Taking HT seating in a new direction

[Gremal]

I was thinking about that while watching the Powers movies. Groooovy baby, yeah.

Honestly, I just think it goes better with the design of the speakers...since eight of them are floating around the room. They have rounded sides and a design that is both retro and modern, so I decided I needed a sofa with similar characteristics but in white, not black.

[Mr. HiDef]

Originally Posted by Gremal

I was thinking about that while watching the Powers movies. Groooovy baby, yeah.

Honestly, I just think it goes better with the design of the speakers...since eight of them are floating around the room. They have rounded sides and a design that is both retro and modern, so I decided I needed a sofa with similar characteristics but in white, not black.

yeah it will look nice with the speakers you better post sime pics when u get it so we can see

[J6P]

Come clean, Gremal. We all know you're getting it because the color compliments the VAC Phi Beta 110i. Admit it.

[Deadset]

Gremal, I'm just curious about your power, is it really that dirty that you need to convert your AC/DC/AC ? Have you put an oscope on it?

[Gremal]

The power difference is nothing I've tried to measure. Theoretically, the more houses on a grid, the dirtier your power can be. I notice a big difference in clarity and noise floor when using the Power Plant.

Originally Posted by J6P

Come clean, Gremal. We all know you're getting it because the color compliments the VAC Phi Beta 110i. Admit it.

Yeah, the Phi is also a "retro yet modern" design, but I bought it for the sound quality--I swear. It's machined aluminum (silver), not white.

I almost destroyed it last night due to the biasing turned up too high on one of the tubes after I had to swap in Sovteks for the Chinese Dragons I had previously...but that's another story. Last week, one of the Chinese tubes was dying and not holding its bias. I cranked up the bias hoping to get it to work, but that tube was a lost cause. So I ordered a new quad, which arrived yesterday. (The quad consists of four KT-88 tubes that are used in the back row, representing the power amp stage). Last night I put the new tubes in and was warming up the amp when I became aware of a bad smell and the tube in the same position as the previous bad tube was glowing twice as bright as any of the others. I quickly turned off the amp. Then realized what the problem was and when I turned it back on, quickly reduced the bias of that tube. I think if I hadn't caught it and let it cook for another minute, I would have melted the tube socket or worse!

Despite this story, tube amps really are easy to maintain and enjoy.

[J6P]

Originally Posted by Gremal

The power difference is nothing I've tried to measure. Theoretically, the more houses on a grid, the dirtier your power can be. I notice a big difference in clarity and noise floor when using the Power Plant.



Yeah, the Phi is also a "retro yet modern" design, but I bought it for the sound quality--I swear. It's machined aluminum (silver), not white.

I almost destroyed it last night due to the biasing turned up too high on one of the tubes after I had to swap in Sovteks for the Chinese Dragons I had previously...but that's another story. Last week, one of the Chinese tubes was dying and not holding its bias. I cranked up the bias hoping to get it to work, but that tube was a lost cause. So I ordered a new quad, which arrived yesterday. (The quad consists of four KT-88 tubes that are used in the back row, representing the power amp stage). Last night I put the new tubes in and was warming up the amp when I became aware of a bad smell and the tube in the same position as the previous bad tube was glowing twice as bright as any of the others. I quickly turned off the amp. Then realized what the problem was and when I turned it back on, quickly reduced the bias of that tube. I think if I hadn't caught it and let it cook for another minute, I would have melted the tube socket or worse!

Despite this story, tube amps really are easy to maintain and enjoy.

Good lord! Nice save. Has your heart rate stabilized?

From what I recall you paid a lot more for that than I did for my tv. It's a drop-dead gorgeous piece of gear though and from what I've read they have the sound to match. I've got to search one out locally and have a listen some time.

[Gremal]

Yes, that amp was very pricey. VAC isn't making them anymore. A little birdy told me VAC will introduce a more modest integrated amp at CES. We'll see. I'm glad I have this one, though. Actually I still can't believe I am lucky enough to own it. Last night I was listening to Shastakovitch symphonies 1 & 3 after the Sovtek tubes warmed up and it was just incredible.

Back to the sofa, here is some more info about it.

http://www.gibraltarfurniture.com/nostpefrfoso.html

The Gibraltar website actually claims the list price is $6250 (!) and is trying to sell it for $2150 shipped. Which means I got an incredible deal on this at a competing website that has a sale through Saturday for just under $900 shipped. I don't imagine these sofas are moving at all with the economic downturn and the fact that most people wouldn't want that style, so I may have gotten a steal.

[J6P]

Excellent site, Gremal. Thanks for the link.

I actually just bought 5 of these chairs last week from a different site. I'm always looking for new sources for mid-century modern. (Probably why I can't afford to start a tube amp addiction.)

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by J6P

I actually just bought 5 of these chairs last week from a different site. I'm always looking for new sources for mid-century modern. (Probably why I can't afford to start a tube amp addiction.)

Whoa, nice chairs...and expensive. You're far too domesticated for a true HT fanatic.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by J6P

Excellent site, Gremal. Thanks for the link.

