New listening room with CLX speakers

[jazzfish]

I finally completed my new listening room (15 months in the making) with ASC double drywall construction. The CLXs love this space, approximately 19x19 feet with 17 foot high ceilings. The speakers are about 5.5 feet out from the rear wall. They sound so much better than in my smaller living room. I have had them for five years now and can't imagine wanting to replace them. I have two REL subs (Carbon Limited) in the corners. Am driving the CLXs with an ARC 150SE reference amp. I might get a pair of Parasound JC 1s or other solid state amp for comparison some time in the future.

Randy

 

[Robert D]

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I finally completed my new listening room (15 months in the making) with ASC double drywall construction. The CLXs love this space, approximately 19x19 feet with 17 foot high ceilings. The speakers are about 5.5 feet out from the rear wall. They sound so much better than in my smaller living room. I have had them for five years now and can't imagine wanting to replace them. I have two REL subs (Carbon Limited) in the corners. Am driving the CLXs with an ARC 150SE reference amp. I might get a pair of Parasound JC 1s or other solid state amp for comparison some time in the future.

Randy

Did you use a special kind of insulation in the space between the walls?

 

[jazzfish]

It's called the Iso-wall construction method.
http://www.asc-soundproof.com/products/iso-wall/The basic idea is to isolate the outer drywall from the inner drywall using brackets so that the room is acoustically isolated from the exterior environment.
The room is very quiet, meaning that it does not pick up sound from outside and once the door is closed, it is almost sound proof.

 

[BigGuy]

Are there any issues with the room being almost a cube albeit with angled ceiling?

 

[jazzfish]

I talked to Jordan at ASC about this. I was afraid that the almost cubic room would have deleterious effects and the echo I experienced when the room was complete but not yet furnished did not alleviate those concerns. Jordan said not to worry because the CLXs threw sound to the front and rear, not to the sides, so they effectively do not experience the sides of the room, assuming the sides are sufficiently far away. Sound to the rear is absorbed by studio traps.

With furniture and room treatments (tube traps), there is still a mild echo when speaking, but nothing you can hear from the speakers. The sound is remarkably clear and transparent. Depth is excellent. Even without the subs, the bass was quite good. This is the sound I was always trying to achieve with electrostatic speakers from the first time I hear Monoliths maybe 35 years ago!

The Iso-wall treatment was applied to three walls (front and sides) but not the back wall with the built in record shelves nor the ceiling, which tops out at about 17 feet I believe.

Considering the acoustic problems I might run into with dynamic speakers is another reason to hang onto the CLXs.

Randy from Knoxville

 

[Robert D]

It's called the Iso-wall construction method.
http://www.asc-soundproof.com/products/iso-wall/The basic idea is to isolate the outer drywall from the inner drywall using brackets so that the room is acoustically isolated from the exterior environment.
The room is very quiet, meaning that it does not pick up sound from outside and once the door is closed, it is almost sound proof.

Thanks, haven't heard of that company.

 

[jazzfish]

They make tube traps.

 

[amey01]

It's called the Iso-wall construction method.
http://www.asc-soundproof.com/products/iso-wall/The basic idea is to isolate the outer drywall from the inner drywall using brackets so that the room is acoustically isolated from the exterior environment.
The room is very quiet, meaning that it does not pick up sound from outside and once the door is closed, it is almost sound proof.

What is the room's idle dB-c?

 

[BigGuy]

I talked to Jordan at ASC about this. I was afraid that the almost cubic room would have deleterious effects and the echo I experienced when the room was complete but not yet furnished did not alleviate those concerns. Jordan said not to worry because the CLXs threw sound to the front and rear, not to the sides, so they effectively do not experience the sides of the room, assuming the sides are sufficiently far away. Sound to the rear is absorbed by studio traps.

With furniture and room treatments (tube traps), there is still a mild echo when speaking, but nothing you can hear from the speakers. The sound is remarkably clear and transparent. Depth is excellent. Even without the subs, the bass was quite good. This is the sound I was always trying to achieve with electrostatic speakers from the first time I hear Monoliths maybe 35 years ago!

The Iso-wall treatment was applied to three walls (front and sides) but not the back wall with the built in record shelves nor the ceiling, which tops out at about 17 feet I believe.

Considering the acoustic problems I might run into with dynamic speakers is another reason to hang onto the CLXs.

Randy from Knoxville

Great to hear that their are limited issues with the room. Sounds like you were well advised by Jordan at ASC.

I purchased my ASC Tube Trap stacks many years ago when there were few, if any, purveyors of acoustic treatments.

Interesting that you have also evolved from M-L Monoliths! I bought a pair of Monolith I's which were converted to Monolith III's with the crossover and driver upgrade...but still in the old style frame. Happily used them for many years until I found a pair of CLX's.

Happy listening!

