The Grande Utopia Project
Comments
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Reposting stock for reference
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Loved following along on this crossover upgrade since the start.
Your mechanical engineering skills while working within these extremely tight tolerances are truly impressive. Congratulations on a job well done! -
Thanks Drew! 🚀
Need up is to fabricate a means of using those spikes haha- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Everything burning in nicely! Drilled end tapped the steel plates for the spikes
https://youtu.be/oPq1-cu7Jn4?feature=shared
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Bro! You've got gorgeous flooring in your garage, I'm insanely jealous!!
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That's the VR3 Audio lab..... 😀
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
Thankfully my daughter has shown little interest in sesame street. She is absolutely in love with batman however- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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One is officially on spikes. A difficult one man job with 400 pounds speakers I tell you
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
GREAT accomplishment.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Think it through first. Then slow and steady.
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
--Mark Twain.
“If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright -
Thanks Tony!
I completed the second one today! Definitely required some creativity. I leaned the speaker against the wall, removed the front castors. Installed the front spikes. Used mini jack stands and elevated the rear of the speaker. Removed the back castors. Installed rear spikes and done!
This required a super long 24" extension bit, a right angle attachment and a flex attachment and a lot of torque. My drill smelled like burnt electronics towards the end!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
On one of the Facebook groups I follow for crossover mods, one of the members from europe was in the area for business and he swung by to listen!
Was a great time and heard alot of great music!
His thoughts on the setup below
"I was in North Carolina for business this week and I was able to combine it with a visit to Vr3. It was my first opportunity to meet someone from our community and it was great fun. This masterpiece that Vr3 masterfully designed and build is simply amazing.
The sound is bigger than life, crystal clear, and simply as it should be. A dream set-up, and Vr3 smartly designed the acoustics in the room, with some mobile panels that make listening in his listening chair simply perfect.
Most impressive was when we played the track Deeper by Pete Belasco, which includes earth quake triggering bass. With Vr3’ Grande Utopias that can reach as deep as 16 hertz, you can count the vibrations per seconds. And the woofer isn’t visibly moving!
I hope to be back to listen to more tracks on this dream audio set-up.
Thanks for your hospitality Vr3!
At one point he said, that songs soundstage was 20 meters wide! He also had a non audiophile friend with him and he was having a blast as well.
Always fun to meet fellow audiophiles!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Trey, it's also cool that his visit coincided with your 18th birthday!
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Gosh I wish I was still 18 lol, I am slowly creeping up on 40
The grandes are right at 6ft. I am 5 11. After the mods and spikes, right at 430 pounds each- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Slowly creeping in on 40- i feel ya there. I turned 35 last week and oh man, 40 is close. But 40 is the new 30 right?2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
That's funny we are the same age. I turned 35 late January.
Time goes by fast especially with little rugrats running around- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Dude we had our first rugrat this past year. Time is flying by, it’s crazy! Anyway, not to derail too much. Again- crazy awesome project. I’m in awe of your skills2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
Thank you :-D
Congrats man! Once they hit 2 it just gets more and more fun as time goes on! (0 to 2 is fun but 2 is just better!)
No fear... this is just an on-going thread for my shenanigans with the Grandes! I still need to change the MTM wiring and dynamat the midrange baskets!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
What are you changing the wiring too?
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
The MTM array is still the old clear jacketed focal wiring. I still need to change it to the duelund DCA 10 but its like 400 in wire and close to 15 hours of labor or more to change it... and the rig sounds really good right now... so...... later!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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stangman67 wrote: »Slowly creeping in on 40- i feel ya there. I turned 35 last week and oh man, 40 is close. But 40 is the new 30 right?
Both of you are going on my ignore list…. 🤣🤣🤣The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
nooshinjohn wrote: »stangman67 wrote: »Slowly creeping in on 40- i feel ya there. I turned 35 last week and oh man, 40 is close. But 40 is the new 30 right?
Both of you are going on my ignore list…. 🤣🤣🤣
Don't fret. Ol' ginger will be turning grey, then white soon enough...
You know you have been on a forum too long to see this happen....DOH!
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
nooshinjohn wrote: »stangman67 wrote: »Slowly creeping in on 40- i feel ya there. I turned 35 last week and oh man, 40 is close. But 40 is the new 30 right?
