Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

Judasmac's Stereo by Chance System
IP Address: 68.19.39.15	Last Update: January 22, 2008 at 13:11:33
Amplifier:	Marantz Model 2 40W monoblocks, refurbished by Mike Samra
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Bel Canto Pre3
Speakers:	Carolina Audio JTM (w/ maple veneer)
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Music Hall MMF CD-25
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Rega Planar 3, R200, Shure M97xE
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Signal Biwire speaker cables, homemade interconnects
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 20 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Speakers along short wall. JTMs are easy to place. Custom walnut & cherry rack.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical (Bach, Haydn), Jazz (Horace Silver, Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, Ella F, Tierney Sutton), Country (Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Doc Watson), Rock/Pop (Aimee Mann, Squeeze, The Shins, Wilco), Other (Blind Boys of Alabama, Robert Cray, Leo Kottke)
System Goals/Comments:	The core of the system fell into my lap by chance: the Marantz 2s. The Bel Canto replaces a Marantz 7 that needed work.
System Strengths:	Easy to listen to. Big and deep soundstage. Studio recordings come to life as actual performances - I can hear the room and imagine the relation of musicians to the mics. Palpable vocals. Enough detail to come to life, but not to distract.
System Weaknesses:	The biggest challenge is the room, which throws the center off to the right. I've tried myriad placements for the speakers, which have led to great improvements overall, but haven't fixed the balance problem.
Video/HT System: None