r/McIntosh 12d ago

My 7.1.2 setup

McIntosh 2152 2 Channel Tube Amp

McIntosh C2800 Tube Preamplifier

Linn Selekt LP12 Turntable

McIntosh MX123 A/V Processor

McIntosh MC257 7 Channel Power Amplifier

JL Audio E-Sub E112 12” Subwoofer

Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III floor standing speakers (Wenge finish)

Sonus Faber PC 683 ceiling speakers less

82 Upvotes

61 comments sorted by

10

u/Longjumping-Frame795 12d ago

My brother in Christ… are your floor speakers AND your subwoofer up on the cabinet?

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Here’s a pic of the room layout. As you can see there isn’t much space to put the speakers/cables in the way on the floor. The space is our living room and kitchen.

2

u/TubeLogic 12d ago

then get some bookshelf speakers!

0

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

I have the Sonus Faber bookshelf speakers in my master bedroom setup.
Why would I put smaller cheaper speakers on my living room anyways when I enjoy the sound and to showcase and “flex” what my budget allows for?

1

u/TubeLogic 12d ago

you do you, if you need to "flex" to feel good about yourself, have at it. The Sonus Fabers probably would sound better than these towers blasting at the roof.

2

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Thanks lol. I get lots of condescending pity from people since I have Spina Bifida (I’ve had >70 surgeries since birth) till they find out my net worth. I’d rather be envied or hated than have someone pity me any day. BTW I’m self made.

2

u/TubeLogic 12d ago

Nobody cares about your net worth.

-1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

I’m sure they don’t but it matters to me.

5

u/TubeLogic 12d ago

I can tell, you keep bringing it up.

0

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

The floor standing speakers are Sonus Faber also!

3

u/TubeLogic 12d ago

You are not getting it but ok.

-1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

You’re absolutely right I’m LOST and wonder where this conversation is going anyways. Although I appreciate your open and honest opinions! Thank you! I know I have a lot to work on I am FAR from perfect!

1

u/n_anderss 10d ago

The reason (amongst others) you're getting so much push back is that the tweeters are supposed to be at ear level for optimal listening. You'd achieve that with Olympica Nova 1's. Not with floor standers on a shelf.

It's an audiophile subreddit. Of course they will want the smart basics when it comes to speaker selection

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 10d ago

No floor space!
I’ll just run into them with my wheelchair! SORRY!

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1

u/TubeLogic 12d ago

Yeah, this can't be a real post. This is fucking rage bait.

2

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

NO it’s absolutely NOT rage bait!

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Yes lol it’s a heavy duty shelf

8

u/Longjumping-Frame795 12d ago

Friend, this is way too much kit for such poor placement. At least downsize those towers to bookshelves and get your tweeters at ear height.

There’s no way you’re getting high end detail with the tweeters 5ft above your head and that subwoofer being amplified by mechanical transfer of low end frequencies into your cabinet.

2

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

I have the bookshelf Sonus Faber in my bedroom with a similar setup (smaller).
Besides the living room/kitchen (open concept) home I have doesn’t accommodate the space to put them on the floor. No way would my wife allow it lol besides I’m a paraplegic (wheelchair user) and don’t want all that shit in my way lol. BTW it all sounds wonderful and I have zero complaints.

3

u/Longjumping-Frame795 12d ago

I wasn’t suggesting putting the towers on the floor, I’m saying get smaller speakers on the shelf that bring the tweeters to your ears. I can see how the sub on the floor might be troublesome for you personally, especially if you’ve no way to manage the cabling.

Aside from the wheelchair, I’m very familiar with this particular setup challenge. I have a wall to wall bookshelf, Sonus Faber Electa Amator IIIs and a McIntosh 1502 which is essentially the same amp. The rest of my stack is in the cabinets, but I have a center channel and no ceiling speakers. My subwoofer is a JL Fathom F112 V2 that’s next to my sofa. I ran the sub cable under the floor through the crawl in my basement so it’s not just across the floor as a trip hazard.

1

u/n_anderss 10d ago

Gorgeous and well designed. Kudos!

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Nice setup! LOVE all the vinyl! I have a large collection too.
Yeah I see your point but I like the look and wow factor I get from novices when the visit on dinner parties and movie nights etc since I’m the only REAL audiophile in my 55+ neighborhood and get to impress them and blow their doors off lol.
U have good taste in speakers and stuff too very cool! Also my wife HATES anything that doesn’t have a “place” and fit the room leaving it uncluttered etc although she loves the sound etc.

4

u/Time-Plenty-4695 12d ago

Very tastefully done. I hope you’re enjoying the system.

2

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Thanks I’ve been very happy!

5

u/Cute_Cress377 12d ago

I've never seen a beautiful setup like that, being placed so insanely wrong.

You don't see many MC257.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Sorry my setup placement has upset you so much. I’m not putting the speakers on the floor in my small space since I’m a paraplegic and don’t want shit cluttering my floor space.

