Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

TMonoogan's Family Room System
IP Address: 71.142.51.253	Last Update: December 28, 2009 at 19:02:27
Amplifier:	Pass X350
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Research Ref 2
Speakers:	Martin Logan Ascent i Paradigm PW2500 Subwoofer dBx 223XL Crossover Other speakers include: Altec Model 19 JBL 4311B JBL 4430
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Sony XA5400ES Pioneer PDR-555RW
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Technics SL-1200 Mk2 / Shure M97E / AES PH1
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Monster Z2 (2 sets for Bi Wire) / Monster Interlink 400 and 300 RCA / M550i XLR
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Monster 2500 Furman PL-8
Tweaks:	Behringer DEQ 2496
Room Size (LxWxH):	21 x 18 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Carpets over hardwood floor. Record racks in back and side and blinds for diffusion on sidewall. Very lively room that could still use more damping.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Blues mostly along with R & B and Rock along with the occasional Swing and Blue Grass. Mostly what hits my mood.
System Goals/Comments:	I prefer recordings to sound more like they are here than I am there.
System Strengths:	Fatigue free and just to the point where I stop thinking about the system and just about the music. Good imaging between the speakers, fair off to the sides. The upgrade from an ARC LS 25 to the Ref 2 was an improvement.
System Weaknesses:	Suck out in the midbase around 80 hz which seems to be room related. Probably the room still needs more work.
Video/HT System: Integrated
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	Pioneer Elite VSX 91 TXH (front channels feed processor input on Ref 2)
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	Mackie HR624 for center, JBL 4311B for surround
Sources (DVD/VCR):	Pioneer BDP-51FD Sony NS3100ES
Other HT Gear:	Sony RDR GX-7 DVD recorder
Comments on HT System:	The Pioneer receiver does generate more noise than expected from the preamp outputs even with the volume down. The Mackie has worked out well for a center with the Logans. The Sony XA 5400 ES does send DSD (SACD) over HDMI to the Pioneer for multichannel music although I'm guessing the Pioneer converts it to PCM for decoding.