Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

Thomas Kokenbalz's Tubes on the cheap System
IP Address: 208.252.179.24	Last Update: March 11, 2009 at 14:27:19
Amplifier:	A homemade SET amp (45) that I got on eBay. Sounds pretty good but I'd like to upgrade sometime, maybe to a Paramour or something. Commercially-produced SETs are very expensive.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Antique Sound Lab MG-Head OTL32 DT (both preamp and head amp)
Speakers:	Homemade, 8" Audio Nirvana full-range drivers. Sennheiser HD600 headphones. Prefer speakers but will use headphones late at night and early in the morning.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Jolida JD1000, level 1 mods from Underwood
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Gemini TT01 MkII turntable. Vinyl isn't that big a part of my listening so I'm cheap about it (I mean, cheaper than even the rest of my system). Grado Gold cartridge. Ming Da MC767-RD phono pre.
Other Source(s):	Monarchy 22B DAC, piggy-backed, with a Sound Blaster 24-bit Live sound card for input.
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Radio Shack interconnects and Home Depot speaker cable (16 AWG). I don't believe in magical wire and even if I did my system isn't good enough for it to make much of a difference.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Jazz
System Goals/Comments:	Just to keep improving gradually, in non-budget-busting fashion. Next to upgrade will probably be the power amp; the homemade one was just a stopgap so that I had a power amp and also for an audition of an SET/45 amplifier to see if I want to pursue it. I've had it for almost two years so it's sort of turned into my everyday amp, but I think I'd get much better sound if I upgraded. After that, I want horn speakers.
System Strengths:	Sounds good.
System Weaknesses:	Doesn't sound great.
Video/HT System: None