View Full Version : Well I finally got there
Started making a room in April out of half of the double garage. Finally finished it about 3/4 weeks ago. Have been moving stuff around since then "tuning" (f*cking about more like!)
Garage is a single skin, so had to damproof it first by applying Synthaprufe to all external walls (nice job - not). Next was to batten every 400mm to fix platerboard to. Put acoutic fibreglass matting between batts. Then fittted Cellotex polystyrene (1 inch foil covered) sheets over the fibreglass. Then finally the acoustic grade plasterboard (35kg per sheet as opposed to around 20kg for ordinary) It was good fun with two of us trying to get the ceiling sheets up, even with the aid of proper props. Epic fail! One sheet took a dive to earth with a nice prop hole through it. Took three of us to do it in the end.
With about 20 sheets to fix and about 40 plasterboard screws per sheet (after tons of drilling and screwing for the batts) I was mighty pleased to have done the last of the fixing. Next fun bit was filling the joins and applying decorators tape. It's a good job the camera DOES lie.
Anyway it is a great success. I was rather apprehensive about it after all the hard work, as the room is often the one thing that can make or break a system. I had been using a smallish study for many years and tuned it to sound as good as I could get it. I built the horns nearly 5 years ago, as I wanted to only make one pair of speakers and so future proofed with a big un.
Having 17 feet to play with really shows what the speakers are capable of. I am a happy bunny.
Not so sure if I am as happy about my find today though. I spent a lot of time and money building a Pass Labs F2 (the big bastard on the rack) on top of the Pass is an old Cambridge P500 power amp. I just thought I would see what some of my old amps sounded like. Oh dear.....I suppose it's all about synergy but blimey what a brilliant match. You can pick them up for about £40- £50 or less on ebay.
If the carpet and curtains look a bit shit it is because I used what I had rather than buy. The pink carpet was in our bedroom and the border is off-cuts from the new bedroom carpet. Oh and the floor was sealed before the carpet and two lots of underlay went down.
Anyway there we are.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i239/saxonsex/StevesWedding082.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i239/saxonsex/StevesWedding081.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i239/saxonsex/StevesWedding080.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i239/saxonsex/StevesWedding038.jpg
Thing Fish
30-10-2011, 16:45
Good job Rob...! I trust you have a nice comfy chair/sofa to park the old tush on...?
Now all that you need is a wine rack/beer chiller and the rest of the world can f/off...:cool:
Wakefield Turntables
30-10-2011, 16:48
good job rob...! I trust you have a nice comfy chair/sofa to park the old tush on...?
Now all that you need is a wine rack/beer chiller and the rest of the world can f/off...:cool:
here here sir!
WOStantonCS100
30-10-2011, 16:50
I know you're a happy bunny!
+1 on a comfy chair
I've a double garage myself and I would love to turn the whole thing into a listening room. I'd hardly ever come out.
What a great job and much more sensible than using the garage to keep a car in ;)
Haselsh1
30-10-2011, 17:42
Thats a fantastic job you've done there. It is so nice to have your own music room and when my stepdaughter eventually moves out (sigh) I shall have one myself.
Haselsh1
30-10-2011, 17:43
What a great job and much more sensible than using the garage to keep a car in ;)
Gotta agree with that so unless its a Lamborghini the street will do...!
Why thang ya kindly Sir's! Yes, I have bought 2 new BT phones that have an intercom facility!:lol::lol: otherwise I would probably never come out.
A beer fridge is the next on the list (really!)
I've been spoilt really over the last x number of years. We were in a semi-detached for many years, but the integral garage was on the outside and so.....as needs must it was converted! Only trouble was an oil-fired boiler was in there, which was toasty in the winter and hell in the summer. We all have to suffer for our Art! :lol:
Rob.
Rare Bird
30-10-2011, 19:53
Nice job Rob but wheres the Skirting borads? :eyebrows:
I considered them an uneccessary added cost. Nobody goes in there apart from me. More money for Beer! :eyebrows:
Reid Malenfant
30-10-2011, 20:18
I considered them an uneccessary added cost. Nobody goes in there apart from me. More money for Beer! :eyebrows:
Nicely done Rob, great looking room & i like your style, get your priorities right :eyebrows:
:cool:
Hi Rob,
Very nice too :) and that answers my PM question ;)
Enjoy, and don't wait too long for the beer chiller, that's what your flexible friend is for :lol: .
Dave.
Thanks guys. Dave I didn't get your PM?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Husky-Guinness-mini-beer-fridge-EL157-/110766401877?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Fridges_Fre ezers&hash=item19ca312955
' Because your worth it'
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Husky-Guinness-mini-beer-fridge-EL157-/110766401877?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Fridges_Fre ezers&hash=item19ca312955
' Because your worth it'
Ha Ha...Thats it! :lolsign:
Thanks guys. Dave I didn't get your PM?
Hi Rob,
You didn't miss much :lol: - just along the lines of "Have you finished the listening room and are you enjoying it?" - no probs :)
Dave.
