My endgame system I think

@unreceivedogma 

Excellent! I’m glad it worked out. Enjoy!
 

Ron 

@ronboco

I used the Rockwool brand from Lowes as well. No panels: just 17" thick of the rockwool and the burlap over it. I was a little leery at first over health concerns, in spite of the research I did that said it was very safe, but my architect also insisted it was safe and went with it. I’m glad I did.

@pcrhkr 

Thank you. 

I am very happy for you! :)

@cycles2 

That is what I was originally thinking. I’ll follow up with my dealer. 

Regards 

Ron 

@ronboco If the only device you need to connect to your home network is the 866 then you don't need a network switch.  You can go direct from you internet provider modem to the 866. 

@cycles2 

I do wish I had more knowledge with connections. I do have an IPad I’m using. I have also printed off owners manual for the 866 and will take a look. So is the network switch in the chain not needed as well? Thanks again 

 

Ron

@ronboco I strongly suggest using the 866 for streaming as it's better than the Bluesound Node.  You're also not taking advantage of one of the main reasons to own an 866, you only need a single power cable and no interconnect cables, other than connecting a CD player/transport.  You don't need Roon, I don't have it and won't get it since they added DSP features and screwed up the SQ. 

You can download the 866 Owners manual from the Boulder site. Starting at page 4-14 are instructions to connect the 866 to your home network.  You'll need an Android or iOS mobile device to pair your mobile device to the 866.  That's all you have to do to access and play songs from Qobuz, TIDAL or other music services. Note - once you've successfully paired the 866 to your home network, you may want to use the mConnect HD app to access music services as it's easier to use than the Boulder Controller app.. mConnect HD is available on the App and Play Store.

If you need assistance, the great folks at Boulder will be glad to help.

BTW, shame on your dealer for not knowing and helping you with this.  May be time to find a different dealer.

@lalitk 

That is another reason I passed on Roon. The server needed and a subscription to Roon. Just seems like too much going on there. The filter is something I think I’m going to try though. Thanks ! 

@ronboco

Not to complicate matters further, Roon ready (endpoint) devices like your Boulder still needs a server like Nucleus to stream from Qobuz or Tidal. Be careful with Roon implementation, you can easily end up with a maze of accessories and devices, both Etherregen and Nucleus requires LPS (linear power supplies) to perform at their best.

I would add a passive filter from Network Acoustics for next level improvement before you venture into replacing the Node 2. @grannyring has direct experience with ENO and latest MUON filters. I have moved on to Telegartner M12 switch which in my opinion, has no peer and substantially better than ENO but at 6x cost once you factor in cables and linear power supply.

@cycles2 

I asked the question the same way you posted. I wanted to know if I could connect the Ethernet cable from the router right to the Boulder. My dealer said no but  did bring up Roon.  I felt like Roon was more than I needed and I was already comfortable using the BluOS app so I went with the Node. I am going to check out the EtherRegen though. Thanks 

@ronboco The EtherREGEN is in the audio path for any music you Stream (eg. Qobuz, TIDAL, Spotify) or any music you may have locally ripped that resides on a computer or hard drive that's on your home Ethernet network.  The EtherREGEN isn't in the audio path for any CDs you play.

I can't believe your dealer didn't let you know the 866 has a great builkt-in Streamer.  Below is a Q&A re: Streaming from the Boulder website.  The mConnect app isn't the greatest but the 866 is also Roon ready as you can see here, 

 

“Can I stream Tidal or Quobuz directly to the 866?” Currently there is no way to directly stream to the 866. But you can use a 3rd party app like mConnect, JRiver to stream. We also recommend using Roon for streaming, as the 866 is a Roon endpoint and will stream both Tidal and Quobuz and music stored on your home network.

@unreceivedogma 

The Rockwool is it’s own brand I got at lowes. I used the safe and sound version. The 2 inch rigid fiberglass panels are from ATS acoustics. The fabric covering all walls and ceiling is from Rosebrand 

I see rock wool in the walls but you don’t specify brand? And the panels you are using to cover them are? I used burlap: cheap ($4.00 per yard) and aesthetically pleasing (to me, at any rate). 

