Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

Jack Seaton's Main System
IP Address: 75.165.177.51	Last Update: March 14, 2008 at 21:03:00
Amplifier:	Transistor Research Labs ST-225, designed and built by Paul Weitzel of TRL. See my review here at AA and at Audiogon. I'm in line to take delivery of a pair of Transistor Research Labs 500 watt mono block battery powered amplifiers, with over 230 pounds of batteries!!! I'd heard Howard Chi's at TRL (prior to shipment to Howard)and they are the highest resolution amplifiers that I've ever heard.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Tube Research GTP-4 & Transistor Research Labs battery powered preamp TRL "The Dude" preamp in March 2008
Speakers:	Magico 3's
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	TRL/Sony 595. This little unit sounds so much like playing back my master dubs that I rarely spool a reel anymore. The TRL/Sony 595 sounds like I'm playing back the master reels (see other sources, below) on both SACD and CD. Add TRL/Marantz SA-14. Much better than the Sony, listed above. 2005-11-21 Add TRL Modified Sony DVP-NS900V ... it's insane. Possible battery powered soon. 2006-02-04 Battery power for the Sony 900. Takes it to another level. Add a Marantz SA-8001 with TRL mod
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Turntable is a Maplenoll Ariadne Signature with 70 pound lead platter, air bearing and air bearing linera tracking arm. Phono Stage is a TRL 2 chassis unit, separate 185 pound tube regulated power supply
Other Source(s):	Heavily modified Scully 270 with 14 different headstacks to properly match the tape being played. Oh yeah, I have over 300 2 track master dubs to enjoy. I consider playing back the actual production master to be as close to the 'real' (or is that 'reel'?) event as you can get. There's NOTHING better than 30IPS masters, NOTHING. Add a 3M M56 closed loop (1 inch, 2 track)15 and 30 ips sourced from a VERY well known studio. :)
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	FIM Gold throughout.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Stands-Reference Stands used throughout.Isolation devices-various from Stillpoints, HRS, Neuance, Aurios and a few home designed. All are used by themselves or together to tune the sound. Power-Dedicated 200 amp sub panel for the audio system itself (lights are on the primary home panel). Panel is located on the back wall behind room treatment panel and has been damped with various materials to not make noise. Dedicated circuits are no longer than 8 feet from the panel, ran through 2' conduit so that I can change the wire to the recepticals if needed. For right now, I have special wiring from FIM/TRL running to each receptical. Amps are ran on 240VAC. Every connection is treated with Quick Silver silver conductive paste, even the circuit panel connections.
Tweaks:	Where do you start? RRL fluids both Vinyl (SVW, SDC, and LP#9)and Shine Ola for CD/SACD/DVD. Quicksilver silver conductive paste used throughout with GREAT success, (this stuff really works). Static guard used on the cables every few days. I use various products to keep the cables from the floor when needed, (the FIM Gold cable is very stiff and doesn't require as many). I use a variac as a light dimmer because they aren't noisy (won't pollute power throughout the rest of the home) as conventional light dimmers do. Multiple Hallogen lights are used above the various sources and vinyl cleaning station, to insure that I'm doing everything right. (old age is a bitch, I need good lighting). UPDATE: QUICKSILVER GOLD IS INCREDIBLE. IT'S A NO-BRAINER.
Room Size (LxWxH):	approx 24' x approx 24' x 9'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Shakti Hallographs, ASC tube traps, and some home made panels built with 1'x 3' wood, cloth and various dampening materials.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Be-bop era jazz is my favorite, 60's and 70's pop, folk, gospel.
System Goals/Comments:	I'm pretty happy. You don't know what exactly you are missing until you hear something better. If I hear something better, I try it out. If I like it, I buy it.
System Strengths:	Incredible dynamics and resolution. Tonally correct and very life-like.
System Weaknesses:	I should have used 2 layers of sheet-rock on the ceiling of the listening room, so I could play at louder levels when everyone else is sleeping. The cost would have been less than $100. Big mistake on my part.
Video/HT System: Separate
TV/Projector:	Sony VPH-1272 CRT projector with Stewart screen. The projector has been modified by TRL which really raised the white level of the projector and raised the picture resolution dramatically.
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	NEC IDC-3000 line scaler/doubler, once again TRL mod'ed. Jadis Defy 7
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	JM Labs Mini Utopias and sub. 2 channel only.
Sources (DVD/VCR):	TRL modified Oppo DVD player. Modified Direct TV reciever.
Comments on HT System:	I'll buy a better projector this year, still not sure which to try
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Between family life and audio/video, (and the job), there isn't much time left. We have a lake cabin that keeps us pretty busy in the summer months. I'd like to learn how to sail and play the Tenor Sax. Maybe next year ...