Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

boblite's Dining room System
IP Address: 69.115.16.240	Last Update: October 20, 2007 at 09:39:07
Amplifier:	Panasonic SA-HE100 receiver
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Speakers:	Two 25 year old KEF Cadenza Type SP1024 8 ohm 25W Two Polk Audio RTi4 20-125W/ch 8 ohms One Mission Model 73 2 way reflex 20-50W 8 ohm
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Sony CD/DV DVP-NC665P
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Audio Technica AT-PL50 Numark TT1600
Other Source(s):	JVC VCR HR-VP700U
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Cables vary between 18 and 24 gauge and lengths vary between 10 feet and 50 feet. No attention paid to quality.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	AudioSource EQ 100 equalizer
Room Size (LxWxH):	13' 6 x 13' 6 x 7' 5
Room Comments/Treatments:	The three of us spend most of our family time and audio/visual time around the dining table. The two KEFs sit on shelves 5'6" high at the southeast and southwest corners of the dining room about 9 feet apart. Their location is dictated by furniture placement and decor. The Mission speaker is treated as center speaker and is 11" high with 6"x6" footprint and generates an amazing amount of volume. It sits on a bookshelf 51" above ground on the northeast side of the room. Would be nice to center it but there is no graceful hardpoint on which to locate it. The two Polks, acquired just days ago, are hung on the northeast and northwest corners of the room with bases about 75" above ground. They are small speakers, 11.5" high with 11"x7" footprint. Having the KEFs and the Polks turned on in stereo mode does not result in the pleasant surround sound I had (no doubt naively) expected. The KEF speakers plus the Mission speaker plus the TV speaker plus tuning the Panasonic receiver to Simulated Surround give quite a pleasant sound. The TV speaker is obviously midrange and, when the volume is adjusted right, adds quite a lot of unobtrusive body and warmth.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Italian pop / Soft rock / Classical
System Goals/Comments:	Goal of having a really good sounding system at low cost.
System Strengths:	The KEF speakers plus the Mission speaker plus the TV speaker plus tuning the Panasonic receiver to Simulated Surround give quite a pleasant sound.
System Weaknesses:	[1] Adding the Polk RTI-4 speakers has so far done nothing to improve the system but maybe they need a break in period ? [2] Cheapo turntables. The Audio Technica is part of a system for transferring vinyl LPs to CD, but is not doing a good job, maybe because the integrated sound card on my ASUS desktop computer is mediocre, and the motherboard balks at add on sound cards like SoundBlasters. The Numark is basically a disco turntable that I hoped would do better. I should try a better cartridge than the OEM cartridge supplied.. [3] Completely eclectic collection of components acquired over the past 27 years replacing other components as they died. [4] I have acted under the assumption that cables make very little difference but should maybe do a little experimentation. I was surprised recently to learn how crucial correct USB cable length was in hooking up a new laser printer: it works well with a 6' cable but absolutely would not function with a 12' cable, but of course a printer is a much more complex electronic device than a pair of analogue speakers, with .
Video/HT System: Separate
TV/Projector:	Sharp 27 inch TV
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	rely on system described above
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	rely on system described above
Sources (DVD/VCR):	DVD - Sony DVP-NC665P CD/DVD player VCR - JVC HR-VP700U
Comments on HT System:	Well.. far from the greatest but it suffices