@creditingkarma 

The Atria is a great speaker. That’s what they had at Axpona. Sounded amazing. I’m going to stick with the DAC in the Boulder at least for now as it reviewed very well and I spoke to the owner of Boulder ( I’ve embarrassingly forgotten his name) at Axpona and he said it’s the same DAC that is in their stand alone unit which made me feel even better. Happy listening !

@ronboco I am at a similar spot right now. I decided to go with the Atria II and keep my JL Fathoms. The Boulder is great but an external dac will make a difference. I ended up with classe delta pre and Stereo paired with the MSB Discrete with the rederer card. So no need for a network streamer but the module is $2k. 

Just glad to see more rockports here. 

@lemonhaze 
Thank you for the advice. I actually have a Umik and was going to give REW a try a few weeks ago but discovered I needed an adapter to connect the laptop to the Boulder 866 and I have been dragging my feet getting one. I definitely want to know how the room measures so I need to get off my butt and get it done. 
 

Regards 

Ron 

Hi OP, the attention you have paid to room acoustics is impressive. Most just add some treatment as an afterthought. Congratulations, however you seem a little unsure about it possibly being overdamped. May I suggest you, if haven’t already, download a free app REW and puchase an appropriate microphone.

There is a whole forum dedicated to REW and how to use it. This will allow you to measure your room and get a visual of just how the room is performing. For every size of room there is a target response to aim for which is the amount of time it takes for the sound to decay by 60dB known as T60, probably about 400ms in your size room.

Less than this time means the room is overdamped, longer means underdamped and so removes any guesswork regarding the effectiveness of your existing treatment.

The program displays the results on a screen showing problem areas, for example any peak or dips (nulls). This is presented as a waterfall plot where you can clearly identify the troublesome areas. I have found this approach to optimising a room the only way to go. That is not to say that your room does not conform to this standard but it is certainly peace of mind knowing that the room is correct. It will help positioning your speakers and also where to place any subs you may add.

There is also HolmImpulse (free) and what I use, Omnimic from Parts Express about $300. Consider that should you change speaker position or add/remove furniture a quick measurement will display the results.

It has been stated that the treatment should be adjusted according to the size of the speakers. This indicates a misunderstanding of the science behind this optimisation. It’s the room that is being treated and when correct it’s correct for all and any speakers.

 

Would you elaborate a little more?

I am curious...Hemp can be use i guess in some acoustic panel... Why not?

Thanks....

Or is it the usual joke?

😁😊

In my room I have used only organic material (hemp) for acoustic treatement.

In my room I have used only organic material (hemp) for acoustic treatement.

@cycles2 

Is the ether REGEN for local files or do you stream Qobuz /Tidal and that was also an improvement ? Thanks 

 

Ron 

@cycles2 

Thanks! I’ll bet the Altairs sound sweet! It was my understanding from my dealer that the 866 doesn’t have a built in streamer as I asked same question why the node would be needed. I didn’t see a built in streamer mentioned on boulders website either maybe I just missed it. 
 

Regards 

 

Ron 

@ronboco Great choice with the Rockport Aviors.  I own Altair speakers and they're my end game speakers.  I don't understand the purpose of the Bluesound Node.  I used to own the Boulder 866 and in addition to being a great amp/preamp, the Streamer/DAC section is certainly superior to the Bluesound Node. If you plan to add an Ethernet filter, you may want to consider the  EtherREGEN unit.  It made a noticeable improvement to my system for network streaming music.  

@lanx0003 

Interesting. Thanks 

@mahgister 

Thank you. 

Very beautiful ! Congratulations....

