The Sequel - Masterlu's McIntosh Home Theater Masterpiece

[mchydro]

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure to spend some time with Ivan a.k.a Masterlu and his fabulous McIntosh home theater system in South Florida. It was the second time I experienced the sheer magic of his system and this most recent excursion further reinforces my belief that this has to be the finest audio/video system in the world.

Masterlu, one never to be complacent, constantly incorporates upgrades into his system that further push its performance deeper and deeper into the outer limits of modern technology. In just over six months, the time that passed from my first visit to my second, Masterlu added and upgraded a staggering amount of equipment and accessories. According to Ivan, here is what he has done in that period of time:

Added a 2nd JL Audio Gotham G213
Added a Rane SAC 22 active crossover
Upgraded from McIntosh MC501 to MC1.2KW amplifiers for the surrounds speakers (McIntosh XR27's)
Added a McIntosh MCD500 SACD/CD Player
Added a PS Audio Power Plant Premier
Upgraded his previous Blu-Ray player to the Pioneer Elite BDP-09FD
Upgraded his previous video scaler to the Lumagen Radiance XD
Added ASC TubeTraps and CinemaPanels
Upgraded the cooling fans in the McIntosh MS750 music servers to SilenX Ixtrema Pro 60x25mm 12dBA 18 CFM
Had a complete video calibration performed

If you read my first review of this system, you know how absolutely blown away I was by its capabilities – imagine having instant access to live musical performances and film direct from the big studios' mastering facilities. That's what this is like, only better. At a concert or at a movie theater you benefit from powerful dynamic sounds and a large picture, however the distortion present in the equipment used to deliver the experience coupled with external factors such as crowd noise, less than ideal listener placement and poor room acoustics take away from the experience. In this room, all of those problems get thrown out the window. When it comes time for a movie, everything disappears and I mean everything, not a single light from the myriad of components distracts from the experience of the massive image that looms before your face. Audio is presented against absolute dead silence. To summarize, this is a reference system with reference components and it is very evident that a great amount of attention to detail has been followed by its owner. And this certainly isn't just a room with components stacked in it. It has the feel of a museum with “top shelf” components showcased in the behemoth mahogany entertainment center. Yet with the extreme complexity of this setup of over 40 McIntosh components, not a single wire is visible. As if the eye-candy of all that McIntosh gear weren't enough, framed and autographed movie posters carefully line the gorgeous walls. Even a life-size bust of Ironman sits atop a custom-made pedestal. You know you are in the room of an audio and video connoisseur (or aficionado as has become the popular term of late). The room is simply exquisite.

As for the changes Masterlu incorporated, here were the effects that I noticed. Keep in mind each of these changes could warrant a separate review individually, yet I'll try to briefly summarize all of them together. The second JL Audio Gotham sub allowed for an even more profound amount of super clean, powerful and extremely fast bass than before. Yet this added bass blended perfectly together with the main speakers thanks to the precisely configured Rane SAC 22 active crossover. And the way Ivan has the Rane configured in his system, he now benefits from the presence of the Gothams in the signal no matter what source is playing. Overall, the room's bass was better balanced than before – something I wouldn't have thought possible. This is also probably due in part to the improved room acoustics which I will get to shortly.

A subtle but noted change was the upgrade of the surround speaker amps from McIntosh MC501's to MC1.2KW's. In multichannel music listening, the surrounds were better able to seamlessly blend with the front and center channels in terms of dynamics. That is no easy feat when the surround speakers are trying to keep up with a tri-amped pair of McIntosh XRT2K's and an XCS2K center speaker.

The McIntosh MCD500 SACD/CD Player seemed like just an additional source to Masterlu's arsenal of sources. However with it and the magic bestowed upon it by the PS Audio Power Plant Premier with ultra clean, sub 0.5% distortion AC power, Ivan spun up an SACD stereo track that I personally requested to hear, The Edgar Winter Group's “Frankenstein”. This track absolutely rocked. Imaging of the saxophone was front and center, right where it should be. The guitar, bass, synthesizer and drums were presented in such stunning realism and simply enveloped the room. It's almost impossible to explain while giving it justice. You know that feeling when you were a kid and had just gotten off of a roller coaster? You were fresh off of an adrenaline high and simply craved for more. That's how I felt after listening to that song on Ivan's system. I simply craved to hear more. This was clean, fast, loud, tall, wide, deep, articulate, all surrounding, powerful, dynamic sound you don't hear everyday, unless of course, you're lucky enough to be Ivan. I am still simply stunned.

