Description

Finally decided to share with my fellow Audiogoners as I have enjoyed everyones else's varied rigs.

After a decade or so of equipment upgrades this is the current set up.

For a long time my focus was on surround HT. Before anyone could get a complete system in a box from Best Buy, you put your own stuff together piecemeal. Their has been many rotations of front speakers going to the rear and then replaced. Now its finally all matched. In the past few years I have worked it to do double duty as a great stereo rig as well. But because of that the video equipment has not gotten much love. I even still need to rehook up my projector. Cables and filtration have been getting a lot of attention recently (and the GF never notices those). Some of them are overkill for their components, but so be it. When a good deal comes up, buy it. It all fit better when I had VA Beethovens upfront and pre Shanling CD. I like to have all my toys in the same room so I can take it all in at once. Hence, viewing tanks while listening. As the equipment (and fish) got bigger, they are too close for comfort. Now a major move or reconfiguration is needed for best use of the equipment (and to spread out the cable spaghetti). Occasionally (rarely) I slide the Mahlers out for better breathing. I have stuck with only a few brands as I like their products. And it keeps me from changing things even more often and over analyzing and not enjoying. I wish I had more pictures of my past set ups but they were mostly pre jpg. Even these pictures are not the best, but they will have to do until I find my tripod or get a better camera. Its come a long way.
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Components Toggle details

    • Vienna Acoustics Mahler
    Stereo and HT fronts
    • Vienna Acoustics Oratorio
    Center channel. Eventually it will go under the TV.
    • Vienna Acoustics Mozart
    Rear speakers, sand filled.
    • Vienna Acoustics Haydn Signature
    Side speakers. Did not know they were Signature edition when I got them used. One of the few items I dont have the box for. Got one?
    • Velodyne HGS-15
    Rattles the glass in the French doors. But somehow never got a complaint at my old apartment.
    • Shanling CD-T300
    Engineering sculpture, I had wanted a top load for awhile. Sounds as good as it looks. But I still need to get better tubes and longer cables.
    • Sony SCD-C555es
    Arguably the best 5 disk player, SACD. But the connectors are much too close together. I added an IEC connector to replace the fixed powercord.
    • Sony DVP-S9000ES
    My first nice player. Got it new and on sale. SACD/DVD but no CD-R? A protest year by Sony. That crippled it as my only player. Whenever I get a new TV with a digital input it might be replaced by a BlueRay Sony.
    • B&K Components Reference 50
    So happy to have balanced outputs and the Universal brand remote control has served well. Got it when silver was still new and cool. Now black is back in.
    • Pass Labs X0.2
    My first overkill component.
    • Pass Labs X350.5
    Newest addition. Replaced my X250 that really made my Beethovens shine. (Old Pic)
    • Pass Labs X-5
    Replaced my Nakamichi PA-1. Binding posts really need to be upgraded, and the lights are too bright at night.
    • Transparent PI8
    Replaced P8 (short lived but nice) that replaced Monster HTS5000 (I still miss the analog volt guage).
    • Transparent PIXL (MM)
    (2), made a big difference on the amp. Now that I have a PI8, the other makes little difference on the CD player.
    • Transparent P2
    2 outlet surge and filter (for sub). replaced a Triplite ultra block.
    • Transparent MusicWave Reference (MM)
    8' spades/spade. I went from Super to Ultra to Reference. Did not notice as big a difference in the upgrade to Reference, and the spades are too small for the speakers posts! Ultra and Super fit fine?
    • Transparent MusicWave Super MM
    20' single for center. A lucky find used. Replaced a 8' Ultra (preXL). I will need the length when the system spreads out.
    • Transparent MusicLink Balanced Reference (MM)
    20' Preamp to Amp. Longer than I need now, but I don't want to rebuy later when I spread everything out. 2M, CD to Preamp. These need to be longer for current configuration.
    • Transparent MusicLink Balanced Super, Plus MM
    2M Super, Preamp to Processor. Plus, Preamp to 5 ch Amp. Its spaghetti back there.
    • Transparent MusicLink Ultra, Plus MM
    2M, SACD to Preamp. 1.5M Preamp to 5 ch Amp. More cable mess.
    • Transparent PowerLink Reference, XL, MM, Super
    These were the last links for me to upgrade. MM on the Amp, XL Preamp, Ref on CD/SACD/Processor, Super on 5 ch, Plus on DVD. And I have a few homemade Furatech terminated ones (subwoofer & to the wall outlets from conditioners).
    • Transparent RDL2
    RCA digital 2M, replaced Premium model from DVD to processor.
    • Monster M1000, Reference, XLR, 550, .....
    Their back there some where. A variety of Monster brand audio & video cables to complete all the connections (2 Tributaries cables). Mostly purchased before I got hooked on Transparents products. The only new one is a long M1000 single I reterminated to XLR for the sub.
    • Salamander Synergy, Sony, & Wood Tech
    If I change Tv's I will go back to my matching Salamander stand. The matched Sony stand I got 2 yrs after the TV for only $25 new! I made custom side panels for the Salamander stands (alluminum diamond plate, scrap from work=free). Speaker stands were a gift from a fellow audiofile.

Comments 6

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Owner
Have finally....... reposted the current setup in new Thread.

johnadlertech

Owner
Finally moved the whole kit to a better room. Got a new projector and have it up and running after 6 months of room pre work. Will take a few weeks to get everything settled and will repost system then!

johnadlertech

Owner
I use an Eheim 2128 & 2028. The quality of filters has come a long way in 20 yrs. The tank on the left is actually an Eheim. Very unusual for the US.

johnadlertech

Owner
Thanks. They are actually pretty quiet when properly maintained. Its at the end of the month when water levels drop that they become noisy. Those that want completely silent tanks can build them into a wall or have remote filters with below water level returns. What is somewhat noticeable is the boiler's water pump vibration in the basement directaly below in the winter. Or much worse, my new window AC. That completely kills any quality listening.

johnadlertech