The ROOM is the final frontier as in Star Trek.

It is the single biggest factor in great or bad sound next to poor setup.

I have an average room but get a reasonable sound.

I've heard mediocre systems sound incredible in great rooms and $100k systems in poor rooms sound terrible no matter what we did.

I have yet to go down this road but sound traps etc are worth investigating.

I've decided I will have to build my golden sound room. Very few domestic dwellings are good for sound.

High ceilings are worth going for especially in older places. I've found higher is better even in smaller rooms (3 metres or higher).

The best are WBT Nextgen but cost accordingly in my view. Use like with like. WBT Nextgen RCA plug with Nextgen socket.

I have tried Eichman but they are not robust I"m on my second set of speaker terminals, the plastic is not strong enough for heavy bare wire terminations or on the banana plugs. 

I've just upgraded from the original WBT RCA's to Gold Nextgens and you can hear the difference easily. These are rated at 75ohm for those wanting to use as digital RCA connections. Be aware a lot of RCA's are not 75ohm.

In my setup I definitely prefer battery power to AC on my laptop.

Its not a large diference but is slightly warmer and smoother, less noise.

For critical listening always use battery from full power.

Remember to run battery right down before recharging helps preserve battery life which seems to be about as long as the warranty lasts.

I do run the same length cables but its not a major issue as long as its not very long lengths. I would try it with what ever you have got to start with.

No power drain but you are running the bass signal through a second amp(Sub). I think the integration advantage far out ways the disadvantage of the signal running through the second sub amp.

Mine is crossed over at 40hz now volume at 12 oclock. This will not have any relevance to your setup.

This site shows what I have done and also the reason I bought these subs over the REL's: http://www.10audio.com/jlaudio_f112.htm

Robert

Definitely try running subs from amplifier outputs. Read up on how REL connect subs(www.sumikoaudio.net/rel/manuals/REL-SET-UP.doc). This means you run your loudspeakers full range from pre-amp/power amp and subs from the amp outputs which is the same signal as the mains get.

It does help to better integrate subs with main speakers.

Your subs need to be active and have adjustable crossover points and volume. It takes some practice to get these correct over time.

I've upgraded to Young driver and it definitely is an improvement over standard drivers for Hiface.

Stick with that but you need to work slowly through XXhighend settings. It takes time and listening to sort.

Try one setting at a time and give yourself a week unless it is very obvious. I've been running engine 3 for 3 months and only just changed to engine 4.

Bearing in mind that XXhighend can deliver a sound that requires speakers to be repositioned, subs to be recalibrated or equipment short comings!!! etc.

Hi Peter I've now connected my subs via the amplifier outputs. I had to make up a voltage divider to reduce output. Sub settings have all changed now.
I agree with you there is a better synergy of sound now. I'm running the subs crossed over at 40hz.
This is very similiar to the Rel connections I use to run.
I also have to report the Young Hitech software is better than the standard software and worked fine in my setup. I've also tweaked Benchmark some more.
All adding up to a major sound improvement overall.
Thanks for your input.

I thought I would put this out there. This is going to be available as a digital download presumably 16/44 Flac. I've already asked this question on Leonard's official site but no one knows or has bothered to answer.

Will this be available in 24/96 or 192? Because it should be.

I've already downloaded a flac version 16/44 from some site on the web and it was better than the Canadian stream which I thought for a stream was pretty good.

What I have so far is a superb sounding collection of tracks very skillfully recorded.

I went to his live concert and heard one of the best live sounds, in a hard to get sound right, venue. His backing musicians/singers are outstanding and a pleasure to hear live.

Thoroughly recommend this new album some of which he did play live at the concert ie: Banjo.

Even we have at least three users in New Zealand(4 million people here) to my knowledge!!!

I will come and visit you when I'm next in Europe.

Just waiting for the recession to pass!!!!!

I'm in love with XXhighend myself and havn't got the Phasure yet, can't imagine the better sound to come.

Did you install these one at a time and listen or did you perform all and listened?

I'm particularly interested in the use of the Young Hiface driver on your Hiface M2. Is this correct?

I can't find much evidence of the Young driver being better that's clear and used with W7.

I use a Benchmark 24/192 similiar to your dac.

God I can't believe this story with all that's been written already, 30 seconds probably 2 seconds in reality to hear the difference. You know it when you hear it instantly. But you always have to do it again to prove your ears weren't faulty.

This is a tall order for any Hi-Fi software or hardware. Unfortunately it will not overcome any major room issues.

The room is a whole separate topic and compromise unless you are lucky or have built one especially. You can of course attempt to tame a room by various means documented online.

The room is no less, a very large part of the end resulting sound.

Just buy XXhighend, that's what I did after playing with the demo for an hour and work from there. Its not an easy road but it does work consistently in my system and is improving all the time as I learn more.

Start with what you have even Foobar so you can get your head around this new scene. Foobar is better than CD playback and is where I started.
As you gain confidence you can try different things.

I went from Foobar to J River(demo) to XXhighend. Each was a step up in SQ. In fact the demo XXhighend was noticeably better than both but I found tricky to operate so bought the software and then you start on another steep learning curve which I have to say doesn't stop and I'm only a beginner.

The potential for an improved sound with XXhighend is huge and ultimately matching with the NOS1 Dac is the goal plus putting together a dedicated PC. I've yet to attain these last two. And live in wonder at the further sound improvements to be had.

My current sound over Christmas with my tweaked XXhighend has been a revelation. I'm hearing a natural, easy, precise dynamic sound like I have never heard on my system ever. I'm listening to old ripped CD's that I discarded as not good enough to listen to in there entirety.

Amazing whats on those CD's that we still havn't heard yet?

Case in point why are these flac files not 24/96. I see from there web site CD quality stated, so one can assume 16/44.

You pose an interesting question. Of all I've downloaded only one stands out to me Miles Davis-Tutu from HD Soundtracks USA in 24/96. It definitely is a big improvement over the CD and vinyl both of which I own plus I heard this live when Miles did his world tour to promote this album. One of the best concerts ever for me.

Unfortunately there is so little music that I like in hi-res which has always been a problem with so called audiophile recordings. Friends that have these tend to use them to demo or show off there systems, feel the bass, imaging etc. They are not particularly interested in the music only as a tool.

I agree that some of the older recordings in red book are excellent played back but I also love the music warts and all.

I'm very disappointed for example Pink Floyd recently remastered all there albums at 24/192 but publicly these were released on 16/44 CD's or if you bought the boxed set you got a blu ray with 24/96 on it which Chris Connaker(Computer Audiophile) recently ripped to hard drive. Why are these not available for downloads at a price I'd be happy to pay. The 24/192 must sound amazing.

Bjork's latest album Biophilia download is available from her site in WAVE wow! but only 16/44. Why not offer 24/96?

Part of the problem is record companies still have not got there head around this whole download situation and we as audiophiles are still a very small part of the market less than 1%. Lets face it MP3's have replaced CD's and the urgency to provide high res is minimal. 

Recording studios are another whole issue. This is a small piece from Barry Ober The Sound Doctor JL Audio who has extensive experience with studios:


This is a piece from connecting subwoofers to systems http://www.soundoctor.com/whitepapers/subs.htm  but this bit on recording I find depressing reading.

Its still early days though and hopefully more high res stuff will become available. I personally think the artists need to take over and offer them directly. Potentially 24/96/192 is amazing and a big step up from 16/44.