Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

grailer's home System
IP Address: 69.207.237.77	Last Update: October 31, 2007 at 15:24:31
Amplifier:	McCormack DNA-0.5
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audible Illusions Modulus 3A with 2 x Siemens 7308 steel pin (phono stageb), 2 x JAN Siemens 7308 gold pin (line stage)
Speakers:	Anthony Gallo Nucleus Reference 3 Grado SR-60 cans
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Jolida CD-100 w/Underwood HiFi Level 2 mods, Crump-design DIYCable.com Asylum Cable power cord TASCAM CD-RW750 for burning Redbook CDs
Turntable/Phono Stage:	AR ES-1 w/Merrill mods: subchassis, bearing, motor, power supply, springs, acrylic outer platter, lead mat, center weight/clamp, periphery weight/clamp; motor damped with heat shrink; Merrill-Scillia Research polymer pulley; inside of base and plinth fully damped with Audiomat & #8 lead flashing; underside of inner platter damped with lead; lead sheet between acrylic armboard & subchassis; filtered IEC; Merrill black oil for main bearing; 3 Aurios MIB isolation bearings for feet; internally damped VPI SDS; Morch UP-4; Shelter 501 Mk.II; Wright Sound WMT100 step-up transformer re-terminated with Eichmann copper bullet RCAs & WPP200C phono stage w/NOS Mullard 12AX7s, RCA clear top 12au7s, GEC CV4005 6X4 black plate, RCA 6EM7, and Asylum Cable PC
Other Source(s):	Magnum Dynalab FT-101 FM tuner & Godar FM antenna Harmon/Kardon TD102 tape deck
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	DIY fine silver interconnects - one polished cyro'ed 32ga cotton-insulated 99.999 silver wire per signal, wrapped in double helix around cotton core, mummy-wrapped with cotton gauze, covered in Teflon TechFlex, terminated with Eichmann copper bullet plugs (amp-preamp IC uses Oyaide RCAs); Kimber TAK-H phono w/Eichmann bullet plugs for AR/Merrill; double-run (one positive, one negative) DIY Home Depot HD-14 speaker cables w/cryo'ed Furutech spades; Risch-design DIYCable.com power cords on all components, VH Audio Flavor 4 PC on amp
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Dedicated 20a circuit on cryo'ed Romex; 20a Porter Port cryo'ed Hubbell AC port; APC H15 1500va Power Conditioner; VPI SDS on dedicated circuit for AR/Merrill; custom mortise-and-tenon cherry rack on spikes; DIY Symposium shelves isolated from rack on spikes
Tweaks:	Are you kidding? Turntable plinth damped w/Audiomat & #8 lead flashing; Turntable motor controllers damped with Mortite; CD player chassis damped w/Audiomat; two McMaster-Carr silicone o-rings on all tubes; DIY Symposium couplers under components; AR/Merrill on Aurious MIBs; Lolly jack columns under joists supporting rack
Room Comments/Treatments:	Standard living room with soft furniture, wall-to-wall wool carpet, textured wallpaper, window treatments (i.e., fluted curtains)
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	50's small-ensemble cool Jazz, alternative, pop/rock, some classical
System Goals/Comments:	to get as close to live music as possible while still having money for food & clothing!
System Strengths:	Fun to tweak! Very musical, natural, smooth, and articulate; great pace, detail, and presence, particularly with good recordings; great ambience, snap, and air with large, dimensional soundstage on good recordings (especially small ensemble jazz)
System Weaknesses:	Deep bass could have more visceral impact, especially on some rock recordings - may add Gallo SA bass amp in the future
Video/HT System: None
URL Link: http://gallery.AudioAsylum.com/cgi/view.mpl?UserImages=12448
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Art, architecture & design, science & technology, archeology, good coffee, good wines, wordplay, driving fast cars around twisty bits