Inmate Systems - Audio Asylum

FolkFreak 's State of the Heart System
IP Address: 71.237.161.135	Last Update: January 16, 2016 at 10:40:03
Amplifier:	VTL MB-450III 450 WPC, sufficient power to get the speakers moving, recently upgraded to Mk III, expensive but worthwhile. Now sits on Marigo F8 footers which are great pieces of kit and have done a wonderful job to remove the final smear in the system
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Research 40th Anniversary. Also sits on F8 footers, top plate removed and shelf underneath is a Marigo custom shelf
Speakers:	Magico Q3
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	dCS Paganini 4 box stack including upsampler which is well worth it as an add on, now also on Marigo VX V3 footers, have removed the DCS footers. Set up in Vivaldi mode (dual AES/EBU) swapping out the connections when I need to play SACD. Also upgraded to Tranparent Ref XL BNC for the clock made a huge difference. Power cords are Synergistic Galileo LE and AQ WEL.
Turntable/Phono Stage:	EAR Disc Master with two arms. #1 is a Durand Kairos with Air Tight PC-1. #2 is a Wand+ with a Miyajima Zero Mono. All sitting on a GrandPrix Audio Brooklands wall shelf. AudioResearch Ref 2 SE phono stage (recently upgraded, well worth it) sitting on Marigo F8 footers (and in this case sounding better with the top on)
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Synergistic Research Galileo LE speaker, AudioQuest WEL Signature interconnects for all sources and a long run (30') from Pre to Power. AQ Diamond Firewire from transport to DAC for SACD, AudioQuest Wild digital AES/EBU from transport to upsampler and a pair of same from upsampler to DAC in the DCS "Vivaldi" configuration (which sounds much better than the firewire). Transparent Ref XL with BNC for clocks
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Trick power cords throughout (mix of AudioQuest WEL for the amps and phono, SR Galileo LE for digital and pre-amp). Power from SR Powercell 10SE UEFs connected to a Torus full system on wall power conditioner with a dedicated isolated ground)
Tweaks:	GrandPrix Brooklands wall shelf for TT w carbon fibre base, Monaco for CD and preamp, Monaco amp stands, ClearAudio Double Matrix Pro for LPs, L'Art du Son for CDs. MArigo F8 and VX V3 feet throughout. Also Marigo mat for CD play.
Room Size (LxWxH):	10' x 18' x 9'
Room Comments/Treatments:	New dedicated room, designed by Art Noxon at ASC, small but sounds great -- really a large pair of headphones (need to update my pictures). Tube traps in each corner and more ASC treatment on all walls, supplemented to full Synergistic Research ART, HFT, Atmosphere &c. At the end of the day really dealing with the room made more of a difference to what I can get out of my system then any sort of component upgrade
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All comers .. female vocal a specialty ... Sandy Denny the ultimate test
System Goals/Comments:	Fun .. goosebumps ... natural detail, all the subtle cues and give and take that exists in the recording
System Strengths:	Emotion, natural detail, intimacy, mid bass detail and pace
System Weaknesses:	Now precious few, bass below 27Hz perhaps ...
Video/HT System: Separate
TV/Projector:	Bang & Olufsen Avant 55" 4K TV
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	N/A
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	N/A
Sources (DVD/VCR):	Oppo
Other HT Gear:	Apple TV
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Likes live music in small acoustic venues, wine, whisky and silly dogs