South Florida Residents
- Thread starter masterlu
- Start date
Just a gentle reminder: AK requires all members to treat each other with basic respect. Whether you like this invitation or hate it, you don't get to ridicule it, or any member.
Now, everyone please play nicely, and we're back to our regular programming...
Now, everyone please play nicely, and we're back to our regular programming...
Thank you my friends, glad everyone has put this in perspective. It is after all about Mac & our love for music/movies. For me the bug has bitten so bad, that I simply wanted to push the envelope as far as current technology would allow. It has been a true labor of love; time, effort & money (lots of it). My Theater took over two years to get it where it is today. My Dealer, McIntosh, & I are darn proud of it.
Sorry for the ramble
Sorry for the ramble
Here is a thread with some older pics, many new pieces & upgrades added since then.
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54726
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54726
I did not intend a personal attack. I am sure those who are qualified to attend will have a great time, and get to hear and see some stunning, top-flight equipment. I merely thought that since this seemed to be a dealer sponsored event, that the post should have been in a different forum. I over-reacted and I was wrong.
My apologies to all involved.
Regards,
Ken
My apologies to all involved.
Regards,
Ken
Sneak Peak Preview Review
A little less than 2 weeks ago, Masterlu was gracious enough to give me a "sneak peek preview" of the upcoming McIntosh demo that he'll be hosting at his house. The rest of this post, then, would be a "sneak peek preview review" of my visit with him.
Before I get into my visit, I would like to comment about the Toymaster's invitation to attend his upcoming demo session. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that McIntosh is using this as a way to sell some mega-buck systems to some potential clients who have the money to spend on such a system. Think about it. How many dealers have $500K+ to invest in a single demo system (floorplanning $250K+ of equipment at 8% is $20K+ per year just in interest carrying costs), let alone what Masterlu has done with his? If McIntosh wants to sell some big-buck systems which are based on the whole line of 1K/2K components, what better place to do it than in the tricked out home theater of someone who has put together a system where performance is primary and cost is secondary? If I were the one with the megabucks system and the idea of McIntosh using my home to sell their systems came up, I'd also say "Sure, but you provide the chip and dip." In terms of wheeled transportation, I showed up in our rented Chevy Impala. We briefly chatted about old muscle cars vs. foreign exotics because I have an old Mustang Cobra Jet ragtop, but there was never any comment about what I had rented down here. For those who feel that "the rich are different", some may be and I can see the Trump's as having that attitude, but some simply use their money to enjoy the finer things in life. I found the Toymaster to be exactly that - a guy who enjoys his toys and has the means to do so, but who is otherwise gracious and low-key. Anyway - let's get back to the topic of McIntosh. If you can make it to the McIntosh demo at his house, it will be worth the trip.
Prior to my heading down for the demo, Masterlu warned me that my visit would seriously alter my perception of what an audio/home theater system could be and that his theater would in all probability "change my viewing/listening habits for life". Lemme tell ya - he ain't kidding! So - where to start?
First, walking into the theater, it really doesn't look like much. By that I mean it doesn't look like it's an audio/home theater system that's about to shatter your perception of what a really good system sounds like. All of the electronics are housed in a custom entertainment center at one end of the room and, with the doors all closed, it just looks like a big entertainment center. You simply don't see most of the McIntosh equipment. It's a little hard to hide the XRT2K speakers, but the MC2KW's are stacked in back of the XRT2K's so they don't really jump out at you Physically the XRT2K's look rather sleek so it's not as if you have some of the really huge exotic, megabuck speakers sitting there which say - "I'm an expensive pair of speakers and I'm big!" Given the ceiling height, general room size and muted lighting levels, the initial impression of the equipment plant is "custom and big, but not overpowering." The surround speakers are all wall mounted and really look like they're part of the room's columnar decor. Next, the entertainment center doors are opened up, that master "power on" button is hit and - relay click after relay click - the system starts turning itself on. One after another those famous McIntosh blue eyes start to wake up and wink at you, slyly hinting at what's about to come.
