hello everyone 👋

 

 

 

This is my setup as of right now. 
I am running both stereo and surround, and favor it 50/50. I like to delve into either with a couple of months in-between. This way I never get tired of any of it 🙂

 

 

 

 

Stereo gear:

Mcintosh C2600

Mcintosh MC452

Lexicon ZX-7

Mcintosh D150

Denafrips Ares ll

Auralic Aries G1

 

Speakers:

JBL S4700

 

Cables:

Swoboda pure-silver speaker cables
Belden XLR

Mogami XLR

Canare XLR

Xindak power cable

Voodoo power cable

Supra power cables

 

 

At the moment I am trying out different DAC’s. The internal DAC in the C2600 is not the greatest, and the D-150 beats it with a more dense and pure bass, a tad more black background and more ease of voices. It also suits as a pre-amp, thou it is no match for the C2600! -  a bit cold and hard sounding in comparison.. but still, very versatile. The D-150 is also connected to another amp, which is the Lexicon ZX-7, a 7 channel amp with 300w continuous, all channels driven.. it’s a beast for home cinema! - I also have a Lexicon GX-7 which is the one pictured underneath the Anthem AVM-70 processor on the left. The GX-7 is a smaller 125w 7 channel amp ditto, still powerful thou.
All I need to do is switch speaker cables to listen to the D-150/ZX-7 vs C2600/MC452 combo. 

Here, the D-150/ZX-7 delivers more powerful bass, but as mentioned, with a colder and hard sounding top-end. The Lexicon is also a good amount brighter/clearer sounding than the MC452.

The Lexicon ZX-7 combined with the C2600 - it actually sounds quite delightful, with the smoothness of the C2600 and the pure-evil-bass-monster of the ZX-7.

 

The Mcintosh setup is a bliss listening to, if you, like me, like listening to a smooth, easy going warm rolled of top-end, that still preserves the life of the music - this is what Mcintosh can do, natural magic. 

 

Regarding the Denafrips Ares, my experience here is that it takes away the silkyness of the music, it seems like it just cuts of somewhere in the top-end which in turn makes it sound dull and lifeless.
I am still searching for a new DAC. As an example I loved the R2R Metrum HEX, and Burr-Brown based Audio Research DAC 8 which I have had before. 

 

 

 

As far as acoustics go, this is the no.1 option for better sound you can go into - many enthusiasts seems to be not-in-the-knowing or forget this.

If you have yet to go into room acoustics, please make this your next upgrade. It will be a BIG one. 💛

 

The S4700’s sounds very powerful yet subtle and clean in my room, with only so many reflections - thou, not an option to go full-blast without the room singing along. I have heard the speakers in a completely transformed room with no reflections, in this room you simply crank the wheel and it will continue to sound just as good as it would when lower. 
- Always remember to do a combo of absorption and diffusion! 
 

As far as cables go, I do hear differences on speakercables, but no luck yet with power/signal ditto. Maybe I should delve more into this, what is your thoughts?
I have thought a while about trying a thicker copper cable - the pure silver Swoboda I am using now, might only be 1,5mm2 (not sure). 

And to also make it easier to shift between setups or sound signature, I am soon getting an extra set of speakercables. I have chosen to go DIY - using the Mogami W3104, which is 4 conductors, each 4mm2. They will be doubled to 8mm2 - it is a MONSTER of a cable, it needs spade and banana plugs that can fit the 8mm2 cable, which not many do. I will also make 2 sets of jumpers from the same cable.
The W3104 is an OFC copper cable, well-known for it’s good quality. 

 

 

Happy to hear from you. 
 

 

 

Edited June 17, 2025Jun 17 by Renehc
Missing pics

Beautiful

Really impressive room setup. Did you design the ceiling/sky absorption (grey one) yourself? 

Mac and JBL: a well trod path that always delivers superlative results.

 

I've previously had a MSB Premier DAC in my system (JBL K2 S9900, McIntosh MC1201 amplifiers) and it was a great match (although right now it's just sitting in a box unused).

 

Maybe investigate some R2R DAC options?

 

A very tastefully laid out room and setup. I'm sure it sounds great.

18 hours ago, Renehc said:

As far as acoustics go, this is the no.1 option for better sound you can go into - many entusiasts seems to be not in the knowing or forget this. 
 

My S4700’s sounds very powerful yet subtle and clean in my room, with only so many early reflections - thou, not an option to go full-blast without the room singing along. I have heard the speakers in a completely transformed room with no reflections, in this room you simply crank the wheel and it will continue to sound just as good as it would when lower. 
- Always remember to do a combo of absorption and diffusion! 