I'd like to mention a couple of observations on the room acoustics. Ivan added a couple of standard ASC TubeTraps in the front room corners as well as a custom made one behind one of the Gothams in the rear of the room. He also added several CinemaPanels throughout the room. The results were fabulous. Bass remained powerful in the system. Thanks to the TubeTraps, there was no chance for low frequency muddiness to occur from the lingering effects of standing waves. Bass attack and decay were more pronounced than before. This produced a tightness to the bass and made hearing distinct bass notes even easier and more pleasing. Another effect was that even at low to moderate listening levels, the bass was still potent. The CinemaPanels added a spooky blackness to the room and even made conversation and movie dialogue easier to understand and hear. And finally, Ivan mentioned that he changed out the stock fans that were in his music servers and replaced them with SilenX Ixtrema Pro's 60x25mm 12dBA 18 CFM. Not that I ever noticed his music servers making any noise during my previous visit, Ivan stated that on certain occasions he could hear them. Once he replaced the fans with the SilenX Ixtrema Pro's, the servers were dead silent - yet another sign of the perfectionist we know as Ivan.

The changes to the video in Masterlu's home theater system were equally stunning. The triple punch of the new Pioneer Elite BDP-09FD Blu-Ray player, the Lumagen Radiance XD video scaler and a
complete calibration produced video of such quality I have never seen before. Ivan started my first demo with scenes from the Blu-ray “HD IMAX: Super Speedway”, featuring Mario and Michael Andretti and The Newman/Haas Racing Team. Talk about an adrenaline rush! I was presented with the sights (and sounds) of the racetrack. I can't stress enough that this wasn't like watching any television I ever seen. The images produced by this Sony G90 projector system simply have to be seen to be believed. Think long and hard about what the word lifelike means. Easy, right? Just look at your surroundings. That's what Ivan's video system produces, lifelike imagery. The Blu-ray version of the Universal Studios motion picture “Wanted” with James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman was presented with absolute clarity as well. I was totally engaged in the movie. After all, that is what a great theater system should do. And this system does this with ease. Crystal clear video and stunning audio with zero distractions. It doesn't get better than what I saw.

To summarize, Masterlu's home theater system is a masterpiece: a modern marvel of engineering. If you ever get a chance like I have to see this system, please do yourself a favor and seize the opportunity. Words and even pictures simply do not do it justice. I believe my fellow AA'ers who have been there will agree. Thanks again, my friend!

-mchydro

[Masterlu]

Michael, you have some very serious writing skills!

The pleasure was all mine, and I appreciate your detailed review.

[jdandy]

mchydro.......What a great write up. Fun to read. I almost felt like I had experienced with you. Thanks.

[Vintage Pete]

Mchydro...a great writeup, to say the least. I've visited twice; the last time this last November. I've experienced some, but not all, of the upgrades you mentioned. He did have the second Gotham, the 1.2K surround upgrades, and the MCD500 in place at that time. I don't think he had the PPP in place at that time. (correct me if I'm wrong Ivan-I don't remember it being mentioned, but there is so much to take in!)


The system is, as you say, a masterpiece; and the room is beyond exquisite. It's really an experience...the only way to fully understand it is to experience it. It will redefine what you thought the state of the art was....


Pete

[Masterlu]

Thanks Pete, I didn't have the PPP or ASC room treatments then. Nor did I have the new video gear.

Looks like another visit!

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Thanks Pete, I didn't have the PPP or ASC room treatments then. Nor did I have the new video gear.

Looks like another visit!

Ivan,

I didn't think so....I knew you didn't have the ASC room treatments, that's a pretty recent thing. I wasn't postive on the PPP, but I was pretty sure you didn't have it then. I didn't even attempt to delve into what upgrades you did or didn't have on the video side...I'm not nearly as up on that side of things as I am with audio...

As to another visit....I would love to do that. I don't think I can stand to wait until the next extravaganza! (and I can't even imagine where the system will be by then )

Pete

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Michael, you have some very serious writing skills!

You certainly do, and you should put them to good use by contributing to the great American novel that's being written on AA.

Maggie-Ann Tosh and her sorority sisters are in grave danger ...

Alberto

[-E-]

Originally Posted by mchydro

Added a Rane SAC 22 active crossover

About time on that one, eh?

[hkval]

Mchydro - an A+ on your report from this retired high school teacher. I recently experienced a listening session at the Master's home and your description is perfect. I thought last May that his theater could not be improved upon and realized a month ago that I was wrong. I was riding in the car with Mario and reaching out to touch Shakira. What I love about AudioAficionado is that any improvement anyone makes to their system has a positive effect on all of us. This is great fun and great family.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by hkval

Mchydro - an A+ on your report from this retired high school teacher. I recently experienced a listening session at the Master's home and your description is perfect. I thought last May that his theater could not be improved upon and realized a month ago that I was wrong. I was riding in the car with Mario and reaching out to touch Shakira. What I love about AudioAficionado is that any improvement anyone makes to their system has a positive effect on all of us. This is great fun and great family.

hkval....I'd like you to know that I've been finding myself repeatedly looking at your recent photos and I must say your system is very, very nice indeed. In particular, those 1.2K's are making me

You are one to stay away from if one wants to avoid the flu!!

Pete