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Post by leonski on Jul 18, 2021 1:42:46 GMT -5
Boom? With All Due Respect? You need to put your goals in order...... I can't tell you how or what to think...or even WHAT to buy, but I'd start with 'less is more'.......
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 18, 2021 5:47:56 GMT -5
Goal 1 - To have tube sound when I what it while listening to music WITHOUT wasting tube life while listening to movie soundtracks.
Goal 2 - To have an active subwoofer with DSP to flatten the response and extend the bass to 20Hz.
Goal 3 - To minimize the effects of the subwoofer DSP on the satellite speakers.
Note that goal 3 is completely doable provided that I apply all DSP and equalization not only AFTER both the volume control but also after the sub frequencies are separated from the satellite frequencies. But where in the component chain (and how) the frequency separation takes place is definitely a poser. Also note that if I accept an AVR or AV processor as the answer to the second half of goal 1 with a totally independent tube system, that I'd now lose the subwoofer for audio (tube) use.
One option might be to build my own crossover with a simple first-order filter for the satellites, and use a combination of DSP and the subwoofer's plate amplifier to synthesize a third order (18dB / octave) low-pass filter for the subwoofer. A second option might be to use a solid state stereo preamplifier, insert the frequency divider network after it, and then split the signal to both a tube and solid-state power amplifiers.
The simplest solution I envision would be to have a VERY high quality AV processor as the system front-end with two pre-outs - one to a tube amp, one to a solid state. That way, the AVR processor would handle frequency separation, the sub would be available for both music and movies, and by choosing the amp I wanted for any given listening session, I could have both tube and solid-state options. But which (if any) AV processor will have adequate sound quality for my purposes? Phrased another way, how good with stereo is an XMC-1?
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Post by Cowhorn on Jul 21, 2021 7:42:15 GMT -5
Question for Boom:
Have you auditioned the Emotiva XPA-DR amps? Just wondering why you haven't gone top shelf yet?
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 21, 2021 15:59:28 GMT -5
With the advent of the new PT-1 stereo preamp, Emotiva seems to have hit all the right bases for me. I don't really want a surround processor, but I do want high quality stereo sound with built-in subwoofer management. The PT-1's bass management may not be as flexible as I'd like, but I can definitely live with 90 Hz. crossovers (particularly since the high-pass filter is built in). If the sound quality is as good as the rest of Emotiva's BasX stuff has been, this $400 preamp looks to be a value leader!
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Post by jackfish on Jul 23, 2021 9:33:40 GMT -5
What DAC does the Emotiva BasX PT-1 use?
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 23, 2021 11:15:17 GMT -5
Analog Devices AD1955 24/192 DAC
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 23, 2021 14:37:54 GMT -5
A visit to my audio amigo's... His new toy: Behringer polyphonic symphesizer: His "you just won't believe THIS" setup: And his main rig:
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Post by garbulky on Jul 23, 2021 16:13:04 GMT -5
Heyyyy nice to see got the altecs up and running. Those Thiels look fab as always!
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Post by audiobill on Jul 23, 2021 18:07:16 GMT -5
Be careful, @keithl or amir may not find those altecs “accurate” lol!
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 23, 2021 18:33:29 GMT -5
Be careful, @keithl or amir may not find those altecs “accurate” lol! And to quote my friend Walter, "Oh well..."
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 23, 2021 18:51:48 GMT -5
Heyyyy nice to see got the altecs up and running. Those Thiels look fab as always! And he SPECIFICALLY invites you to go hear his Boston Acoustics "desktop" setup. If you close your eyes, you'd swear that you were listening to his big system.
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 25, 2021 1:15:45 GMT -5
It's been awhile...
But I'm about to migrate back to an (almost) ALL-EMOTIVA SYSTEM again! It's been a while since I've been there, and I'm looking forward to it. Lineup will include:
Emotiva Big Ego+ DAC New Emotiva BasX PT-1 preamplifier Emotiva PA-1 mono power amplifiers
They'll be driving some modified Klipsch RP-600m speakers and a Klipsch R12-SW subwoofer. The sub is EQ'd via the DSP-LF unit from Dayton. The monitors are EQ'd (or not) via the DSP in Roon.
Once the preamp arrives, I'm eager to hear how the rig sounds!
The question I want to answer first, though, is "is the DAC in the PT-1 as good as that in the Big Ego+ ?" If so, that's one less component needed in the chain.