Nice one, hope it's doing it for you dude. :)
Ali Tait
30-10-2011, 22:47
Likewise, I'd love my own room.
worthingpagan
30-10-2011, 23:21
good effort mate, reaches the parts other garages can't ;)
Look's great Rob well done, those speakers look nice too.
Jason
RochaCullen
01-11-2011, 16:40
Hi Rob,
What are those lovely pieces of kit then? I see some cambridge audio stuff, can you explain how you have things hooked up. Very interested.
Nathan
Hi Nathan,
Left Rack : Cambridge P500, DIY Pass Labs F2
Diy Pass B1 Buffer, Diy Remote controlled Lightseed Attenuator Pre Amp
Musical Fidelity X-Tone (slight lift at 5kHz and slight lift at 30Hz), X-PSU,
X-10D - modified.
Cambridge Pre-Amp (to control Subwoofer when used)
Right Rack : Audio Innovations CD player, Cambridge 650v2 CD player.
Cambridge DacMagic, Switching thingy to run other Dacs as well.
Belkin Pure AV Mains Conditioner.
Rob.
RochaCullen
02-11-2011, 09:27
Hey Rob,
I assume by the look of it that the preamp that you use to control the subwoofer is a CA C500.
I've been tempted for a long time by the cambridge audio gear, you can generally get it for a decent price. Have you used the C500 and P500 together and how would you rate their performance.
I am also looking at the DIY route and the Diy Pass B1 Buffer is top of the list. How would you compare that with the C500? Is the gap huge?
Nathan
Hi Nathan,
Left Rack : Cambridge P500, DIY Pass Labs F2
Diy Pass B1 Buffer, Diy Remote controlled Lightseed Attenuator Pre Amp
Musical Fidelity X-Tone (slight lift at 5kHz and slight lift at 30Hz), X-PSU,
X-10D - modified.
Cambridge Pre-Amp (to control Subwoofer when used)
Right Rack : Audio Innovations CD player, Cambridge 650v2 CD player.
Cambridge DacMagic, Switching thingy to run other Dacs as well.
Belkin Pure AV Mains Conditioner.
Rob.
I have used the C500 and P500 together and they are pretty good. You will have seen my comment about the P500 taking the place of the Pass F2 with excellent results. The C500 has the Soundwell potentiometer which was said to better Alps and Nobles.
I think the Pass B1 is a cracking buffer. I have tried a Pedja Rogic buffer in the past and it is way better than that. In fact I am just about to make another B1 on perfboard. The one in use was made with a PCB, but the parts count is so low that it is easy to make one point to point.
You can't really compare the C500 to the B1 as the C500 is an active pre-amp and the
B1 is a no-gain buffer. However it seems to add something magical (in my system and IMO of course).
RochaCullen
02-11-2011, 14:50
Thanks for the detail Rob, it is much appreciated.
Nathan
I have used the C500 and P500 together and they are pretty good. You will have seen my comment about the P500 taking the place of the Pass F2 with excellent results. The C500 has the Soundwell potentiometer which was said to better Alps and Nobles.
I think the Pass B1 is a cracking buffer. I have tried a Pedja Rogic buffer in the past and it is way better than that. In fact I am just about to make another B1 on perfboard. The one in use was made with a PCB, but the parts count is so low that it is easy to make one point to point.
You can't really compare the C500 to the B1 as the C500 is an active pre-amp and the
B1 is a no-gain buffer. However it seems to add something magical (in my system and IMO of course).
Rare Bird
02-11-2011, 18:15
I considered them an uneccessary added cost. Nobody goes in there apart from me. More money for Beer! :eyebrows:
No Door & Archtraves on either then? :D
Blimey, what are you lot the construction Police :stalks:
I am waiting for my carpenter mate to hang the door. Of course he is too busy!
Having been in both Robs listening rooms I am torn between the intimacy of the original (imagine a broom cupboard) and the light/openness of the garage - I think the garage wins!
After the wine cooler / beer fridge I think Rob needs one of those nice oil projectors found in all the best discos in the 70's (if my memory does not fail me) - no need to paint walls / ceiling.
Oh - the sounds not bad at all.
Bloody good job mate.
Alan, It is actually quite different from when you visited. The sofa is way way back and the speakers virtually at the other end. The bass extension from the horns alone makes me laugh sometimes (sad bastard I am :)) See you soon!
Rob.
Having been in both Robs listening rooms I am torn between the intimacy of the original (imagine a broom cupboard) and the light/openness of the garage - I think the garage wins!
After the wine cooler / beer fridge I think Rob needs one of those nice oil projectors found in all the best discos in the 70's (if my memory does not fail me) - no need to paint walls / ceiling.
Oh - the sounds not bad at all.
Bloody good job mate.
Only 46 posts. What are you like?
Only 46 posts. What are you like?
and most of those are probably about buying / selling stuff!
I must contribute more.
I must contribute more.
I must contribute more.
I must contribute more.
I must contribute more.
I must contribute more.
I must contribute more.
I must contribute more.
....
Rare Bird
05-11-2011, 10:46
Yeh you could always post here alot
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=241&page=212
:D
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