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Scroll down to see the edits added on 2/29/2020 showing the 4K and Atmos updates.
Original Post from 2011:
I have recently upgraded my speaker system with a full set of Triad speakers. The fronts are Platinum LCR's with a Platinum CC:
![]()
CC:
![]()
The stands were custom built by a good friend and forum member, DMark1. I helped, but my woodworking skills pale to insignificance compared to Dennis'. Dennis has a side business building drum kits. He has honed his wood working skills by making some beautiful drums kits. Markley Custom Drums He's also a professional drummer and percussionist, so he has a great ear for music and has helped me significantly in fine tuning my system.
The stands are 1.5" thick plinths with columns supporting the speakers. The columns are 1 layer of 3/4", 9-ply plywood with an inner layer of 3/4" MDF. The two layers are adhered with Green Glue and the CC column is additionally lined with No-Rez. All this was done to reduce resonance in the columns. (Doing the knuckle rap test shows that the efforts were successful. The columns are very dead.) They were painted with the original factory paint used on my speakers. We bought the paint directly from Triad and got the application instructions directly from the lead "paint guy" at Triad. Dennis has a spray booth in his drum shop, and he applied the paint there. The final coat is a textured "spatter" coat that required some specific painting skills. Fortunately, Dennis has them. Here is a pic of the CC stand:
![]()
As you can see, the paint is a perfect match. What's even more amazing is how good the texture match turned out.
![]()
Needless to say, I am extremely happy with how they compliment the speakers!
I've also added Triad surrounds. I used the Silver Monitors because they use the same mid-woofers as the LCR's and a tweeter that is almost exactly the same as the Platinum's but without the dispersion lens. I use 4 Silver Monitors placed as Wides and Sides. The Wides are supposed to be at 60 degrees to the listening position, but as you will see in the pic below, I couldn't quite get them that wide. Due to wall constraints, they ended up at about 50 degrees. They still work quite well there. Here is a pic of the right Wide:
![]()
I have 3 Submersive HP's for subwoofer duties. They are placed somewhat randomly around the room and EQ'd with Audyssey XT32. Here is a pic of the right, front Submersive HP:
![]()
There is one Submersive on the right side of the CC. There is a 2nd Submersive on the left wall beneath the left Wide. The 3rd Submersive is on the right side wall behind the LP at about 3/5 of the long dimension of the room. After gain-matching the 3 subs, EQ'ing them with Audyssey XT32, optimizing their Distance setting, and invoking the 2nd DSP program on the Submersives, I get the following frequency response and max output/compression:
![]()
That is just the subs, (no speakers, with an 80 Hz crossover.) That is 115 dB at 10 Hz with no compression.
Here is the in-room decay of the subs:
![]()
and here is a 1/3 Octave RTA of the full bandwidth of the system:
![]()
The rest of my audio equipment consists of:
Marantz AV 8801
Earthquake Cinemova Grande BR7 (7 x 650 wpc)
Clone Amp (2 x 2,400 wpc)
Tivo HD DVR
Oppo BDP 105D
Crowson Technology TES 100 Shadow 8 Dual Motion Actuator System
Buttkicker BKA 1000 Amplifier
Here is a pic of the equipment rack:
![]()
The video system consists of:
JVC RS-55
SeymourAV 120" Diagonal 2.35, motorized, drop down Acoustically Transparent screen
Panamorph UH 480 Anamorphic Lens
JVC 3D Glasses
Here is a pic of the screen deployed:
![]()
The room is acoustically treated with 8" thick acoustic cotton and fiberglass bass traps in the front corners, (they're behind the burgundy drapes.) The front wall is treated with 2" of acoustical cotton, as are the first 4' of the side walls. The ceiling is a dropped acoustical ceiling using CaPaul Open Plan 1" thick tiles with a black nubby finish. Above the dropped ceiling, the overhead joist spaces are stuffed with fiberglass insulation, making the entire ceiling a large bass trap/broadband absorber. The floor is concrete with dark brown carpet over the thickest pad. With all the dark surfaces, and all the acoustic absorption in the front of the room, when the lights go out and the movie starts to play, the front of the room is one big black hole for light and sound.
There are other acoustical treatments placed around the room to reduce slap echo. Here is a pic of one of them:
![]()
The seating is a 4-chair row of Acoustic Innovations Traditional seats configured as in this pic:
![]()
The seats are a Burgundy leather. They sit on an 8" riser. This gets my eyes to 1/3 screen height, my ears to tweeter height, and allow the transducer system to shake the entire riser.
