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Roadster's Theater - Page 3

post #61 of 202
10/9/11 at 8:02pm
Ahhh those black curtains really improve the perceived contrast! That was an excellent choice!
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post #62 of 202
10/9/11 at 9:52pm
Yeah I'm digging the all black curtains. It makes the speakers pop and come on if your going to have speakers that big you want them to be the star of the show.
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post #63 of 202
10/12/11 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 
Today, I just ordered a set of suspended ceiling tiles and track linings, all in black, to replace my white tiles. Can't wait to get them in and mounted After the black curtains, this next move obviously adds to my wish of darkening the front part of my theater.

Will post some pics once it's all done.

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post #64 of 202
10/13/11 at 6:10am
Your theater looks awesome, congrats!
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post #65 of 202
10/14/11 at 12:36pm
Truly awesome setup!! I too agree that the black curtains are a better look.

I see that we have some if the same gear. The AV7005 and XA5400ES. I'm very seriously considering getting the Swans F2.2s from Chris at CP. How do you like them so far? Any issues? How do you feel they work sonically with the gear we share? Any feedback will be GREATLY appreciated.
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post #66 of 202
10/14/11 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 
^^^^^^^

Thanks, I appreciate the positive comments from all, it's a really great passion we share

Yes, I'm totally happy with my F2.2+ purchase, as well as the C2.3+ center that anchors the front stage sound.

In my smaller room, they offer a very powerful bass, so with both ports blocked I've achieved very linear output throughout the range. In pure audio stereo SACD, they produce phenomenal dynamics without the help of my sub, and without ever breaking a sweat. In the beginning, I tried three different power amps to drive them (Rotel, Bryston and Emotiva), the XPA-1 monoblocks yielding the best match of the three IMO.

You may want to check out this review, it truly describes very well how I feel about them (simply use Google translator to read it) http://www.areadvd.de/lm/AV_Hardware...swansf22.shtml

This one also offers a fair opinion: http://www.oceanicdistribution.com/Swanf2.2.pdf

They do indeed match well with our shared gear, but I will probably purchase a dedicated stereo preamp for pure analog music later on.

Glad you've got Chris from CP on your short list, he is definitely the way to go.
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post #67 of 202
10/14/11 at 4:30pm
Thanks so much for the feedback!!! It's GREATLY appreciated!! Nice to get the CP recommendation as well. If I go with the 2.2s I'll definitely get them from him. I've been toying with the idea of getting the F5s as I found a seller unloading the ones he has cheap. But I really think they're just too much, size and weightwise, for me. Also I'm concerned that the 15" woofers will be a bit much as well. So I'm pretty settled on the 2.2s.

Interestingly I also am planning on adding a dedicated pre-amp for stereo. My power amp that I'd use with the 2.2s is a Verastarr SSA-644. If you're not familiar with it you may have heard of the original Cinepro 3k6SE Gold. If you have heard of the Cinepro then the 644 is an upgraded, more powerful and more refined version of it. A truly exceptional amp. It'll allow me to tri-amp the 2.2s. Have you done any experimenting with bi or tri-amping? It's stereo SQ that I'm most concerned with even though the 2.2s will serve double duty as the mains for HT as well. The reviewers have remarked on the 2.2s being bass heavy and lacking detail in the mid range due to that. On stereo have you found that to be an issue? I've read that they have a mid hall presentation which is my preference over a forward "in your face" type that some speakers have to "project" detail. I find that fatiguing. My music tastes are mostly classic rock and pop (i.e. oldies), R&B, blues, jazz. Then most everything except hip-hop and rap. I guess I'm just too old to get into that. The little classical I do listen to is mostly large scale orchestral. Do you find the 2.2s well suited to my tastes?

I know I have alot of questions, sorry about that, it's just that I have nowhere to actually audition them. So your input will be a great help.

Again that is a fantastic setup you have. What an exceptional experience you must have. BTW that 2.3C is huge! It's bigger than some floorstanders I've seen. I can only imagine what an outstanding MCH experience it must provide you. Thanks for sharing!
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post #68 of 202
10/14/11 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 
^^^^ Unfortunately, I believe many reviewers simply don't use the proper room size to evaluate some of the larger speakers they come accross. Indeed, they are not forward sounding.

