Hi Froma long time audiophile, new poster

[sbo6]

Hi all,

I have lurked the pages of What's Best for a long while and am finally posting. I've had planars for quite a few years but have migrated back to cones with a recent purchase of Usher BE-20D speakers. I'm part of an informal group that gathers about 1x/month in and around Austin Texas so anyone wanting to come to our get-togethers, feel free to let me know.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Hi all,

I have lurked the pages of What's Best for a long while and am finally posting. I've had planars for quite a few years but have migrated back to cones with a recent purchase of Usher BE-20D speakers. I'm part of an informal group that gathers about 1x/month in and around Austin Texas so anyone wanting to come to our get-togethers, feel free to let me know.

Welcome aboard!

 

[sbo6]

Thanks. A few pics of my setup, always in progress....

 

[sbo6]

I thought it might not be a bad idea to update my misspelled intro system page considering it's almost 10 years old. ;-)

System summary is in my signature. A few pics..

One of the most recent changes was updating our upstairs to "luxury vinyl". In the process, I spent an inordinate amount of time screwing down the OSB to eliminate squeaks / gaps in the floor. I also blew open that 1/2 back wall giving me about 5 1/2' more depth and room for LPs and a spare seat. Getting the acoustics for optimal sonics was certainly interesting. Once completed, the sound is clearly better than beforehand versus carpet / padding. There is more, tighter, punchier and more articulate bass along with a more realistic sense of space and more precise spacial cues. Having the front of the room with a solid surfaced floor is akin to a stage to launch the sound into the room with rugs strategically placed in the listening area and is a concept I'm seeing in some highly acclaimed rooms. In my next house, solid floors will be employed, simply better sonics IME.

 

[sbo6]

Another gain was moving the rack to the right side and not in between the speakers. This resulted in a bigger sense of space and further delineation of spacial cues.

 

[sbo6]

Rear of room, still in process. Need to finish the opening, I will likely blow open the remaining back wall assuming we don't move in the next year or so. Also, one rear sub out of commission, having the amp replaced by JL Audio.

 

[Audiohertz2]

Nice setup , why not a pocket door to close of rear wall ..?

 

[sbo6]

Nice setup , why not a pocket door to close of rear wall ..?

Thanks. A) Because the extra 5 1/2 feet actually lowers a nasty mode at ~31Hz and B) I go in and out cleaning and accessing records. I see it as part of the main room.

 

[gleeds]

Thanks. A) Because the extra 5 1/2 feet actually lowers a nasty mode at ~31Hz and B) I go in and out cleaning and accessing records. I see it as part of the main room.

An effective way to vastly improve your room (and system) is to add two subwoofers with amplitude and phase control. This arrangement minimizes/eliminates room modes, especially in irregular rooms like yours.

I have used this completely analog process many times with the help of my partners from Von Schweikert at various trade shows. Small room size, no problem; a hall or room opening on one side and nothing on the other - bass modes, no problem; room boundary differential, no problem; low ceilings, no problem.

With the room modes cleared up, dramatic improvements in midrange clarity, soundstage, and low-end detail result. Von Schweikert will introduce a smaller 10" woofer in Q2 2025 specifically for this application. We recently used a prototype pair at the Capitol Audio Festival with excellent results despite the severely irregular hotel suite room layout. Anyone who wants more information on the approach, please message me.

PS In this recent customer installation, notice the hallway on the left side of the room, the low ceiling, and the small dimensions. The pictured system uses two VSA Shockwave-12 subs at the rear, which enable the large speakers to work in this relatively small room and deliver clean in-room 20hz measured response with zero bumps and lumps in the low-end or imbalance between left and right speakers.

 

[Audiohertz2]

Thanks. A) Because the extra 5 1/2 feet actually lowers a nasty mode at ~31Hz and B) I go in and out cleaning and accessing records. I see it as part of the main room.

Yea but a pocket door will ..!


1. Give you easy access to stay open
2. Can be cracked open to also aide in adjusting bass in the room ..
3. Option to close off or not ..!

