Daedalus

Marco:

I agree fully with both your observations. My house is modest and there is no extra room that could become a dedicated listening area. Perhaps this is making lemonade out of lemons but I don't think I'd go the dedicated room route even if I had the space. My wife and I like having the music where we get to use it daily--in the living area which is adjacent to the dining room and kitchen. I love to listen while I cook or while we are having dinner etc. This is why I chose the DA-1.1's instead of the Ulysses--they are more suited to an open floor plan whereas the Ulysses is more about listening from the sweet spot. Having said that there is no doubt that I do not have my DA-1.1's optimized for two channel listening. I'd love to have a larger room and move them further into the listening space. I also wish I did not have a large entertainment center to contend with between the speakers. All these things I'm sure diminish the ability of the speakers to "disappear" in the way Tvad would like. I will say, however, that the DA-1.1's are very forgiving in terms of placement and I'm getting really good sound--I've heard many, many other systems in many other rooms--just as things are. Though I haven't had the pleasure of hearing them, I'd also agree, Marco, that Lou's reference series speakers are probably among the best available in terms of the kind of disappearing act that Tvad would like to attain.

One last thing--not sure I got the tube trap reference--none are used in my room.

You and I are in the same boat, Dodgealum. Probably like many here we have to use what we have the best we know how. The tube trap reference was referring to your runaround of using, perhaps unknowingly, substitutes for actual tube traps. Your corner bookshelf and a house plant probably do a very similar service in breaking up the two back corners of the room :-) Again, no disrespect was intended in the least bit in anything I said. Since Grant seemed to be asking about one area of performance, and you made a very specific response, I just thought that I should point out that your observations (as anyone's) should be put into perspective. Grant's response occurred to me as very 'finite', though he may not have meant it that way.

By way of a personal example; I've had several pairs of Silverline SR17 monitors over many years. I've used them in perhaps half a dozen different rooms with various systems. In some they did an astounding disappearing act (which I believe is a strong suit of that speaker), while in others their soundstaging abilities were limited by the room, the system or both. Had I only had the less ideal room/system to judge them by I would probably opine that they were lacking in that area. So there is yet another consideration in reflecting upon answers of such a query. Just food for thought, I guess.

Gotcha! The bookshelf and plant are there for "decorative purposes"--I never really thought of them as having any sonic benefit but I suppose they do help to some degree. Thanks for clarifying and absolutely no offense taken regarding any of your remarks. Someday I'm going to head out to Lou's shop and see what his speakers can do in a dedicated space with the right electronics. It may be a real eye opener!

I just took delivery of my new ebonized walnut DA-RMa's this afternoon; Lou tells me they need another 70-100 hours to really sing at their best. After about 1 hour I'm really pleased with the sound, soundstage and imaging. These are replacing my JM Lab Micro Utopias (modified with all cardas wire and solder) which are very nice in their own right but are going into a second system.

The DA-RMa's are certainly throwing a taller, deeper soundstage than the Micro Utopia's. So far imaging is very similar (and good). As far as doing the disappearing act, I certainly don't hear any boxlike colorations, and even this early on, I haven't had any speaker sound this 'natural' in my setup.

Just excited enough to throw out some very early impressions!! And of course I chose it, but IMHO Lou's ebonized walnut cabinet is absolutely stunningly good to look at!!