I have been an HT enthusiast for about 25 years. I built my first "HT" in 1987, (before the term "Home Theater" was even in use), using a 50" Pioneer RPTV. At the time a 50" TV was unheard of, and my "HT" had a huge "WOW Factor." Soon after, I acquired a LaserDisc player... and the rest is history.
I have been through quite few different systems in the ensuing years. However, the above system is far and away the best I've ever had in my HT. I have a few things to do yet, but I am close to the point that my "upgradeitits" is almost cured. (Yeah right, she said!)
In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying my system!😄
Thanks for reading.
Craig
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Edit: 2/29/2020
Obviously, my "upgradeitis" was not cured, and I am still afflicted with it. I have recently upgraded my system to add 4K HDR Video Projection and 3D Audio, (Dolby Atmos/DTS:X and Auro 3D), to my system. The following are updated pictures of the new projector, equipment and rack:
JVC RS2000 4K HDR:
![]()
I replaced my JVC RS-55 e-Shift projector with a JVC RS2000 True 4K projector with HDR. This projector is a giant upgrade over the e-Shift projector, with darker blacks, brighter whites and much more saturated colors. I have eliminated my Panamorph lens and switched to projecting 2.35:1 using lens memory.
I have ordered, but not yet received, a new SeymourAV 115" diagonal, retractable screen, with Center Stage XD, woven, acoustically transparent screen material with retractable side masking for watching 16:9 material. I will post pics of the new screen when it receive and install it.
New Middle Atlantic Equipment Rack:
![]()
I had to add new equipment to my system to do this upgrade, and I ran out of space in my old rack. I replaced it with a new Middle Atlantic rack.
Close Up of New Equipment:
Upper Rack:
![]()
The upper portion of the rack contains, (from top to bottom);
Roku Ultra 4K Streaming Device. I have "cut the cord" and I subscribe to YouTubeTV, Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Furman Power Conditioner
Marantz AV 8805 Preamplifier/Processor
Oppo UDP-205 4k Ultra HD HDR-capable BluRay Player
FP14000 Clone 2-Channel Power Amp, (2,400 wpc driving L/R Triad Platinums)
Crowson D-501 Tactile Transducer Power Amplifier, (500 watts driving dual Crowson Shadow 8 Tactile Transducers)
Lower Rack:
![]()
The lower portion of the rack contains:
Earthquake Sound Cinenova Grande 5 Power Amplifier, (650 wpc driving the 4 Atmos Overhead speakers)
Earthquake Sound Cinenova Grande BR-7 Power Amplifier, (650 wpc driving CC Triad Platinum, L&R Triad Silver Monitor Wides, L&R Triad Silver Monitor Surrounds and L&R Klipsch AW-650 Rear Surrounds.
RSL C34e In-Ceiling Overhead Speaker:
![]()
I had custom enclosures built to allow them to drop perfectly into my suspended acoustic ceiling grid system. The enclosures are sealed and sized precisely to have an internal volume of 1.1 cubic feet, as recommended by RSL. I have 4 of these placed in the L&R Front Heights, and L&R Rear Heights.
Impressions and Thoughts:
The new 4K HDR projector is simply spectacular. As good as the RS-55 was, this projector surpasses it in every single way. The new screen should enhance that even more.
The 3D Audio upgrade is a highly worthwhile upgrade as well. My system prior to the upgrade was quite immersive, especially with the Wides activated using DTS Neo X. The Wides filled the gap between the front mains and the side surrounds. The whole soundstage was very cohesive and solid, with no gaps The upgraded system is fully integrated, and immersive but in a different way. It was all on the horizontal plane. With the addition of 3D audio, the immersiveness now extends to the overhead plane as well. Unfortunately, I can't use my Wides much any more. The new Marantz 8805 pre/pro doesn't have DTS Neo X, or Audyssey DSX or Dolby Prologic IIx either. Atmos only uses the Wides when the content is native Atmos. The DSU upmixer doesn't use them at all. DTS:X only uses them with native DTS:X content, (and there is very little of that available.) The DTS Nueral:X upmixer only uses the Wides when I turn off the rear surrounds off. While that is a compromise I'm willing to make to get a solid, cohesive and fully integrated front soundstage, I wish I didn't have to make that compromise.
To be brutally honest, and knowing what I know now, I think I would have done just the 4K projector upgrade at this time, and foregone the 3D audio upgrade. Don't get me wrong, when the content is native Atmos or DTS:X, the system is demonstrably better than prior to the upgrade. However, for all content that uses the upmixers, (probably 80% of what we watch), I've merely traded on kind of immersiveness for another, with the new kind not be appreciably "better" than the old kind. I am hoping that more content becomes available in native 3D audio formats, and as that happens, I believe I will be more content with the audio upgrade.
