John Gallup Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 Just did an upgrade from Treo CTs driven by a VTL integrated amp to Quatro Wood CTs with the M5-HPA amps and a Rogue Audio RP-9 preamp. Sources are very tweaked Rega turntable, Rogue Ares phono preamp, and an exaSound DAC and streamer. The new speakers and amps have been in place for a month and the dealer (Stereo Unlimited in San Diego) is coming back soon to tweak the equalizers on the Quatros. The sketch shows the converted bedroom I'm able to use as a dedicated listening room, and I've done quite a bit of do-it-yourself room treatment. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewtgt Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Nice setup. This must sound great with such a high ceiling. What kind of room treatment did you do, are those bass traps behind the amps? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Edwards Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 SWEET! Maybe someday, I'll replace my Quatro fabrics and run M5-HPA's on 'em. Right now, I can only imagine how good your system sounds. Play on 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Thanks for sharing. Great set up and congrats. I dealt with Bruce back in the early/mid 80's when I was stationed there. Met Richard there for the first time too. Would love to visit if I ever get back to SD. Love it there. Quatro CT/M5HPA here too. Will try to run direct. They are installing an analog volume control in my DAC/Server/Streamer. I'll get a proper pre if I need one. Hope you start posting on the other threads too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gallup Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 On 11/9/2020 at 4:08 AM, andrewtgt said: What kind of room treatment did you do, are those bass traps behind the amps? Yes they are bass traps, 8" of Rockwool foam, and the brown fabric above hides 2" of the same stuff for higher-frequency absorption. The shelves are "Billy" bookcases from Ikea so I don't feel bad about hacking them up to do this stuff. There are also similar bass traps in the opposite high corners of the room. It's all done unscientifically on the theory that you can hardly ever have enough sound absorption in a room this size. On 11/9/2020 at 10:29 AM, ctsooner said: I dealt with Bruce [Stereo Unlimited dealer] back in the early/mid 80's when I was stationed there. Met Richard there for the first time too. Would love to visit if I ever get back to SD. Love it there. Stereo Unlimited seems to be going strong, surviving COVID thus far. It's a huge place, with their own theater for presentations (by Richard V, among others) and a vast collection of used and new LPs. Well worth a visit for any audiophile in San Diego. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Wow, I was a customer when he had the smaller shop. That's cool that it's so large now. I do want to get back out to SD once Covid allows us to travel. I'm planing a Navy reunion with a bunch of my former shipmates. I'd surely make it to see Bruce although he won't remember me. I have sent him some business over the years though. lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gallup Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 (edited) On 11/29/2020 at 1:02 PM, ctsooner said: Wow, I was a customer when he had the smaller shop. That's cool that it's so large now. I do want to get back out to SD once Covid allows us to travel. I'm planing a Navy reunion with a bunch of my former shipmates. I'd surely make it to see Bruce although he won't remember me. I have sent him some business over the years though. lol On 11/9/2020 at 4:08 AM, andrewtgt said: Nice setup. This must sound great with such a high ceiling. What kind of room treatment did you do, are those bass traps behind the amps? Here're a couple of shots of the bass traps at the back wall. As I understand it, having them in the vertical corners would be preferable, but it's not really possible given the configuration of the room. Edited November 30, 2020 by John Gallup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 fits in nicely aesthetically. I'll try to get a pic of the speakers up later today. Don't have my server until later this week. Cant' wait. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gallup Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 Picked up an Audioquest Niagara 3000 on Audiogon. Looks good, sounds good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Awesome. I'm place my order for one yesterday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GdnrBob Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Peter, if you aren't running amplifiers through it, I'd just get the Niagra 1200. I asked Johnny if it was worth moving up and he said 'no'. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 I have the 1000 right now. I was going to run the speakers through the 3000. I think I'll just run the speakers and amps direct to the wall outlet as it's a dedicated line anyways. I'll save some coin, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 On 11/30/2020 at 2:26 PM, John Gallup said: Here're a couple of shots of the bass traps at the back wall. As I understand it, having them in the vertical corners would be preferable, but it's not really possible given the configuration of the room. love, love the room. what wood are the floors ? we are neighbors, have a winter condo in Carlsbad, Bruce is my dealer also...fun 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gallup Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 minute ago, TomicTime said: love, love the room. what wood are the floors ? we are neighbors, have a winter condo in Carlsbad, Bruce is my dealer also...fun The floors are from old industrial buildings, or maybe boxcars, I'm not sure. My wife (who designed the house) found them through a dealer. When the wood was delivered it looked like a pile of kindling or rubble. The installer put it down and then sanded it enough to give the highlighted effect you see in the pics. Then it was oiled. The whole second floor (except bathrooms) was done this way and it does give a nice rustic feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Fantastic !,,,, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 As a woodworker, it’s easy to appreciate those floors. Love reclaimed wood. I literally just made Sapelle bases for the M5’s last week 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gallup Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 Beautiful. Sapele is from Africa, right? Love the rowed grain, like mahogany. Is it hard to get a smooth finish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Thanks. I use a special finish. I hand plane and hit lightly with 600 grit. I use a semi gloss oil poly. Three coats but I seal end grain with a half and half poly/thinner mix first. I lobe the open grain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Edwards Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Those are gorgeous Peter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Thanks. Since you see the ends, I took extra care on those as Sapelle drinks the finish, lol... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKDad Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 You have three M5's? I admire your ability to photograph yourself while busy at work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratocaster Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 @ctsooner Amazing job and an equally amazing end product.. especially the bevelled edges. I wish I had the skills and the tools to work with wood.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 3 hours ago, BKDad said: You have three M5's? I admire your ability to photograph yourself while busy at work. No, I also made a knife sharpener holder with the cut offs, lol. I have put it off for three years and need to get the sharpening jig up and running for my Japanese kitchen knives, lol. Can't do by hand anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomstruck Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Really nice job Pete post some photos with the speakers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Will try in a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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