The Rockport/Boulder were both highly praised by Stereophile but JA did point out the minor flaw below. I also noticed that, when listening to Pink Floyd Money (demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj1Zced6dEU&t=181s), bass notes introduced from the Rockport right after the string of coins sound was noticeably louder / accentuated than the early mix or studio version from the same loadspeaker I had. This may not be a "flaw" to those who (incl. myself) are fond of wieghtier bass / coloration though.

JA wrote:

But after a while, with recordings of solo piano, I noticed a narrowband coloration. I wasn’t aware of this with my new favorite performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata 2, by Evelina Vorontsova (CD, STH Quality Classics 1416092), which was reproduced with weight and power in the bass register; nor was it particularly noticeable with superbly engineered recordings of piano with orchestra, such as Dejan Lazic’s live performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto 2, with the London Philharmonic conducted by Kirill Petrenko (DSD64 files, Channel Classics CCS SA26308). But when the writing for piano was more open, as in Haydn’s Piano Sonata 32 in g, Hob.16 No.44, from András Schiff’s Encores After Beethoven (CD, ECM New Series 1950), the more obvious it was that some notes were unnaturally accentuated

 

@larry5729 

Hi Larry. My designer thought the corner set up would be best for the shape of the room and the materials all factored into the design. I don’t believe it sounds anechoic but I’ve never heard one of those rooms before. 

@osprey9 

I will give that a try. Thanks ! 
 

@barts 

Thank you. I was concerned about the room being too dead as well. It would certainly be considered dead compared to a regular room. Being a small room  My designer wanted to take care of first reflections and the pegboard was also strategically added to the room design. My dealer also thought it was over damped but perhaps this is due to their main room having no absorption. Their room sounds good but is a bit bright for me. I’m going to have him back for a listen now that the speakers are broken in. I haven’t listened to an overdamped room before but I find mine performs amazing. Incredible detail instrument separation. I made sure to ask my designer if the Aviors would work in the room and he said absolutely. I’m hoping to get some local audiophiles with more experienced ears than mine to come have a listen and see what they think. 

I wonder why you set your speakers at the corner of the room.  I have never seen that done before.  I also wonder why you chose the materials for your walls.  Does this sound anocholic?

Love the Rockports.  They would be my first choice.  

Now that gives being locked up in a padded room new meaning. You can Lock this audio nut in anytime.

@lanx0003 

I am fortunate to have several dealers in Colorado to be able to listen to a variety of systems. I listened to B&W , Sonus Fabre , Magico , Rockport and I am already familiar with Focal as that is what we have in our home theatre in the family room. Amps were McIntosh , Moon , Hegel and Boulder. They all sounded nice really but my final decision was based heavily on opinions here and WBF and the stellar reviews Rockport and Boulder received. 

@ronboco 

Beautiful execution and equipment.  I have one question:  Every surface in the room looks to absorptive, starting with OC "glass" and rock wool sound barrier does the room sound too dead?  Or do the holes in the peg mitigate that aspect and reflect enough back through the OC?

When I built my room I doubled that walls and had the whole thing spray foamed and then rock wool all surfaces.  The room was so dead as to be spooky and actually disconcerting due to no sound clues...walking, talking etc.  Then sheet rocked with Quietrock and Green Glue.  At the moment, the room is like an echo chamber, but no sound gets in or out.  Equipment to be moved in shortly and then acoustic treatments as needed.

Interestingly, my color scheme is an exact match to yours and I even have the same sconces!

I completely get why you have the system firing out of the corner, I have been advised to do this with my system, but it just won't work in my situation.

Best of luck with it.

Regards,

barts 

Consider placing your Node2 on footers and adding weights on top as suggested by a local audio salesperson.  I think it made an audible difference. The salesperson was not trying to sell me anything as they knew I already had the footers and weights.

A very de minimis high performer system you have put together.  You must go through tremendous time and effort to sort out and eventually end up with this particular combination in this price range you consider as the "endgame".  It will be more informative/eductional for all audiogoners if you could share your decision making experience during this process, such as what other speakers/amp you have also auditioned ...

