Inmate Systems - Audio Asylum

Beetlemania's Ayre-Thiel-Cardas System
IP Address: 73.131.232.70	Last Update: March 20, 2021 at 20:08:58
Amplifier:	Ayre AX-5 Twenty
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Integrated
Speakers:	Thiel CS2.4SE Crossovers completely rebuilt under the guidance of Tom Thiel: Clarity CSA caps, Multicap RTX bypasses on coax feed caps, ERSE and Jansen coils (foil type on feeds), Mills MRA-12 resistors, Cardas hookup wire and binding posts (configured for biwiring).
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Ayre QB-9 Twenty Server: Intel NUC 7i3BNH; Roon Optimized Core Kit. Roon 1.7
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Kenwood KD-500; Benz Micro ACE Phono: Ayre P-5xe
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas Golden Reference and Ayre Signature (Golden Reference with a different jacket material). Power cables are Cardas Golden.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Ayre L-5xe AC line filter
Tweaks:	Wooden blocks for all cables and components. DIY sandbox for TT isolation Ayre/Cardas CD sweep
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 19 x 8-14
Room Comments/Treatments:	Wall coverings (throw rugs), drapes, fabric blinds, houseplants including hanging
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Just about anything short of modern country, rap, or metal.
System Goals/Comments:	I've reached my goal - a killer system in my living room.
System Strengths:	Very 'dimensional' and musical. I love my system. The AX-5 is such a great piece and the crossover rebuild has brought the Thiels to the next level. The resolution, transparency, and neutrality of presentation are among the best I've heard, even compared to systems costing north of $100K. Other than the last half-octave of bass, I think my system achieves near SOTA SQ.
System Weaknesses:	The Thiels cannot audibly reproduce anything below ~30 Hz. Low bass is not as resolved as a well-executed sealed box design. Not the final word in image density.
Video/HT System: None
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Camping, skiing, rafting, bicycling, gardening