Delicious2

Getting ready to measure these tomorrow. I'll be using the Xilica 4080 which has just enough inputs and outputs left to biamp these surround channels. If it's not optimal to max out the Xilica, I could employ a mini-dsp 2x4 HD. Sounds like I should measure left and right separately at 1m with starting xover at 800Hz low pass 1st order for the Cornwall woofer and high pass 1st order 800Hz for the AMT. Is this a good starting place to run an REW measurement sweep?

Nice room/setup garyrc! Cool stealth center! Have any shots of the Heresys or the LP? Does the Khorns output cross in front of LP? even with? behind? I like your description of surround envelopment: "the side walls come alive, with 6 or more loci" I don't feel I've achieved that with my setup yet although my best surround recording (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band -XXL DVD-Audio - the opening track "High Maintenance") is pretty amazing.

What is inherent power ?

What...wait...Chris, you're time aligning with a physical set back? What about REW? the Xilica? 😁 Seriously, can't wait to play with these this weekend! Wish there was some way to be breaking them in while I am at work but I'm sure I don't want to be running a full range signal though them much. How about some plush rug on top of the cornwall bottoms (now tops) to hide wear and damp reflections?

not to sidetrack this too much but for the amps - wouldn't gain adjustable be important for dialing in gain stages/minimizing noise? How about something like this? https://classdaudio.com/sds-250c-4-channel-class-d-audio-power-amplifier.html

Here's how I could squeeze in the AMT/Cornwalls getting a little more distance from the money seat. I would consider removing the big couch and easy chair too. Thoughts?

How How about using my room/system as an example 😀. I know it's not ideal with the money seat up against the "back" wall but I've had some good sounds starting with some Michael Green "60s" up around ear level on cinder blocks for surrounds and a big ole THTLP sub standing up in the right rear corner. Mains are by far the best I've ever had with the K402/TAD 4002/ Khorn bass combo.

4 of "The Great Heil" arrived today. Probably won't get much chance to play with them before the weekend but here's a rough not ready look with one of the new (to me) 1985 Cornwall 1.5s upside down.

The prolific Steven Wilson primary creative force behind Porcupine Tree has mixed his own considerable body of prog rock work and classic albums of Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, XTC and others into excellent multichannel DVD-A and Blu-rays. By way of correction Hell Freezes Over was made and released in 1994. (My bad...the song Seven Bridges Road is in fact from the earlier live album from 1980) We’re starting to see some surround titles with Atmos such as the excellent Hans Zimmer Live in Prague and the anniversary reissue of INXS - Kick My resource for multichannel info is quadraphonicquad.com

I didn't actually hook this up although it wouldn't be too difficult. Making it sound good is probably another story since that Cornwall will likely never match the Khorn bass bins and the K402 center would be 8 feet from the listener whereas the L+R are 13 feet.

In the "just playing around and wanted to see this" department -

Excellent framing of the topic Chris. Since your “interest” link is to my recent thread it follows that I’m very interested in this subject in fact I’ve been following the trail you and others have blazed with superb multichannel my goal. One area where I can’t simply duplicate what you’ve done is my room so I’m glad you listed suitability of the room. Our rooms are quite different in part because my L+R are much further apart and my LP up against the “back” wall. Is it even possible to get excellent multichannel in my living room? What are the inherent difficulties you’ve overcome or minimized in your room setup?

Well lacking a circuit/control to vary/narrow the stereo spread (I almost bought a refurbished Apt preamp from the 70's with the feature) I will try various center channel configurations both summed L+R at various volumes relative to the main pair as pseudo 3 channel stereo and as a center in 5.1 mixes.

I ordered 4 of the big AMTs the other day :0) hopefully they wont' be back-ordered. Picking up a 33 year old pair of Cornwall "1.5s" tonight on a local CL sale. It will be fun to experiment with Cornwall stock surrounds Cornwall AMT surrounds Cornwall Stock center channel between K402 blends in living room and basement Cornwall AMT center channel Would the AMTs be worthwhile trying on top of the K402s perhaps augmenting the TADs or BMS full range or rolling them off and running the AMTs in the highest octaves?