Last Spring, my brother and I carried my speakers over to his house, where he has a much larger dedicated 2CH room. There, he listens to music through some Wilson Audio's Alexandrias with some other stupid expensive gear. We hooked up my Swans and BOY, did they ever shine! I mean, nowhere near the ultimate "the freakin musicians are in the room" sound of his Wilsons, but he just couldn't believe the Swans sold for the price I paid. We both experienced a very precise reproduction, and although the bass was indeed powerful, it never came at the expense of the rest of the spectrum.

I also had a chance to audition B&W Nautilus 802D's on several occasions, and found many similarities between them and the F2.2. Would give a small edge to the 802 in ultimate high frequency transparency, while the F2.2 had more presence, in a live kinda way.

Ultimately, I find my system always ends up being limited by the source material's accuracy, not the other way around.
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post #69 of 202
10/14/11 at 5:42pm
WOW!!! W.A. Alex's now those are some speakers!!! But you told me what I really needed to know. The room they'll be in is 18'x25' so I'm hoping they'll have enough room to breathe properly. Plus I'm able to do room treatments to help them sound their best. I agree with you about reviewers and room sizes. It's one of the reasons I take magazine reviews with a grain of salt. I like getting feedback from actual owners who have to "live" with the equipment.

Thank you for your time and answers. I plan on joining you soon as another F2.2 owner.
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post #70 of 202
10/15/11 at 4:21am
Thread Starter 
18' x 25' is good. If you can, try to set them 3' or more from the front and side walls.
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post #71 of 202
10/15/11 at 7:31am
Excellent. My present speakers are that far into the room and I can give them more space than that if need be. Fortunately my wife is very tolerant. She has to be for putting up with me for the past 22 yrs. She doesn't mind just so long as the speakers aren't "eyesores" and she likes the look of the F2.2s.

PS, I PM'd you back. Let me know if it went thru as the PM seemed to have frozen up for awhile.


Never mind I see that you got it. Great! Thanks!
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post #72 of 202
10/16/11 at 8:39pm
I have the much more modest diva swan

6.1 mains
C3 center (w/ top mounted tweeter.)
R3 surrounds
Hsu VFT-3R (Matching rosewood)
A single 2.1 rear center.

For a complete 6.1 system. I'd be interested to hear the difference if I were to replace the rear center 2.1 with a C3.
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
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post #73 of 202
10/16/11 at 9:02pm
Agreed!


Quote:
Originally Posted by BrolicBeast View Post

Ahhh those black curtains really improve the perceived contrast! That was an excellent choice!
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post #74 of 202
10/16/11 at 10:03pm
roadster-s_I noticed the cones you've installed under your electronics. I don't recognize them. Which ones are they?
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post #75 of 202
10/16/11 at 11:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EJ View Post

I have the much more modest diva swan

6.1 mains
C3 center (w/ top mounted tweeter.)
R3 surrounds
Hsu VFT-3R (Matching rosewood)
A single 2.1 rear center.

For a complete 6.1 system. I'd be interested to hear the difference if I were to replace the rear center 2.1 with a C3.



Nice system!
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post #76 of 202
10/16/11 at 11:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mykyll2727 View Post

Nice system!

Thanks,
Unlike other components like receivers, seem to have new features every year. I overhauled my system about 8 years ago, and spent a large percentage of my budget on speakers.

IMO, a speaker will have the largest impact on sound and should last many years. Sure enough, I've been through 3 receivers and 3 projectors since then, but I can't imagine parting with my speakers!
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post #77 of 202
10/17/11 at 4:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mykyll2727 View Post

roadster-s_I noticed the cones you've installed under your electronics. I don't recognize them. Which ones are they?


Got them from the dedicated audio web site.
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post #78 of 202
10/17/11 at 2:12pm
roadster-s_Thanks I checked them out. Nice tweak.
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post #79 of 202
10/17/11 at 2:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EJ View Post

Thanks,
Unlike other components like receivers, seem to have new features every year. I overhauled my system about 8 years ago, and spent a large percentage of my budget on speakers.

