Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

Allen Wright's The Working Tool System
IP Address: 85.2.26.152	Last Update: January 25, 2008 at 05:37:41
Amplifier:	Vacuum State dpa300B differential tube poweramps - or whatever is currently under development
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Vacuum State RTP3D differential, SVP-1 single ended, or whatever is under development.
Speakers:	Acoustat Spectra 11 electrostatic panels, with large wings to enable these supposedly bass limited (150 Hz and up) panels to go down to circa 50Hz. Currently used with Linkwitz dipole subwoofers.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Reference is a SONY SCD-777ES with (currently) VSEI Level 6+ upgrades. Many other SACD players in & out during their 'upgrade' development.
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Turntable is a Scheu (German kit) with 100mm thick platter on a 40mm thick granite base with a Teres servo controlled motor. Arm: SEAC WE308. Cartridges: Vacuum State MC, Andreolli "Blue", IKEDA and a prized "Guru" modified DECCA gold. Phono stage is the relevant phono section of the (full) preamps listed above.
Other Source(s):	Pioneer TX9800 tuner, REVOX G36 tube reel/reel tape machine, other reel/reel machines...
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Vacuum State "Super Clear" silver foil i/c's and spk cables.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Everything important is mounted on 30kg granite plates 'floated' on soft pumped bike inner tubes to act as subsonic isolators.
Tweaks:	None. As this is my reference/test system for my products - they have to work well without a whole bunch of tweaks. If exotic tweaks can bring further advantage, I leave that up to my clients.
Room Size (LxWxH):	6m x 6m x 2.8m
Room Comments/Treatments:	Acoustic foam at first reflection points on side walls. Soft rug on floor between speakers and listening position.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Most anything live & acoustic except Classical singing/Opera. With 2500 LPs , 200 CDs and now over 100 SACds the split would be 40% jazz, 30% popular & 30% classical. With ZERO whining female pop singers–my only true hate!
System Goals/Comments:	To have the listener close their eys and honestly believe they are there at the actual performance - this happens sometimes...
System Strengths:	Super high definition and resolution. Transmission of the musician's emotions.
System Weaknesses:	1/ The room is not ideal making speaker & listener position overly critical. 2/ As this is a working system it gets changed all the time...
Video/HT System: Separate
TV/Projector:	34 inch CRT Panasonic - I hate most flat screen TVs.
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	Apogee Scintillas
URL Link: http://www.vacuumstate.com/
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Music, fast cars, photography, cycling- both road & MTB, travel