Both of you are going on my ignore list…. 🤣🤣🤣
Shut it old man......
😎😳 -
Chilluns; Enjoy your youth while you can as it'll be gone before you know it. My oldest daughter just left here for her trip back home to NH. She's 46.
Back on topic; those are incredible looking speakers and no doubt they sound as great as they look. I had no idea they were that big. Exceptionally well done sir in bringing home end game speakers this early in the game. -
On one of the Facebook groups I follow for crossover mods, one of the members from europe was in the area for business and he swung by to listen!
Was a great time and heard alot of great music!
His thoughts on the setup below
"I was in North Carolina for business this week and I was able to combine it with a visit to Vr3. It was my first opportunity to meet someone from our community and it was great fun. This masterpiece that Vr3 masterfully designed and build is simply amazing.
The sound is bigger than life, crystal clear, and simply as it should be. A dream set-up, and Vr3 smartly designed the acoustics in the room, with some mobile panels that make listening in his listening chair simply perfect.
Most impressive was when we played the track Deeper by Pete Belasco, which includes earth quake triggering bass. With Vr3’ Grande Utopias that can reach as deep as 16 hertz, you can count the vibrations per seconds. And the woofer isn’t visibly moving!
I hope to be back to listen to more tracks on this dream audio set-up.
Thanks for your hospitality Vr3!
At one point he said, that songs soundstage was 20 meters wide! He also had a non audiophile friend with him and he was having a blast as well.
Always fun to meet fellow audiophiles!
Very cool project, even better when it brings like minded folks together!2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)
Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods -
You need to hear some master tapes played on those bad boys. I am serious!
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Hey gingers have souls! Am I a ginger? My beard has some red maybe
I am already turning gray though so we are there!
Thanks everyone. I feel really fortunate and lucky to have these speakers. I had to drive 22 hours round trip and luckily they were a price point I could afford. My wife was also understanding of my insanity.
I am sure better exists, but to what end? The grandes are not perfect but they are very enjoyable and good at what they do. It is about all I can ask for. They are also the perfect kid speaker since children just bounce off of them.
I would love to experience a master tape, perhaps one day if I am in your neck of the woods Ken!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I appreciate that. I am a proud owner at the end of the day.
This hobby is wildly subjective, for me these 25 year old speakers are just about all I can ask for.
For some who prefer the current hifi sound... They may not be a fan.
All a matter of taste. We audiophiles are never happy!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
You all know I've owned a lot of speakers that I bought cheap by going everywhere and many(!) yard sales and checking the local listings and some stuff that came with road trips, even 2 trips to meet fellow members on here and which I still have those items I got from you.
My experience with $$$$ speakers is the Polk SDA-SRS2's, the Newform Research R645's, Large Magnapans and then I bought those Golden ear ONE's. I felt I had reached a peak with those. I feel they do everything right!
I know how you all feel about end-game speakers.
I wish I had bought something like the Golden ear's in my 30's but there was NO way I could afford this level of reproduction capabilities with whatever was manufactured back then AT ALL.
I just remembered I have ESS AMT 1B's I received 30 years ago that are high-level and sound spectacular too and I still have them too. I was given those though. I think the other 3 sets I mentioned are above the ESS's x 2.
So I'm glad to hear people change out speakers and gear every so often.
It shows us OTHER sound reproducers connect to our souls in many different ways and some excite us more than we knew could happen.
A couple of days ago a FAT-BOY jet flew over our house low. We heard it coming and ran out to watch it fly over. It was the loudest sound I think I have ever heard. That sound vibrated my SOUL and my Wife's too.
I've heard jets fly over this house hundreds of times but this was on another level. Just like getting a new set of speakers or gear.
We have a newer level of POWER memory to reflect upon.
I'm going to rotate some speakers soon and I'm sure I'll like them all.
I love to hear you guys talk about all your speakers and gear.
There is that saying we can't miss what we haven't had or heard.
So my top speaker experience, for now, are the Golden ear ONE's, but I'll keep looking locally for speakers that cost a lot more when new than the One's did when new. Then I read reviews. I have the savings now but I'm pushing 70 so... maybe I should put the brakes on buying ANY stereo stuff and enjoy my music collection on what I have now, like I've done the past month.
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
--Mark Twain.
“If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright -
Time to amp it up
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