IMO, a speaker will have the largest impact on sound and should last many years. Sure enough, I've been through 3 receivers and 3 projectors since then, but I can't imagine parting with my speakers!



It's great that you still love your Swans after 8yrs. It just helps strengthen my decision to get the F2.2s. I'm in agreement with you on a speakers impact and I'm looking to make a long term, maybe even lifetime investment in the F2.2s. I also agree with about receivers/processors. I'm fed up with spending alot of money on gear that becomes obsolete so fast that I consider it "disposable" gear. That's why after I get the Swans I intend to add a great pre-amp for stereo that I'll have for a long time and try to keep my "disposable" processor costs to a minimum.
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post #80 of 202
10/17/11 at 2:29pm
roadster-s_I love the updated pics. Your HT was awesome before and it just keeps getting better. Also I really like your idea of adding the black tiles. I think it'll make for an even more enjoyable experience. Not just for movies but music as well. I really like listening to my system in a darkened room. It makes it easier for me to forget about my surroundings and just sit back and enjoy the sound.
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post #81 of 202
10/17/11 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks mykyll2727

I always knew that black helped improve contrast perception (since I had some black curtains surrounding the plasma from the beginning), but now I find that the more, the better.

With a room like I've got now, I rarely ever go to theaters anymore. But when I do, it's funny because I keep staring at the decor; colors, speaker locations, acoustic panels, ceiling, etc... Obviously, in any self-respecting cinema, all of the front wall and the ceiling are black, so that certainly influenced me to copy this recipe. True, it will also improve my state of relaxation when listening to music by itself.
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post #82 of 202
10/17/11 at 4:16pm
My wife and I rarely go to the movies anymore either and my HT is NOWHERE NEAR the quality of yours. It's just a more enjoyable experience for us to sit in the comfort of our own home.

It's true though that when one gets into this hobby we're always looking for ways to improve it by checking out what others are doing. I too always check out a theater to see what I can learn. Sometimes I even find things in commercial theaters that I feel they could've improved on. I'll be following this thread intently to learn what I can from yours. Please continue to share.

BR Michael
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post #83 of 202
10/21/11 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 
Just received and finished mounting my new suspended ceiling tiles. They came with black self-adhesive strips that stick right over the basic white tracks, for an all black look. I must admit that I'm really happy with the results.




...and while I was browsing around the Home Depot, I came accross this door frame kit, all cut and prepainted...for less than $10.



So, after only 15 minutes of work, my (homemade) theater door went from this:



To this:



Not bad for just 10 bucks
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post #84 of 202
10/21/11 at 8:23pm
Are you going to leave it white or paint it black so it ties into the curtains & ceiling?

Either way it looks good
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post #85 of 202
10/23/11 at 2:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tigre View Post

Are you going to leave it white or paint it black so it ties into the curtains & ceiling?

Yes, black

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post #86 of 202
10/25/11 at 2:50pm
Just beautiful! I just love all of your upgrades! What a great $10 touch. Your HT reminds me alot of the classic, grand movie theaters of the past. What a fantastic experience to have in your home. Please continue to share.
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post #87 of 202
10/26/11 at 4:33am
Oh yeah that looks so much better
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post #88 of 202
11/3/11 at 10:25pm
roadster-s_How well does that massive 2.3C integrate with your F2.2s with MCH music? I've read that you're a SACD fan like me. With an upgrade to the F2.2s I'll need to upgrade my center so I'm looking into options and I'm much more concerned on how the center will sound on music than movie dialogue.
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post #89 of 202
11/4/11 at 11:18am
Thread Starter 
^^^^^ It integrates seamlessly. This is truly an outstanding center with full range capability on it's own. I've got it's low pass set at 80hz and my mains are set at 60hz. Hope this helps.

edit: I've got the mains set at 40, not 60hz.
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post #90 of 202
11/5/11 at 1:32am
Thanks for the info! It certainly does help as I was going to ask you about sub Xover settings. I'll be looking to get the 2.3C rather than the 2.2C.
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