Charles System

[Charles]

____________________
Charles Updated System
Most recent updates: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes enough to turn the room into a virtual anechoic chamber if desired; however, at present my room is significantly reflective giving me a bright, vibrant, dynamic, highly resolving, smooth sound free of harshness and grain and perfect for my taste; zero slap echo; gorgeous midrange
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house

[Charles]

More pics of updated system:

The first pic shows the white power around the rivet removed with a very soft cloth. Also the smudge on the micrometer wheel.

Second and third pics the lightning feature for lower and upper blocks respectively. Lightning is set to lowest intensity level. There are three levels with the highest being quite bright.

Fourth and fifth shows the chronometer settings for upper and lower blocks.

Sixth the lower block components.

[JoeN]

Charles,

It looks exceptional. I’m sure it sounds the same way. Again, congrats on such a fabulous system.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by JoeN

Charles,

It looks exceptional. I’m sure it sounds the same way. Again, congrats on such a fabulous system.

Thank you Joe. It has turned out better than I could have ever hopped. It really has. Very happy.

[howiebrou]

Congratulations. It must sound amazing. End game speaker me thinks!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by howiebrou

Congratulations. It must sound amazing. End game speaker me thinks!

Thank you so much! Yes, absolutely. There are few things that are certain in this life but I can say the XVX is my final speaker. In addition, I doubt I'll go with new larger Mac amps. The XVX never requires more than about 100 watts. I simply don't have the room for 3 upgraded 2KW's between my speakers. They could come out toward me on the floor, I guess. But I like the look of what I have. To my eye it looks very natural and well proportioned.

[Apexorca]

Hi Charles!
I'm curious. How do your magnificent Wilson respond to burn in? You probably used them for some hundred hours now.
I know you righteously liked them from the start, bur now it's probably even better. Is it?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Apexorca

Hi Charles!
I'm curious. How do your magnificent Wilson respond to burn in? You probably used them for some hundred hours now.
I know you righteously liked them from the start, bur now it's probably even better. Is it?

Carl, I apologize for missing your question. I am going to post some pics and I saw you query. Interesting you asked this question. Almost every speaker I have had in my system did not change much after the first few days. This included my Maxx3 and Alexx. However, the XVX seems to still be improving in the midrange.

As you know the mids are new to Wilson's line. They are the alnico quadra mags ( aluminum/nickel/cobalt with 4 magnests as opposed to 2 in their other mid). The main difference I hear is an increase in resolution in the XVX mid and this increase continues to increase as time has passed.

The treble and bass haven't changed much in quality since the first week or so. My system is significantly more balanced than with my Alexx. I noticed an immediate better treble and much more mid clarity. Not much difference in the bass. The Alexx has excellent bass.

I am posting some pics of my new Thor. My bass is now much improved over my Alexx/Thor combo. But not in the sense of more bass but much better quicker perfectly damped articulate bass.

So it's in the midrange where the XVX really shines and continues to improve. Wilson has always had dynamics and excellent bass but has not had the ultimate in treble extension and mid clarity. Now they do with the XVX. I believe the XVX has resolution on par with the very best now, perhaps even better with these new mids.

Best,

Charles

[Charles]

Here are pics of my current system with my new Thor's Hammer.

First pic is finished installation



Second pic shows how well the AQ Niagara 5000 matches the XVX and Thor



Third shows new Thor about to go up the stairs



Fourth shows new Thor with casters still on dolly



Fifth shows a closeup with the new natural ports matching the XVX hardware



Six and seven shows the finished ends of the new Thor. The end on the right (seventh pic) was unfinished old Thor. Very nice touch by Wilson.





Pic 8 shows the new Thor in position



It was a difficult installation but the final pic shows a wonderful result



This new Thor sounds substantially better than the old Thor which was over 10 years old and a demo. It was one of the first made and I really put it through a lot. The new Thor has the third generation X material and perfectly integrates with my XVX. I honestly cannot imagine a better subwoofer than this new Thor. Notice the new Galaxy Grey color matching my XVX. In addition to the greatly improved sonics my system looks "one piece" and not like the sub was an afterthought. I did a lot of research deciding between the Thor or the Subsonic. Wilson recommended the Thor because of its higher low frequency output and also sensitivity (2 dB). The Subsonic may have a quicker upper bass but I simply can't imagine a quicker more resolved articulate bass than I have now. The Thor 15" woofers excel at picking up very soft barely audible very low frequency notes and it has massive incredible output that the Subsonic can't match, when called on to produce.

Best

Charles

[cleeds]

Whoa!