Gremal's Home Theater

[Gremal]

My goal in putting together my HT is to achieve maximum detail, dynamics and definition, accurate soundstaging and cost-no-object audio grandeur. This goes for home theater as well as multichannel and two-channel music applications.

To my ears, the elliptical midrange/tweeter unit of the B&W 800, 801 and 802 models, with their dome tweeters and kevlar midrange cones, is something special and really drilled into the microdetail of any recording to reveal what is there. When B&W upgraded the Nautilus models with a diamond dust-encrusted tweeter, new crossovers and Connelly leather on the upper portion of the cabinet, I sold my N802D and got the magical 802Ds. The only center that matches their midrange/tweeter unit is the HTM1D, designed to be a floorstander under the screen. The resolving power of the front three channels is to me the most important element of home theater.

When I owned my original pair of B&Ws, I demoed lots of amps, trying to decide what was the perfect match for the N802s and finally settled on VAC's Avatar, a relatively low-powered tube integrated amp for its ability to deliver openness and detail. People insist the B&W 800 series demands hundreds of watts of power to feed them, but they are actually very senstivite, efficient speakers and rarely pull more than 10-15 watts even at peak, earsplitting levels. When VAC introduced its Phi Beta 100i integrated amp, I wanted very much to upgrade but at $19,000 list price it was not possible. After upgrading to the 802D, I realized I did need more power and eventually found an opportunity to get a used Phi Beta after VAC stopped manufacturing the amp. I believe the combination of this particular amp and the diamond/kevlar elliptical unit of the speakers is an extraordinary match that unlocks the nature and the detail of any recording.

As you may notice from my photos, I needed to overcome the limitations of a very small room and integrate my two-channel system with my HT system. I am well aware that a bigger room would be preferable. I have put a lot of thought into the best way to organize my gear and there are logical reasons for my choices. I get a lot of comments that I should move this or change that, but when you really take a look at the floorplan, the location of the windows and doors and my goals for the system, there is no better way to set up the room.

The feature that allows me to use the Phi Beta in a 7.1 system is the amp's cinema bypass function that decouples the amp's power and preamp stage. I use the Integra 9.8 as my preamp for HT applications, and found an Audio Refinement Multi 5 designed by Yves-Bernard André to compliment the VAC and power the center and surrounds. While not as dynamic or detailed as the Phi Beta, the Multi 5 does have an openness and tube-like analytical characteristics that make it the best choice for my system.

I originally had a 50" 720 Pioneer plasma before the advent of HD, and I loved the color vibrancy. But I was always aware that the black level was terrible and chose to watch with the lights on. When my extended warranty ended and Pioneer introduced the Kuro models, I sold my old plasma and bought a new kuro 50 incher. The black level is much better, and I often watch in the dark now. I also pick out more detail with 1080p, since I sit only about 8-9 feet from the screen.

My current goal is to stop the cycle of upgrading since I consider this system to be reference quality--what I really need to upgrade is my room. I have worked with an architect and structural engineer to develop plans to add about 1000 sq ft to my house, including a second story. The plans call for an HT space attached to a master bedroom on the upper floor. Someday I hope to execute these plans and have a room that is as impressive as my gear. Until then, I'm perfectly happy with my HT the way it is and don't believe there is a way to significantly improve it.