Craig
Links to pics of new Seymour AV screen: craig john's theater
Original Post from 2011:
I have recently upgraded my speaker system with a full set of Triad speakers. The fronts are Platinum LCR's with a Platinum CC:
CC:
The stands were custom built by a good friend and forum member, DMark1. I helped, but my woodworking skills pale to insignificance compared to Dennis'. Dennis has a side business building drum kits. He has honed his wood working skills by making some beautiful drums kits. Markley Custom Drums He's also a professional drummer and percussionist, so he has a great ear for music and has helped me significantly in fine tuning my system.
The stands are 1.5" thick plinths with columns supporting the speakers. The columns are 1 layer of 3/4", 9-ply plywood with an inner layer of 3/4" MDF. The two layers are adhered with Green Glue and the CC column is additionally lined with No-Rez. All this was done to reduce resonance in the columns. (Doing the knuckle rap test shows that the efforts were successful. The columns are very dead.) They were painted with the original factory paint used on my speakers. We bought the paint directly from Triad and got the application instructions directly from the lead "paint guy" at Triad. Dennis has a spray booth in his drum shop, and he applied the paint there. The final coat is a textured "spatter" coat that required some specific painting skills. Fortunately, Dennis has them. Here is a pic of the CC stand:
As you can see, the paint is a perfect match. What's even more amazing is how good the texture match turned out.
Needless to say, I am extremely happy with how they compliment the speakers!
I've also added Triad surrounds. I used the Silver Monitors because they use the same mid-woofers as the LCR's and a tweeter that is almost exactly the same as the Platinum's but without the dispersion lens. I use 4 Silver Monitors placed as Wides and Sides. The Wides are supposed to be at 60 degrees to the listening position, but as you will see in the pic below, I couldn't quite get them that wide. Due to wall constraints, they ended up at about 50 degrees. They still work quite well there. Here is a pic of the right Wide:
I have 3 Submersive HP's for subwoofer duties. They are placed somewhat randomly around the room and EQ'd with Audyssey XT32. Here is a pic of the right, front Submersive HP:
There is one Submersive on the right side of the CC. There is a 2nd Submersive on the left wall beneath the left Wide. The 3rd Submersive is on the right side wall behind the LP at about 3/5 of the long dimension of the room. After gain-matching the 3 subs, EQ'ing them with Audyssey XT32, optimizing their Distance setting, and invoking the 2nd DSP program on the Submersives, I get the following frequency response and max output/compression:
That is just the subs, (no speakers, with an 80 Hz crossover.) That is 115 dB at 10 Hz with no compression.
Here is the in-room decay of the subs:
and here is a 1/3 Octave RTA of the full bandwidth of the system:
The rest of my audio equipment consists of:
Marantz AV 8801
Earthquake Cinemova Grande BR7 (7 x 650 wpc)
Clone Amp (2 x 2,400 wpc)
Tivo HD DVR
Oppo BDP 105D
Crowson Technology TES 100 Shadow 8 Dual Motion Actuator System
Buttkicker BKA 1000 Amplifier
Here is a pic of the equipment rack:
The video system consists of:
JVC RS-55
SeymourAV 120" Diagonal 2.35, motorized, drop down Acoustically Transparent screen
Panamorph UH 480 Anamorphic Lens
JVC 3D Glasses
Here is a pic of the screen deployed:
The room is acoustically treated with 8" thick acoustic cotton and fiberglass bass traps in the front corners, (they're behind the burgundy drapes.) The front wall is treated with 2" of acoustical cotton, as are the first 4' of the side walls. The ceiling is a dropped acoustical ceiling using CaPaul Open Plan 1" thick tiles with a black nubby finish. Above the dropped ceiling, the overhead joist spaces are stuffed with fiberglass insulation, making the entire ceiling a large bass trap/broadband absorber. The floor is concrete with dark brown carpet over the thickest pad. With all the dark surfaces, and all the acoustic absorption in the front of the room, when the lights go out and the movie starts to play, the front of the room is one big black hole for light and sound.
There are other acoustical treatments placed around the room to reduce slap echo. Here is a pic of one of them:
The seating is a 4-chair row of Acoustic Innovations Traditional seats configured as in this pic:
The seats are a Burgundy leather. They sit on an 8" riser. This gets my eyes to 1/3 screen height, my ears to tweeter height, and allow the transducer system to shake the entire riser.
I have been an HT enthusiast for about 25 years. I built my first "HT" in 1987, (before the term "Home Theater" was even in use), using a 50" Pioneer RPTV. At the time a 50" TV was unheard of, and my "HT" had a huge "WOW Factor." Soon after, I acquired a LaserDisc player... and the rest is history.