 

Happy to hear from you. 

Hi, as far as acoustics go low frequencies under about 200-300Hz are usually the most "messed up" from what the speakers are outputting, and most 2 channel enthusiats still seem to ignore it. Have you done anything regarding this? Even just a little parametric EQ here and there make significant improvements.

29 minutes ago, Satanica said:

Hi, as far as acoustics go low frequencies under about 200-300Hz are usually the most "messed up" from what the speakers are outputting, and most 2 channel enthusiats still seem to ignore it. Have you done anything regarding this? Even just a little parametric EQ here and there make significant improvements.

Hello 👋 

 

I have two big basstraps in the front and one smaller/flatter one in the back (see the thickening on the white panels in the back) which serves to dig under 2-300hz, in which they do very well, but not perfect as stated. My room has bare concrete walls and ceiling so I really needed to go this way. All rooms would benefit from basstraps. 
Careful placement of the speakers and some PEQ at 25-40hz did give a very good result. 
Earlier I was against using PEQ and room correction for 2 channel..  but, it’s where you can get it perfect indeed.
 

 

16 hours ago, art of SOUND said:

Beautiful

Thank you 🙏

10 hours ago, crtexcnndrm99 said:

Really impressive room setup. Did you design the ceiling/sky absorption (grey one) yourself? 

Those panels are “Nivå Ecosund”. They transform the room and work very well! They are worth it if you are in doubt 🤩

5 hours ago, BugPowderDust said:

Mac and JBL: a well trod path that always delivers superlative results.

 

I've previously had a MSB Premier DAC in my system (JBL K2 S9900, McIntosh MC1201 amplifiers) and it was a great match (although right now it's just sitting in a box unused).

 

Maybe investigate some R2R DAC options?

 

A very tastefully laid out room and setup. I'm sure it sounds great.

I am very much into R2R! I had a Metrum HEX before and it was very good. 
Am thinking about trying a Aqua La Voce s3. 

14 minutes ago, Renehc said:

Hello 👋 

 

I have two big basstraps in the front and one smaller/flatter one in the back (see the thickening on the white panels in the back) which serves to dig under 2-300hz, in which they do very well, but not perfect as stated. My room has bare concrete walls and ceiling so I really needed to go this way. All rooms would benefit from basstraps. 
Careful placement of the speakers and some PEQ at 25-40hz did give a very good result. 
Earlier I was against using PEQ and room correction for 2 channel..  but, it’s where you can get it perfect indeed.
 

 

 

 

MSR Springtraps are the king of bass traps.  They excel at attenuating below 100Hz, which is where most "bass traps" struggle.  I have a pair in my movie room and they work incredibly well.  Unfortunately no longer sold in Australia, so you're lucky if you can even get your hands on a pair.

 

http://www.msr-inc.com/studio/springtrap/springtrap.html

 

 

Edited June 7, 2025Jun 7 by Kaynin

Great system and set up. Everything so need and tidy, complete oposite if mine.

What about the plants, we wanted to get some indoor plants but i never really know what to buy. I guess a cheese plant is a start, thats what it is isn't it? 

On 7/6/2025 at 9:56 AM, Kaynin said:

Very interesting! 
I was thinking about making the thicker part of the white backpanel (corner) something like those traps. Never heard IRL. 

 

MSR Springtraps are the king of bass traps.  They excel at attenuating below 100Hz, which is where most "bass traps" struggle.  I have a pair in my movie room and they work incredibly well.  Unfortunately no longer sold in Australia, so you're lucky if you can even get your hands on a pair.

 

http://www.msr-inc.com/studio/springtrap/springtrap.html

 

 

Very interesting! 
I was thinking about making the thicker part of the white backpanel (corner) something like those traps. Never heard IRL. 

Edited June 13, 2025Jun 13 by Renehc

7 hours ago, russell66 said:

Great system and set up. Everything so need and tidy, complete oposite if mine.

What about the plants, we wanted to get some indoor plants but i never really know what to buy. I guess a cheese plant is a start, thats what it is isn't it? 

Thanks 🙏

 

One of them yes. Must depend on where you live also. Also have Yucca, cactus, umbrella… and more. 
plants really help making it cosy after all those panels.. 

Now that is apartment living! A lot of gear that fits into the decor nicely, love the ceiling treatment!!

Beautifully done, and I'm sure the room sounds terrific.  You're handy with a camera too!