| Spykos's mains hi-fi system System
|
| Last Update: September 18, 2001 at 02:43:35
| IP Address: 217.30.160.123
|
| Amplifier: | Conrad-Johnson Motif MS1001
|
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Conrad-Johnson PV10A
|
| Speakers: | Martin-Logan Aerius
|
| Sources:
|
| CD Player/DAC: | Audio Innovations Alto CD/Theta Digital Cobalt DAC
|
| Turntable/Phono Stage: | Sonographe SG-3/Rega RB250 tonearm/Dynavector DV17MkII Karat MC cartridge/Audio Innovations Series 1000 MC step-up transformer
|
| Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
|
| Speaker Cables/Interconnects: | TaraLabs Space And Time Phase II/TFA Return biwired/WireWorld Oasis, VanDenHul D102MkII, Theta Digital Time Linque coaxial
|
| Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.): | Theta Digital TLC anti-jitter device, custom-made power conditioner/filter/receptacles, brass cones on speakers/power amp, sorbothane feet on CD/DAC/preamp, rubber rings/cevlar socks on preamp tubes, custom-made rack
|
| Tweaks: | Direct dedicated AC power line, RoomTunes on corners
|
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 7,1m. x 5,9m. x 2,4m.
|
| Room Comments/Treatments: | Basically it's an L-shaped living-room, so the speakers lie on the small (5,9m.) side, 1,3m. from the front wall and 2m. apart. The walls are hard plaster and the floor marble, so the overall balance is on the bright side. With careful placement and strategic positioning of absorbing stuff (drapes, sofas, armchairs, rugs) plus the RoomTunes treatment, the reverberation is almost deminished now, but still evident on high volume rates. So I never go beyond "12 o'clock" on the potentiometer. By the way, that amounts to 96 dbA measured at 1m., so I feel that there's no need to push it. Hope everything settles down in the house we're currently building. I'll let you know.
|
| Music Preferences and Comments:
|
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Jazz, vocals, folk, classic rock
|
| System Goals/Comments: | This is a system that I've built gradually over a 6-year period mainly by second-hand gear. The aim was -and still is- to achieve a balanced, relaxed sound that doesn't attack the listener and refrains from the ruthless, clinical analysis of the Krell/MarkLevinson school. At the same time, the sound remains transparent, the soundstage deep and wide, the instruments and vocals clearly defined and firmly planted into position. On hindsight, I believe that the result belie the humble cost and can compete against much more expensive gear bought new-off-the-shelf.
|
| System Strengths: | Transparent highs, articulate, almost lifelike mids, great soundstage
|
| System Weaknesses: | Slower than ideal bass, system revealing of poor recordings, difficult to setup catridge
|
| Video/HT System:
Separate
|
| TV/Projector: | Hitachi Natura 32" flat-screen TV
|
| Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers: | Yamaha DSP3090
|
| Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub): | Bose Acoustimass/Canon SV15
|
| Sources (DVD/VCR): | Philips DVD-710, Hitachi VCR450
|
| Other HT Gear: | Pioneer CLD-915 LaserDisk player, Pentium III/800 MHz PC/DVD, Nokia satellite receiver
|
| Comments on HT System: | Just a basic, no-frills HT system that can satisfy a small family's demands. Soon to be updated with a Sony LCD projector and a Stewart screen.
|
| Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation: | Automobiles, Aviation, Playing music, wines and good food/Professional auto journalist.
|