Inmate Systems - Audio Asylum

tketcham 's Main Stereo System
IP Address: 69.53.113.42	Last Update: January 11, 2024 at 05:31:23
Amplifier:	Stereo power amp 1: NAD Masters Series M22; Solid state switch mode (pulse-width modulation) using Hypex nCore technology; >250W continuous from 8 to 2 Ohms; 640W dynamic at 4 Ohms (the nominal impedance of my speakers); THD <0.003%, 20Hz to 20kHz; S:N ratio >100dB at 1W, A-weighted; 17k ohms input impedance single ended; 29 dB gain; 1.6 V input sensitivity. Used with Schiit Freya S preamp to drive Dynaudio Contour S1.4 main speakers. Stereo power amp 2: Schiit Audio Vidar; Solid state Class A/B; linear power supply; 100W RMS stereo at 8 Ohms, 200W at 4 Ohms; THD <0.01%, 20Hz-20KHz; S:N ratio >115db, A-weighted; 22k Ohms input impedance single ended; 27dB gain; 1.3 V input sensitivity. Used with Schiit Saga S preamp to drive Vandersteen VLR Wood infill speakers.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Preamplifier 1: Schiit Audio Freya S; Solid state with passive and Nexus Differential Stage buffered 0dB/12dB gain modes; THD <0.001%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 2V RMS; S:N ratio >115db, A-weighted, referenced to 2V RMS; input impedance 10K ohms and output impedance 75 ohms SE, 600 ohms balanced; relay-switch 128-step attenuator volume control. Currently using buffered 0dB (1dB) gain mode. Running balanced pre-outs to Loki Max Tone Control and single-ended pre-outs to powered subs and Saga S preamp. Had been using Freya S in passive mode before adding infill speaker setup but there wasn't enough voltage to run all three outputs. The Freya S is an impressive preamp for only $600. Preamplifier 2: Schiit Audio Saga S; Solid state with discrete two-JFET buffered 0dB gain and passive modes; THD <0.001%, 20Hz-20KHz at 1V RMS; S:N ratio >110db, A-weighted, referenced to 1V RMS; input impedance 10K ohms and output impedance 75 ohms SE; relay-switch 64-step attenuator volume control. Currently using Saga S in buffered mode with Schiit Vidar power amp to drive infill speakers. Tone control 1: Schiit Audio Loki Max; 6-band analog equalizer using remote-controlled, 31-step relay potentiometers; capacitor-inductor (LC) filtered, fully discrete Nexus EQ; frequency bands 20Hz/120Hz/550Hz/2kHz/6kHz/16kHz; adjustments +/-12dB at 20Hz & 16kHz, +/-9dB at 120Hz & 6kHz, +/-6dB at 550Hz & 2kHz; frequency response 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db; THD <0.003% at any potentiometer setting; input impedance 10K ohms, output impedance 75 ohms. Used with Freya S preamp to gently roll off speakers below ~125Hz and I use three preset tone settings to gently boost upper mid-range and treble frequencies if needed, depending on source, and to accommodate age-related hearing loss. The presets alone were worth the extra cost over a Lokius tone control. Tone control 2: Schiit Audio Lokius; 6-band analog equalizer; frequency bands 20Hz, 120Hz, 400Hz, 2kHz, 6kHz, 16kHz (400Hz actually affects 500Hz range as tested); adjustments +/-12dB at 20Hz & 16kHz, +/-9dB at 120Hz & 6kHz, +/-6dB at 500Hz & 2kHz; discrete, all-bipolar, symmetrical current-feedback design, plus dual-stage discrete superbuffer; frequency response 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db; THD <0.002% at any potentiometer setting; SNR >115db unweighted @ 1V RMS; input impedance 47K ohms, output impedance 75 ohms. Used with Saga S preamp to gently roll off infill speakers below ~125Hz and slightly boost 550Hz & 2kHz ranges to improve vocal intelligibility. Tube buffer (main): iFi micro iTube2; one NOS GE 5670 tube, switchable between push-pull or SET; 1M ohm input impedance (buffer) and 150 ohms output impedance (corrected); 0dB/9dB gain modes (using 0dB). I prefer the SET mode for less than stellar recordings but the triode mode is excellent with good recordings. Used between Loki Max tone control and power amp to balance voltage transfer and add just a hint of tube bloom. Tube buffer (subwoofers): Musical Fidelity X-10v3; Two 6112 twin triode tubes; 470K ohms input impedance and <33 ohms output impedance. Used between pre-amplifier and subwoofer plate amps to balance voltage transfer.
