This is my favourite thread on the Omega AC (with over 83,000 views) and I love looking at the cool systems that are posted here. My system is a little off the beaten track, for me at least.
For years I've wanted a "lifestyle" stereo system that could be in our main living area where everyone could enjoy the music, but always ended up with my system(s) in a man cave somewhere else in the house. Don't get me wrong, it would be nice to have both, but tight finances preclude that option for me. When we think of "lifestyle stereo" we think often of something that has tiny plastic satellites and a cheap "subwoofer" that makes background music at best, or a boom box for iPhone/iPod - good enough for most, but not me. I wanted my cake and eat it too, and with this system that's exactly what I got. A near live performance while we sit in the living room or at the dining table, from a system that's totally out of the way with a front end (TPA3116 amp in Hammond case, Schiit Modi 2 DAC, and iPhone) that's just about as simple as it gets. I repurposed an orphan target speaker stand and 2" thick MDF subwoofer base for a stereo stand.
The CAMs sound gorgeous, so much texture and layering to the music, even with this humble front end and unconventional setup; and I fully realize these speakers are probably running at nowhere near their full capacity (think Decware Zen Anniversary and Border Patrol NOS DAC, or the like). The CAMs have no problem filling the 16' x 19' room they're in, which doesn't include the dining area off to the right in the picture. Even with the speakers almost touching the wall behind them imaging is still really good and the bass isn't bloated. As the speakers loosen up (they only have a few hours on them) the bass may get bloated, but so far so good. My setup also shows how versatile and easy to set up Louis' speakers are.
