Forums https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl AUDIO FORUMS >> Home Theater >> Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1596901365 Message started by CharlieinVB on 08/08/20 at 16:42:45

Title: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by CharlieinVB on 08/08/20 at 16:42:45 I'm a newbie to the Decware world but have done enough research to decide that I want to invest in these amps.  Both the products and the company seem to be well regarded.  I will soon have the Zen Ultra as the centerpiece for this system.  I currently own a Black Ice Audio tube amp that I will upgrade to (I believe) a Torii.  The Tori will power two La Scalas.  I've two questions for this well-informed audience.   1) Does the attached schematic make sense to you?  If not, suggestions? 2) What should I use to power the center channel in an HT setup? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I will attach pictures as the system takes shape.  :)

Title: Re: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by CharlieinVB on 08/08/20 at 16:57:30 Also, as an FYI - I stream all my music through the Bluesound now using Qobuz.  No vinyl, no CDs.  There's an Oppo player in the mix, but we mostly just stream movies as well.

Title: Re: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by 4krow on 08/08/20 at 20:32:21 I only wish that I had your talent for posting logical, easy to understand diagrams like this one. I have been a previous owner of many things Decware. For what you have shown, I nothing wrong with your choices. As always, the real test is to use these units and hear them for yourself. If I am not mistaken, there is a return policy from Decware, but i have not ever had to use it. I am also hoping that you will address your listening room with what it will need for sound reproduction. Not being a salesman here, just that any untreated room has less chance of sounding decent without consideration for the 'sound' of the room itself. Back to Decware; The products that you have chosen are probably the same as I have wanted but can't afford at the time. You will have plenty of power, versatility, and options for what tubes to use where than you might imagine. Between the amps and the speakers chosen here, you are likely to hear every note, good or bad from recordings that you thought you knew well.

Title: Re: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by CharlieinVB on 08/10/20 at 11:51:25 Thank you for the diagram compliment 4krow.  The Ultra is now in place.  Spent a couple of hours yesterday working with it.  It's an interesting piece of hardware.  The system sounds great, although it's hard to tell if the Ultra adds depth to the music.  Would be nice to set up a simple A/B test moving the Ultra in/out of the mix, but I'm not sure I want to bother with it.  Going to experiment today with using an older NAD 7125 for the center channel. Will likely stay with this configuration while learning more about the Ultra.

Title: Re: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by Xarro on 09/23/20 at 19:50:09 I am using Qobuz too and it works fine

Title: Re: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by SteveB on 11/02/20 at 23:13:20 I like your diagram, it makes perfect sense to me.  I see that you are working with a 3.1 system for now. My first introduction to the audiophile world was a pair of Klipsch La Scala's my neighbor had. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for Klipsch. I would consider the Rachel (SE34i.5). I would try it monoblocked for your center channel. I would also try it out in stereo on your La Scalas to see if it would work and have enough power. If it does you could use an SE84UFO monoblocked on your center. If your plan is to migrate to a 5.1 system to a pair of Rachels and a super Zen Triode might be the ticket. For the rear speakers I would get a cute little pair of bookshelf speakers like the Heresy speakers or a pair of Cornwalls. I am assuming that your Yamaha has built in amps and 5.1(min) outputs. Down the road you will update to a surround processor (preamp). Look into Outlaw Audio, you can get one for around $1,000. They are well regarded and it can be dumbed down to 5.1...I read the manual. If I ever decide to get back into home theater I would consider the Theta Digital Casablanca processor. A Casablanca V would be more than I want spend on a processor. I would start out with a Casablanca III or Casablanca III hd. Used they go for under  $2k. Use it as is until I decide I like it and I am willing to upgrade it. The firmware is also upgradeable. Why the Casablanca? Go big or go home.  The Casablanca is modular. The III can be updated to a V. Ten years from now the V can be updated to an VIII or whatever model number they are on. They have been making these since the mid 90's. Since I would be connecting to Decware power amps I would save some money by reusing the older output cards that have an XLR and RCA output for each channel. I would also reuse the analog input card. That could save me some money. I would have to update the video input card and the digital input card. I might consider the cost of adding one of their six channel XLR output cards for future use. The other neat feature the Casablanca has to offer is that you can set up presets for different "modes". One mode for Stereo, one mode for Stereo with a sub, one for surround with a sub and one without for late at night when you don't want to disturb others. Each mode can have different crossover points for your subs. One for music and one for movies. I have a 40+ page manual to read. The Zen Ultra would be last piece in the puzzle for me. I understand what it does. I am aware of the problems it solves. I love the whole concept of what it is. It is a very important part of the ultimate system. I know you bought it first and I will not say you are wrong. You did what made sense to you. You are taking your time and doing a lot of careful research. I know there are many other surround processors out there at many price points. I would set up a surround system that would be different from yours. I would have pair of front speakers and a pair of rear speakers. For me the center and subs are optional. Because you have a pair of La Scalas you probably have them set up in a larger room and you need the center to lock the dialogue to your display. The La Scala's trade efficiency for bass response so you need a subwoofer. I hope you can get them to play nice together. It is not easy matching a sub with a pair of La Scalas. Speaking of subs you might want to look into a distributed bass array. That involves at least four subwoofers. There is the Audiokinisis Swarm. There is another company building it under license: https://jamesromeyn.com/audiokinesis-speaker-models/debra/ That page explains everything. Thank you for my little flight of fantasy. I have shared how I would set things up. It is on my bucket list, but I am having fun with my two channel systems for now. I do have a 20+year old 5.1 system set up in the basement. I hardly use it. Sorry for the long post. I hope you find some of the information helpful. I know I do sometimes think out of the box, but I mostly try to be smarter than the box. I would also like to welcome you to the Decware family. Enjoy your system and the journey as it grows.

Title: Re: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by Steve Deckert on 11/02/20 at 23:46:00 Your diagram is great!  I see no problems other than how it will sound on movies. Using the Yamaha as a preamp/processor feeding the ULTRA will sound very much like the Yamaha feeding whatever you had connected to the ULTRA without an ULTRA. It is getting hard to find these days, but a discrete 5 or 7 channel bluray player like the old Oppo's or perhaps a new Denon DN500BD, which is what I use, would sound noticeably better on serious movies connected directly to the ULTRA with nothing in-between. In my home theater rig, I use 6 watts on the center channel, 6 watts on the 94dB rear channels, and 6 watts on the 99dB main channels.  My room is 17 x 27 x 12+ and no issues with volume.  So you could run an SE34I.5 on the mains, another on the rears, and a bridged SE84UFO on the center.

Title: Re: Converting to DecWare - Looking for advice Post by hells on 12/08/20 at 21:55:01 Code: Your diagram is great!  I see no problems other than how it will sound on movies. Using the Yamaha as a preamp/processor feeding the ULTRA will sound very much like the Yamaha feeding whatever you had connected to the ULTRA without an ULTRA. It is getting hard to find these days, but a discrete 5 or 7 channel bluray player like the old Oppo's or perhaps a new Denon DN500BD, which is what I use, would sound noticeably better on serious movies connected directly to the ULTRA with nothing in-between. In my home theater rig, I use 6 watts on the center channel, 6 watts on the 94dB rear channels, and 6 watts on the 99dB main channels.  My room is 17 x 27 x 12+ and no issues with volume.  So you could run an SE34I.5 on the mains, another on the rears, and a bridged SE84UFO on the center. Do you use a ZTPRE for your remote control volume Steve? I believe that's why OP would be using the Yamaha.

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