by Lissnr on Sun Jan 19, 2014 9:32 pm
Hello all, I'm glad to make it back to this site as I've been out of the computer scene awhile but I have a serious question and only experienced Apogee users can help. After a happy few years with my first purchase of Apogees a la Mini Grands ( in an apartment), I moved to a single family home and upgraded to Duetta Sigs. After a few years with them stock I sent them to Rich @TSW and had them fully upgraded...including new Graz drivers, completely upgraded crossovers, stiffened frame, new socks, paint, etcetera and they came out so great I swore I would never even think of replacing them forever. I loved them when they were stock but the improvement afterwards was absolutely profound: deeper tighter bass, extended top, clean but ever so natural detail, open, 3D, wide stage and an absolutely uncanny cohesiveness. I am in heaven.
I was very fortunate and actually spent almost two years to do it (99% by myself) but I actually built my lifelong dream of building a dedicated listening room. Dedicated lines, double and triple layers of sheetrock/quietrock and an extensive assortment of room treatments as needed without concern to any Wife Acceptance Factor. The Duettas fit the room perfectly. Perfectly.
Room dimensions are 13' wide x 17'9" long x 7' sidewalls that peak to a 9' high centerline.
The back of Duettas are 52" from front wall, they are approximately 9' from my chair and there's about 3'-3'6" to the wall behind my head. Speakers are 7' apart from inside edge to edge and about 8" from sidewalls. Imaging is absolutely "spot on". Incredibly focused center image, deep, wide stage, and absolutely believable images. Wall behind speakers are clear directly behind them but I swear by the 2@ 11"ASC round tube traps in either corner as well as the single 22" ASC trap dead center between them (all three are against the wall). As I said, I have a variety of other treatments in the room but almost all are DIFFUSORS, NOT absorbers...except for the wall behind my listening chair which is a combination of both.
Electronics are all tube based and are essentially as capable as almost any solid state based amps...
I use TRL (Tube Research Labs) "The Dude" pre-amp , TRL GT 200 mono blocs (utilizing KT-150's at well over 200WPC in pure TRIODE mode), and Lampizator sourced digital (Model "Big 6" Dac) and transport... above electronics all have upgraded Duelund Cast Copper caps exclusively...
One more time: the Duettas sound stunning.
Fast forward: I know there are trade-offs in everything but will Diva Ultimates work in my room? (Be kind please, I already bought them and waiting for shipping, but also be truthful) What will I be gaining and how much will I be losing when these replace the Duettas? Besides all the benefits mentioned above about how perfect the Duettas are, the most profound is the amazing cohesiveness... Will I be experimenting with placement for months until I finally find one that duplicates (or even exceeds what the Duettas are doing") or will I never again enjoy that natural, easy, beguiling sense of "One-ness" that they effortlessly deliver?
If necessary I can purchase more bass absorption, perhaps for behind the listening chair...
I'm expecting benefits, of course...but are there big costs? I'm planning to begin with putting the Divas exactly where the Duettas are...7' apart which will make sidewall distance closer to a mere 5"...
Please be honest... and thank you all in advance.
Happy Lissn'n