I have realized that the room is the single most important component in the system that most dealers do not talk about. Paid a lot of school fees to get to where I am today. I moved in to my current place 10 years ago. When I had my house built, I decided to have a bigger dedicated listening room built. For some reason, my younger self thought that that rock wool all around hidden under wooden panels would be best. Engineering floor boards for the room as well. The end result was totally no bass. Had to take them all down and started over with bare walls and tiled floor. Cost of lesson : USD30,000. From bare walls back to bare walls with nothing else to show.
Over the years, I discovered that I prefer diffusion on the first and second reflection points of the sides walls. I prefer diffusion at the back wall as well. Front wall is a combination of duffusion and absroption. Bass traps at the corners. DIY Helmholtz resonators to tune out the 60+hz standing wave.
As of yesterday, I have also taken delivery of a pair of JL F113s to bolster the low frequencies a bit. Quite a handful. Despite all the efforts, I still had a nasty bass null around 40hz prior to the insertion of the F113s. The F113s certainly helped but not totally elimate this null. Managed to push the dip to 30hz for now, Tuning continues. I use a software program from XTZ with an included USB mic.
I am based in Malaysia on the island of Borneo.
Anyway, next course of action :
1) Focal Stella Utopia - round 2 - I will fly to Singapore and audition the Stella one more time. Dealer showed me that he has setup the DCS Vivialdi to welcome me.
2) Magico M3 - I will visit my friend in the Capital City of Malaysia across the sea to have a listen to his S7 with Naim S1 pre 500Dr power and Naim ND555 + Kuzma Goldfinger front end setup. Since my last viist, the hardcore fellow as added 2 pairs of JL Gotham monsters. If this works out good, I will get him to introduce his Magico dealer to try for an audition for the M3.
3) Vivid Giya G2 - This is still at the back of my mind to find a suitable time to audition. Unfortunately, no stock available to places accessibly by me. Will need to listen to the G1 again in a home environment. There is one set of G1 + Naim Statement in Singapore where the dealer may be able to work out something.
Other suggestions also in consideration if they r available in the region.
