Inmate Systems - Audio Asylum

jamesgarvin's Pretty much done until I retire system System
IP Address: 192.24.151.212	Last Update: February 24, 2024 at 11:10:58
Amplifier:	Music Reference RM-200II; Anthony Gallo Acoustics Reference subwoofer amplifier
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Aesthetix Janus
Speakers:	Gallo Reference 3.1
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Ayre CX-7eMP
Turntable/Phono Stage:	SME 20/3, SME Series V arm, Clearaudio Essence
Other Source(s):	Yamaha T-85 tuner; Karaoke (great for parties)
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Various Audioquest
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Sound Organization rack for the equipment; maple cutting boards with spikes for the amplifiers
Tweaks:	Scott Stein maple speaker stands for the Reference 3.1s
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 18 x 7
Room Comments/Treatments:	The room is in the finished basement. Thin wall to wall carpet over a concrete slab, and drywall walls over concrete. The speakers are about five feet out into room, and about four feet from the side walls. The speakers are about 8.5 feet apart, and that is the distance the sectional is from the speakers. Behind the sectional is about seven feet of space where I practice my air guitar, drums, and ear piercing screams, and where the bar and spirits are located.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Acoustic jazz, some "contemporary jazz," Heavy metal/hard rock, classic rock (whatever that is), AM 70's pop rock because I'm becoming nostalgic in my old age, oldies, and British pop/alternative.
System Goals/Comments:	Neutrality is very important to me. I want a system that can service whatever music I am in the mood for.
System Strengths:	To my ears, my system is well balanced. I lived with a pair of Yamaha NS75s, which physically resemble the NS1000s, for many years, whereby I became very sensitive to a speaker's box colorations. The Gallos don't have any of those colorations. The speakers are also very revealing without being strident. The Music Reference was a significant upgrade from the Adcom 555. Thus far I have been able to successfully upgrade with my goals in mind. To those who suggest that the Gallos lack mid-range resolution, I suggest listening with a good quality amplifier. I notice a big difference in the resolution between the Music Reference and Adcom amplifiers.
System Weaknesses:	Unfortunately, I think, the room. I heard and measured a significant suck out in the upper bass in my room, possibly due to the half wall which shares a wall with the pool room on the left side of the room. I increased the crossover in the Gallo amp to 80hz, and was able to significantly reduce the suckout, making the system sound fuller, with more body, but I would prefer not to be forced into this solution. Maybe upgrade the Clearaudio cartridge when its life is over. Maybe upgrade the speakers when I retire, but to my ears I'd need to spend $20k plus to improve on what I love about the Gallo Reference 3.1 speakers. Maybe when I retire.
Video/HT System: Integrated
TV/Projector:	A Westinghouse television which my kids purchased me for Christmas, which, predictably, will not accept a connection from my antiquated home theater components.
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	A Denon dolby digital processor for audio; an old Harman-Kardon processor used strictly for video switching; Adcom 555 powering the Gallos; Adcom 535 powering the Def. Tech. surrounds
Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub):	Definitive Tech BP-20 (I believe)
Sources (DVD/VCR):	Toshiba SD-9200
Comments on HT System:	The two systems share only the speakers, so in that sense they are integrated. The speaker cables are terminated with banana plugs, so when I watch films, I unplug the Music Reference, and plug in the Adcom, and when listening to music, vice versa. This keeps video noise, real or imagined, from the audio system. I think this is an elegant solution that provides many of the benefits of a separate system when space for two systems is not available.
URL Link: http://www.bravewords.com
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Outside of music: Family, photography, particularly concerts which I photograph for BraveWords; Attorney by day (and sometimes night)