This audiophile project, a three-year effort completed in 1997, consists of four purpose-built rooms: A control room housing source components and software; a technical room housing amplifiers and electrical power equipment; an isolated chamber for the light-valve projector; and the auditorium itself. Floating concrete floors, double concrete walls, custom acoustical devices and other aggressive measures ensure unprecedentedly low noise levels—approaching NC-0—and extremely high sonic realism.

Seating in the 35 ft. long, 23 ft. wide auditorium is on three levels. The sprung (floating) stage and first seating tier utilize an innovative construction developed for the project by Keith Yates Design Group that affords nearly complete absorption of early reflections; the subjective result is significantly improved tonal and spatial precision.

The playback system is built around Mark Levinson source equipment and 7 Levinson monaural class-A power amplifiers; 3 Wilson X-1 loudspeakers; 6 Wilson WATT/Puppy surround speakers; and a pair of e-Quake sub-subwoofers operating in the 5-20Hz range and driven by a proprietary signal processor.

Perhaps the most ambitious projects of its type in the world, the room also includes state-of-the-art video componentry to allow for screening of motion pictures via widescreen video and surround sound. A/V installation by Cello/ESC, Aspen.

The left, center and right Wilson X-1 speakers (right) rest on a massive concrete floating stage (spring detail, upper left). Surround sound is provided by six Wilson WATT/Puppy speakers (not shown).

Performance-Based Room Design (sm)

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