Would love any constructive suggestions for improving 2CH performance...
I started off years ago with big Infinity Kappa 9s and Adcom gear. As time went by, and my listening got more discriminating, that turned into a system built around Quicksilver Silver Edn Mono tube amps and a pair of ProAc Response 2s that kept me happy for a long time. Somehow, that system began to morph into a home theater system that, in its "biggest" incarnation, consisted of a Theta Casablanca digital pre/pro, Theta transport, Audio Research VT- tube amps, and Martin Logan Prodigy - Theater - Scenario speakers.
Then I figured out that the system wasn't particularly satisfying to me--the stats were nice on some material, but didn't do the dynamics the way I used to like with my ProAcs RS2s, and I kept feeling like 2CH performance could be better. I also realized that multichannel didn't enhance my experience a whole lot...
So, that is how I ended up where I am. The dCS stuff is wired together with Kimber Orchid, and everything else is Kimber Silver Streak balanced or ADGL for digital. I tried using the dCS stuff to drive the two VT-100s, but lost something, so I added a preamp into the mix. Also let me drive the two VT-100s with the two balanced outputs from the LS-16 instead of using a Y-splitter. Whatever the reason, sounds better than w/o a preamp. It sounded even better when I used my LS-5 Mk III in the mix, but the convenience of a remote for the LS-16 won out. I think the pre is probably the weak link, and probably the next thing that gets revised.
This also does double duty in the living room for video stuff. I've got component from a CATV HD DVR (SA 8250HD), the DVI from the DV-50S, component from an XBOX, and DVI from a Mac Mini feeding a Pioneer Elite 61" plasma. Video switching done by a Gefen DVI 4x1 switch and an Audio Authority 1154 component video switch. My CATV provider promises me a move to the SA 8300HD DVR "shortly," which will allow me to go DVI to the TV from that as well.
The Mac Mini, I'll note, also connects with a remote 1TB RAID 5 NAS downstairs for serving up .wav files. I've ripped my 1000+ CD Rock/Alt/Blues collection to the server in uncompressed format using EAC. Mucked around with consumer drives, but had enough crashes to warrant the big box--in this case a Dell Powervault 745N inside an Acoustilock xCab acoustic cabinet. Now thinking about a second server to handle the classical CDs.
