Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

aval's Vibes Kitchen System
IP Address: 68.74.117.83	Last Update: February 06, 2009 at 22:40:45
Amplifier:	Bi-Amped system: Two Dynaco Mark IV monoblocks(rebuilt) with Curcio boards thoughout. Svetlana EL34's, JJ gold pin 6922's,and Phillips 5AR4 rectifiers drive the stats. Vintage Pioneer Spec 4 solid state stereo amp to drive the woofer sections of my hybrid stats.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Van Alstine Ultra SL. Vintage RCA black plate 12AX7's in the phono stage and JJ AT7 tubes in the line sections. Best preamp I have ever owned.
Speakers:	Acoustat Spectra 1100's, spikes installed, biamped(light oak).
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Creek Evo CD player. HHB 830 cdr burn-it recorder.
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Linn Axis, Basic Plus tonearm, Ittock cables, Grado Reference Platinum, no tweeks.
Other Source(s):	Sansui TU-9500 tuner,original and vintage. Technics RS-M8 vintage cassette player/recorder.
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Speaker cable is Kimber 4 TC. Interconnects are Kimber PBJ and Kimber Tibre. I have two 20' run of Kimber DIY from the preamp to the amps. It's all Kimber.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Contour brand equipment rack unloaded and spiked, Ikea rack for VPI 16.5 LP cleaner.
Tweaks:	Source equipment in the rack resting on Nordost Pulsar Points. All amps sit in a different rack from source components on Black Diamond Racing Cones #3 and #4
Room Size (LxWxH):	16' x 13' x 8'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Small room, however I put cornertunes type material in the corners and it really has helped.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, classical, jazz,.....whatever I'm in the mood for (I really dig Kevin Gilbert, Todd Rundgren, Porcupine Tree, Dexter Gordon, Monk, Bartok).
System Goals/Comments:	I didn't plan it this way but my system integrates a diversity of audio technology representative of the past four decades. So far, I think its worked out okay.I like the way the music sounds.
System Strengths:	Vocal presentation is wonderful. Vertical and lateral imaging is very good. Entire system overall is stable, (trouble free), it's also warm sounding and fatique free. Musically satisfing for my budget. I was use to (for about 12 years) a more laid back sound. Over these 12 years, I have had the following brand output tubes in my Dyna's, starting from when I rebuilt them in 1988 to the present: National brand from 1988 to 1995. National brand from 1995 to 1999. Sovtek brand from 1999 to 2001(december). 2001 to 2005 I have these Electro Harmonix brand(okay their Sovteks). I think they are a 'rock 'n' roll' type tube. I am not opposed to it by any means, but I like the Svetlana EL34's better.
System Weaknesses:	I would like the music that I listen to come across in that effortless, free-flowing limitless way. It's much better since I put the Curcio upgrades into the Dyna's.
Video/HT System: Separate