| Charles Houston's L:istening Room System
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| Last Update: April 27, 2001 at 21:15:51
| IP Address: 63.65.99.251
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| Amplifier: | Lamm ML1 monoblocks
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| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Lamm L-2 linestage (incredibly good component)
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| Speakers: | Kharma Ceramique 1.0s
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| Sources:
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| CD Player/DAC: | Forsell Air Reference CD transport. Factory-customized Manley Reference DAC (One of only four made; a superb component.) |
| Turntable/Phono Stage: | Michell Gyro SE turntable with outboard power supply. Graham 2.2 Deluxe arm and van den hul MC-One Super Special cartridge. The Groove (UK) phonostage. |
| Other Source(s): | Sony SCD777ES SACD player. Fanfare FT-1A tuner. Fanfare antenna. Pioneer CD-R |
| Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
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| Speaker Cables/Interconnects: | Purist Dominus digital link. Purist Dominus single-ended interconnect from DAC to linestage. Privately-made interconnects from the linestage to the amplifiers. Experimenting with ICs between tonearm and phonostage. Purist Colossus interconnects on all other components. |
| Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.): | Nimbus isolation stand for CD transport (much better than Arcici!)PAC IDOS power strips. Stock Belden power cords. Arcici Suspense Racks. Arcici Air Head and Bright Star Air Mass bases. |
| Tweaks: | Aurios under SACD player. Otherwise very few, though tried PWB tweaks and was surprised at the effect. Tried a bunch of acoustical apparatus but they are all in storage or sold , including Room Lenses, Studio Traps, Echo Busters. |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 13 x 23 x 8 |
| Room Comments/Treatments: | Upholstered furniture, oriental rug, art, and plantation shutters on the four windows have given excellent acoustic propeerties to this plater-walled room. |
| Music Preferences and Comments:
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| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Progressive trance. Pop. Rock. Vocals. Some classical and Baroque. No jazz, country or rap. |
| System Goals/Comments: | The new DAC is a killer and so is the new tonearm/cartridge. |
| System Strengths: | Musicality. Neutrality. Dynamics. Crisp and articulate bass. Resolution. Imaging. Deep and layered--the speakers seem to disappear and you do not experince them as point-sources. The room boundaries prevent my getting a super-wide sounstage, unfortunately. |
| System Weaknesses: | None. (Kudos to davidk, Terry, Geoff, Bruce and other helpful folk who have far better ears and ideas than I.) |
| Video/HT System:
Separate |
| Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation: | Horses, especially jumping. |