My audio journey and electronics alway in flux

[sbo6]

I apologize in advance for posting these pics in another thread, but here's my story along with latest pictures.

As far back as I can remember I have been intrigued by audio electronics. I used to love playing with my Dad's half track reel to reel with the "green magic eye" tube back in the early 70s. In the later 70s I started my first system with a no-name receiver, Akai cassette deck, Technics TT and cheapo speakers. In the 80 - 90s, I progressed to an Onkyo receiver, then an Onkyo integrated amp, then 1 Carver cube amp, then 2 cube amps driving Micro Acoustics FRM-1AX speakers with a Phase Linear 8000 linear tracking TT. That system gave me more joy than I imagined was possible.

Fast forward (several changes in gear) to 2000 and a move from N.Y. to TX, with more space and a bigger budget, I moved to planars - Carver Amazings ALIIIs, then Martin Logan SL3s, and then to ML Summits (with a very short stint with Thiel CS3.6 in between).

Then I met some audio nuts like me in TX. With added enthusiasm an decent sized media room (plus a patient wife) my journey has taken me to the latest incarnation in the pics below.

Usher BE20Ds, DIY treatments


More treatments, sweet spot


DIY audio rack, Wells Audio Innamorata amp, Esoteric D-03, DIY Media PC (CAPS - like), 5TB eSATA storage


Side shot of an Ushers

I'm really enjoying this system, but more changes on the way, namely an xover upgrade. the journey never stops and that's a good thing!

 

[amirm]

Very nice! Good to see the absorbers on the back and front walls as those are the places to put them if you need more absorption.

Two questions:

1. Do the tweeters really point up on the Ushers or is that a perspective distortion from the camera?
2. Do you play the guitars?

 

[sbo6]

Very nice! Good to see the absorbers on the back and front walls as those are the places to put them if you need more absorption.

Two questions:

1. Do the tweeters really point up on the Ushers or is that a perspective distortion from the camera?
2. Do you play the guitars?

Thanks Amir.

The tweeters do indeed point up, in fact too much IMO for an average listening seat. I have found through significant experimentation that by increasing the rake angle (raising the back of the speaker) by ~1 1/2" made a significant benefit in high freq. clarity and overall sound staging. The front baffle is the same for the BE20 ad BE10 which is my speaker with only 1 11" Eton woofer. Since the BE20 are ~1' taller, this puts the tweeter's center firing point above the rear wall center absorber. the rake tweak was a huge plus, IMO.

I mess around with guitars, but I'm more of a keyboardist/piano player. I used to play in bands back in the day on Long Island, lots of fun.

Also, the room is deceptively a mix of absorbers and diffusers. All those little 1x1 squares at about 7 1/2' are 2D diffusers primarily for slap echo. The front wall has 2: poly diffusers behind each speaker, front wall center is a DIY BAD panel (abfusor) with an absorber above and mini-BAD in the middle (cover middle 20%) if that makes sense. Behind the curtains is 1 absorber at the first reflection point and several columns of mini poly diffusers. I initially did significant measuring with REW, but recent changes were done just via a Samsung app for basic measuring and my ear.

 

[Wardsweb]

Hi Steve - it was great to spend some time with your system last week. You have come a long way down the audio road. I always enjoy your get togethers. It is worth the drive. You have to make it back down to my place. Maybe I'll have another meet and see who makes the trip down?

 

[sbo6]

Hi Steve - it was great to spend some time with your system last week. You have come a long way down the audio road. I always enjoy your get togethers. It is worth the drive. You have to make it back down to my place. Maybe I'll have another meet and see who makes the trip down?

Thanks Luther. I think if you have another get together, you'd have a car or two of Austinites come down to check out your systems, always a great time.