I have been through quite few different systems in the ensuing years. However, the above system is far and away the best I've ever had in my HT. I have a few things to do yet, but I am close to the point that my "upgradeitits" is almost cured. (Yeah right, she said!) In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying my system!😄
Thanks for reading.
Craig
----- ----- ----- ------ ----- ----- ----- -----
Edit: 2/29/2020
Obviously, my "upgradeitis" was not cured, and I am still afflicted with it.
I have recently upgraded my system to add 4K HDR Video Projection and 3D Audio, (Dolby Atmos/DTS:X and Auro 3D), to my system. The following are updated pictures of the new projector, equipment and rack:JVC RS2000 4K HDR:
I replaced my JVC RS-55 e-Shift projector with a JVC RS2000 True 4K projector with HDR. This projector is a giant upgrade over the e-Shift projector, with darker blacks, brighter whites and much more saturated colors. I have eliminated my Panamorph lens and switched to projecting 2.35:1 using lens memory.
I have ordered, but not yet received, a new SeymourAV 115" diagonal, retractable screen, with Center Stage XD, woven, acoustically transparent screen material with retractable side masking for watching 16:9 material. I will post pics of the new screen when it receive and install it.
New Middle Atlantic Equipment Rack:
I had to add new equipment to my system to do this upgrade, and I ran out of space in my old rack. I replaced it with a new Middle Atlantic rack.
Close Up of New Equipment:
Upper Rack:
The upper portion of the rack contains, (from top to bottom);
Roku Ultra 4K Streaming Device. I have "cut the cord" and I subscribe to YouTubeTV, Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Furman Power Conditioner
Marantz AV 8805 Preamplifier/Processor
Oppo UDP-205 4k Ultra HD HDR-capable BluRay Player
FP14000 Clone 2-Channel Power Amp, (2,400 wpc driving L/R Triad Platinums)
Crowson D-501 Tactile Transducer Power Amplifier, (500 watts driving dual Crowson Shadow 8 Tactile Transducers)
Lower Rack:
The lower portion of the rack contains:
Earthquake Sound Cinenova Grande 5 Power Amplifier, (650 wpc driving the 4 Atmos Overhead speakers)
Earthquake Sound Cinenova Grande BR-7 Power Amplifier, (650 wpc driving CC Triad Platinum, L&R Triad Silver Monitor Wides, L&R Triad Silver Monitor Surrounds and L&R Klipsch AW-650 Rear Surrounds.
RSL C34e In-Ceiling Overhead Speaker:
I had custom enclosures built to allow them to drop perfectly into my suspended acoustic ceiling grid system. The enclosures are sealed and sized precisely to have an internal volume of 1.1 cubic feet, as recommended by RSL. I have 4 of these placed in the L&R Front Heights, and L&R Rear Heights.
Impressions and Thoughts:
The new 4K HDR projector is simply spectacular. As good as the RS-55 was, this projector surpasses it in every single way. The new screen should enhance that even more.
The 3D Audio upgrade is a highly worthwhile upgrade as well. My system prior to the upgrade was quite immersive, especially with the Wides activated using DTS Neo X. The Wides filled the gap between the front mains and the side surrounds. The whole soundstage was very cohesive and solid, with no gaps The upgraded system is fully integrated, and immersive but in a different way. It was all on the horizontal plane. With the addition of 3D audio, the immersiveness now extends to the overhead plane as well. Unfortunately, I can't use my Wides much any more. The new Marantz 8805 pre/pro doesn't have DTS Neo X, or Audyssey DSX or Dolby Prologic IIx either. Atmos only uses the Wides when the content is native Atmos. The DSU upmixer doesn't use them at all. DTS:X only uses them with native DTS:X content, (and there is very little of that available.) The DTS Nueral:X upmixer only uses the Wides when I turn off the rear surrounds off. While that is a compromise I'm willing to make to get a solid, cohesive and fully integrated front soundstage, I wish I didn't have to make that compromise.
To be brutally honest, and knowing what I know now, I think I would have done just the 4K projector upgrade at this time, and foregone the 3D audio upgrade. Don't get me wrong, when the content is native Atmos or DTS:X, the system is demonstrably better than prior to the upgrade. However, for all content that uses the upmixers, (probably 80% of what we watch), I've merely traded on kind of immersiveness for another, with the new kind not be appreciably "better" than the old kind. I am hoping that more content becomes available in native 3D audio formats, and as that happens, I believe I will be more content with the audio upgrade.
Craig
Links to pics of new Seymour AV screen: craig john's theater
