Audio Asylum Inmate e.lectronick's The Bridge System


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e.lectronick's The Bridge System
Last Update: September 29, 2001 at 08:49:31 IP Address: 128.122.23.132
Amplifier: Alan Kimmel's Mu-Stage modified Dynaco St-70 (2)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Dynaco PAS-2, soon to be replaced with a custom built (by yours truly) balanced single stage MOSFET linestage with a Supersymmetrical connection inspired by Nelson Pass' patented design. This one will be a minimalist preamp with no eq, no phono, no nothing but a gain stage, input selector, and gain control.
Speakers: Karlson 'Model 15' enclosures loaded with Stromberg-Carlson, 'Slimline' RF-483 15" coaxial drivers. Very sweet, but these drivers will ultimately be replaced with Altec 604s.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC: One of the earlier Kenwoods (DP-990SG) with digital outputs (both optical and SPDIF). This puppy came out before I'd even seen anything with optical inputs, but it still outshines anything else I've heard. Solid as a rock. It just doesn't skip.
Turntable/Phono Stage: Sadly, records and I parted ways when I was a kid. I just couldn't keep them away from the radiator.
Other Source(s): Tascam TSR-8 1/2" Reel to Reel multitrack tape recorder.

Viking 88, 1/4" tube driven reel to reel tape recorder.

Tascam DA-P1 DAT recorder.

Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects: Basic 12 gauge speaker wire. Nothing fancy.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.): In the process of building Jon Risch's Balanced power transformer for "The Bridge".
Tweaks: Everything. Whether it's simple circuit protection tweaks, like a thermistor across the mains of an amp, or something like the balanced power project, I just can't leave well enough alone.
Room Size (LxWxH): 13' x 9' x 9'
Room Comments/Treatments: Since I do a lot of mixing/mastering on the Bridge and I can't afford to wake the neighbors, I've built a completely sealed floating room in my living room.

(here we go...)

I've placed neoprene doughnuts spaced every 1' on the floor, floating a double thick layer of 1/2" plywood sheets, on top of which sits tongue in groove pine floor planking. The walls are also double thick plywood fastened to 2x4 frames which angle apart from each other very slightly from the front to the back of the room to avoid resonances. The wall studs rest on 3" felt on the original floor and against the original walls. They don't touch the floating floor. These wall frames are lined with Corning fiberglass insulation snaking in front and back of the studs, alternately. On top of this, I've hung moveable goboes which can be adjusted depending on whether I'm recording a band in there, mixing, or just listening to music. The ceiling is the same double thick plywood backed by framework and insulation. Then, acoustic tile is suspended below.

All the gaps between ceiling, walls and floor are sealed with silicone caulking, and the whole thing is painted to look like something from the Bridge of the original USS Enterprise. Very dorky, but it makes me feel very comfortable when I work. I've applied acoustic foam all around the surfaces of the front of the room, especially around the Karlsons, which are hung upside down and mounted flush into the wall above the mixing station. In front of the speakers is loosely woven fabric painted to look like viewscreens. Just think of Lt. Uhura's station, and you've got it. All my recording/monitoring gear is below at the control console. At the back of the room is a futon couch which does an excellent job of absorbing any excessive bass. Sometime soon, I'm going to tackle a homebuilt version of a quadratic diffusor for the back wall.

All in all, this is a really weird looking space -if not smaller than I would prefer- which immediately scares women away. But it does an excellent job of isolating me from the adjacent apartments (and women, did I mention women?), while being surprisingly neutral for work and listening pleasure.

Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections): My latest kick is the Modern Rock 80's collection from Time Life. But I love all kinds of music from classical, to reggae, to punk.
System Goals/Comments: I've already mentioned quite a few, but ultimately, I'd like to move to a bigger space where I can recreate the entire Bridge, and not just a section of it.
System Strengths: I think it's the no compromises approach I've taken to my rather limited space. I knew commercially available gear/room treatments wouldn't fill the bill, so when I couldn't find the thing to suit my needs, I've either modded some existing piece of gear, or built it from scratch.
System Weaknesses: It get's kind of hot with everything on. I guess that's the trade off for class A. Also, I wish I had more wall current.
Video/HT System: Separate
TV/Projector: Ordinary Zenith 19" color TV.
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers: Aureal Vortex SQ2500 surround sound PCI card in my computer going to my two power amps.
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub): Karlsons are used as front speakers. Canto speakers (Quinto 530) used as rear speakers. No center channel or subwoofer yet. Maybe never. The soundcard only has quad capability as of right now.
Sources (DVD/VCR): Homebuilt dual processor PC with Toshiba DVD ROM drive and software for surround and all the bells and whistles stuff. Video output is handled by a 3dfx Voodoo3 3500 TV AGP card.

VCR is a JVC brand HR-DD840U.

Other HT Gear: Various old and new pieces of recording gear too numerous to mention.
Comments on HT System: You can never have too many mic preamps.
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation: HiFi, Sci-Fi, histori, and macaroni

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