Room Size

22'9" x 13'8" (listening area 11' x13'8")

System Overview

EL34 based 2 channel, semi integrated tube amp with a TVC, mid hall presentation with lots of detail without losing the tube magic. Great bass from seperate sub for the bottom end. SB3 front end with a Monarchy NM24 tube DAC

Music Preferences

Rock, Blues, Jazz and Classical (I also like other stuff that runs the gamut)

Room Description

wood laminate floor over concrete, sheetrock walls, 8' ceiling

Acoustic Treatment

DIY Room Lens, DIY Bass Traps, DIY Absorption Panels

Listening Impressions

My amp is well described in Scott Faller's review on Enjoy the Music. It is a somewhat ressed presentation, not forward at all, my speakers tend to strengthen the ressed presentation as they are not forward sounding at all. This does not mean the speakers are not detailed they are smooth in their presentation, image very well and disappear easily. While the Amp would not be considered a super detailed amp, I extract more than enough for me, using Herbies latest Blackbery Tube dampers, and magwire throught out the chain where possible. I would describe the sound now as very open and airey with good inner detail, large stage front to back, still with an incredible midrange and plenty of body to well defined instuments and players. Exceptional tonal reproduction through the Monarchy NM24. Great layering front to back, excellent fast dynamics and impact. All of this extra openness and detail was not part of the amp before and has come just learning and trying new things. Honestly all of this just was not there 5 months ago, I have worked very hard to get these improvements without loosing the basic character of the amp.

Media Storage

I guess 2 500 gig HDs for Flac and wave files for the Squeeze Box. Lps and Cds typical sheelves used for such.

Other Comments

The changes in the sound of my system have also been fantasticly enhanced by a pretty serious effort at addressing my listening room with DIY: Bass traps, 2 Room lenses and absorption panels. I should add the purchase of the SB3 four months back has inspired me to improve things and they were achieved by spending tons of time on this site with extremely helpful people. I am still experimenting with DIY PCs, SCs, ICs, different tubes and different tube dampers though out the system always looking for more while striving for a smooth frequency from top to bottom. The next thing I am eyeing is an AC regenerator (with endless adjustments to both voltage and frequency) for the front end stuff and hollow core particle board shelving thinking it may be similar in charteristics to Torlyte. Thanks a billion!

Components

Digital Source

Welborne PS/SB3>>>Monarchy NM24 DAC

Analog Source

Music Hall mmf5>>Goldring>>GramAmp2

Other Sources

n/a

Signal Processors

GW Labs DSP: (Between digital source and DAC)

Preamp

Promitheus Ref2 TVC

Power Amp

Integrated Tube Amp - Jolida 1000a: PP, class AB, 100 watt x 2

Speakers

Odyssey Nightingales (Alain Courteau: see Revelation Audio Canada)

Subwoofer

HSU-VTF2

Speaker Cable

DIY multiple solid core magnet wire (multi-gauge biwired) unterminated

Interconnects

Belden 1695a for digital and DIY single solid core 30 gauge magnet wire

Power Cables

Volex and DIY multiple solid core magnet wire w wattgates

Headphones

n/a

Racking

n/a

Power Cond

Tweaked Iso Bar 8

Tuning and Tweaks

Herbie's Tube Dampers (3 different types), Vibrapods, MDF sandwichs with Vibrapod middles. Swapping tubes in the DAC, 2-6922 or amp, 2-12ax7 input tubes, 2-12at7 driver tubes

Other Components

For Movies: Oppo 971 DVD, Onkyo TX-DS494 AV Receiver, Henry Kloss Ensemble for 2 fronts and 2 Cambridge Soundworks - Rears with Bipolar/Dipolar switches.