorry to all the Lore lovers if i've offended you. I'm just telling what I heard in them. If you can find a used pair for less money, it will be hard to beat them. Again, they are good speakers that are fairly efficient and worth a try. Good luck in your venture.

zmanastronomy

Zman,

WHich Tektons did you have?

Could you compare the sound to the Triangles?

I've considered Tekton m lore as an option to replace my Titus' with something larger and floor standing in my wife's 12X12 sunroom with cathedral ceiling that might enable me to donate the current Titus' there to my sister to replace her worn out old Bostons.

mapman

Zman,

IF you are ever interested in another speaker change, let me know. My sisters old Bostons need replacing and I have considered giving her my similar size Tituses ( I gave her the Bostons years ago) and replacing them with slightly larger Cometes.

mapman

Hi John,
thanks for your kindly response.
Forgot to tell you which you have a very beautiful system.
I am talking with Sager company there which is a Signal Transformer distributor.
I am looking for the DU-3 (which has double load capacity than the amplifier needed power).
I see on e-bay a DU-5 but is not in excellent cond.
Do you think the DU-3 could be enough?
Paolo

caliaripaolo

Owner
Hi Cal.
I don't think the DU-2 will be enough for that application Without limiting your dynamics and trancient attack. You will need a DU-5 or larger. I'd check on ebay for a used one to show up. As of today, there is a DU-7.5 on there and it would easily support a complete system without limitations. Good luck in your venture and research whatever you get very well before buying it.
John

zmanastronomy

hi,
i see you have Signal DU-2 used for your pre. I am looking fo the same but for my Spectral DMA 150S2, used as isolation step down transformer (220V. to 110V.).
The secondary current is set at 18A. max. The max power needs for Amplifier is 1600W. I know which is better have higher power trans. but I think 2KW may be enough.
May I have your suggestion?
thanks
Paolo

caliaripaolo

Nice system Z! It's one that I've looked at a few times now. It's fun to get ideas from multiple systems, and I got a couple from yours, so thank-you! Happy Listening!

b_limo

How do you like the Velodyne subs? How does it sound with two of them? Thanks

highend64

Owner
Hi Zeal, and thank you for the compliment.
Those are DIY treatments. The whole room cost around $250, and that includes building the frames and the bass traps.
It's Corning Mold resistant duct board.
One of my friend's a AC installer, and I noticed that the mold resistant Corning was all ready black. So I just spray painted the edges with black paint and built some frames around them on the cheap.
Have a great day. John

zmanastronomy

What kind of sound absorbers are behind your speakers? They look real nice.

zeal

Owner
The second sub is an improvement over the single sub.
Fills out the room and the voices in my head aren't telling me where the bass is coming from :-)

zmanastronomy

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