Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

yamaha29's Big Rig System
IP Address: 24.138.105.196	Last Update: July 31, 2009 at 13:59:50
Amplifier:	Yamaha MX-D1 (500w/ch)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Yamaha CX-1000
Speakers:	Yamaha NS-1000m (90db/1w) Mirage SS-1500 (subwoofers)(1500w ea.) Yamaha YH-100 (headphones)
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Yamaha CDX-5000 (as transport) Yamaha CX-1000 (has built in DAC)
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Dual CS701 tt (w Stanton 881s MKII cartridge) Yamaha YP-D8 tt (w Stanton 881s cartridge)
Other Source(s):	Yamaha DVD-S2700 (SACD/DVDA player) Yamaha T-2 (tuner) Yamaha K-960 (cass) Apple IPod Classic 120GB Wadia 170i
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Monster Sigma Retro Gold 10ft pr (banana)(amp to speakers) Monster Sigma Retro Gold 3ft pr (rca)(p.amp to Rane BB22) Monster Sigma Retro Gold 2M pr (xlr) (x-over to subs) Monster Sigma Retro Gold 1M pr (xlr) (x-over to Yamaha MX-D1) Monster Sigma Retro Gold 6ft pr (rca)(SACD/DVDA to p.amp) Monster Sigma Retro Gold .5M pr (rca) (tuner to p.amp) Monster M850 1M pr (X2)(rca) (cass to/from p.amp) Monster Ultra 1000 S-video 1M (sacd/dvd to LF-X1) Monster M1000V F-pin (antenna to tuner) Monster Sigma2000 20ft pr.(xlr)(BB22 to D-2040) Monster M1000D 2M (rca)(co-ax digital CD to p.amp) Monster Sigma2000 1M pr (rca)(phono p.amp to p.amp) tt's orig. wires (but I am looking to upgrade these)
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Tice Power Block Elite IIIA 4 HP (amp, xover & subs) Tice Power Block III HP (front end) Tripplite LC2400 line conditioner (x3)(one for the front end equipment and 2 to feed through the Tice to amp(s) and subs Yamaha DT-2 (clock/timer for cass.) TAOC AS4 equipment racks (x2) and a TAOC AS2 Target AS-1 for Wadia 170i Target T40 speaker stands Yamaha D-2040 X-over Yamaha DEQ5E Digital Equalizer Rane BB22 RCA to XLR conversion transformer Magnum Dynalab ST-2 antenna Sony LF-X1 Location free TV for using SACD & DVDA menus 3 separate balanced 20 amp dedicated lines carpet with acoustic underlay Furutech power cable with Oyaide plugs for Amp and SACD player upgrades
Tweaks:	Mod Squad Tip Toes, BDR Cones, Symposium Roller Blocks, rubber cable risers (I use keel supports and keel stops! heavy rubber and cheap like borscht!), granite slabs for amp and power conditioner stands, various cleaning accesories
Room Size (LxWxH):	15.5' x 17.5' x 8.5'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Speakers set up on long wall, I am to date using an 8 pack set of ASC Room Panels for 1st reflection control and am very happy with the sound. Floor is concrete with acoustic underlay and Shaw Mills 5 star carpet. Room has 3 walls and ceiling of drywall over concrete or concrete block. 4th wall is partially drywall and concrete. Left wall has double door into walk in closet where I keep most of my music storage. Back wall has walk in space under stairway which is on a concrete base supported with concrete block. Room needs a bit more sealing up(around doors, vents,etc. before I do anymore treatment. Also looking for really good seating just haven't found the right setup yet.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Worked in music business for 33 years (last 6 years until I retired in 2005 as Music Store Manager and Merchandising Manager for Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall in Toronto) and have accumulated 5000+ CD's, 300+ LP's, 1200+ 12" singles (DJ'ed on the side for over 16 years)during that time. This collection covers the complete gamut of styles of music and its a rare moment when I hear a piece of music that I can't find something to like about!.
System Goals/Comments:	When the recording allows, it should sound beautiful, when it's lousy I want to hear all the warts too! I have a pair of Yamaha BX-1 monoblocs being restored so am looking forward to hearing what that addition will bring to the system!
System Strengths:	Recent addition of Monster Sigma Retro Gold cables has improved an already high level of clarity, soundstage etc.! Also the new amp is quite amazing! It takes things to levels [not volume! ;)] that are quite breathtaking! When it's right with the recording the performer(s) are right there in the room with me. When the recording is great I am in the recording venue with the performer(s)! It allows my love of music to be a major enjoyment in my life anytime of the day or night! DEQ5 setup still to be done I will report back asap!
System Weaknesses:	As of the latest additions, short of major equipment changes (an audio oriented blu-ray player?) I am at a point where the music is coming through, period!
Video/HT System: Separate
TV/Projector:	As the room is not ready I haven't gotten a TV set chosen yet. With only 8' to play with a projector is out (I don't really care for them anyway). By the time I'm ready I hope they will have big LED backlight set's available. To feed my habit until then I have a 37" Sharp LCD with the 4 wavelength backlight and I like it a lot!
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	Yamaha DSP-3000 (x2) Yamaha DSR-70PRO (x2) Yamaha RX-V4600 (as a pre/processor only, by the time I get the theatre ready though this will be due for an upgrade) Yamaha M-4 (x4) 120w/ch (I going to use the B-2 as the main L-R amp when the BX-1's come "on line". Yamaha MX-55 (x6),(4 @ 106w/2ch = 8ch's),(2 @ 52w/4ch = 8ch's)
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	Realistic Minimus 11 cabinets (x5 pr.) with new drivers & x-over (my own home brew so to speak) Realistic Minimus 7 with modded x-over's (x8 pr.) At present I have 6 Energy ES-10 (10" 400w peak)subs. To complete the setup I want 4 more and then also a sub(s) for the ".1" channel. I will decide that later.
Sources (DVD/VCR):	Yamaha DVD-S2500 DVD (best 1080p up conversion I have seen to date!) Yamaha BD-S2900 Blu ray Pioneer LD-V8000 Laser Disc (heavy duty industrial model) Toshiba HD-A20 hddvd Yamaha CDX-5000 cd (modified with top line 20bit Burr Brown DAC's and beefier power supply caps) Yamaha DVD-S2700 sacd/dvda (for multi- channel SACD & DVDA recordings) Sony PS3
Other HT Gear:	Yamaha D-2040 x-over (x2)(= 8 channels) Sundholm 2ch x-over Misc. Canare and Monster cables to hook it all up!
Comments on HT System:	Starting in the new year I want to get going on the HT! I have a space put aside for this that is 21' x 30' x8' My set up has 26 channels of surround. 7 discrete (with a dual centre derived by using the DSR-70Pro which gets us to 8 ch's) plus 16 more derived channels from the 2 DSP-3000's plus a dual rear centre using the other DSR-70PRO. With all these channels and the identical speakers (the main 10 that is) I get an amazing bubble of sound that goes around and overhead as well! The upgraded speakers make a huge difference in the intelligibility and seamlessness of the sound. The new (basement)room will be a dedicated HT with a proper build for acoustics and sound control to prevent disrupting the rest of the house.
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Reading, movies. My much loved guitars (I'm not great but I like to plink away. Photography. I am restoring a 28 year old motorcycle. Currently I am doing some consulting for sound and HT systems.