Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

beto's Basic, budgety bunch of stuff. System
IP Address: 201.205.192.167	Last Update: November 30, 2008 at 08:26:04
Amplifier:	Amplifier: NAD C320BEE, 50 wpc Creek OBH-11 headphone preamp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Speakers:	Energy Connoisseur C-1 bookshelf type, over custom stands. Sennheiser HD600 headphones w/custom made Zu Mobius upgrade cable
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	NAD C521BEE
Turntable/Phono Stage:	TT - Music Hall MMF-5 w/Audio Technica AT-OC9ML/II LOMC cartridge Preamp - Jolida JD-9 tube (2x12AX7) phono stage, fitted with Electro-Harmonix 2x12AX7's
Other Source(s):	Alto Studio Mixer, M-Audio Firewire Audiophile Interface, Apple MacBook
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Speakers: Phoenix Gold Zero Point Reference II:- Twisted pair shielded cables. Interconnects: Audio Art RC-1 Reference Interconnects and Monster Cable Interlink 250 cables
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Furman Power Station PST-8 power conditioner. Mounted on Sanus Systems NF206 6-shelf audio stand.
Tweaks:	Matching weight Vibrapods above almost all components. Gutwire Notepad vibration absorbers on phono preamp and CD player.
Room Size (LxWxH):	9' x 9' x 9'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Not really a listening room but a small home office/listening room. I wish I could afford to dedicate it to listening only, and resources to improve on the acoustics. Walls are strong Sheetrock with Owens Corning interwall insulation. All A/V cables and connections are done via a custom installation of Apature internal cables and built-in wired Niles terminals through the wall.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Pretty much anything goes depending on mood - however jazz, classical and electronic/downtempo/chillout music make for about 80% of my listening time.
System Goals/Comments:	To get the most natural, 3-dimensional sound possible out of a budget system. As much as I'd love to try more exotic gear, I hope to get my expenses on the "definitive" system at $10k or less.
System Strengths:	Price / great bang-for-the-buck components / definite black backgrounds / defeatable tone controls / enough power to fill my room and then some /
System Weaknesses:	Somewhat muted treble / amp is 2-channel only. Energy loudspeakers yield a somewhat "matte" sound. Not a problem since I don't watch much movies anyway. Well, not yet. Still lacking a subwoofer.
Video/HT System: None
TV/Projector:	No TV here (yet). 2-channel audio all the way. Who needs surround?
URL Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/betobeto/2960268491/
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Sculpture modeling, cartooning, rambling on blogs and forums.