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It seems to me that his system considered of 6 speakers, possibly with a subwoofer (Since in one place they talk about a 7.1 system). Left, right of the mid to

It seems to me that his system considered of 6 speakers, possibly with a subwoofer (Since in one place they talk about a 7.1 system). Left, right of the mid to high range frequencies. That gives a 5.1 or 5 system. To me its odd if you are building out such a system to try to make it surround sound system since it will not enhance anything for classical music on vinyl Two much more conventional looking ones, which appears to be good at the lower end, either source bass and / or surround speakers. Then there is the center channel. In one photo they are on either side of the fireplace. (Another potential acoustic disaster.) I think. In this image there are I dont get concrete walls. I dont think that is common as the first wall in most general spaces for philharmonic or opera is heard. The two giant grandfather clocks in the background also makes no sense. Those panes of glass would be joining in on the vibration and sound annoying. Perhaps he had super treated them to avoid it. They way they are positioned and the fact that he has two of them symmetrically placed indicates it was purpose. Porcelain dogs are rather surprising aswell. perhaps they are the proud participants in being sonically optimized two. [1] https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/SSW555GEZYI6XCNEW6XCFKQZHY.jpg&high_res=true&w=2048 https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://...

peteforde 3y ago
What, you never heard of them doing big concrete pours when building the classic performance houses in the 1800s? Lifelong passion projects really resonate with me (sorry) and frankly, I have no doubt that this guy knew 10x more about sound systems than both of us put together. My frustration is that I think this kind of extreme audiophile stuff is a legitimate mental illness. The sad truth about the fireplace and the porcelain dogs is that no, it literally doesn't make any difference that a human could perceive. Put them in or take them out, there's no way a 70+ year old man could tell you if he was blindfolded. Still, I'm glad that he finished his project. Getting 4-5 years to enjoy something like this puts him in an incredibly rare demographic of human. Squint, and I see Colin Furze's ever-growing tunnel system under his house in the same light.
- lelanthran 3y ago
  > Lifelong passion projects really resonate with me (sorry) and frankly, I have no doubt that this guy knew 10x more about sound systems than both of us put together. Probably. He would also probably fail a double-blind test in telling the difference between an ultra-hi-end system and a merely adequate high-end system. IOW, he spent all that money on equipment and environment, but he almost certainly would have gotten the same result with less spend on equipment. > My frustration is that I think this kind of extreme audiophile stuff is a legitimate mental illness. Maybe some is and some isn't, but in this case he really was mentally ill. By his own account, he worked his children hard in pursuit of his happiness, and then when one of them wanted a keepsake worth a $100 or so, he disinherited them. This man is genuinely mentally ill.
- paganel 3y ago
  In cases like this one I think it is more about the journey than the destination, and I know it sounds cheesy and all but I think it best describes situations like these. I'm surprised that he even got to "finish" it all, for me those "finishes" come with associated existential dread, as in "what should I do now with my life that I've finished my long-pursuit project?".
- ThinkBeat 3y ago
  Knowing more than me is not difficult. The porcelain dogs would vibrate and create an easy to hear extra noise. Unless as I pointed out they were modified. Perhaps by making them heavy and letting them sit on a robber mat or some such. Noise from a good bass makes all manner of things vibrate. Some of which is noticeable. About the fireplace. An open fireplace would be noticeable. Perhaps he has filled it in. even with some absorbing material. I am not convinced about his skill level on matters like acoustics. I dont think he could sit down and the do all the math. What he could do was to try things out, and incrementally make improvements. Ultimately, he created a system he thought was great and that was what mattered. In my day I would spend endless hours moving things down to a mm here or there. Moving acoustic treatments all around, all such stuff. Aside from the general rules, I did not have the math, so I tried to find a solution that I loved.
  - 3y ago

peteforde 3y ago

What, you never heard of them doing big concrete pours when building the classic performance houses in the 1800s? Lifelong passion projects really resonate with me (sorry) and frankly, I have no doubt that this guy knew 10x more about sound systems than both of us put together. My frustration is that I think this kind of extreme audiophile stuff is a legitimate mental illness. The sad truth about the fireplace and the porcelain dogs is that no, it literally doesn't make any difference that a human could perceive. Put them in or take them out, there's no way a 70+ year old man could tell you if he was blindfolded. Still, I'm glad that he finished his project. Getting 4-5 years to enjoy something like this puts him in an incredibly rare demographic of human. Squint, and I see Colin Furze's ever-growing tunnel system under his house in the same light.

lelanthran 3y ago
> Lifelong passion projects really resonate with me (sorry) and frankly, I have no doubt that this guy knew 10x more about sound systems than both of us put together. Probably. He would also probably fail a double-blind test in telling the difference between an ultra-hi-end system and a merely adequate high-end system. IOW, he spent all that money on equipment and environment, but he almost certainly would have gotten the same result with less spend on equipment. > My frustration is that I think this kind of extreme audiophile stuff is a legitimate mental illness. Maybe some is and some isn't, but in this case he really was mentally ill. By his own account, he worked his children hard in pursuit of his happiness, and then when one of them wanted a keepsake worth a $100 or so, he disinherited them. This man is genuinely mentally ill.
paganel 3y ago
In cases like this one I think it is more about the journey than the destination, and I know it sounds cheesy and all but I think it best describes situations like these. I'm surprised that he even got to "finish" it all, for me those "finishes" come with associated existential dread, as in "what should I do now with my life that I've finished my long-pursuit project?".
ThinkBeat 3y ago
Knowing more than me is not difficult. The porcelain dogs would vibrate and create an easy to hear extra noise. Unless as I pointed out they were modified. Perhaps by making them heavy and letting them sit on a robber mat or some such. Noise from a good bass makes all manner of things vibrate. Some of which is noticeable. About the fireplace. An open fireplace would be noticeable. Perhaps he has filled it in. even with some absorbing material. I am not convinced about his skill level on matters like acoustics. I dont think he could sit down and the do all the math. What he could do was to try things out, and incrementally make improvements. Ultimately, he created a system he thought was great and that was what mattered. In my day I would spend endless hours moving things down to a mm here or there. Moving acoustic treatments all around, all such stuff. Aside from the general rules, I did not have the math, so I tried to find a solution that I loved.
- 3y ago