The magazine might have been left out open at that page for a reason.
To open a negotiation, or is that too optimistic?
The magazine might have been left out open at that page for a reason.
To open a negotiation, or is that too optimistic?
When it comes to cables there is no negotiation. That was the back page of the magazine so probably coincidence …
Many a true word spoken in jest
How much would it cost to have the floor lifted, a cable run to facilitate power and ethernet at the chosen site and the floor relaid? In the context of the overall expense it can’t be prohibitive surely?
No sure adding a lifted floor would be wise.
A lifted floor is a gigantic membrane that will vibrate.
That would add nearly unsolvable acoustic problems…
Huge mess and I don’t think we would be able to find matching floor tiles. A non starter but I have hatched another silly plan:
So that is the space to the right of the right speaker. The piano could be moved to the left and the space where the piano is used. With a rustic cabinet to hide all the Naim boxes? That wall backs on to the utility room where the consumer unit is so a new spur could go there in time without too much upheaval. The system could live without wired Ethernet for a while
We know two people who could make a good bit of wood cabinetry to hide the system but I know this is getting complicated. The thing is that the recess the piano is in would allow the system to go further back and make it less intrusive. Maybe I am clutching at straws!? But if the only visible bit was the speakers then that might please my wife
I think I am reconciled to getting less than 100% out of the preposterously fabulous system I have but less than 100% of something is potentially better than nearer 100% of something lesser?
Incredibly difficult question. All of us might answer differently.
Hope it works out.
C.
A couple of observations from afar. Note: I’ve never heard Kudos speakers, but have owned dozens of speakers over the years of all types and price points in many rooms. In sum, it seems you may be trying to cram 20 lbs. of “stuff” into a 5 lb. bag. The situation seems rife with constraints: Spousal constraints, volume constraints, equipment placement constraints, speaker placement constraints, cable constraints, etc. So the question becomes, is high performance audio in the home possible when so constrained? In my experience, generally not. You can get good sound, but not the full performance the gear is capable of.
A couple of suggestions: As another poster mentioned. Find the optimal placement of the speakers in your room. Move them out a lot, experiment with width, toe in, move the furniture around, etc. You will find the spot where the majic happens. Then, at least you will know what the ceiling is for the speakers performance in your room. Best to know this before the compromising starts.
Simplification: Seems like you have a ton of boxes and much system complexity. IMO, there is no need for this anymore in high end audio. At the price points you are at, there are lots of high performance integrated amps (and separates), many with great DAC’s and phono stages. Stand alone and excellent DAC’s and streamers also exist. In other words, there is gear out there capable of extracting top performance from your speakers in a 2-4 box solution. This would reduce you rack challenges and free up more space in your room. If you’re married to Naim, this may or may not be an option.
Just a few thoughts to consider…
It’s a difficult one. We’ve sometimes mulled over a purchase and decided that sometimes the gain isn’t worth the additional compromises that become introduced. It’s often been over new furniture that is supposed to solve a problem and ends up create a bunch of new issues!
At least lockdown will give you more time to work this out and help you decide what to do. Maybe pop the old speakers back in next week and see how you feel?
The space occupied by the piano - being recessed - is ideal for the racks. The piano will also have the effect of making the R hand speaker less visually obtrusive.
My experience of this sort of issue is that change is always initially challenging and can meet resistance , however once the change is made most of the objections resolve themselves as the ‘new normal’ becomes familiar and accepted
Hi Tim.
Can’t help thinking that maybe instead of asking us regarding lay out and options, could you have a relaxed ( glass of wine) conversation with your wife without your daughters in the room to quickly wind both of you up. Calmly go through the various options including placement of sofas etc., and make her understand how much this actually means to you- I’m sure there are things in your relationship, where you have had to make sacrifices for her to realise her passion ( not the green house at present but past). During this I would also point out that the speakers work best a foot off the wall. Here you could go;” I know this will look slightly more obtrusive, but how do WE arrange stuff around the speakers to make it look acceptable for both of us?”
I would assume here that she is not like the female version of The Hulk in which case I would wear a tinhat.
Before the hifi/ speakers set up become too big a compromise try and find a compromise between the 2 of you, which will ultimately allow for the speakers to move ( a bit ) forward.
Good luck Peter
When I had the three radial spurs installed for my stereo equipment, we routed the cable in the space between the ceiling and the first floor floor boards and then down the wall to a location behind the stereo. Would something like this be an option for you?
BTW I have the equipment sited on two stacks of Fraim in pretty much the same arrangement as you’ve described in post 474. It works just fine like that.
Seems to me that Tim fancies a new pair of speakers that “do Bass” at lower volumes and are a step up from the SL2’s in general. So the 808’s have accomplished that and can be fitted fairly close to the wall without losing too much. Imo, may be difficult to reach this end goal with another speaker without other compromises. The 808’s are a super easy load and a single 300 will drive them well and not have the problems associated with rear ported speakers.
Shifting the piano over and tucking the Fraims in that area seems to be the best solution from an esthetic and potential power source needs. The biggest hurdle has already been put to rest- Helen has accepted the Titans
Hi varyat, hope you are keeping well. Is it day off for voting today?
Out of curiosity how far are your 808s from the front wall? All the best Peter
I have found that Astrophotography is a good distraction. I’m preparing to put the gear in an observatory and have remote access and enough automation to be able to leave it to do the image acquisition while I sleep! While waiting for the observatory I play indoors with lots of leads and cables everywhere.
I’m very lucky to have a tolerant wife who is probably more interested in the night sky than music.
Phil
Reminds me of a story that I heard. Man hopes that when he dies that his wife doesn’t sell his collection of bikes for what he told her that he paid for them.
Hi Doc,
Yes, Election Day finally upon us- cannot wait to get past this…
My 808’s are 18 inches off of the front wall. I have had them as far as 24 inches…
Guys, after months of reading that the pre needs to go to the top with “air around it” or even better “only the sky above it” and that this is as the gods intended and makes a significant difference, you come up with this unexpected reversal. This is very inconvenient and I would like to ask you to come to a conclusion by tomorrow morning. I am going to pick up 4 units in the afternoon and I need to know for sure.
Very nice
How bout a nice xpsdr under the LP12? (For the ndx2 obviously)
David