Living room audio system...

[snickelfritz]

I've been a confirmed audio nut since 1978, when I saw my first live rock concert. (ZZTop, Fandango/Tejas Tour IIRC)
I've owned at least a dozen very decent audio systems since then, but have yet to find one that could create a plausible facsimile of that experience.

My current system is somewhat of a compromise in terms of component selection, but I don't have the space for both a Home Theater and a dedicated 2-channel system, and I love being assaulted by DTS blockbusters!.
Maybe someday, I'll convert my workshop into a dedicated audio room with two little chairs, a small table and no TV!!!

DIY cables made from four lengths of CAT5; sounds almost as good as 12g zip!

Bullet-proof Kevlar cone and bullet-shaped phase plug. hmm...

View from back wall of room.

Component list:
Denon 3802 HT receiver
Adcom 5800 Power amp (this amp seriously RAWKS!)
Panamax 5300 AC conditioner
Marantz 6200 DVD
B&W CDM 9NT main speakers
B&W LM1 surround speakers (on the floor pointing at the walls; good surround effect)
Paradigm C450 Center speaker
Paradigm Servo-15 subwoofer (awesome sub, behind the TV where it belongs)

Wall behind system is treated with mid-high, upper-bass, and mid-upper-bass absorbers I built from Ethan Winer's design, and the component rack is also something I built from my own design.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Very nice. I can picture a new 50" Pioneer Elite Plasma in that mix someday. What's up with the walls? Are those window shades, or acoustic panels? I like them. Kudos to you for the DIY speaker cables.

 

[Spiffyfast]

Very nice system, looks like it would be great for some of those DTS Blockbusters, I just recently learned about the advantages of DTS and its comething I look at when I buy movies now.

 

[Spiffyfast]

Forgot to add great job on the speaker wire, cat 5 is so cheap I might have to think about using that for my front 3 mains, looks really cool too.

 

[snickelfritz]

Thanks.

The wall is an acoustic treatment.
The wood panels are sealed bass traps (bass hits panel; panel vibrates; vibration is damped and absorbed by internal 703 and box airspring).
The cloth covered traps in the center have an exposed layer of 2" 703 for mid-high absorption.
The cloth section is like a sonic black hole; weird aural sensation standing next to it.

The DIY cables are from a recipe I found in an article.
The electrical measurements were very good, and I had about 500' of CAT5 and some free time...

Interestingly, my local dealer tried to sell me a 50" Pioneer plasma a few days ago.
Nice TV. Nice price tag. ouch!

BTW, I connected my PC to this system when I played Doom3 for the first time; 5.1 audio is amazing in videogames.
My next gaming PC is going to be based on this aluminum Ahanix case: