Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

activeM&Kman's 20 Years to Life stereo System
IP Address: 50.113.228.215	Last Update: August 28, 2011 at 20:58:03
Amplifier:	Active M&K speakers (see below). 2x180 watts in each of 2 satellite speakers. 400 watt amplifier in the subwoofer. 1120 total watts.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Bryston BP25MC, with MM/MC phono stage. MPS-1 power supply.
Speakers:	2.1 Satellite/subwoofer system. 2 satellites: M&K MPS-2910PK Professional studio monitors, mounted on M&K ST-1 stands and tilt brackets. Subwoofer: M&K MPS-5410 Professional Studio. Preamp out goes to M&K LFE-4 5.1 Studio Bass Management Controller, of which I just use stereo and subwoofer capability.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Logitech SlimDevices Transporter wifi music receiver. Balanced analog outs to preamp. Home-built, powerful, PC as music server in back-room office.
Turntable/Phono Stage:	SOTA Nova with vacuum hold-down and Reflex clamp. Graham 2.1 tonearm with ceramic wand. Audioquest Z tonearm cable. Benz Ace HO cartridge.
Other Source(s):	Sony SLV-D370P DVD/VCR combo player, occasionally as CD transport, with coax digital out to Transporter DAC.
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Mogami Gold Studio microphone cable (balanced) from preamp to bass controller and then to speakers, and from Transporter to preamp.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Source equipment plugged into Monster HTS-2000 power conditioner. Nitty Gritty 1.5 FI record cleaning machine. VPI RCM fluid. Audioquest carbon record brush. Rado Shack SPL meter. Old fashioned wooden stereo rack.
Tweaks:	No cones, no stones, no dots.
Room Size (LxWxH):	19' x 19' x ~9' avg sloping. Most of back wall open to kitchen and sun room.
Room Comments/Treatments:	Diagonal set-up. Subwoofer between satellites, in front of (now dead) TV in corner. This arrangement saved the day. It was tried because it was the only way my furniture fit into the room, and was a complete revelation. Still need bass traps and some treatments. I have a lot of corners in this room.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Big band jazz, jazz, rock, progressive rock, acoustic-hick music. Linda Ronstadt, Akiyoshi-Tabackin, Carla Bley, Lucinda, Allmans, Little Feat, Zappa, New Grass Revivalists, hot Prog & fusion. About 1500 each of LPs and CDs, almost all bought used. No money in the bank. ;^) No worries.
System Goals/Comments:	System is pretty complete. I need to play with some low output cartridges, as a vinylist. Need a real rack also.
System Strengths:	The sound! Plays clean and loud. I like to crank the volume, because I can, here in the sticks. This system makes vocals sound wonderful, and acoustic bass sounds live, in the room. Sounds amazingly like live music, with or without the volume cranked.
System Weaknesses:	Need bass traps and/or living room remodel. I play music instead of tweak the system. My baseline, before any real tweaks, is pretty high. I clean records, rip CDs, and play the results instead.
Video/HT System: None
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Home is Joshua Tree and its Nat'l Park. A cyclist, hiker, backpacker, outdoor nut. Attend a lot of concerts.