We started with straight 2-channel audio, running off of the MS300, through the MDA1000, into the C1000 and off into the "powerplant" of McIntosh amps. We started with some jazz (there's lots of that in Masterlu's collection) at moderate listening levels. The soundstage and presence were amazing, even at low listening levels. Still, the powerplant's meters were hardly budging from their rest stops and I had this sense of the system's yawning a bit, sort of like a Ferrari warming up by gently accelerating away from a stop light. The Toymaster started pushing the volume up, watching to see if I was going to clap my hands over my ears, until we were running up around 110-115 db. That's the loudest he typically runs the system at because of "threshold shift", when the ear starts to suffer damage (you might have had temporary damage as a ringing in your ears from too loud a concert). Sure, that listening level was "loud", but there is a phenomonal difference between music played at live levels with the distortion that normally accompanies such levels and hearing the music at that level, yet replicated in an effortless, clean and distortionless manner. The system presents a wall of sound that's clear, detailed and dynamic, yet it doesn't seem heavy. Years ago I heard McIntosh speakers and thought they were dull, boomy, lifeless and just generally bad-sounding. Well, with apologies to Oldsmobile, these aren't your father's McIntosh's. Playing some big band music through the system, again at varying levels up to live, the system made it seem as if we were on the dance floor and there was a row of saxes and horns right in front of you. Close your eyes and you could almost see the players in their sequined vests.
Switching electronics, we moved to SACD and surround running through a MX135 to drive the powerplant. The first cut was Pink Floyd's Money. Right off, the clarity and staging of the cash register sounds is jaw-dropping, but the opening bass notes were clearer and deeper than anything I've ever heard. I'd swear that you could hear the bass guitar strings vibrating on some of the deep notes. The demo continued with similar superlative examples of what the system can do. It's really something to be listening to sound that clear and have more blue meters dancing away than you can count on your fingers and toes combined.
Part way through the demo, Masterlu's McIntosh dealer stopped by for a visit. In between things, Alan told me that the Toymaster's system is one of the top 5 installations in the country. I believe it.
Most of the demo was straight audio, but the Toymaster and his family frequently use the system for movies. There's a reason for that. This system puts any commercial movie theater you've been in to shame. The components used are the MVP861 - MX135 - powerplant. The reasons for the audio portion of the movie being excellent are pretty obvious, but Masterlu's put in a truly superlative video system to match the McIntosh electronics. I've never seen a crisper picture nor better contrast - blacker blacks, whiter whites (sounds like a laundry detergent ad, doesn't it?). He threw in Master & Commander and went to the early battle scene. It was typical 1700's warfare with cannons booming and cannon balls crunching through the ships. We felt the movie as well as heard it and that wasn't from any of those cheapie vibrating seats. You would have testified in court that you were on the ship. Any closer with the cannon balls hitting and you would have wet your pants. Even during the very demanding parts of the movie, the system never once seemed to be even close to approaching its dynamic limits.
So, what did I learn from the demo and how will it affect my system? Well, I won't be running out to buy a pair of the XRT2K's. At $90-100K they're the price of a new car (a Mercedes S-class at that) and I really need a new car. Besides, at 450 pounds each, the floor of my second floor listening room probably wouldn't hold them. I also question what a pair of those would sound like in my little 10'x12' room. I will give some of the XRT series speakers a listen to. McIntosh claims, and reviews seem to support their claim, that the line array really makes a huge difference in dispersion. If the soundstage of the smaller XRT's is anything like the XRT2K's, that could be a huge advantage in overcoming poor listening room acoustics and speaker placement restrictions. I had pretty much decided awhile ago that I'd go for a MDA1000 D/A Convertor for the system and that's still true. One thing that was clear about Masterlu's system was the advantage of having LOTS of power available to drive the system. At no point was there ever a sign of distortion and the ability to play at the decibel levels we were running at - and have it be enjoyable - has to be partly from the dynamic power available from bi/tri-amping. Do I need MC2KW's? Nope. Do I have the amperage to drive a set of those plus the rest of the system and run the rest of our house? Nope. Will I consider adding another set of MC501's or, if I upgrade my speakers, MC1201's and biamp the system? Yes. Finally, I'll consider upgrading the C200 to the C1000 set, mostly because I think it'll hold it's value better over the long term.
