Room Size

14 X 17

System Overview

This is my system for the next 24 hours. I change things around all the time, my system is best characterised by the fluid transposition of systemic elements.

Music Preferences

I listen to Classical, Opera and some Film Scores. Also some Oldies Rock, Jazz and World Music. I evaluate equipment (and speakers) primarily by the accuracy of the Midrange/Vocal presentation, which is where the Music lives, all else is just an adornment.

Room Description

Relatively live, needs some treatment. This is for me a slow, thoughtful process that is done in a systematic fashion. Changes are then evaluated over an extended length of time, to ensure that I'm completely satisfied with the results.

Acoustic Treatment

None beyond what is normally found in a room.

Listening Impressions

I require life-like vocals and acoustic instruments. The system must have octave to octave tonal balance, smooth, articulate and detailed. As a secondary issue, I place a fairly high value on imaging, but not at the expense of the above mentioned attributes. If this sound like a description of the high end ideal, then you're right.

Media Storage

Boltz LP racks. Shoeboxes for the CD's and tapes pending construction of a better storage setup.

Other Comments

Many will be wondering why I have included such a Mid-Fi system in this listing. Well actually, it does much better than many imagine it would. I've even claimed, on other forums, to have assembled the "World's Finest System" (under $100.00 :^). BTW: I "have" listened to some of the world's top systems. In fact, two of them are listed on the Athens Club site (one of them is in the Top Ten Systems). While my system isn't quite as refined as those, I'm certainly not ashamed of my system by the comparison.

Components

Digital Source

Optimus CD-7300 (automatic changer) Pioneer DVD player (DV563A, Semi-retired: Toshiba 3950 DVD player

Analog Source

Rega TT, Several Pioneer TTs, AR TT, Well Tempered (Amadeus), Sota "Star" with Vac hold-down

Other Sources

Revox A77 R2R, Tandberg 310 Cassette deck, etc.

Signal Processors

Rane AC23, stereo 3-way electronic crossover(modified for switchable Subwoofer mode)

Preamp

The Mod Squad Line Drive (passive line stage), SAE TWO PA10 (active preamp), Sansui AU 7900 Integrated Amplifier (used as pre), Hagtech Bugle phonostage

Power Amp

7480 chipamp (custom PC boards by Kevin Haskins with fast recharge capacitor configuration), Sansui AU 7900 Integrated Amp (used as only amp or Integrated), HH Scott 299 Integrated Amp (High grade tubes w/ capacitors upgraded/replaced), Phase Linear 700B

Speakers

Speakers:Exodus Audio Keplers, Rosgaard DR-1, JE Labs OB (various drivers), High-Tweek BlackBox Nearfield Monitors, AR 3a, ADS 570 II, Infinity Qa, Minimus 7 and custom designed Focused Arrays

Subwoofer

Shiva (Adire/Avatar Audio)

Speaker Cable

Utilitec Custom diy cables, Carol Cable 16 AWG, Retired: Radio Shack 16 AWG

Interconnects

Radio Shack (various), AR, DIY Cat5 braided

Power Cables

MacIntosh (computer) power cables

Headphones

Sennheiser 580 Headphones that are fed off the speaker terminals of a AKAI stereo receiver, through a precision voltage divider (.5%). I specifically built the voltage divider for this application and allows the SS receiver to perform in it's most linear

Racking

Costco solid wood roll-around Kitchen Island (heavy and effective, fits decor)

Power Cond

None yet, may in the future.

Tuning and Tweaks

Too many, all diy

Other Components

Update to above: Awaiting a tone arm and PS/speed controller: Win Labs TT (Even later: gifted to a friend) I do, of course, have a lot more equipment than I've listed here, some units are awaiting repair or modification, others will become the basis of "gift systems" for my kids.