[crwilli]

In my new room here in SC, I knew I had issues with the low end. Between my ears and measurements with REW, there were a number of problem areas. After many days of listening, moving speakers and measuring, I finally have decided to keep the Strads on the long wall of my 23’2”L x 16’W x 10’H room. They are 12’ apart and the listening position is 11’ away. They are 32” from the front wall and my LP is 35” from the back wall. The Fathom 113v2 is to my left 7’ from the front wall and 32” from the side wall.

I will spare you the evolution of measurements but suffice it to say, there was a peak at 50-60Hz and a null around 100 Hz. Both caused primarily by the Placement of the Strads.

I decided to connect my new CR-1 with The Xovers set at 110 to reduce the impact of the Strad placement and was immediately rewarded with better bass. Adjusting the sub/Strads balance improved it further and then I plugged the Strads low end port, adjusted the HP crossover contour to what sounded better, adjusted the Phase on the Fathom per Barry Ober’s instructions and WOW!!

Could it better? Sure, it still measures ‘bumpy’ but less so than without the CR-1 and it sounds bloody fantastic which is all that matters!

The Strads are casting a very wide, open and detailed, Black sound stage and the low end is seamless, deep and sometimes, downright scary.

The ease with which the CR-1 allowed me to do this was impressive.

I am a believer.