Systems

Headphone Fun, a Two-channel Audio System by hYdrociTy

digital2
Room Size
About the size of my head!
System Overview
I like dacs- they give me the option of using my computer as transport or a portable cd player with optical out, or a desktop cd player, etc... I also use this system as reference listening station when I practice singing while traveling with my macbook for recording and an m-audio audiophile firewire as transport.
Music Preferences
ATB, Beatles, Beirut, Björk, BT, Buckethead, Chicane, Coldplay, Coltrane, Depeche Mode, Diana Krall, Duke Ellington, Eric Clapton, Elliott Smith, Erika, Feist, Ferry Corsten, George Russell, Goo Goo Dolls, Jay Chou, Jenny Lewis, Julia Fischer, Kelly Sweet, Ken Hirai, Lisa Loeb, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Namie Amuro, Nigel Kennedy, Heather Nova, Jem, Hendrix, Hiromi, Karajan, Mirah, Nan Quan Mama, Paul van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Microphones, U2, Utada Hikaru, Weezer, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Room Description
Hotel room & my head acoustics.
Acoustic Treatment
I move my hair out of the way of the headphone.
Listening Impressions
I model my system for a balance of everything. There is extension on all ends, a spacious soundscape, and wide dynamic range. Those are the key. Dynamic range and soudstage are the most important things I value personally- but I have to have my system represent all aspects of sound equally, and then raise the bar on all of them a bit. The system doesn't excel in any one field, and it is not supposed to because I listen to the music as both reference and enjoyment. It is hifi enough for my personal use as well as balanced enough to monitor the music when I am performing. The best description I can give in simple terms is a reference monitoring system built with hifi components for a touch of the natural.
Media Storage
Digital lossless on hard drives, taiyo yuden CDRs, HI-MD
Other Comments
(>'-')>Ltd. We Hug To Please
Components
Digital Source
Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0, Sony SCD-XA5400ES, MDS-JA20ES, Entech Number Cruncher 203.2, Sony MZ-RH1, iPod Touch 1G
Analog Source
Technics SL-1200, Grado Reference, Azur 640P
Other Sources
Transports: M-Audio Audiophile Firewire (recording) | Audio Alchemy DDS-Pro (transport)
Signal Processors
Audio Alchemy DTI v2.0, DTI Pro32
Preamp
Headphone Amps: VanTOTL(6SN7GTB, 6AS7G, 6AX5GT), Balanced Gilmore Dynamic, Little Dot II+ (Mullard M8161, Russian 4P1L), Beta22(stepped attn)
Power Amp
Hafler TA1600
Speakers
Thiel CS2.4
Speaker Cable
Cardas Sennheiser headphone cable, Mogami Neglex for K501
Interconnects
Mogami Neglex terminated with Neutrik Profi DIY cables, Blue Jeans digital
Power Cables
ILJ
Headphones
Sennheiser HD580 and HD650, AKG K501 and K1000, Audio Technica W10VTG and ESW9, Westone ES2
Racking
hotel room desk :\
Power Cond
Furman PM-8 SERIES II
Tuning and Tweaks
Blue Tack inside HD580 frame and bails for vibration dampening, Herbies HAL-O tube dampers
Other Components
Blue Baby Bottle/Audio-Technica AT8022 -> PreSonus ADL600 -> Apogee Rosetta 200 Macbook Pro(Adobe Audition)