Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

Gak!'s Kid-proof? Nope...... System
IP Address: 71.198.156.79	Last Update: July 23, 2011 at 11:02:51
Amplifier:	Wavelength Audio Triton Signature New Century Edition 300B monoblocks. 17 WPC. WE 300Bs and Sophia Princess 300B Meshplates, mood dependant. My son voted for the WE tubes. He trashed one of the Sophias after carefully removing the amp cover I had made with him in mind, and pulling vigorously sideways to remove one of the tubes. New set on order. 100# cement bags also on order to place on top of amp covers. Singlepower Supra Extreme XLR for my headphones. Son voted against WE, here. Bent the heck outta the pins on a pair of WE 396A input tubes. I win, though... after careful application of brute force, the tubes fit in the adapters again. Tung Sol 7236s in the output sockets. Tom Evans Audio Design Soul stereo power amp. 15WPC of SET KT88. Currently using JJ KT88/Cs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Sequerra PA-1 Mk 2 (Solid state. I know, I know, it's sand... but it's really good sand!) Dick made this one with a triple - regulated power supply, not batteries. All switches and knobs checked for operational integrity by my son on a daily basis.
Speakers:	Vaughn Cabernets. 93dB, 8 Ohm nominal, 12 Ohm in the bass, minimal crossover parts. Designed to be friendly to lower power (not flea power) tube amps. After seeing the clever driver modifications performed on my Talon Khorus by both of my children, I kinda wonder what the kids will do with all those exposed drivers on the Cabernets... Stefan AudioArt extension cable; AKG 701s with single ended SAA Equinox cable; Grado GS1000 single ended; Grado PS1000 cans with balanced stock cable.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	AIFF files on external WD 1.5TB HDD, via Firewire, 2010 Mac Mini, 2.4 GHz processor, 8GB RAM, 60GB SSD for OSX 10.6.6, iTunes and Channel D Pure Music 1.8, to Wavelength Crimson HS USB tube DAC with Denominator module
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Hopefully sometime soon. I really miss vinyl. The Sequerra has superb MM and MC phono sections. I do shudder to think what my kids might think up for phono cartridge testing, though...
Other Source(s):	Oppo BDP-83. National Enquirer; Weekly World News
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest Diamod USB, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB, JPS Aluminata ICs, Auditorium 23 speaker cables. These do not work well for jump ropes, my son informs me.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Richard Gray 1200S and 400 Pro power conditioners for sources/preamp; MIT Z-Stabilizer Power Cords: JPS Kaptovator to power conditioners, JPS Power AC+ to Z-Stabilizer; Bybee Power cords for sources, pre, power, headphone amp; 3 Dedicated 20 amp AC lines. Amps on Gingko Audio bases. Equipment 'rack' is about 300 lbs of solid Canary wood, low long shelves, with 1.5" diameter solid aluminum supports, spiked. (Yes, I'm a woodworker 'wannabe' )
Tweaks:	Ooooh, tweaks! Yeah, baby! Stillpoints for everything... now in a drawer since my son thinks its way cool to push things off the points; Bybee, Bybee, everywhere! All CDs trimmed on Audiodesk Systeme CD Lathe, and treated with AudioTop digital cleaner. Caig Pro Gold on all connections. Zerostat for CDs before I rip them. I've recently heard monthly live animal sacrifice also helps, but I'm not quite ready to go there... anybody out there got an opinion? :-)
Room Size (LxWxH):	28 x 18 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Room is widely open at back into 15' deep kitchen, Left wall has long stone fireplace, right wall has 6' wide arch opening into hallway. Speakers are 5' from front wall, 4' from side walls. Room 'treatment' is limited to furniture positioning and any strategic plants/ wall art that I can convince my wife is acceptable :o)
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Yanni, or Motorhead...If I can't get those, Blues,R&B, Jazz, 60s-90s rock, prog rock, a little classical(Classical will increase again when I add vinyl... it's never sounded right on digital)
System Goals/Comments:	To come as close as possible to the way music made me feel when I played.
System Strengths:	System operational most of the time, which is way better than the alternative. Makes me pretty happy.
System Weaknesses:	Since nothing is made of solid stainless steel, all components somewhat susceptible to further modifications by my children.
Video/HT System: Integrated
TV/Projector:	My arm was twisted hard enough, and long enough, to get rid of the 19 year-old TV. We bought a Panasonic TC-P50V10
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	Sound from satellite feed and Oppo routed into the 2 channel system
Sources (DVD/VCR):	Oppo BDP-83 universal player
Comments on HT System:	Looks okay. I just wonder when my family will let me turn it off so I can play some music!
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Oral Surgeon (Please... don't run... I'm actually a decent guy if you get to know me!) Hobbies: Spending time with my family, Stereo, minimal woodworking, recovering home-improvement addict.