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Post by monkumonku on Jul 25, 2021 9:48:32 GMT -5
It's been awhile... But I'm about to migrate back to an (almost) ALL-EMOTIVA SYSTEM again! It's been a while since I've been there, and I'm looking forward to it. Lineup will include: Emotiva Big Ego+ DAC New Emotiva BasX PT-1 preamplifier Emotiva PA-1 mono power amplifiers They'll be driving some modified Klipsch RP-600m speakers and a Klipsch R12-SW subwoofer. The sub is EQ'd via the DSP-LF unit from Dayton. The monitors are EQ'd (or not) via the DSP in Roon. Once the preamp arrives, I'm eager to hear how the rig sounds! The question I want to answer first, though, is "is the DAC in the PT-1 as good as that in the Big Ego+ ?" If so, that's one less component needed in the chain. Forgive me if you posted this already somewhere but I couldn't find it. What are your impressions of the pre-mod vs. modified Klipsch RP-600M speakers?
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 25, 2021 10:52:13 GMT -5
...What are your impressions of the pre-mod vs. modified Klipsch RP-600M speakers? Let's call my speakers "semi-modified." I bought the GR Research crossover replacement and box insulation kit. I got the insulation installed but when I began soldering the crossovers, my wife threw a hissy-fit. She's the type of person that makes up her mind about something and that's that. Don't try to confuse her with facts - she'll only cruise the internet until she finds some article that seemingly supports her view and insist harder. In this case, she was convinced that the smoke from solder resin is going to kill me within minutes and that the vaporized lead fumes will do the same. The "support" she found was from the Harvard school of medicine, recommending that occupational soldering be performed under a fume hood. Since I lack a fume hood, I'm not allowed to solder. The fact that I'm not soldering 8 hours per day, 5 days per week went in one of her ears and out the other. But I digress... My speakers lack the upgraded crossovers but have the internal box insulation. Did it make an audible diff? Stand by for comments... And by the bye, if anyone else has Klipsch RP-600m speakers and wants a pair of crossover upgrades for the price of shipping, just let me know. Boomzilla
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Post by monkumonku on Jul 25, 2021 11:26:37 GMT -5
...What are your impressions of the pre-mod vs. modified Klipsch RP-600M speakers? Let's call my speakers "semi-modified." I bought the GR Research crossover replacement and box insulation kit. I got the insulation installed but when I began soldering the crossovers, my wife threw a hissy-fit. She's the type of person that makes up her mind about something and that's that. Don't try to confuse her with facts - she'll only cruise the internet until she finds some article that seemingly supports her view and insist harder. In this case, she was convinced that the smoke from solder resin is going to kill me within minutes and that the vaporized lead fumes will do the same. The "support" she found was from the Harvard school of medicine, recommending that occupational soldering be performed under a fume hood. Since I lack a fume hood, I'm not allowed to solder. The fact that I'm not soldering 8 hours per day, 5 days per week went in one of her ears and out the other. But I digress... My speakers lack the upgraded crossovers but have the internal box insulation. Did it make an audible diff? Stand by for comments... And by the bye, if anyone else has Klipsch RP-600m speakers and wants a pair of crossover upgrades for the price of shipping, just let me know. Boomzilla Gee, sorry to hear about the crossovers. So she wasn't placated if you used a fan? There would be so little smoke to begin with and a fan would make it harmless. But I know what you mean, so I guess you have to pick your battles. Did you also get those speaker connection tubes that he is always raving about? Now the insulation makes sense and so would the crossovers if they actually improve the frequency response. But those speaker tubes are snake oil.
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 25, 2021 11:33:29 GMT -5
...So she wasn't placated if you used a fan? There would be so little smoke to begin with and a fan would make it harmless. But I know what you mean, so I guess you have to pick your battles. Don't confuse her with facts; her mind's made up. ...Did you also get those speaker connection tubes that he is always raving about? I did, but didn't install them (soldering required). Actually, I think that the tube connectors actually WOULD make a diff, but this is speculation on my part. ...Now the insulation makes sense And yes, it does make a difference - particularly in the bass and lower midrange. The bass is mostly academic to me because I use a sub, but the lower midrange is now putting the male vocalists in the room instead of being back a couple of rows (like they were before). I like the effect, and would recommend the stuff (self-adhesive "No-Res") for ANY cheap speaker. I find it audible. Post Scriptum - I'm foaming at the mouth awaiting the (hopefully early) August delivery of my Emotiva PT1 preamplifier! I hope for great things from this unit.
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Post by jackpine on Jul 25, 2021 21:04:14 GMT -5
Couldn't you just get Garbulky to do the soldering?
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 25, 2021 23:40:46 GMT -5
Couldn't you just get Garbulky to do the soldering? I couldn’t impose on the Gar’s good nature. Besides, he’s already working full-time & going to school simultaneously plus has family obligations. I don’t know how he holds it all together as is. I admire his conscientious energy but wouldn’t want to burden him further.
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Post by garbulky on Jul 26, 2021 0:12:58 GMT -5
Couldn't you just get Garbulky to do the soldering? That's an accident waiting to happen!
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 30, 2021 23:53:23 GMT -5
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