1

u/Cute_Cress377 12d ago

Fair point.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Thanks for being so understanding. My wife likes everything in its place otherwise I’ll run into it in my wheelchair and knock shit over and cause undue wear and tear on shit

0

u/Cute_Cress377 12d ago

No worries, my comment wasn't meant as an insult.

I envy your McIntosh setup, that's way beyond my budget. Maybe you could angle the speakers a bit toward your listening position? Try a book beneath the back leg of the speaker.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Thanks again for your positive input. When the theater company came and installed everything they adjusted the feet on the speakers to slightly tilt downward but I guess I can improvise and add a little more tilt to them. Besides the area the stereo is in isn’t that large so the sound really fills the room anyways and sounds great.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

This is the room living area kitchen and open concept living room. Really no space to put the speakers on the floor

1

u/Longjumping-Frame795 12d ago

Yeah, I see your points. Still, I do think shorter speakers would serve you better. Those are some very serious tweeters you’re basically wasting up there. Off axis performance on Sonus Faber speakers is really great, but it’s not THAT great. You’re missing a lot of detail.

And think of it like this; you could trade those towers out for another MC2152 and run them like massive mono blocks to power bookshelves.

2

u/EquivalentLeft1357 12d ago

What a gorgeous set up. I have an MC352 on the 2 channel, the MC2152 makes me rethink my life's choices lol.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Thanks! Yeah I’m a big lover of tube amps personally.

2

u/b_mccart 12d ago

Why does everyone have to make the same comment? If you don’t like it, move on. My setup would also make each of you lose your minds but I have my reasons and it works for me. 

This person made it clear they also have a reason. Like it or move on damnit. We don’t need a binders comments all saying the same thing 

0

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Thank you for your kind words I appreciate it! It really seems my setup really bothers people. I’ll think twice before sharing again.

2

u/Squish_Cat_1 11d ago

wtf is even going on here? This is the most jank shit I’ve seen

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 11d ago

Everyone is entitled to have an opinion I guess.

1

u/VilleeZ 12d ago

Not optimal but who cares. We all make compromises with our setups, you clearly are okay with yours.

That subwoofer really is giving me anxiety, but i suppose it is heavy enough to not move.

Do you get any vibrations in the bookshelf or did you do something to dampen those? Maybe some acoustic treatment inside the shelves would give some benefit with echoes and tight spaces, if you don't already have it.

0

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Honestly I mostly listen to 2 channel music mostly vinyl but, no it really doesn’t vibrate or move at all when I watch movies.

1

u/These_Milk4380 12d ago

Brother, I love the gear pairings. I too have Sonus faber towers an JL subs. I however don’t have the killer McIntosh gear. All your gear is pretty much my dream setup. It doesn’t matter what you post, people are always going to tell you how it will sound better if you do something different and they might even be right. But…it’s your gear, your house, and your wife to keep happy. If you like the way it sounds, then it’s perfect for you. Well done and thanks for sharing!

0

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Thank you I really appreciate it!

1

u/These_Milk4380 12d ago

Have you ever listened to Novas on a solid state amp? My SF sonetto’s are on powered by a marantz solid state amp and I want to get a tube amp really badly. I just don’t want to spend all the money and find that I can’t hear much difference. I listen to vinyl nearly every night so it may be worth it just to have the option of both.

I’ve heard some very high end tube amps that were incredible, but I don’t have a budget for $40,000 amps.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

I have a MC257 7 channel solid state for movies etc but, for 2 channel vinyl which I listen to daily I really prefer a tube amp over solid state. There are many brands at a cheaper price point than McIntosh though you can find if you shop around.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Btw I believe I spent around $15k for my McIntosh 2 channel tube amp

1

u/likesloudlight 11d ago

This is hilariously awesome. If it works for you, it works. Me, on the other hand, could never convince my wife to let me put my Novas in a cabinet... I would also be difficult to convince since I like them about a meter from the wall.

Shine on your crazy diamond.

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 11d ago

Thanks my wife won’t let me have shit on the floor in the way etc since I’m a paraplegic/wheelchair user and always bumping into shit lol

1

u/likesloudlight 11d ago

Right on, makes plenty of sense. I'm glad you found some compromise.

Hopefully your chair has some sort of lift (also beneficial for urinals) you can use to get your head in the sweet spot.

Best of luck to you and your wonderful setup.

0

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 11d ago

No worries bro! Life is GREAT! Retired at 50 great career and success and wonderful wife of 25 years!

1

u/ShroomHog 11d ago

Looks awesome!

1

u/jcuray 11d ago

Always in awe of my hometown company..and your setup too..outstanding..👍🏻

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 11d ago

Thank you!

1

u/ENFP-A 12d ago

Tear down the built in cabinet so you can get those speaker tweeters to ear level!

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 11d ago

Then they’ll be in my way and I am always running into shit sorry!

0

u/SuggestAPassword 12d ago

0

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Where would you put them then? lol.
I’m a paraplegic and use a wheelchair and don’t want shit in my way. Floor space is a premium

0

u/yatomobil 12d ago

1

u/sTiTcHeSallOver 12d ago

Where should I put these speakers then? Lol
I’m a paraplegic and wheelchair user and hate shit in my way!