Just thinking out loud ..

 

[sbo6]

Yea but a pocket door will ..!


1. Give you easy access to stay open
2. Can be cracked open to also aide in adjusting bass in the room ..
3. Option to close off or not ..!

Just thinking out loud ..

Yep, I get it, makes sense and thanks. But, to be honest, that wall is getting blown open, likely this spring or summer. So the whole room will be equally 5 1/2 feet deep.

 

[sbo6]

An effective way to vastly improve your room (and system) is to add two subwoofers with amplitude and phase control. This arrangement minimizes/eliminates room modes, especially in irregular rooms like yours.

I have used this completely analog process many times with the help of my partners from Von Schweikert at various trade shows. Small room size, no problem; a hall or room opening on one side and nothing on the other - bass modes, no problem; room boundary differential, no problem; low ceilings, no problem.

With the room modes cleared up, dramatic improvements in midrange clarity, soundstage, and low-end detail result. Von Schweikert will introduce a smaller 10" woofer in Q2 2025 specifically for this application. We recently used a prototype pair at the Capitol Audio Festival with excellent results despite the severely irregular hotel suite room layout. Anyone who wants more information on the approach, please message me.

PS In this recent customer installation, notice the hallway on the left side of the room, the low ceiling, and the small dimensions. The pictured system uses two VSA Shockwave-12 subs at the rear, which enable the large speakers to work in this relatively small room and deliver clean in-room 20hz measured response with zero bumps and lumps in the low-end or imbalance between left and right speakers.


View attachment 140797

Beautiful system.

Also, If you look, there are 2 JLA F113s, 1 behind each speaker. I also have 1 JLA F110 per channel on the side or rear wall. With the 4 subs, I have them meticulously dialed via REW and final tweaking by ear to ameliorate any dips and peaks, dialed in for my liking.

 

[AudioHR]

An effective way to vastly improve your room (and system) is to add two subwoofers with amplitude and phase control. This arrangement minimizes/eliminates room modes, especially in irregular rooms like yours.

I have used this completely analog process many times with the help of my partners from Von Schweikert at various trade shows. Small room size, no problem; a hall or room opening on one side and nothing on the other - bass modes, no problem; room boundary differential, no problem; low ceilings, no problem.

With the room modes cleared up, dramatic improvements in midrange clarity, soundstage, and low-end detail result. Von Schweikert will introduce a smaller 10" woofer in Q2 2025 specifically for this application. We recently used a prototype pair at the Capitol Audio Festival with excellent results despite the severely irregular hotel suite room layout. Anyone who wants more information on the approach, please message me.

PS In this recent customer installation, notice the hallway on the left side of the room, the low ceiling, and the small dimensions. The pictured system uses two VSA Shockwave-12 subs at the rear, which enable the large speakers to work in this relatively small room and deliver clean in-room 20hz measured response with zero bumps and lumps in the low-end or imbalance between left and right speakers.


View attachment 140797

This is interesting. I will have to PM you for more information.

I really liked the VS sound at the recent Munich show. Were you using the subs in the same way at that show? The sound was impressive even if you weren't using them, lol! I had assumed the smaller speakers were used so as not to excite the room nodes but the bass was full and articulate so maybe you did.

 

[sbo6]

Better pic.

 

[gleeds]

This is interesting. I will have to PM you for more information.

I really liked the VS sound at the recent Munich show. Were you using the subs in the same way at that show? The sound was impressive even if you weren't using them, lol! I had assumed the smaller speakers were used so as not to excite the room nodes but the bass was full and articulate so maybe you did.

Feel free.

 

[gleeds]

Better pic.

View attachment 141184

Beautiful room. I love the Townsend speaker platforms!

 

[sbo6]

Beautiful room. I love the Townsend speaker platforms!

Thanks. They made a significant benefit compared to the Isoacoustic Gaias I previously used.

 

[sbnx]

Better pic.

View attachment 141184

You have been busy. Your room looks great.