Thank you everyone for the nice comments and suggestions. 
 

@havocman 

I was originally thinking the set up would be something like your thoughts but the acoustician who designed the room said with the one angled wall behind the listening chair the corner set up would work best. The walls are not all built the same way so there isn’t much wiggle room with the speaker positioning. I could give it a try to see though. 

nice system but you should learn to set it up properly you got the speakers way too close to the back wall and why do you have it set up on the diagonal use the whole width of the room your sound stage will get much wider and deeper.

audioman58

I am always upgrading especially every few years as digital progresses , I mod my own Loudspeaker Xovers which the vast majority from the factory are average quality at best ,which can dramatically improve your Loudspeakers.

Modifying Xovers is definitely well worth the effort. Treatment inside enclosures is often minimalist and inadequate. Lots of room for improvement. I line all surfaces with a sound deadening material and fill the enclosure with a sound absorbing material (Mundorf Twaron Angel Hair Wadding). 

Perhaps the best thing I did was ground every metal component even when it is earthed through a mains cable (cases, speaker frames or baskets. monitor stands, even tv stands or wall brackets) with a router. The recommended method is run a separate cable to the router for each connection rather than a create a daisy chain.

 

Beautiful system. Has family life driven you to the basement? Lol, in all seriousness congrats on your arrival.

Ronboco, I think many can relate to the cash outlay vs performance vs reality thing. I'm sure your setup "as is" performs quite well. It's shocking/satisfying once you hear speakers at any level in a dedicated space. Now any future changes/additions can really be scrutinized.

Does there need to be an endgame in this? I think one needs to enjoy the ride and the knowledge gained. Ever expanding universe of music.

@audioman58 

I agree wise spending is the way to go. Im thankful to be where I am and don’t worry about an unobtainable level I will never reach. 

I am always upgrading especially every few years as digital progresses , I mod my own Loudspeaker Xovers which the vast majority from the factory are average quality at best ,which can dramatically improve your Loudspeakers And this too applies to electronics ,that’s how Modwright is so successful.. It’s not how much $$ you spend ,it’s where it’s spent that counts ,just be happy that you have a Audio system Many don’t even know what it is to be a Audiophile.

@audioman58 
I heard all the high end stuff at Axpona and it would be fun to be able to play in that arena but I can’t. I think my system is pretty good and I enjoy it every day. Happy listening! 
 

Ron 

This past weekend I went over a Audio members house,I thought my audiosystem was pretty decent His Burmeister system with Estalon Speakers $250k+ Was better then exceptional ,I feel very lacking compared , you can spend $1million and then what ,not enough for some . Wilsons new $1 million dollar speakers already sold at least 5 pr MBL my brother owns their top extreme 101 are sold out next 2+ years $315 k , my brother just wants the lesser 101s at $80 k , lucky them !

@whitefishpoint1175 

I feel you. We have 3 kids. 

@tablejockey 

I believe other colors were available but it was more than I wanted to spend. The loveseat was needed while the chair was being made. It works pretty good for my wife and I when we both listen  

As far as subs go I thought I had a mode in the listening position but as the speakers have broken in it has improved. I still think there is a mode but I was going to try to measure the room with REW and then decide on subs  

 

Ron - no subwoofers? Is it because of the size of your room and the sound treatment? I don't have a dedicated room like yours, but I could not live without a subwoofer.

ronboco-

Speakers are visually attention grabbing. Great looking(not a fan of black finishes) and I’m sure equally or better performance. Is black or black only choice?

Looking at Rockport’s webistie, I don’t want to know the MSRP on their Lyra top dog. Even their home office location is nice.

I too, am a all Nordost audiophool. If that were my space-add Rockport turntable setup. Maybe added extravagance(just because) 2 subs.

The "standby/dugout" loveseat likely sounds convincing as well.

Enjoy.

@ronboco wish I could afford a system like that. Paying for 4 kids in college is an economic challenge. 

@whitefishpoint1175 

Thank you. 

Nice system.