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u/HarleyBoyd

▲ 3 r/wiim+1 crossposts

TT with Waxwing & Wiim Ultra or something else?

I have just finished building a retirement cabin for my wife and I. I made a small space for my tt, lps and a listening station. Would appreciate some input from others with experience setting something similar up.

First, been listening to lps since I was young (40+ years). I have always had decent setups but not what I think of as audiophile by any means. When we moved to start this build a few years back, I sold everything except my TT and a set of AudioEngine A5s I have had for years. Recently with this build, I decided to set the house up for whole home audio, video and network. So, I ran some wiring (network, speaker & HDMI) while walls were open and purchased a Wiim Ultra plus a couple Minis. I also purchased my first NAS with the intent of running a local server for music, video and our photo collection. The goal is to get away from the cloud and the need of the Internet due to our remote location. So, my goal is to integrate the TT into that system. TT is a Project Carbon with Orfton Blue cart.

At first, I was thinking to just use the Wiim Ultra's built in phono pre-amp and see how it goes. I have been using a Rolls VP-29 with the A5s for sometime now and it has been fine. However, I started thinking about what I want to accomplish both whole home wise and headphone/listening station wise. That got me considering the Park Waxwing.

Here is why -

  1. It seems like a much higher quality DSP solution than the Wiim with more overall control. Things like Magic & Air for instance.

  2. The Waxwing allows both a RCA & optical out simultaneously. This allows me to add in, say, a Schitt Magni on the analog side for a decent headphone amp and run optical to the Ultra.

  3. Another feature would be the ability to connect the Waxwing to a PC and digitize my lp collection onto the NAS.

  4. An added perk is how the Waxwing can cleanup imperfections and scratches. I have some vinyl that I am pretty sure could benefit from this truck.

So, Waxwing might be overkill for current setup, but it seems like a piece that can really integrate features right now into a complete solution and, also, will be a key piece if I make improvements to equipment down the road.

Anyone else doing all or part of this? How has the experience been? Other potential options? Would you go all in based on what I have explained or just stay basic and see how it goes?

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u/HarleyBoyd — 1 day ago
▲ 31 r/buildingscience

Redneck Engineered ERV Solution

OK, BS guys! Shred me if you want to...

I recently spent a few years of my time turning a 100+ year old shell of a small house into a modernized 1 bed/bath cabin and retirement home for my wife & I. My goal was to build something that fit our lifestyle now and as we age, was efficient & was off grid capable should we decide to add an inverter/solar/batts in the future. Electricity here has gone up 3 times in the last 3 years. Still only .13 a kwh, so not ready to invest in a system. Figure wait and see consumption first.

We live at about 4000' in climate zone 7a. So, cold wet winters and hotter/dry summers. Easily see lows in single digit negatives on winter nights and up to 100°+ in the summer afternoons.

Outside has a liquid house wrap on OSB with 2" of uninterrupted XPS insulation & rain guard behind the siding. All stud bays have hempwool installed. Mostly 2x4 with 2x6 in a vaulted ceiling area in front of cabin. House is not totally tight, but it is far more sealed than before. Decision was made to install an ERV for clean air & mold prevention. Area is prone to fires and is very dusty in the dry months. House is heated by wood stove & minisplit that also supplies AC.

2 choices for a spot in this small space to install the ERV were crawlspace or attic. Both unconditioned. Crawlspace has poly installed and insulation on foundation walls and run joists. Attic is not in envelope but there is 2" if insulation under new metal roofing.

I chose the Attic. We have a fold out ladder to get up there more easily and there is a little more room to change filters then in the crawl space . Also, was way easier to vent the system up there. Anyway, the issue that needed solved was how to ensure the ERV was efficient and did not condense in the attic.

I chose what I will call a red neck tech solution. I encased the entire ERV in both insulation and a radiant barrier. 3" on top, 2" on all sides & bottom. Has 1" airspace all around. Pick is rough in, but unit will be fully taped and sealed at all joints. Velcro ties hold the bottom on so it can be opened to service. I also installed a 13" square inline filter housing on the intake from outside to the unit. Filters are cheaper and I expect the interior will need service far less, if ever.

Tell me what you think. I have done a lot of research and have talked to other guys that did this in a similar climate. Below the unit is a small pantry room. I have considered a fan & vent to feed conditioned air into the insulated shell of the ERV. I hope I don't have to do that, but it is a potential if needed. Could be in the high 80's this week. So, a good early test may be coming.

u/HarleyBoyd — 4 days ago