Lloyd, Thanks for the comments. I think before I would try subs again, I would try to audition a small pair of three way speakers in my room. I've tried subs twice, once with two JL Audio F110s, and more recently with one REL sub borrowed from a friend. The low frequencies are tough in my room, perhaps because of the low ceiling and also the suspended floor. The plaster and lathe walls are very good acoustically, but the two alcoves to either side of the fireplace trap pressure. But perhaps even more problematic is the gap between the low sub frequencies and the Mini midrange driver. If I try to lesson the gap, the sub output is too great. If I lower the sub, the gap comes back. I know what you are describing about the sense of venue and deep space. I would love more of that, but I am restricted to the room I have. As it is, my wife is a saint for allowing me to take over our living room with all of this audio gear. God bless her.
Interesting...where does your speaker roll-off in-room? I have never had my subs play much above 50hz EVER, even when we had Guarneris. I admit that i preferred to have the sub bass with the gap than have the 'full gap' below 50hz with only the main speaker's rolloff. Totally a personal preference of compromises.
I respect that you have demonstrated an extremely careful attention to detail, and could well be unhappy with my admittedly 'sloppier' approach of having the gap.
That said, i would have thought your speaker roll-off in-room would still be quite low.
LLoyd, Some frequency plots are shown in post #80. It is around mid 30s. I've tried all sorts of cut offs with the subs, different slopes, phase and volume. Perhaps I did not live with it long enough to really dial it in. I've posted in the past about Magico's opinion that subs are not recommended for use with their two way speakers. My discussions with them coupled with my own experience with subs in my room have convinced me to try a small three-way speaker before attempting to integrate subs again. I used to own a pair of Eggleston Rosa speakers which have a similar driver arrangement to the Magico Q3 and at that time I thought they overloaded the room slightly. However, that was before I had the ASC Tube Traps and more appropriate amplifiers, so I really don't know what a speaker like the Q3, S3II or the M3 would sound like in my room.
The other issue is that the Mini 2s just look so natural and right in both aesthetics and scale, that I am hesitant to try anything different. I also love the sound I'm getting now, so I don't think much will change very soon. I've reached a state of great satisfaction. I plan to address smaller things like power delivery and lowering the noise floor even further.
(...) The other issue is that the Mini 2s just look so natural and right in both aesthetics and scale, that I am hesitant to try anything different. I also love the sound I'm getting now, so I don't think much will change very soon. I've reached a state of great satisfaction. I plan to address smaller things like power delivery and lowering the noise floor even further.
nice write-up by your friend, Peter! you got to be loving how it's sounding. congrats!
I've had a bottle of DeoxIT Gold contact cleaner sitting in my 'tweak' cabinet for years since I used it last. time to blow the dust off it and get to work. thanks for the kick start.
edit---I just grabbed the bottle of DeoxIT Gold, I also have a bottle 'CAIG' 'ProGold'.......does anyone know how these two differ? they are both red fluid that are said to be contact treatments.
Thank you for taking the time to write down your impressions, Al. It is always fun to share listening time with you and the rest of the Boston group. Perhaps you enjoyed the other night more because we had such a good dinner before hand.
You speak of the latest changes, but if one follows this thread, it is clear that I have been sweating the small stuff for steady and incremental improvements over time.
Most probably when you tried the JL Audio subs you did not have access to the JL Audio CR-1. I still did not have the time and conditions to play seriously with it, but the CR-1 is obliging me to re-consider subs again.
Your system and room are beautiful, I love the traditional room and furniture complemented with more contemporary audio equipment. Maybe it's the wood of the speakers and rack that bridge the time gap and make it all work so well. I have a similar DIY birch rack but yours is certainly more substantial.
WRT your setup and subs you have quite a live and moderate size room so managing low freq via a sub + placement would be quite challenging as you've experienced. However, implementing a sealed sub (like your recent try with a JL Audio) and a CR-1 would be one of the best ways to integrate speakers and sub in any room but likely moreso in your room. I'm also curious if you experimented with plugging the fireplace (maybe only when listening?) with a bass trap?
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