Complete Re-Do Of The Listening Room Dynaco Klipsch

December 8, 2018

#293

Gentle reader,

You know how you set something up and go to all the trouble making it just the way you like?

This is the way it looked back in April, when I first installed the Dynaco QD-2. I placed my Dynaco A25XL speakers as the surround speakers. As you can see, it was a bit crowded. Don't laugh at my vintage Barcalounger. It's hard to find a chair that fits my 6'3" frame and I always wanted a wingback chair. It's ancient, faded and threadbare, but I love it.

Back in September, I improved upon the sound in two ways. After I completed the restomod on a pair of Advent Baby Advent II speakers, I placed them atop my Klipsch KG4s and made THEM the front speakers. The KG4s became my stereo set and if I wanted to be more immersed, I played the Advents, which sound way better than I hoped. Plus, since they are less efficient than the A25XLs, I could hear them better. But they still sat on the floor. The right one partially blocked.
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So, I successfully raised them on stands that matched so well and the surround was much more audible. But it was still crowded. 

Height is now much better, but it blocks part of the records and is still behind the book table. The left one blocks part of the bookshelf. Plus, it narrows my path into the room.

The problem was the beautiful record shelves. They stick 20 inches into the room. My solution, move them.

Above is what it looks like right now. I use a throw over the top of the chair, which looked bright white due to the close proximity of the camera flash. So, I colored it brown. I also hid the flash's reflection on the black lamp shade.

The location of the system was between the speakers, which meant it had to be moved first. I'm glad I outfitted the table with casters.

There are 918 Classical LP records on the shelf. They all had to be removed. And the shelves too, once they were out, I was able to drag it over.

The three retro radios on top of the shelf revealed, by their amount of dust, that they had been up there quite a while.

Since I had installed a red hospital grade outlet that had been cryogenically treated (snake oil? probably) on that wall, the AC power strip/surge protector needed to stay plugged in there. Fortunately, it's cord is long and plug lays flat.

"Stacks of wax" as they used to call records take up a lot of space as do everything else I had to move to get to the Asian rug.

Here are shots of the shelves back. As you can see, they made the top and sides deeper than needed, for dramatic effect, maybe?

Something I had not noticed before were the two stickers on the back, these shelves were Salvation Army finds, were the two small gold colored stickers.

This one had fallen off. So, my Dynaco speakers AND these beautiful shelves both came from Denmark. Cool.

So now the shelf has been moved, the records back in place, the rug rolled up and the carpet cleaned. What WAS our daughter doing in here? Slinging and spilling chocolate milkshakes when this was her bedroom? My wife swears we had cleaned the carpet, but I don't think so.

Originally, the system had been against this wall (above). I was just able to reach the volume control from my chair. Poster came from Herb Alpert's re-release of his entire line on CD a few years ago.

No, I do not hunt. That skin was purchased in Cambodia by my late-friend, Colonel Bill Arps in the 1970's. I helped his widow and we came across it rolled up on a shelf in their basement. She wanted to throw it away, but I saved it. It was a Fishing Cat. Native to Asia.Yes, a cat that likes to get wet.

Now, this wall awaits the system, but I must first rehang the artwork I had to remove to fit the shelf. That large bird is a kite, that refuses to fly, above the window.

Oh, and the CD stands. I had to empty the 400 capacity tower, of course. I was able to carefully move the wooden one on the left and the 200 capacity one on the right. But picking them up again could be hurtful.

My "office" became the repository of all the things that sat on the Asian rug. The throw is seen below. The bottom side of it, that is. It's sort of khaki colored on the front side.

I wanted to rotate the rug ninety degrees for two reasons, to avoid it being under the shelves (again) and since the tassels were always a mess. I am delighted that it just fits and does not block the A/C vent.

Below are all the things that were on the wall where the shelf now is.

Mostly hidden in this photo, but seen elsewhere in full, is Michael Bedard's Sitting Duck, I first saw it at a friends house. Years later we had a community yard sale. I spied this one across the street, said, "Sitting Duck!" and ran across to see it. I have since also found his Window Shopping which sits above the left speakers.

With my purchase, at long-last, of a 1990's Dynaco PAT-6 preamp-tuner, I had to make some changes. It has no AC outlets on it and the two Adcom ACE-515 power conditioners have to be triggered on by 120VAC. So, I installed the beige power strip. I have to reach over and turn it on, though. The PAT-6 also does not have enough inputs and only one pair of Tape Out and Tape In terminals. I overcame those obstacles as well. I have not tried the tuner portion of it. If I want radio, I use the floor radio in the corner.

The CDs on the left are Classical. The ones stacked in the closet (more than 400) are Jazz and Soundtrack/Scores. It takes a long time to remove and reinstall almost 1000 CDs. Since I prefer them to be horizontal for easier reading of the labels, they have to be installed one at a time. Which means every time I buy more CDs, countless ones have to be moved one-at-a-time to make room for the new ones. They MUST be alphabetical and chronological. Sorry, OCD speaking out.

This wooden shelf is Teak and may also be Danish. It was made to hold a turntable and small amplifier or receiver with records storage on the bottom shelves. There was a low wall on top at the back, equal height to the side walls. There was also a removable shelf. It once sat between the speakers and housed the power amplifier and later also the SACD six-channel system. As seen below from three years ago.

Since the KG4s have rear facing 12" passive radiators, I removed the convoluted foam "bass traps", at the advise of a Klipsch expert. He was right, it greatly improved the bass.

If I tried to keep the surround sound, then I would have to accept the fact that the room would still be crowded, not to mention the long run of speaker cables to them. So, I unhooked the Dynaco QD-2, (above) but left it in place. Those are Monster Cable Z-Series speaker cables, by the way, which is all I use in here after trying MANY other brands and types of wires and cables.

Here it is all back in place. The A25XLs look so small by the KG4s. But all fit. I had not yet carried all the books back in and put them back on the teak shelf. I placed the largest dragon which formerly sat on the floor where a 12" sub used to reside, below the rifle, it too was not in place when I made this shot.

I am awaiting the arrival of 15 foot Monster Cable Z-Series cables for the left speakers, so none of the speakers are hooked up yet.

All the artwork and the shelf with box sets of CDs are all on their new wall.

Above shows the left side wall back with all back in place. I am very happy with the room and can't wait to get the speaker cables and install them.

Again, here is the room with it's new look. Simply by switching places with the overbearing record shelf and the system, the room opens up. I love it! You can see the big dragon in place now above the left speakers. The right KG4 is still a little cramped, but it will be OK. Both are exactly the same distance from the walls and toed to 45 degrees. I may use my laser to orient (Asian?) them so that they both center on the chair at head height. I am so anxious to hear music again! 

Part Two will detail the modification of the new (to me) fifteen foot long speaker cables and give listening impressions of the more airy room layout. No longer does it seem thrown together.

Once again, thank you SO much for taking the time to read my words and view my photos. It is your kind words and encouragement that keeps me creating these articles.

Scott
December 5, 2018
#293