 

[DaVinci Media]

Beautiful Randy, I bet they sing in that large room. Those really tall ceilings are awesome as well. When you’re ready to look at a pair of Jc1s, let me know, I’ll do my best to get you an amazing deal.

 

[jazzfish]

I remember those Monoliths really well. They were part of the first high end system that I ever heard. I was amazed by how holographic they sounded. The turntable was a Goldman Studio. Don't remember the electronics but it was probably solid state. The album was an old audiophile fav, Jazz at the Pawnshop. The whole thing blew me away.

Thanks Shawn. I may get back to you on that offer.

Randy

 

[jazzfish]

Just replaced the Audio Research Reference 150 SE with monoblock 250 SEs driving the CLXs. Also added another pair of tube traps. Better bass and separation of instruments.

 

[Brad225]

Very nice jazzfish. You can never have to much power.

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Ah! Yet another full range Stat in full glory, Fantastico!!!

Agreed 110%, the CLX's on their own can truly deliver, and they are one of those top high performance speakers. Obviously they require the right kind of power amplification to sound at their optimal, and even after the right type of gear, the other most important factor being the ROOM! Cannot emphasize this any further. Having said that, matched with the right type of sub will shift its performance onto another dimension!

The ARC 250SE's will serve extremely well, I know those amps very well. As you're probably aware, the one critical thing about ARC tube power amps is that their tubes have to be closely matched pairs or matched quad sets, since their bias circuit is designed in such a way, quite different to other tube gear.

Back in Sept 2018 I had my CLX's in our former shoebox room, which was an apartment. It rocked the whole damn unit! Only in 2019 got our new home built and now they fly! The soundstage just takes off, got about 6ft from the front walls, and driven with a full array of Conrad Johnson tube gear, the tunes are fine! Just the one ML BF210 is more than adequate in this particular listening space.

Cheers and do enjoy those finest tunes!
WOOF!!!
RJ

 

[Big Dog RJ]

There's no other speaker system I'd rather own, regardless of price.
Have auditioned the Alsyvox range from 150grand to 450grand, absolutely superb and costs a bloody fortune!
Then there's the Clarisys line up, starts at 80grand to 300grand ($AUD)... no thanks!

Life is simple enough, or should I say complicated enough... these tunes are fine!
Cheers, RJ

 

[jazzfish]

Just replaced the Audio Research Reference 150 SE with monoblock 250 SEs driving the CLXs. Also added another pair of tube traps. Better bass and separation of instruments.

I agree about matching tubes. I was originally skeptical about the premium price that ARC charged for replacement tubes but now am convinced that especially for the Power tubes like the KT150s, it is essential to use ARC matched tubes to get the best out of their amps.

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Yes correct. It's quite a good practice to reorder the full tube set from the brand maker themselves, after all, they designed it and they would know best.

However, similar to CJ, VTL, Manley Labs, VAC and Lamm Audio, they all charge quite a high premium for matched tubes, especially the Output tubes. Even the small signal tubes, such as the 6N30P/ 6H30PI, 6922 variants and smaller NOS Mullards (rare types M8080) are still charged a high premium. You can source these same exact tubes from other suppliers like, Upscale, Tube Store, Tube Depot and similar but I guess ordering these tube replacement sets from your main gear manufacturer gives you more peace of mind.

After all, that's the price we pay for such top tier designs. CJ HQ has always been my first choice with tube replacements but since lately they're charges are quite high. I still do order the Output tubes from them and sometimes order the smaller signal tubes from Watford Valves UK. They're product and service has been outstanding, no issues since over 5yrs being with them. As for CJ, I've been a customer since my late teens!... damn, that's a long long time.

Cheers matey, and do enjoy those finest tunes!
Woof! To CLX's and ARC.
RJ

 

[rinorn]

So much to love about that room in addition to what sounds like remarkable acoustics and well thought out system. Very impressive vinyl collection and Where'd you get that quilt

 

[Doug033]

Just replaced the Audio Research Reference 150 SE with monoblock 250 SEs driving the CLXs. Also added another pair of tube traps. Better bass and separation of instruments.

Beautiful system! You also have an interesting array of room treatments. I was curious how you arrived at that configuration? I’m considering having my dealer do an analysis in which they partner with Vicoustics for the treatment. Darko sure loves them!

 

[jazzfish]

The quilt was purchased from a company based in Queens called Yourquiltstyle.com. I think they went out of business but had an amazing selection of quilts including two Sun Ra quilts! The king size only cost about $110.

I started using tube traps when I had Martin Logan Sequels about 35 years ago! The stages went right behind the speaker to absorb/reflect the back wave. Then I got corner traps and a pair of regular traps and kept adding as I saw their benefit. Now I have 6 pairs and four panels. The Argent room lenses tighten up the soundstage and look cool! They came in three but a kid of a friend destroyed one!

I used a design from Acoustic Sciences, the company that builds tube traps, in building the room with two isolated layers of drywall. The room is very quiet.

Thanks for the comments, Randy