Inmate Systems - Audio Asylum

JB Coleman's Main system System
IP Address: 52.144.112.101	Last Update: November 19, 2018 at 13:07:10
Amplifier:	ModWright KWA 100SE.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Art Audio VPL MKI, with upgraded caps. Uses a pair of GE 5751s. Thought about upgrading several times over the years, but I'm sufficiently happy with it that I never have. Maybe it's the simplicity of the design, but it is pretty transparent for a tube preamp.
Speakers:	Von Schweikert VR-4jrs, 89 db sensitivity. Same as for the preamp--I know there are much better out there spec-wise, but these sound great with my amp/pre-amp setup. The bass is tight and deep, to the point where I have resisted getting a subwoofer at all.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Doge Chinese-manufactured tube DAC, four GE 5751s, one pair GE 6201, one pair of Sovtek 12AX7LPS.
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Rega RP10, with a wood-bodied Soundsmith retipped Denon 103D, and one Technics KAB 1200, with Cardas tonearm wire, tonearm damper, power supply, and 78 mod. I use a bunch of cartridges with the Technics.
Other Source(s):	Aurender N100H streamer: my first streamer, and I'm still experimenting with USB cables, etc. I'm still figuring out how to fine-tune streaming. Art Audio Vinyl One phono amp, with RCA 6GC7, one Gold Lion 12ax7 and two Amperex 12AX7s.
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Neotech 3001 biwires, terminated with high-end rhodium spades by the folks at Soniccraft.com. Interconnects are various types, mostly VH Audio designs, a couple also of my own construction, mainly with Furutech RCAs. Streamer to DAC is a Speltz Anti-Cable 3.1 construction. Seems pretty full-spectrum, but I haven't been able to figure out what makes one USB sound different from another.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Salamander open-design Archetype rack, pretty useful for letting air get to my tube-based gear. An Audience Adept Response power supply. Power cords are mostly of my making, based on a couple types of Oyaide PCs as well as some others, and various connectors. I've tried lots of different ones, and I've settled on Furutech FI28 gold plug for the wall outlet plugged into an Furutech Rhodium GTX, and a combination of Furutech and Oyaides for the other components.
Tweaks:	I use a couple of wall treatments here and there, nothing extravagant.
Room Size (LxWxH):	18' x 13' x 8'
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Nearly any sort of music can catch my interest (provided it's an interesting performance, at any rate), but I lean towards jazz, classical, folk, some rock stuff.
System Goals/Comments:	Realism (perhaps more like "hyper-realism," since I rarely hear live music that actually sounds like a recording) without either fatiguing "hi-end" sound or too much mid-range coloration. I don't mind a bit of grain in the music, provided of course it's in the recording.
System Strengths:	I want even primitively recorded music to sound listenable, which my system does.
System Weaknesses:	Not sure, but I think installing some room treatments would clarify things even more. There is a definite financial cap on what I can spend on the gear. I'm sure more well-heeled people could bump up the sound a lot more, particularly with more sophisticated speakers and/or subwoofers. I'm happy with what I have.
Video/HT System: None
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Academic by trade