re: Audiophile/Vinyl Thread - Post Pics, Advice, Questions, Setups, etc.

Finally getting around to this...





Greyhounds--"Change of Pace"...180g LP...Ardent Music LLC, 2016.


Good record here!





Mrs. Esquandolas was passing through and asked what was playing--she likes these guys too!

quote:

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Mrs. Esquandolas was passing through and asked what was playing--she likes these guys too!

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Sunday morning spinning...



Love "Forever Changes", 2012 Rhino records reissue

On now...





Tracy Chapman--Self Titled...Electra/Asylum Records, LP, 1988.

Well fellas, it looks like I am now taking the ultimate plunge into audiophalia--I have pulled the trigger on the building of a dedicated, acoustically treated listening room!

I have been kicking the tires on it for a couple years now, and since I have been picking up older pieces of gear for restoration a bit more lately, it makes sense...and Mrs. Esquandolas recently commented that the only rooms left in the house without audio gear are the bathrooms ...hint taken (she actually suggested it!)


So...here is the plan I have come up with over the last 8 weeks:


I am closing in the garage (we never use it) and creating a 21'x18' room. The 2 large garage doors will be sealed closed and a new wall will be put up 6" in front of them (9' ceilings). I am tearing out all the baseboards and drywall that is currently in place and taking it down to the studs as it will be easier to run the multitude of wires and Romex needed. I am also putting 2" PVC conduit down all 4 walls so it will make life easier when cables change in the future.

The outside brick wall currently has a 3'x3' window in the center--that is coming out and (2) 84"x28" windows are being added to the sides of the one coming out (I like sunlight when listening to music during the day), so masonry work will need be done. The new windows will have motorized black-out shades that run on tracks--when closed, they block out 100% of light.

I had central A/C and heat put in the garage when I built the house, so i am good to go on that.

I am running (2) dedicated 20A outlets to all 4 walls, and the outlets in the wall behind the amplifiers of the main rig will have 240v capability--if I ever decide to run a truly balanced power environment (really, really big amps need this kind of power).

All new drywall will be "hanged" using hanger clips from Greenglue, and I will be doubling up the drywall (2 x 5/8" sheets per wall) to control noise. I am also using the Greenglue silencing compound between the 2 layers of drywall. The bottom 3' of three of the walls will have a wainscoting, painted in Sherwin Pacer White and the ceiling will be painted some shade of gray (still deciding on this).

The rear wall will have 13' of cabinets with 2 bookcases (24" wide each) on the ends going 9' up and the middle will have (5) 8' wide built-in shelves for storing LPs, with a sliding library ladder to access the ones on higher shelves. The cabinets will have a granite top running the span, as well as 3 pull out drawers in each cabinet, and a single drawer (think silverware drawer) at the top (for all audio gadgets, knick-knacks, and do-dads).

I am also moving all media related gear to the cabinet system--router, 24 port switch, powered coax cable splitter, and modem--I am a stickler for hard wired as it just performs better. This, along with the conduit I am installing, will allow me to get cat6 or HDMI from any piece of gear on any wall to any other piece of gear on another wall.

The ceiling will have recessed can lighting as well as track LED spot lighting, and all will be controlled by a Control4 automated system (it will control blinds, lights, and even audio and video input switching).

Although I am not a big movie fan, I decided that since I am doing all this, I may as well put a screen and projector in. I probably won't go 4K as I usually watch live TV/games and concert streams (not even 1080p) as opposed to cinema/movies. A 4K HDR projector is still running in the $15k range and I just don't see the value (and they will be dropping a good bit in the next couple years too). I am also not going with a gigantic screen--many people tend to get the biggest screen they can fit and it overpowers the room and looks strange. I will probably run with 109" diagonal Da-Lite motorized and tensioned screen and a Sony HW65ES projector. That will be more than adequate for SEC games and concert streams. I am also only doing 5.1 for theater--I just don't do enough movies to justify 7.1, 9.2, or even 11.4.2 Atmos now--I won't use it...and besides, a 5.1 done right with good powerful gear will sound fantastic.

The way I have planned it, I should be able to have 3 complete audio systems set up and operable. Two smaller vintage systems can be on each of the long (21') walls and the main rig will be on the short (18') wall. The speakers and amps will be front and center while the rest of the main rig will be off to the side (cuts down on vibration). When you want to listen to one of the smaller vintage systems, you just move to the chair that is 90° over and face the other system.

The room will be carpeted (again, to deaden resonances), and I will have a couch of Scandinavian style (clean lines) and a basic coffee table. I will also now have a place to hang all of the framed music posters I have accumulated over the years but never had the place to put them.

For those interested, I will try to update with pics as the process takes place and the room transforms. The contractor, electrician, and trim carpenter met over here this evening, and Rich from Uptown Audio in Metairie comes tomorrow--so this project is officially underway!!

I hope to have it completed by the end of June or so...

Looking forward to updates

Yes, plz give progress updates, definitely something i'd be interested when I build the house that I want.

Freakin finally! Got the tracking number for the cables today! Hopefully here in a couple days. Will be in NOLA for the CCC and will be hitting up Euclid for a few new things to listen to.

Stick with 120k Frarads. The better upgrade option down the road is a second amp, then strap them into mono (or vertical bi-amp).

You can pick up a good Rotel or Adcom amp for the center channel--a 10 year old one of these amps will drive the hell out of a center with power to spare. They were built like tanks and can be had for around $150 nowadays.

On now...



Robin Trower "Bridge of Sighs", 1974 OP