I actually just bought 5 of these chairs last week from a different site. I'm always looking for new sources for mid-century modern. (Probably why I can't afford to start a tube amp addiction.)

Hey J6P, I noticed those exact same chairs for $130 less each on sale where I bought my sofa. Is that closer to what you spent?

[Gremal]

Well this was a new one for me.

The sofa was supposed to deliver today after 3:00. I checked in with my boss and he let me work from home. The truck showed up about 4:30 and the driver agreed to bring the crate as close as possible to my front door (they won't bring it inside unless you pay like $400 for "white glove service"). I'm stoked and am moving my old sofa out of the room when the driver knocks on my door. He tells me the crate was not loaded on the truck before it left the warehouse!

Sure enough, I called the shipper and the crate is still sitting on their loading dock. I explain that I went to the trouble of getting the afternoon off and demand that he put that crate on a truck and drive it immediately to my address but he claims there are no trucks or drivers available. He tells me it will be delivered Friday at 5:00.

I've had shippers fail to show up before. I've received damaged goods before. But I've never had a truck show up with nothing to deliver. I'm just hoping once it does deliver, everything is ok with it, since clearly I am not dealing with a competent freight company.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by J6P

Excellent site, Gremal. Thanks for the link.

I actually just bought 5 of these chairs last week from a different site. I'm always looking for new sources for mid-century modern. (Probably why I can't afford to start a tube amp addiction.)

Those are great looking chairs.....


Gremal, tough break on the delivery..... I've never heard of a truck showing up, and saying "uhhhh I got nothin' for ya"

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Well this was a new one for me.

The sofa was supposed to deliver today after 3:00. I checked in with my boss and he let me work from home. The truck showed up about 4:30 and the driver agreed to bring the crate as close as possible to my front door (they won't bring it inside unless you pay like $400 for "white glove service"). I'm stoked and am moving my old sofa out of the room when the driver knocks on my door. He tells me the crate was not loaded on the truck before it left the warehouse!

And the dude actually knocked on the door? Did you ask him why?

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

And the dude actually knocked on the door? Did you ask him why?

Apparently he thought my crate was onboard. It's ok though, he showed up today around 5:30. It was a b*tch to get the box up my steps, onto the landing and through my front door...but everything was worth it. Very pleased with the new seating arrangement.

[FendersRule]

I'm just not buyin the look Gremal. But what matters is that you are happy with it.

Where do you set your drinks at with this new setup?

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by FendersRule

I'm just not buyin the look Gremal. But what matters is that you are happy with it.

Where do you set your drinks at with this new setup?

I have one of those 4-tray foldout stand sets in the other room (got it for five bucks at a yard sale) so I just set up a tray for myself or each guest if we're eating or drinking.



As for the sofa, it's a very high quality piece of furniture, really well made and much better for my back. The style isn't for everyone but it fits with the design of the speakers and amp, which look modern and retro simultaneously. It's hard to find furniture like that. Just as importantly, my goal was to find something that would open up the room and make it appear bigger, and give me many different options for positioning myself while spending hours on my butt...the different areas of the sofa have varying depth and the addition of the ottoman are like having several different types of seats. It's great. I just need the right kind of throw pillow.

[JJ]

Greg, quick question, now that I look at that picture - how do you feel about the way that the surrounds are setup, both the surrounds and surround backs - they don't feel too overpowering being right next to your ears all the time? Or perhaps its simple calibration that means the volume across all the channels is equalized? Or is it simply a limitation of the room?

[Gremal]

No doubt the room has major limitations that I will not be able to get around until I build a huge addition to my house. I've planned for that with an architect, structural and soil engineers and the city, but don't have anything saved up to start those plans because I keep buying audio gear.

Anyway, the Audyssey function that comes with the Integra 9.8 was able to calibrate each channel based on the speakers' proximity to my ear. So it's all good--the side and rear surrounds integrate seamlessly and all I am really aware of is the realism of surround effects on tracks that feature those. Unfortunately, 7.1 is still pretty rare, but hopefully more content is coming. More often, there is just some ambient noise that I hardly even notice unless I put my ear closer to the speaker.

I am a huge advocate of nearfield listening and though I have taken nearfield to the extreme in my room, the effect is truly awesome from a purely audio standpoint.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by Gremal

I've had shippers fail to show up before. I've received damaged goods before. But I've never had a truck show up with nothing to deliver. I'm just hoping once it does deliver, everything is ok with it, since clearly I am not dealing with a competent freight company.

I had that happen to me last March. I bought my wife all new stainless steel kitchen appliances for her b-day. The guys unload the dishwasher, the over-the-stove microwave... not the centerpiece of the kitchen...... the chef's quality stove! I explained that I had a big to do the next day and I had to have the stove that day. Fortunately the store was only about five miles away so they guys were able to go back and pick it up.

[Gremal]

Yeah, but at least they had some of your items in the truck! The warehouse was local, but apparently they couldn't get another truck out or send the truck that came back, as he had other items to deliver. Anyway, it worked out ok.

I'm thinking of getting a couple of these throw pillows. As they say in Lebowski it could really tie the room together.



This could work too...


or this