Driving home, about 10 minutes after I'd left Masterlu's, Money came on the radio. Somehow it just didn't sound the same anymore.
Rob
A little less than 2 weeks ago, Masterlu was gracious enough to give me a "sneak peek preview" of the upcoming McIntosh demo that he'll be hosting at his house. The rest of this post, then, would be a "sneak peek preview review" of my visit with him.
Before I get into my visit, I would like to comment about the Toymaster's invitation to attend his upcoming demo session. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that McIntosh is using this as a way to sell some mega-buck systems to some potential clients who have the money to spend on such a system. Think about it. How many dealers have $500K+ to invest in a single demo system (floorplanning $250K+ of equipment at 8% is $20K+ per year just in interest carrying costs), let alone what Masterlu has done with his? If McIntosh wants to sell some big-buck systems which are based on the whole line of 1K/2K components, what better place to do it than in the tricked out home theater of someone who has put together a system where performance is primary and cost is secondary? If I were the one with the megabucks system and the idea of McIntosh using my home to sell their systems came up, I'd also say "Sure, but you provide the chip and dip." In terms of wheeled transportation, I showed up in our rented Chevy Impala. We briefly chatted about old muscle cars vs. foreign exotics because I have an old Mustang Cobra Jet ragtop, but there was never any comment about what I had rented down here. For those who feel that "the rich are different", some may be and I can see the Trump's as having that attitude, but some simply use their money to enjoy the finer things in life. I found the Toymaster to be exactly that - a guy who enjoys his toys and has the means to do so, but who is otherwise gracious and low-key. Anyway - let's get back to the topic of McIntosh. If you can make it to the McIntosh demo at his house, it will be worth the trip.
Prior to my heading down for the demo, Masterlu warned me that my visit would seriously alter my perception of what an audio/home theater system could be and that his theater would in all probability "change my viewing/listening habits for life". Lemme tell ya - he ain't kidding! So - where to start?
First, walking into the theater, it really doesn't look like much. By that I mean it doesn't look like it's an audio/home theater system that's about to shatter your perception of what a really good system sounds like. All of the electronics are housed in a custom entertainment center at one end of the room and, with the doors all closed, it just looks like a big entertainment center. You simply don't see most of the McIntosh equipment. It's a little hard to hide the XRT2K speakers, but the MC2KW's are stacked in back of the XRT2K's so they don't really jump out at you Physically the XRT2K's look rather sleek so it's not as if you have some of the really huge exotic, megabuck speakers sitting there which say - "I'm an expensive pair of speakers and I'm big!" Given the ceiling height, general room size and muted lighting levels, the initial impression of the equipment plant is "custom and big, but not overpowering." The surround speakers are all wall mounted and really look like they're part of the room's columnar decor. Next, the entertainment center doors are opened up, that master "power on" button is hit and - relay click after relay click - the system starts turning itself on. One after another those famous McIntosh blue eyes start to wake up and wink at you, slyly hinting at what's about to come.
We started with straight 2-channel audio, running off of the MS300, through the MDA1000, into the C1000 and off into the "powerplant" of McIntosh amps. We started with some jazz (there's lots of that in Masterlu's collection) at moderate listening levels. The soundstage and presence were amazing, even at low listening levels. Still, the powerplant's meters were hardly budging from their rest stops and I had this sense of the system's yawning a bit, sort of like a Ferrari warming up by gently accelerating away from a stop light. The Toymaster started pushing the volume up, watching to see if I was going to clap my hands over my ears, until we were running up around 110-115 db. That's the loudest he typically runs the system at because of "threshold shift", when the ear starts to suffer damage (you might have had temporary damage as a ringing in your ears from too loud a concert). Sure, that listening level was "loud", but there is a phenomonal difference between music played at live levels with the distortion that normally accompanies such levels and hearing the music at that level, yet replicated in an effortless, clean and distortionless manner. The system presents a wall of sound that's clear, detailed and dynamic, yet it doesn't seem heavy. Years ago I heard McIntosh speakers and thought they were dull, boomy, lifeless and just generally bad-sounding. Well, with apologies to Oldsmobile, these aren't your father's McIntosh's. Playing some big band music through the system, again at varying levels up to live, the system made it seem as if we were on the dance floor and there was a row of saxes and horns right in front of you. Close your eyes and you could almost see the players in their sequined vests.
