I started in this hobby in college 25-ish years ago. After going the HT route and building a dedicated room I wanted to get back to 2 channel listening.
My 2 channel system is very minimal, and also serves as the mains for a multichannel home theater in a dedicated room. All components were selected with speed, transparency and soundstage/imaging in mind. Those objectives have been accomplished big time. The addition of the Dali's has made this one of the most exciting systems I have ever heard. They are among the most tonally balanced, detailed and dynamic speakers I have ever heard - and they seem to be very happy with the signal being fed to them.
The 2 channel system is merely a a Cary CD Player with analog volume control, direct into the Spectron MII amplifier, driving the Dali speakers.
When I want to run the theater, I just swap the interconnects to the amp. I have a long balanced run from the amp to the equipment closet at the back of the room where my Anthem Statement D2 resides. As good as the Statement is, there is simply no comparison to the refinement I get from the dedicated 2 channel setup. That may be a function of the 25' run to the HT equipment rack, or it may be the quality of components, or both.
The room is 17x15x10.5, but with a tray ceiling at about 9 feet. There are significant acoustic treatments behind fabric covered walls (70% absorption on front wall, 30% absorption on side walls including 1st reflection points; diffusion behind listener; bass absorption in corners). The speakers (measured from tweeters) are about 49" off back wall, 36" off side wall and 7' or so apart. 9-10" from listener.
2.5 way floorstander with two 5.5" drivers, silk dome tweeter and ribbon supertweeter. One of the most dynamic, tonally balanced speakers I have heard. This really brought the system up several notches. Frequency response: 33-28.000 Hz Crossover frequencies: 3.000 Hz (15.000) Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 88.0 dB Nominal impedance: 4.0 ohm Minimum impedance: 3.6 ohm Maximum SPL: 111 dB Rec. Amplifier power (8 ohm): 50 350 W High frequency drivers: 1 x 29 mm soft dome + 1 x 10 x 55 mm Super ribbon tweeter Low frequency drivers: 2 x 6.5" Bas reflex system resonance: 31.5 Hz Dimensions (HWD): 40.75 x 8.75 x 17.0 inch. Weight: 38 Kg/84 lb
Cary Audio Design CD-303/200
I got this for its analog volume control, allowing direct input to the amplifier.
Spectron Musician II
Musician II, Class D, 500 w/ch. Incredibly fast, detailed, HUGE soundstage. Would love to hear the more modern Spectrons one day.
Adona Isolation rack
Using granite shelves mated to non-resonant substance, with each shelf isolated from others by brass footers.
Channel Island XDC-2
This is conditioning outlet to reduce some DC transformer hum I was experiencing. Worked like a charm!
Pioneer DV-47i
Circa 2001. Still does the trick. Also used for multi-channel DVD-A and SACD.
Paradigm Servo 15
Used only in multichannel system.
Anthem Statement D2
Used for all multichannel audio and video switching/processing.
Panamax Max 1500
Used in multichannel AV rack
Bryston 5B-ST
Used to power center channel, side and rear surrounds
Paradigm Studio CC
Studio center channel.
Paradigm ADP-370
Dipole surrounds on sides and rear.
Cardas Golden Cross XLR
Balanced interconnect from CDP direct to amplifier
Synergistic Research Tesla Precision Reference Bi-Wire
Fantastic detail, balance and soundstage. Surprisingly my preference is to run it with the active shielding unplugged.
Great setup also and I really like the architectual touches in the trim, the lighting is first rate! I hear you about the 2 channel setup and have been kicking around the idea of long run XLR's and mono amps across the front.
