Room Size

20 x 24 x 9 ft

System Overview

My system has a lot of "poor man's highend" touches. Many modified, upgraded, or scratch built components. Sterling Acoustics Acumen II transmission line speakers with Focal kevlar woofer and midbass, and a modified Seas tweeter. There are separate inputs for each driver. The Lazarus Cascade Basic tube preamp was refreshed in 2020. Twin Dyna/VTA 70 tube amps got modified with the VTA pcb in 2020, along with a SS rectifier. Both amps are run as single channel monoblocks in triode with Tung Sol 7581A outputs, which power the midbass and tweeters. A Kenwood KA3500 integrated amp powers the 8" woofers, and is fed by an active low pass crossover at ~ 80hz. The integrated amp also feeds the active Definitive Technology subwoofer...low pass sub filter is set at 50hz. Music sources are a turntable fed by a modified Hagerman Bugle 3, and a Denon 5 disc CD player that feeds a Topping E30 DAC. I have a few TTs to pick from, but typically use a modified AT-LP120X (a gift from my kids), and a Franken Nag MP150 body with a JN-P500 stylus, but I sometimes switch in an SAE 1000LT or VM95SH.

Music Preferences

Folk/folk rock, classic rock, jazz, a little country, female and male vocals, guitar, some classical. Mark Knopfler, Emmy Lou Harris, Allison Krauss, Chet Atkins, Eva Cassidy, Tracy Chapman, Willie Nelson, Jon Fogerty, Gregory Porter, Mandolin Orange (Watch Tower), Gregory Alan Isakov, some Johnny Cash, etc.

Room Description

Fully carpeted living room with lots of upholstered furniture.

Acoustic Treatment

none intentionally, but the carpet, furniture, fireplace, and window treatments help a bit

Listening Impressions

This system has satisfied me for many years, but recent changes have brought it to a new level. It sounds better than anything I ever could have imagined I would own as a younger lad. Love the sound, and try to listen daily. Most of the time the speakers are shoved too far into the corners per my chief decorator/love of my life, but once in a while I pull them out and let them breath.

Media Storage

No where near enough

Components

Digital Source

CD

Analog Source

turntable

Other Sources

PC into the DAC

Signal Processors

never

Preamp

Lazarus Cascade Basic Tube Preamp (circa 1989)

Power Amp

Twin Dynaco 70s with VTA boards, CAT caps, SS rectifier, TS7581A output tubes. (Circa 1961 and 1964)

Speakers

Sterling Acoustics Acumen II transmission line speakers (circa 1989)

Subwoofer

Definitive Technology Powerfield 15 subwoofer

Speaker Cable

Monoprice DIY 4-conductor bulk 12 awg OFC.

Interconnects

Furutech Fa-as22, SKW

Power Cond

Lightspeed power conditioner

Tuning and Tweaks

Isolation and everything else I can think of that's reasonably logical, easy, and affordable