JJ's Year 12: First Year of the New HT in a New House

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by JJ

I've made appts for next Saturday for the Veneres and then the Golden Ear T2s right after (again) to make my final decision.

Well, I'm giddy. I've already bought new BJC cables for my center channel and a new BDP. The Marantz 5007/6007 will probably wait until February, as my car needs $1300 of new tires again.

Tell Fartley to sell you some cheaper ones, and include the shipping Glad I didn't have my camaro long enough to have to get new ones.

[JJ]

Yes, I can't rotate mine either. They're rated for 20k miles, fronts are 245/45ZR20, rears are 275/40ZR20.

It's a yearly habit. Agh.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Happy New Year JJ! My best wishes for you throughout 2013, and I hope it'll be a great one for you!

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Happy New Year JJ! My best wishes for you throughout 2013, and I hope it'll be a great one for you!

Thanks, John!

Happy New Year and same to you guys!

Changed the appts to Monday the 7th due to work meetings on Sat. I have a buyer for the front soundstage that I'm meeting with over the weekend. Expect a full, detailed report on the audition on Monday night,

Should be making purchases by my birthday on the 15th, and setting up at month's end.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! It's the end of an era for B&W and me.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by JJ

Thanks, John!

Happy New Year and same to you guys!

Changed the appts to Monday the 7th due to work meetings on Sat. I have a buyer for the front soundstage that I'm meeting with over the weekend. Expect a full, detailed report on the audition on Monday night,

Should be making purchases by my birthday on the 15th, and setting up at month's end.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! It's the end of an era for B&W and me.

What did you end up with?

[JJ]

I feel like this guy Goat. I can't make up my mind on what I want.

I'm reconsidering treating my room acoustics and getting rid of the outdated MCACC and my 4-year old VSX03. I think I may get a much more substantial improvement across the board by fixing those things first, and then SFs farther down the line.

The idea is to make custom acoustic panels featuring Mondrian, Picasso, and Kandinsky now on that big ass wall, as so:

[Show spoiler]

Then, move to upgrade the VSX-03 into either a Marantz 5007/6007 or an Emotiva UMC-1 + UPA-500 combo, to go along w/ a Sony 790 BDP or an Oppo.

I'm leaning towards the pre/pro + amp combo, currently. Emo has that sale...

This way, I feel I can more maximize my current room, then add in the Veneres later in the year. The B&Ws are just fine for now, it's not as if I'm running [redacted to avoid hurting feelings].

Plus, it'll run me about $1850 as opposed to $3300,

Don't throw tomatoes at me for being fickle, - What do you guys think?

[Travis]

Originally Posted by JJ

I feel like this guy Goat. I can't make up my mind on what I want.

I'm reconsidering treating my room acoustics and getting rid of the outdated MCACC and my 4-year old VSX03. I think I may get a much more substantial improvement across the board by fixing those things first, and then SFs farther down the line.

The idea is to make custom acoustic panels featuring Mondrian, Picasso, and Kandinsky now on that big ass wall, as so:

[Show spoiler]

Then, move to upgrade the VSX-03 into either a Marantz 5007/6007 or an Emotiva UMC-1 + UPA-500 combo, to go along w/ a Sony 790 BDP or an Oppo.

I'm leaning towards the pre/pro + amp combo, currently. Emo has that sale...

This way, I feel I can more maximize my current room, then add in the Veneres later in the year. The B&Ws are just fine for now, it's not as if I'm running [redacted to avoid hurting feelings].

Plus, it'll run me about $1850 as opposed to $3300,

Don't throw tomatoes at me for being fickle, - What do you guys think?

After I get a 1080p display, I'm gonna be all about treatments. No sense paying $3K for fronts if the room is an acoustic mess. Paying that much, I want a room where I can hear what they are worth.

Those panels on the big wall!

This too:
http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pa...oductId=AV7701

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Travis

After I get a 1080p display, I'm gonna be all about treatments. No sense paying $3K for fronts if the room is an acoustic mess. Paying that much, I want a room where I can hear what they are worth.

Those panels on the big wall!

This too:
http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pa...oductId=AV7701

Exactly, Travis! I have a two-story acoustic nightmare of a room. Might as well do my damndest to fix it and get software that can more accurately treat its open-plan deficiencies. I'll end up custom lighting probably the entire thing too, if I can solve the logistics.

But this:

No sense paying $3K for fronts if the room is an acoustic mess

Makes a lot of sense to me now.

[Intamin]

Honestly, your room is always going to be an acoustic nightmare, and all those options are just bandaids if you ask me. Knowing that, I'd use the biggest bandaid possible, which is probably speakers. That, and I just want you to buy the SFs haha.

