[thunderbrick]

I would try them move closer to you and more into the room.
Or try the HK setup, go to the rack and listen from there, just try it and report back

I did move them forward, and the Gladiator sound track certainly benefits from the move! 

What's the HK setup?  I would go to the rack and listen, but she's not here tonight.

[thunderbrick]

Guys, it's working!  Been creeping the spikkers forward into the room, and the Lord of the Rings soundtrack is sounding better and better!  Will bring them farther still, and when I get 'em right (awfully close now) I'll make templates that I can line up using the floor mounted plates as a references.

The cool thing is that I don't have to play them as loud!  Seems more relaxing at moderate volumes, but I am still getting all the detail, the air, the everything!  And I haven't even hooked up the second amp yet!   

[thunderbrick]

Update:  Les Miz original cast recording on vinyl, and I am very familiar with the record.

Much more detail, and by that I don't mean details for details' sake.  I am much more aware of the little nuances in the vocals, and subtle little musical cues, such as gongs, bells or a muted triangle, take their proper place in the music.  I can hear when a singer moves downstage relative to the others.  Massed voices are not just a big crowd, but lots of individual singers.  Same with strings.

What I can't get past in all of this is how real, how human the sound is.

And I have to tell you, I had a severe case of buyer's remorse when I set these up next to the 1.6s.  Made the room so crowded and were so physically overwhelming that I thought "I spent nearly $8K on these??  I gotta be NUTS!"

Now that I have all the other stuff out of the way, and with the help of Honorary GASser "berni"  and others who made placement suggestions, I am now saying.  "Jeez!  This sound music cost only $8K??  That's a friggin' BARGAIN!"  I can't even imagine what the 20.7s sound like!   

[coverto]

That space between the speakers is BEGGING for a nice pull-down screen, say 100 inches diagonal, for a video projector perched on that shelf behind your couch... something like a Panasonic PT-AE4000U... You have the PERFECT room for this... 

[thunderbrick]

The irony is that since I got the 20s, I have watched about 20 minutes of TV.   
That gives you an idea of the allure of these speakers, and the lousy state of most TV programs.   

Plus, the boss is out of town (right, Bob?  ), and I want to take advantage of the chance to play it loud and late.   

Just put on "Aspen Gold"  the Kingston Trio Nautilus Super Disc of 30+ years ago.    I simply can't believe the little subtle sounds that weren't there with my ML Quests, DQ-10s, Maggie 1.6s, and whatever else I've owned over the decades.

Edit:  Even the Sound Lab A-3s that I auditioned for a week at home 20 years ago couldn't hold a candle.

[berni]

Your room is awesome, I see a lot of hard work in it and I am pleased to see another one working hard to achieve his goals.
About 20.7 ..  they woudn't sound any better then your 20.1 if not set up properly, you have all the possibilities to try almost everything, so go for it. Take time and listen well, you will explore it by yourself easily.
When pulling them further in the room, you really get the real low end without booming and a crystal clear highs not disturbed by reflection(especially  with your windows and TV behind speakers). Have you try them with no toe in??
The HongKong setup is a kind of  reverse listening, in your setup go and listen from the place where the TV is set up, you will then fell the large place behind the speakers as a depth and not over crowded(with musicians) stage. Try to imagine a orchestra located behind your speakers in both setups. Do you know what I mean by that? Especially large orchestral music with lot of instruments or voices  gain a lot, they get the air to move a breathe free.
here the HK setup:
You can try  it, I somehow like the combination of it..
http://www.audioworld.com/sw/Forum1/HTML/008195.html
Oh.. you think that the speakers are much to close to you, just close your eyes and the large panel will disapear and you will get a better feeling. I takes a while to get used to this large walls in front of you.

[berni]

Any news or did you slammed your house with 20.1?

[thunderbrick]

Berni, I had a busy weekend of photography and working on taxes.   

Somehow the system seems a little muted, and I am considering moving the speakers back about a foot.

STILL haven't hooked up the 2nd amp yet.   

Since the 20.s arrived I've watched less than an hour of the Idiot Box.

[berni]

Seems like we all have the same problem.. no time to enjoy music. 
Muted? are you near your sitting position?  I don't think you came so far, if you can, try to  move a feet or so towards you, maybe you win again.
I have the music on and my 19 months old son is sleeping 5 feet away,it doesn't bother him , looks like  he is used to listen to MG music.

[thunderbrick]

Update:  Had a rough few days, didn't do much listening, but tonight was perfect!

Got some LPs from ebay today in SUPER condition, mostly folk and small-combo jazz.  The soundstage seemed waaaaaaaay too wide, as if the tweeters were on the outside.

Pulled the speakers about 1.5-2 ft closer together and put on Chesky Records "Power of the Orchestra", a disc I know well, to get an idea of what the 20.1s can do with a kick-ass orchestral recording.

Holy crap!  Detail, timbre, subtlety, depth, layering, air, placement, instruments that sound like they are almost coming from behind me.  And I am still running a single small-ish amp!

 

Can't wait to hear the Reference Recording LPs of "Church Windows" and "Symphonie Fantastique!"

Now if I can get the damned bird to stop squawking in my ear when the flutes play...................

Edit: On "The Great Gate of Kiev" in Pictures at an Exhibition the trumpet has the real "bite" of brass, the harp has genuine warmth, xylophone sounds like actual wood with a nice decay/echo, but NEVER have I heard anything like this before!

More later in the week.  Gotta finish taxes tomorrow night, and teach Thursday night.

[berni]

Thats my man!
I would really love to see you try the HK setup, just take some minutes to pull the 20.1 out and listen. First listen in your usuall position, then go on the other side. Try always to stay within the equilateral triangle.
If you don't like it I will resign from my  holly position at GAS, but I'm certain I won't have to.

[berni]

Sorry, but thunder we need more new info on your listening, positioning .... . Did you come to the conclusion you could need even more slam then provided from 20.1?

[thunderbrick]

Uh, I have been traveling nearly constantly for the past three weeks, but there has been a disturbance in the force.   More info in a few days. 

[SteveFord]

That disturbance doesn't involve Jenny and a bowl of blueberries, does it?

[berni]

That disturbance doesn't involve Jenny and a bowl of blueberries, does it?

Girls and drinking again? 

[thunderbrick]

That disturbance doesn't involve Jenny and a bowl of blueberries, does it?

No, that little darling is currently at a "Pet Resort"............   When I'm on the road 4 days out of 7 I had to find a sitter.  I don't think my commander would believe me if I told her the little crapping machine picked the cage lock and flew away.

[SteveFord]

To help round out this review, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would appreciate seeing a picture of this winged digestive tract.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Check page 11, post #207.

[SteveFord]

I must have blotted it from my memory.
The horror...

[Bob in St. Louis]

I understand what you're saying Steve. There's something about the way the creature is staring. Almost like it's locking its sights on what's below.
Like a WWI bomber getting ready to release it's payload.

I'm thinking Bob should start wearing a wide brimmed hat.

Bob (the other one)