Inmate Systems - Audio Asylum

robertd 's Guaranteed to make your ears bleed - on paper System
IP Address: 208.102.158.171	Last Update: October 27, 2012 at 18:45:30
Amplifier:	Pass Aleph 3, alternates with Spectral DMA 50 alternates with Golden Tube SE 40 (serviced twice, but I love the sound - looking for some RCA 231 6sn7 tubes for this)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Spectral DMC 15 - auditioned, purchased, and have never thought about another preamp since then. The most nobrainer purchase I ever made.
Speakers:	Thiel CS 1.6 - I think these can sound amazing, but they're finicky - very sensitive to placement and amps. They're also efficient, work well with the golden tube, may build or buy an SET and see what happens.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Musical Fidelity M1, running either samsung dvd player or digital files from a macbook
Turntable/Phono Stage:	VPI HW19 with dynavector 10x5. Project RM5, Benz MC 20 low output, Musical fidelity Vphono - a bargain. Turntables are the most fun purchase I ever made.
Other Source(s):	plug into my macbook
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	MIT cables - low end, $100 - $300 range - my friend at progressive audio called them "the salesman's friend"
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 12 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	This room works really well with this system
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock (lots of aternative/punk, plus stones/vu/bowie), Jazz, chamber, plus whatever cool vinyl I can find. I have some nice serge gainsbourg lps.
System Goals/Comments:	Musical involvement, and I want bad recordings to be listenable. To achieve this, I've been using the Golden Tube instead of the spectral power amp. I think it results in a better balance
System Strengths:	Very revealing, works well in my small room. Love the sound of the phono.
System Weaknesses:	With the spectral, it's too revealing on some bad recordings, and some of my favorite albums are bad recordings. Some purists might call that a strength, I say it's a weakness.
Video/HT System: None
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Cooking, traveling, art