markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
Some time ago, when DTS and DD audio mixes were first taking off, I gathered some up and checked them out with my modest HT system (a Marantz receiver into an Athena Micra 6 system). I thought it was okay, but not great. As this system was always satisfactory for me with TV, I assumed it was the medium that was "just okay". It never dawned on me that it was my speakers.
I just finished putting together a new system that still fit my tiny space requirements, but is sounding MUCH larger. I went to a Chinese restaurant (of all places to audition gear) and they had a pair of B&W Rock Solid monitors on the wall. I enjoyed my food, but I really enjoyed the music. I couldn't believe what they did for their size. I kept looking around for the sub. So I came home and did some research and found that they were just smaller than the space I had to put them in. I also found out that there was a center channel speaker in the series. So I went about finding two pairs and the center, all the while wondering if my experience in the restaurant was an anomaly or if I would be as impressed in my living room.
I had an old Velodyne 100 watt sub that was going to replace the tiny Micra 6 sub, but as I was buying satellites, I got a call from a very kind and generous friend. He had been trying for a while to sell an EmpTek 1010i, and had no takers. Finally he got sick of having it in his garage, so he called me and told me I could take it and flip it. I answered that I would gladly take it, but would much rather use it than flip it. He seemed pleased with that.
The source and amp are an Oppo DV-980H that I was lucky enough to get cheap last summer and my Denon receiver which sounds great but is overly complicated to set up. Wrestling with it was the only negative in this whole experience.
So, last weekend I finally got a free day to mount everything and tune the system. Did it meet my expectations? It exceeded them in every way! I am just thrilled with how musical this combo is. It really packs a punch well above it's size. The EmpTek (which some home theater guys pan because it "only" goes down to 25Hz) is incredibly musical and it reaches up high enough to play nicely with tiny satellites. The Rock Solids are articulate and balanced without being the least bit fatiguing.
I've been listening to two or three surround albums a night. Anything I can get my hands on. DVD-A, SACD, Blu-Ray, DTS copies of old quad rips. I've been having a blast. I'm behind on my sleep but I haven't enjoyed listening to music this much in quite some time. I know at some point the new car smell will wear off, but right now this is just too much fun!
I just finished putting together a new system that still fit my tiny space requirements, but is sounding MUCH larger. I went to a Chinese restaurant (of all places to audition gear) and they had a pair of B&W Rock Solid monitors on the wall. I enjoyed my food, but I really enjoyed the music. I couldn't believe what they did for their size. I kept looking around for the sub. So I came home and did some research and found that they were just smaller than the space I had to put them in. I also found out that there was a center channel speaker in the series. So I went about finding two pairs and the center, all the while wondering if my experience in the restaurant was an anomaly or if I would be as impressed in my living room.
I had an old Velodyne 100 watt sub that was going to replace the tiny Micra 6 sub, but as I was buying satellites, I got a call from a very kind and generous friend. He had been trying for a while to sell an EmpTek 1010i, and had no takers. Finally he got sick of having it in his garage, so he called me and told me I could take it and flip it. I answered that I would gladly take it, but would much rather use it than flip it. He seemed pleased with that.
The source and amp are an Oppo DV-980H that I was lucky enough to get cheap last summer and my Denon receiver which sounds great but is overly complicated to set up. Wrestling with it was the only negative in this whole experience.
So, last weekend I finally got a free day to mount everything and tune the system. Did it meet my expectations? It exceeded them in every way! I am just thrilled with how musical this combo is. It really packs a punch well above it's size. The EmpTek (which some home theater guys pan because it "only" goes down to 25Hz) is incredibly musical and it reaches up high enough to play nicely with tiny satellites. The Rock Solids are articulate and balanced without being the least bit fatiguing.
I've been listening to two or three surround albums a night. Anything I can get my hands on. DVD-A, SACD, Blu-Ray, DTS copies of old quad rips. I've been having a blast. I'm behind on my sleep but I haven't enjoyed listening to music this much in quite some time. I know at some point the new car smell will wear off, but right now this is just too much fun!