| Last Update: September 10, 2001 at 00:22:48 | IP Address: 62.254.0.6 |
| Amplifier: | Audio Innovations 800 Anniversary with Border Patrol MB (large version) choke input PSU, using 6CA7s for approx 20 watts per channel. |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Audio Innovations L2 valve line stage, modified with Hovland Musicaps and Pearl coolers. |
| Speakers: | Living Voice Auditorium, 2-way bass reflex floorstanding units with 94dB/watt sensitivity. When I can't use speakers I listen via Stax Gamma headphones through a SRX-Pro energiser. Following an insurance claim, I've just replaced the Mk. 1 Auditoriums with the latest versions and they are definitely an improvement, especially in the area of bass extension. |
| Sources: | |
| CD Player/DAC: | Micromega Drive 2 transport with Cambridge Audio DAC 3 16x16 multibit of 80s vintage. |
| Turntable/Phono Stage: | Voyd 3-motor deck with reference bearing and platter (Lexan) plus SME V arm carrying a Cartridge Man Music Maker (a specially rebuilt Grado motor with Cartridge Man suspension, cantilever and stylus). Phono stage is an Audio Innovations P2 valve unit, heavily modified by Border Patrol designer to have a BP power supply, Hovlands, Black Gates, etc. etc. Since doing this, Gary Dews the designer is doing this and similar upgrades to all Audio Innovations equipment - worth a look on the Border Patrol website. |
| Other Source(s): | Naim 01 tuner with 5-element aerial Aiwa AD-F950 cassette deck |
| Other Accessories/Room/Misc.: | |
| Speaker Cables/Interconnects: | Most I/Cs are Kimber PBJ with one KCAG from pre to power, one Cable Talk Studio and one Hifi World silver-plated copper IC to headphone energiser for Stax SR Gammas. Speaker cables are Kimber 8TC bi-wire. QED CD-DAC digital link |
| Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.): | Living Voice and Kimber power cords, Living Voice mains blocks, RATA supersocket, Sound Organisation wall shelf for TT, 5-tier ZO38 for preamps, PSUs, tuner and cassette deck, 2-tier ZO21 for CD/DAC and power amp. |
| Tweaks: | Cetech carbon fibre composite shelves on the racks with sub-platforms for the preamps, CD transport and tuner/PSU, a second isolation frame on the wall shelf, everything coned. Loudspeakers on SOS (Speaker Optimisation Sandwich) carbon-fibre composite platforms between cabinet and plinth. Dedicated mains spur using 30A cooker cable. |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 11'9 x 11'8 x 8'0 |
| Room Comments/Treatments: | Brick and block construction with sofa and easy chair, TV recessed into fireplace, record & CD storage on one side, open alcove into front room to help break up resonances, which are not severe, despite square floor plan. Speakers are clear of walls and heavily toed in on supplied plinths, spiked to suspended board floor (argh!) |
| Music Preferences and Comments: | |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Classical (Beethoven, Saint-Saens, Haydn, Bach, Shostakovich) Jazz, (Davis, Marsalis (all), Peterson, Coltrane, Dolphy) Rock (Tull (early), Yes, plus more 70/80s embarrassing stuff), female vocals (Vega, Amos, Chapman, Michell) Minimalist (Reich, Nyman) |
| System Goals/Comments: | To regain a decent-sized listening room and to wring the best out of what I've got on the kit front. |
| System Strengths: | Excellent dynamics and very lifelike on all genres of music. |
| System Weaknesses: | The room and the CD side isn't up to the TT quality - but then my CD collection stayed with my ex... |
| Video/HT System: Integrated | |
| TV/Projector: | Sony 21" NICAM TV with Aiwa NICAM VCR plugged into one of the line stage's aux inputs. Doesn't sound bad at all! |
| URL Link: | |
| Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation: | Reading, keeping fit, cycling (road), cooking, trying to keep my eldest children from eating each other... |