Listening room lighting that won't cause problems

120 volt and low volt tungsten halogen produce the most beautiful light, much superior to flickering fluorescent or traditional low color temperature bulbs. I use only tungsten halogen, mostly Lightolier, throughout my home. There are a dozen or more inside or near my listening room and I have no noise problems.

It is possible for some low voltage lighting to produce audible hum from their electronic or mechanical transformer when converting 120 Volt line to 12 volt, or whatever voltage the fixture operates.

What I like most about low voltage lighting is the choice of bulbs available. My fixtures are switchable from 5.5 volt to 12 volt. Osram, GE and Phillips are only a few of the companies that manufacture compact halogen bulbs in these two voltages. They are available in spreads from extreme wide flood to pinpoint spot. The GE Display type bulb burns close to true 3200K color and maintains a 2 degree spread, producing a grapefruit size spot over a 20 foot span. This is particularly useful for highlighting a piece of art or sculpture, or playing across the grill of a speaker to show texture and add interest.

The most beautiful light for software is the Lightolier framers. These are designed for framed art and have an adjustable lens, choice of masks and movable shutters. With these three adjustments you can spread a perfect light onto your LP's (or CD's) and not illuminate shelves, walls or any of your equipment. Perfect for creating a striking look a dark room.

The only negative with some of these is cost. The more exotic Lightolier fixtures are very expensive. If possible arrange your wiring to be controlled by multiple switches. My listening room lighting is controlled by 9 separate switches. Any number may be used separately or together to make the room as dark and dramatic or brightly lit as desired.

If you plan the placement of the wiring and choose combination of fixed and track mounts (as I did), you can position any combination of fixtures and bulbs, producing the ultimate in flexibility to set any mood or light level.

I suggest seeing these fixtures in action at a specialty lighting company if possible. Until you see this type of light in person, you cannot imagine all the possibilities they are capable of.

In My home most of the lights are Compact flouroscent lights(CFL) with electronic ballsts.They do degrade the TV picture and sound from my stereo.I resorted to sticking a a one and half inch square of ERS sheet on all ballsts and other transformersfor the telephone etc.It is better,but not as good as turning of the flouroscent lights.I prefer halogen lights

Albertporter -- also a lighting guru -- is there no end to your expertise!

Here is a question that has baffled countless lighting "experts" in NYC and London:

I love the look of what I am pretty sure are low voltage halogen spots, that look more "soft" than "hot" and the bulb is a wide diameter (6"?)fixture that reminds me of a huge flashlight or a dentist's lamp.

The nifty thing about these fixtures is that they cast a very directional spot where the lit object appears brilliantly illuminated but the rest of the room remains dark and there is no glare from the side of the fixture. Just a guess, but I think you could get a 12-24" beam from at least 20 or so feet away.

I first noticed fixtures like this in the Metropolitan Museum's antiquities gallery -- it is very dramatic lighting. And I have later noticed that it is occasionally used in restaurants where the room is dimmed but the beam is on a flower on the table, for example.

Every time I request this, however, I am usually shown the tiny (2"?) halogen bulbs -- typically seen in every lighting shop -- with the iridescent, rainbow purpley, color on the outside of the bulb and otherwise given dull blank stares by the "experts".

Maybe you know these more common fixtures and have gotten them to look good, but by comparison to me, they look very "hot", they leak an aggressive glare around the edges, the beam is not nearly as narrow or directional and they can just look a bit nasty.

Any idea what I am talking about or which supplier might have the museum bulb?

I think shining one on a Rockport turntable on a pedestal, or perhaps a ML 30 and 31 stacked combo in an otherwise darkened listening room might increase my happiness and listening pleasure.

Thanks.

Cwlondon, the bulbs you are describing are best used in ceiling mount fixtures where the bulb is contained in a can. The face of the bulb is all that shows, making the problems you describe mostly a non issue.

The bulbs you like the look of are called PAR Lamps, and the manufacturer numbers are as follows:

GE Halogen Performance Plus 50 PAR 36 ( I like wide flood in 50 watt and 12 volt)

GE Halogen Performance Plus 50 PAR 36 Display, 50 watt 5.5 volt (The absolute smallest beam spread available, I estimate 2 degrees).

Phillips 50 PAR 36 VNSP Compact. (Very Narrow Spot) this is 50 watt and 12 volt.

Sylvania 50 PAR 50 watt 12 volt 4 degree.

Osram (Germany) AR 111. 50 Watt 12 volt 4 degree, with UV stop.

This Osram German bulb produces the most beautiful color because of it's open architecture No glass face, just a black bar across to hold the filament and peanut capsule with the gas. The glass in other fixtures changes over time, because of the intense heat.

The most flexible fixture for these (in my opinion) is the Lightolier Dramalux museum, switchable from 12 volt to 5.5 volt (uses ALL PAR 36 bulbs) and accepts two accessories, such as filters and scrims.

For your turntable, the color is more beautiful if you scrim the stock bulb with a magenta (heat proof) gel. These are available from Rosco. In fact, their free Super Swatch book contains all the heat resistant filters you might consider, some are large enough to use without having to order a larger size.

Albert, you are a treasure of hard-earned experience! Thanks to all for the responses so far.

Fortunately, I live in NYC, and just a few blocks from the Bowery lighting district, where all this stuff can be found and demoed.