Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

cyriloscope 's magico System
IP Address: 99.235.232.62	Last Update: November 06, 2008 at 20:19:06
Amplifier:	Plinius SA102
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Plinius M8
Speakers:	Magico V3
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Pioneer PD-D9 SACD/CD player "Home made" DAC based on the Wolfson WM8741
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Denon direct drive with stock arm and a DL103 cartridge
Other Source(s):	AppleTV + Off board DAC
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Speaker cables are silver braid from HomeGrownAudio, modulation is mixed: Cardas reference balanced between the pre and the amp, silver braid for the various modulation. This is always in motion!
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Power conditioner: some small unit from Philips that does the job for the sources and the pre. No conditioning on the power amp (just didn't sound right).
Tweaks:	Home made DAC seems to never reach "final stage"...
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 25 x 12
Room Comments/Treatments:	The room is certainly the system's weakness... Floor is pored concrete, walls are double drywall. One corner of the room is covered by a heavy curtain from top to bottom (12 feet tall!). Needs some bass dampening.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	There is a lot of bad music out there, but I've never found a genre that didn't contain a few gems! Eclectic I guess.
System Goals/Comments:	Just upgraded the speakers, and now the rest of the system needs a lift. The V3 aren't particularly easy to drive, so I have in mind to switch to a dual mono PA configuration with very short speaker leads; this will also free the middle of the room. Also, direct digital modulation to the amps seems like a good idea. In development.
System Strengths:	Openness, clarity, "togetherness", evident soudstage. Mesmerizing. I enjoy music better than before!
System Weaknesses:	Could be tighter in the low-end, probably due to room modes; a different amp topology may be the remedy (It was with my previous speaker). Also, too many recordings in which masculine voices end-up in the woofers (especially cheap movie dubs). Not good. However, mini monitors give bad habits:)
Video/HT System: Integrated
TV/Projector:	Some sub-brand 50" HDTV plasma