[rded]

Originally Posted by Intamin

Honestly, your room is always going to be an acoustic nightmare, and all those options are just bandaids if you ask me. Knowing that, I'd use the biggest bandaid possible, which is probably speakers. That, and I just want you to buy the SFs haha.

I second that statement! Good speakers will still sound decent in a not so great listening environment.

Honestly JJ, those Venere 2.0s are really growing on me and I believe that they are a tremendous value for speakers under 2k.

[JJ]

Ahhhh, gotdamnit Alex & Rhett. You said what I did - and yet what I did not want to hear, lol.

The decision making process continues, then.

[JJ]

I see the pricing for the Venere 3.0s is out, at $3,500/pr - 1k over the 2.5s.

[JJ]

Okay! I've decided. I thought about it and agreed w/ Alex & Sean.

Going to get a new S790 BDP (mine is acting up), one of the custom art panels (Guernica), and the Venere 2.5 fronts.

I'll save the rest of the panels for later and the Center for February. And I dont need an Emotiva or Marantz gear upgrade. If it aint broke - well, you know.

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by JJ

Okay! I've decided. I thought about it and agreed w/ Alex & Sean.

Going to get a new S790 BDP (mine is acting up), one of the custom art panels (Guernica), and the Venere 2.5 fronts.

I'll save the rest of the panels for later and the Center for February. And I dont need an Emotiva or Marantz gear upgrade. If it aint broke - well, you know.

Great choice! Congrats and can't wait to see them in your place.

[JJ]

The first of my old friends to go, buyer picked up this morning. On Sunday, another buyer drives down from Orlando to pickup the 683s.

I feel like Andy at the end of Toy Story 3!

[JJ]

New BDP is in, a stack of new speaker/HDMI/interconnects from BJC are in, new SPL meter.

683s are boxed and awaiting pick-up.

This Friday I go to audition and (99% take with me) the Sonus Fabers.

AHHHHHHHH.

[rded]

Originally Posted by JJ

New BDP is in, a stack of new speaker/HDMI/interconnects from BJC are in, new SPL meter.

683s are boxed and awaiting pick-up.

This Friday I go to audition and (99% take with me) the Sonus Fabers.

AHHHHHHHH.

I thought you heard the venere's already?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by rded

I thought you heard the venere's already?

No, my dealer got a bad case of the flu (elderly chap) and was out of commission for two weeks. I was supposed to meet w/ him on 1/7.

My only SonusFaber rep is 75 miles out.

[JJ]

Sonus Faber Aida
Zanden 9600 Monoblock Amps
Accuphase CDP & Preamp

At $120,000/pair, even I wondered if I could detect a true difference - a difference worth the six figures. When I say that the Aidas transport you into the recording booth or concert hall, I want you take that as literally as possible. The vocals and instruments are as distinct as if they were right in front of you.

I skipped an entire tier of audio by teasing myself in listening to these - but of course, it did nothing but motivate me to work harder.



Sonus Faber Venere 2.5
Exposure 3010S Amp and CDP

A veritable no-contest between my old B&W 683s - the clear definition of each separate instrument is music is something that lacked in my old set-up. Nowhere near as bright or fatiguing as the old metal dome tweeter as well. So I drool in anticipation as to their theater prowess...

...These are the babies I took home. However, it'll be a week before they get delivered and set-up.




Venere center, S790, and a stack of BJC cables.

I probably won't set-up until next week, though.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by JJ

Sonus Faber Aida
Zanden 9600 Monoblock Amps
Accuphase CDP & Preamp

At $120,000/pair, even I wondered if I could detect a true difference - a difference worth the six figures. When I say that the Aidas transport you into the recording booth or concert hall, I want you take that as literally as possible. The vocals and instruments are as distinct as if they were right in front of you.

I skipped an entire tier of audio by teasing myself in listening to these - but of course, it did nothing but motivate me to work harder.



Sonus Faber Venere 2.5
Exposure 3010S Amp and CDP

A veritable no-contest between my old B&W 683s - the clear definition of each separate instrument is music is something that lacked in my old set-up. Nowhere near as bright or fatiguing as the old metal dome tweeter as well. So I drool in anticipation as to their theater prowess...

...These are the babies I took home. However, it'll be a week before they get delivered and set-up.




Venere center, S790, and a stack of BJC cables.

I probably won't set-up until next week, though.

Jose, do you think you will add an integrated amp into your setup? I noticed that my dyns improved musically quite a bit once I got my nait 5i. I wanted to hear exposure but the dealer was really far and the 2010S doesn't have a htbp which is a must for me.

Ill be interested in your thoughts on the Sony 790 as I plan to get one here in a few weeks as well.