Switching electronics, we moved to SACD and surround running through a MX135 to drive the powerplant. The first cut was Pink Floyd's Money. Right off, the clarity and staging of the cash register sounds is jaw-dropping, but the opening bass notes were clearer and deeper than anything I've ever heard. I'd swear that you could hear the bass guitar strings vibrating on some of the deep notes. The demo continued with similar superlative examples of what the system can do. It's really something to be listening to sound that clear and have more blue meters dancing away than you can count on your fingers and toes combined.
Part way through the demo, Masterlu's McIntosh dealer stopped by for a visit. In between things, Alan told me that the Toymaster's system is one of the top 5 installations in the country. I believe it.
Most of the demo was straight audio, but the Toymaster and his family frequently use the system for movies. There's a reason for that. This system puts any commercial movie theater you've been in to shame. The components used are the MVP861 - MX135 - powerplant. The reasons for the audio portion of the movie being excellent are pretty obvious, but Masterlu's put in a truly superlative video system to match the McIntosh electronics. I've never seen a crisper picture nor better contrast - blacker blacks, whiter whites (sounds like a laundry detergent ad, doesn't it?). He threw in Master & Commander and went to the early battle scene. It was typical 1700's warfare with cannons booming and cannon balls crunching through the ships. We felt the movie as well as heard it and that wasn't from any of those cheapie vibrating seats. You would have testified in court that you were on the ship. Any closer with the cannon balls hitting and you would have wet your pants. Even during the very demanding parts of the movie, the system never once seemed to be even close to approaching its dynamic limits.
So, what did I learn from the demo and how will it affect my system? Well, I won't be running out to buy a pair of the XRT2K's. At $90-100K they're the price of a new car (a Mercedes S-class at that) and I really need a new car. Besides, at 450 pounds each, the floor of my second floor listening room probably wouldn't hold them. I also question what a pair of those would sound like in my little 10'x12' room. I will give some of the XRT series speakers a listen to. McIntosh claims, and reviews seem to support their claim, that the line array really makes a huge difference in dispersion. If the soundstage of the smaller XRT's is anything like the XRT2K's, that could be a huge advantage in overcoming poor listening room acoustics and speaker placement restrictions. I had pretty much decided awhile ago that I'd go for a MDA1000 D/A Convertor for the system and that's still true. One thing that was clear about Masterlu's system was the advantage of having LOTS of power available to drive the system. At no point was there ever a sign of distortion and the ability to play at the decibel levels we were running at - and have it be enjoyable - has to be partly from the dynamic power available from bi/tri-amping. Do I need MC2KW's? Nope. Do I have the amperage to drive a set of those plus the rest of the system and run the rest of our house? Nope. Will I consider adding another set of MC501's or, if I upgrade my speakers, MC1201's and biamp the system? Yes. Finally, I'll consider upgrading the C200 to the C1000 set, mostly because I think it'll hold it's value better over the long term.
Driving home, about 10 minutes after I'd left Masterlu's, Money came on the radio. Somehow it just didn't sound the same anymore.
Rob
Last edited:
Jesse Garron
You may know my brother
Nice writeup, Rob. What is (are) the projector(s) in this pad, anyway?
Thanks,
JG
Thanks,
JG
Jesse Garron
You may know my brother
Sweeet.
You are a person of taste!
You are a person of taste!
