System Overview

My goal is to assemble a system competent enough to satisfy all of my many facets - the composer, the studio musician, audiophile, mixing and mastering engineer, producer, arranger, and music lover, without spending tons of cash. I feel as though there are way larger sonic variations between recordings than there are between high end components, so chasing the ultimate system is less important to me than chasing the best music and cool bass guitars, as well as having a dedicated listening room built.

Music Preferences

Progressive rock and fusion - Frank Zappa, Yes, ELP, Porcupine Tree (a new favorite of mine), Return To Forever, Dream Theater, King Crimson, Ambrosia, Spock's Beard, Gentle Giant, Happy The Man, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report. Classic rock - Beatles, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens, Led Zeppelin, Procol Harum, Moody Blues, Steely Dan, Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Beach Boys. Modern funk - Jamiroquai, Brand New Heavies. Classic Funk - Earth Wind and Fire, Brothers Johnson, Shuggie Otis, P-Funk, James Brown. Classical - I really love pipe organ music. The E Power Biggs SACD playing Bach is great. Saint - Saens 3rd is a fave. Britten Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra on Cisco is killer. I like Joel Quarrington, Gary Karr, and Renaud Garcia-Fons, all amazing bass players. Music from India or influenced by - check out a CD by Mark Deutsch called 'Fool' - he plays an instrument of his own design which merges the string bass with the sitar, called the Bazantar. Jazz - Cannonball Adderly, Bill Evans, Mike Brecker, Trane, Bird, Miles, Bud Powell, Ray Brown, Scott LaFaro, etc.

Room Description

Currently in my unfinished basement.

Acoustic Treatment

ATS Acoustics panels

Listening Impressions

I just love the sound of my system!

Components

Digital Source

Zhaolu DAC3.0, Oppo 970

Analog Source

LarryLenco (rebuilt Lenco L75), Trans Fi Terminator arm, Dynavector DV20HX rebuilt by Soundsmith, Shure V15vxmr

Other Sources

Otari MX5050 MKII analog open reel deck, Panasonic 37" plasma

Signal Processors

Behringer DCX2496 (subs only)

Preamp

Cambridge 840E, Parasound Z phono

Power Amp

Parasound A23, Parasound Z3 amp, Trends 10.1, Pelonis 42 amp, Musical Paradise MP301 MK2

Speakers

Green Mountain Europas, Zu Omens, Audio Nirvana 15" ferrites, Pelonis 42, Avantone Mixcubes

Subwoofer

Onyx Rocket UFW-10 (pair)

Speaker Cable

Spelz Anti-Cable, 16 gauge solid copper mag wire, Audioquest

Interconnects

Signal Cables Silver Reference with Eichmann Silver Bullets, homebrew cables using CAT5e plenum, CAT6 plenum, or Canare star quad

Power Cables

Home brew 12 gauge

Headphones

Stax SR-001MKII, Sennheiser HD600, Sony 7506

Racking

Salamander

Power Cond

PS Audio Quintet