Speakers:	Speakers 1: Dynaudio Contour S1.4; Two-way bass reflex (rear port) stand mount; Esotec 28mm soft dome tweeter and 170mm cone mid/woofer; 86 dB sensitivity; 4 Ohms nominal impedance. Running them with bass ports plugged to reduce lowest bass output. (See tone controls above.) Speakers 2: Vandersteen VLR Wood; Small two-way coaxial speakers; 1 in. damped metal dome tweeter with 6.5 in. die-cast polycone mid/woofer; 86dB sensitivity; 62Hz to 21kHz +/-3dB frequency response, bass is band-pass limited; 8 Ohms nominal, 5 Ohms minimum impedance. I use a Schiit Lokius to roll off frequencies below ~120Hz and slightly boost mid-range voice frequencies. Using these as infill speakers between the main speakers. The coaxial alignment allows close spacing without the distracting effects from comb filtering. Provides much improved vocals recognition and a stable center for the soundstage, especially when listening off axis on the couch. Blends really well with the Contour S1.4 mains. Subwoofers (pair): Velodyne Optimum 10; Powered; 1200 watt Class D amps; sealed 10 inch forward firing drivers down to 23Hz; DSP equalization (mic and frequency sweeps); remote controlled loudness and phase; using line level inputs. Subs located ~18 in. out in front of main speakers near side walls, angled at 45 degrees into the room; both subwoofers set at 80Hz roll off. These sub placements and roll off settings, combined with bass roll off for main speakers using the Loki Max, do a good job of minimizing room modes and provide well articulated bass notes from 200Hz on down.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	CD player: Rega Apollo (original version); Top loading, 44.1kHz sampling with 20GB 32 bit CPU processor and Wolfson dual-differential 24 bit DAC. Currently using Apollo as transport with S/PDIF digital output to Rega DAC. DAC: Rega DAC (original version); 16/20/24-bit at 32kHz to 192kHz; dual Wolfson WM8742 DAC's; five filters per high/low sample rate; non-upsampling; synchronous clocking.
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Turntable: Michell Engineering Gyro SE; Belt drive, suspended aluminum chassis and acrylic "spyder" plinth with cone footers, vinyl/acrylic platter with metal periphery weights, separate PSU and isolated motor. Orbe clamp upgrade. Replaced stock aluminum SME tonearm mounting plate with acrylic plate to correct chassis balance problem. Tonearm: SME 309; Dual pivot 9", magnesium arm tube, removable headshell, 9.5g effective weight. Cartridge: Audio-Technica ART9; Low output moving coil, line contact stylus; 8.5g weight; 0.5 mV output; 12 Ohms internal resistance; 18x10-6 cm/dyn compliance (100Hz); 1.6-2.0g VTF. Phono preamplifier: AcousTech PH-1P (Ron Sutherland designed and built); Solid state, gold traces; 42/52/61.5 dB gain, 100/47K Ohms loading plus custom resistor slots, currently using 300 Ohm resistors. Rebuilt in 2021 by Chad at Sutherland Audio with new electrolytic capacitors and upgraded input op-amps. Click & Pop Remover: SweetVinyl Sugarcube SC-1 Plus 24bit/192K A/D-D/A; independent A/D-D/A with Toslink/SPDIF output; adjustable noise removal; SVNR surface noise reduction for 78's; full analog bypass; remote control. Using SPDIF 24/192 output to Tascam DA-3000 digital recorder.
Other Source(s):	Network audio streamer/transport: Bluesound Node 2i; Up to 24-bit/192 kHz playback; SNR 110 dBA; THD 0.005%; using NAS drive Ethernet input and S/PDIF output to Schiit Bifrost 2 Multibit DAC. DAC: Schiit Bifrost 2; 16/44.1 to 24/192; Schiit's True Multibit, with proprietary digital filter using Analog Devices SHARC DSP processor, Analog Devices AD5781ARUZ x 2 DAC; THD <0.003%, 20Hz-20KHz +/-0.25dB, at max output; S/N >114dB, referenced to 2.0VRMS, unweighted; 24VA transformer power supply.
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Monster copper speaker wires with bare wire ends. Assorted 0.5m, 1.0m, and 6.0m (subs) RCA interconnects, the majority of which are Kimber Hero cables. Also use Pangea balanced interconnects. Digital (SPDIF RCA) cables include Kimber DV-30 and Analysis Plus Black.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	PS Audio and Blue Circle power conditioners. Salamander Designs "Archetype" triple column equipment rack. Turntable sits on Ginkgo Cloud isolation platform using Herbie's "grungebuster" balls (purchased before the big price increase).
Tweaks:	Herbie's "Donut" mats; used to maintain +/- 1.90mm record height above platter for consistent SRA. Combination of 0.3mm and 0.8mm mats maintain record height within 0.3mm for LPs from 75mm to 220mm thickness. Herbie's "Tenderfeet" under CD player, Loki Max tone control and Freya S pre-amplifier. Jolida/Black Ice Foz XT-R between phono stage and preamp to minimize cartridge crosstalk and improve stereo imaging.
Room Size (LxWxH):	22' x 12' x 7.75'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Carpet over cement floor. Diagonal tongue-and-groove pine walls. Speakers & subwoofers well out into room and component rack back towards front wall. DIY fabric covered foam panels on front wall. Stacked Auralex MegaLENRD bass "traps" to tame bass modes in right front corner.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Singing and/or musical instruments.
System Goals/Comments:	To hear music.
System Strengths:	I hear music that sounds like music.
System Weaknesses:	It isn't live music.
Video/HT System: Integrated
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, canoeing, hiking, and of course, music.