I must say up front that I've never heard Jubilees. I already had 1990 Khorns which I had modded and enjoyed for years when I went K402 on top recently. I Initially dialed them in with Chris' help going active with a Xilica 4080 and amps I already had driving the Khorn bass bins and BMS 4592 NDs (coaxial) on top as a 3 way. I have never before experienced that great a leap in performance of a system in the same room! The wide open, dynamic, "live" sound of the K402 has to be heard and my Khorn bass bins have never sounded near this good. Together they have a cohesiveness that is addictive. You could go much of the way on this road with about $2200 for the K402/K691/stand set and about $900 for the Xilica. Use 4 lower powered/ lower gain (or adjustable) amp channels that you may already have for a 2 way active setup and prepare to be launched into a new level. Don't shy away from the calibrated mic and REW software needed to dial these blends in for your room. I'll walk you through that part if you like and Chris can help with the Parametric EQ to apply in the Xilica software.

Thanks for the guidance on drivers for the FH-1s. I ordered a coupla 15c from PE. Chris suspects a polarity issue is effecting our measurements so we're working on that.

So I'll be looking for compatible surround speakers for both my living room setup with K402/TAD/Khorn L+R and the HT setup with K402/BMS4592ND/Peavey FH-1 L+R. Should I be looking into used Cornwalls? At least buying 2 pair of these tweeters while on sale? I get that they need some room to breathe. The only thing better would be...?...K402 MEH?

HeHe, that's the $3500 dollar question isn't it? I certainly had a chance to compare them well tuned through the Xilica by Chris not at the same time but in sequence - first the BMS active 3 way on the Khorn bins (no BMS passive mid/tweet network connected) for a couple weeks then the TAD beryllium 2-way through the same source, pre-pro, Xilica and amps. The cynic or purist might say that such a comparison is obscured or even invalidated by the extra A/D-D/A conversion of the Xilica or its inherent sound imprint or my poor choice of cables or all 3. I'm not saying that :0) I will say that my goal is highs that are well integrated with the music (don't call attention to themselves - as in -"listen to those highs!") Highs that are true to the recording (e.g. piercing if the recording is, sibilant if the recording is, well balanced and revealing of treble instrument timbre - if the recording is) I'm aware that I'm probably in a transition period of training my mind/ear to be satisfied with less hyped high frequencies (happening whether I like it or not as I age) In the "wouldn't it be nice" department I'd like a soundscape that frequently has "air" - that elusive sense that the performers are in my room or I've been transported to the venue. In the recent sequence of listening the TADs approached these goals best. I'm looking forward to tuning the BMS in the HT room trying both passive xover and full 3 way active.

Here's some initial pics of the K402 BMS 4592ND Peavey FH-1s in the HT/mancave. Still got the old Acarian Alon center in there for some reason. Xilica 8080 over on the floor on the left temporarily and an Anthem MCA525 five channel amp. Unlike when they were on the Khorn bass bins, I'm running the BMS 4592NDs with their passive mid to tweet xover, so, just 2 way out of the Xilica.

This blend now with K402/TAD and Khorn bass has a lot going for it. I often like the "widescreen" effect I get with them on the living room long wall but sometimes even with the K402's wide coverage I sense a "retreat" in the middle if not an outright hole. There's no way to have a K402 MEH in the fireplace so what about a circuit that will allow me to vary stereo spread? I know there have been preamps with this feature. Can it be added and be fairly transparent?

I’m investigating. Will be more detailed soon

😜

It has sometimes occurred to me that the best system would be like a chameleon - true to the recording and the music whether it was soothing, grating, agitating, inspiring or (insert adjective here). Not sure I have ever encountered such a system or whether I would want to listen to it for long never mind own it given the apparent dismal state of mastering Chris describes. It seems I could do with some ear "retraining" and so no longer crave the audio "junk food" of music mastered for earbuds and car stereos.