Multiroom Audio for the Workday

[damacman]

Shop - MA6200 / MR75 / DefTech AW6500s
Common Area - C200 / MC2600s / Sansui TU-9900 / XRT22s
Shipping Station - MC2500* (via spkr2 of C200) / Mission Bookshelves
Loft - biamp SCM7600 / Ashley XR-1001 > MC2300 & Crown K2 / MR78 / Polk RTA-15TLs & 18" Subwoofers

In the AM, we do Holmberg on KUPD (my production manager is the fan . . . I could take it or leave it . . .) From then on, we stream Sirius or Tidal. Today, it was 1st Wave and the joint was rockin' all day. As in, throbbing. That's most days. Everyone has a smile on their face and work gets done. Our biggest challenge is keeping music playing that everyone likes at that moment.

I use a McIntosh D150 as the main hub from the loft PC. It's output is streamed via WiFi (via the iPad) to WiFi zone receivers in all four locations. We use (5) Klipsch Gates for such - one being a transmitter. Although I detest the PlayFi foundation, it works great most days.

I have four spare amps - (3) 2500, and (1) 2300 - at the moment, but when we move that will not be so.

*A wee bit overkill . . . but it seems I'm short on 50wpc power amps . . .

 

[dinov]

I love the D150, a great DAC. Have one for years now.

 

[damacman]

I love the D150, a great DAC. Have one for years now.

Bought mine right here in BT. Great onboard headphone preamp as well. I really like it.

 

[RD Airlines]

Man! I’d just like one mc2500. Have my mc7270 for the office, now need to find that mc2500 for a second bigger system.

a mc2500 running Mission bookshelves! I used to be a big Mission fan back in the 90s. I still have a set of the tiny 751s. What model are your Missions?

great systems btw!

 

[damacman]

Man! I’d just like one mc2500. Have my mc7270 for the office, now need to find that mc2500 for a second bigger system.

a mc2500 running Mission bookshelves! I used to be a big Mission fan back in the 90s. I still have a set of the tiny 751s. What model are your Missions?

great systems btw!

These dudes ... damn if I can find a model number on them ...

7270s are sweet amps too!

 

[RD Airlines]

Very cool!
I’d probably jump on a pair of mission 752 or 753s but I’ve become a JBL collector now. Loving the JBL MCIntosh combination leading me to want to match a pair of my large format JBLs to a high watt McIntosh.
You seem to be the high-watt McIntosh whisperer and have a way of finding these MC2300-2600. Save some for the rest of us!! Lol. JK. Keep that collection going!

 

[damacman]

Very cool!
I’d probably jump on a pair of mission 752 or 753s but I’ve become a JBL collector now. Loving the JBL MCIntosh combination leading me to want to match a pair of my large format JBLs to a high watt McIntosh.
You seem to be the high-watt McIntosh whisperer and have a way of finding these MC2300-2600. Save some for the rest of us!! Lol. JK. Keep that collection going!

Lots of AKers message me when they see them for sale … I typically say, Man I’m good! But then I fold like a cheap suit …

 

[Bill Ferris]

I use a McIntosh D150 as the main hub from the loft PC. It's output is streamed via WiFi (via the iPad) to WiFi zone receivers in all four locations. We use (5) Klipsch Gates for such - one being a transmitter. Although I detest the PlayFi foundation, it works great most days.

You wish to remain wireless for your audio source(s distribution to the remote audio systems ?

As you may, or may not remember, my 6 rooms of my house is inexpensively hard wired for the flawless distribution of my living rooms A/V rack`s audio sources, utilizing Cat 6E cable and quality passive baluns that provide very HQ distribution of any audio sent to them, and being that Cat cabling is balanced, there are zero ground loop hum, or cycled power devices click, pop noise such as a air compressor, fridge, water pump, or HAVC, or lighting on any of the remote stereos powered by different power circuits from the A/V racks power grounds difference.

And all engaged stereo systems fed playing all day music or the evening`s 2 channel TV audio, are reliable and always perfectly in sync with each other.
No issues, failures since I had my house`s audio and video distribution hard wired in this manner since 2009.
I designed and engineered it, and because my physical disability, I had to pay my local A/V vendor to run and certify the cabling`s performance for mostly the 1080P video runs, or I would have done that myself.

Just a suggestive thought about real world experience with this ultra HQ type system, damacman.

 

[damacman]

You wish to remain wireless for your audio source(s distribution to the remote audio systems ?

As you may, or may not remember, my 6 rooms of my house is inexpensively hard wired for the flawless distribution of my living rooms A/V rack`s audio sources, utilizing Cat 6E cable and quality passive baluns that provide very HQ distribution of any audio sent to them, and being that Cat cabling is balanced, there are zero ground loop hum, or cycled power devices click, pop noise such as a air compressor, fridge, water pump, or HAVC, or lighting on any of the remote stereos powered by different power circuits from the A/V racks power grounds difference.

And all engaged stereo systems fed playing all day music or the evening`s 2 channel TV audio, are reliable and always perfectly in sync with each other.
No issues, failures since I had my house`s audio and video distribution hard wired in this manner since 2009.
I designed and engineered it, and because my physical disability, I had to pay my local A/V vendor to run and certify the cabling`s performance for mostly the 1080P video runs, or I would have done that myself.

Just a suggestive thought about real world experience with this ultra HQ type system, damacman.

I would much prefer that for all the reasons you outline. It's just a time thing Bill ... two houses ago, I invested it. Now, I work 6 day weeks as a business owner. We have a Cat5 home run to a panel in the utility room, but not all zones are represented.

One of the reasons I use the D150 / gate the way I do is to eliminate the 3sec delay for that zone which is inevitable when transmitting / receiving wirelessly to the others.

So, this is a relatively decent compromise. With a web based source, your down when it's down anyway.

 

[Bill Ferris]

I would much prefer that for all the reasons you outline. It's just a time thing Bill ... two houses ago, I invested it. Now, I work 6 day weeks as a business owner. We have a Cat5 home run to a panel in the utility room, but not all zones are represented.

One of the reasons I use the D150 / gate the way I do is to eliminate the 3sec delay for that zone which is inevitable when transmitting / receiving wirelessly to the others.

So, this is a relatively decent compromise. With a web based source, your down when it's down anyway.

Very well then, Sir. carry on, my A/K friend.
As long as you`re aware of that option.

My music source arrangement, being non-web based local stored digital music source (2 WAV. duplicated in my music content, but separate & different playback devices for redundancy), will continue even if the web, or the power grid is down, especially during a sustained infrastructure malfunction via a hurricane or two.
As long as I have LP to run my whole house genset, I`ll have my all day multi-genre desired music available.

 

[damacman]

Updated 8/16/24 . . .

Shop - MA6200 / MR78 / DefTech AW6500s / B&W 12" Powered Subwoofer
Common Area - C200 / MC2600s / Sansui TU-9900 / XRT22s
Shipping Station - MC2500* (via spkr2 of C200) / Mission Bookshelves
Loft - biamp SCM7600 / Ashley XR-1001 > MC2500 x 2 / Sansui TU-9900 / Polk RTA-15TLs & 18" Subwoofers

The guys in the shop stole my MR78 . . . it's the only Mc tuner I own that will tune in the stations they want to listen to. I bought a Bryston amp a while ago, and the guy gave me a B&W powered sub to get rid of it. The shop rocks. Occasionally, I'll come out there and my gf has here Barbara Streisand cranked up and the PG lamps just flashing away. LOL . . . good for her.

The office system obviously got upgraded a while ago. So, who else has (2) 2600s and (3) 2500s goin' all day long?