Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

BadgerDMS's Dave's Dedicated Two-Channel Evolution, Multiple Rooms System
IP Address: 173.73.142.223	Last Update: July 12, 2011 at 23:32:00
Amplifier:	Joule Electra VZN 160MkIVs Synthesis Ensemble(Master Bedroom) Manley Stingray(Computer) Peachtree Audio Nova (wine room & deck)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Joule Electra LA-150
Speakers:	Merlin VSM-MX Audio Note AN-J LX (Master Bedroom) Nola Boxers (Computer)
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Ayre CX-7 eMP Consonance CD120 Linear (Master Bedroom) Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC (Master Bedroom) Bel Canto e.One 1.5 DAC (Computer)
Turntable/Phono Stage:	VPI Classic/JMW 11.5 Tonearm w/Benz Micro M2 Added Periphery Ring Clamp, Center Weight and SDS to Rig. Joule Electra OPS-2
Other Source(s):	Mac Mini Sonos ZP-90 (x3) feeding Master Bedroom, Wine Room & Deck, and Family Room/Kitchen Nakamichi BX-300 Cassette Deck
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas Golden Reference ICs and Speaker Cable On Two-Channel, Audience Au24 on phono, some Wireworld, some Black Cat. HT is a hodgepodge of Cardas, IXOS, Kimber, MIT.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Audience PowerChord on CD player. Walker Silent Source PC on Phono Stage Elrod EPS-2 Signature on Preamp. Ayre L-5xe Power Line Filter on Amps Running Springs Haley on Preamp and Source Components. Salamander Twin 30
Tweaks:	Symposium Ultra Shelf, Walker Valid Points under Preamp and Phono Stage. Walker tuning pucks, Ayre Myrtle Wood Blocks, ERS Sheets in various spots. Symposium Ultra Shelf Under CD Player. Classic has HRX Ring Clamp and Center Weight and SDS. Two dedicated AC lines, one for the amps and one for everything else. Playing around with a couple of Oyaide Outlets at Present.
Room Size (LxWxH):	23 x 23 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	2 ASC Tube traps in front corners and two in the back corners, 8 ASC sound panels sprinkled around room. ASC makes great products! Would like to get bigger tube traps for front corners. Also some Michael Green Corner Tunes.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	'Esoteric' Rock--including but not limited to 'alt country', 'trip-hop', 'old-school punk', 'acid jazz', 'regular jazz', 'power-pop', and 'female vocal'. Anything but classical and the crap they play on the radio.
System Goals/Comments:	To be immersed in music and not worry about the equipment--oh who am I kidding, I sit around and do nothing for a year and then go tweak crazy and then stop again for a while--it's a disease, get out while you can!
System Strengths:	'You are there' vocal quality--absolutely breathtaking, instruments sound full bodied and very much like the real thing, natural cohesive sound with a nice sense of space and enough detail to be captivating--with the right material absolutely spellbinding. Many old CDs and records sound like I'm listening to them for the first time.
System Weaknesses:	Heat! Not wife or kid friendly. The Merlin-Joule combo requires careful selection of upstream components (maybe too careful?) I traded some of the ultra detail the speakers are capable of for a more 'palpable' musical presentation--a weakness for some, not me. Would like to improve the room tuning--more ASC at some point.
Video/HT System: Separate
TV/Projector:	Sony KDS-R60XBR2 60' RP Microdisplay (Basement) Samsung 6400 Series 46" HDTV (Family Room) Panasonic TH 50PX75U 42" Plasma HDTV (Bedroom)
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	Marantz SR-19EX, NAD Monitor 7400 Feeding Kitchen and Dining Room Speakers
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	Dali Mentor 6 (Main), Dali Mentor Vokal (Center Channel), Snell E-IVs (Rear). Rock Solid's in Kitchen and Dining Room (for music)
Sources (DVD/VCR):	Denon DVD-2900 Universal player (fed through a Musical Fidelity A324 DAC for redbook), LG BD 390 Blu-Ray Disc Player, Toshiba HDA2 HD-DVD Player, Pioneer Laser Disk Player (very old). Sony VCR.
Other HT Gear:	Three Direct TV HR24 DVRs
Comments on HT System:	Does what it's supposed to do. Too complex for my wife and babysitter.
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Music. Movies. Mayhem. My six year old. Good food and drink.