Vinyl, SACD, tube, 2-ch, and HT all-in-one

Description

This is my current system. It has been evolved from an all Martin Logan HT setup. That is why you see a mixture of electrostatic and dynamic speakers.

The setup is in the double-duty family room that opens into a kitchen area. The overall dimension is about 15ft x 38ft. The family room occupies the front 19ft with a 17ft ceiling. The kitchen occupies the rest with a regular 9ft ceiling. I sit at the edge of the family room, about 12ft from the speakers. It is not really ideal due to minor reflections off the cabinets, appliances, and granite counter top behind me.

I love jazz, female vocal, classical particularly violin concertos and solo pianos. But I listen to pretty much anything except heavy metals, raps, and the Britney Spears type modern pops they give me headache. My listening taste bias towards layback, smooth, relaxed, and full-range sound.

Components Toggle details

- ZYX R-1000 Airy 2S H-SB
Silver core, high output, with silver base. Settings: 2.4g VTF, 249 Ohms loading.
- Lyra Helikon
Medium output MC. Settings: 1.85g VTF, 475 Ohms loading.
- VPI Industries Aries II with JMW 10.5 Arm
Upgraded from an Aries.
- VPI Industries HR-X Ring Clamp
Very effective to flaten edge wrap.
- VPI Industries 300 RPM motor upgrade
Low noise motor
- Krell Standard KPE phono
Very quiet phone stage with external power supply, flexible and easy load adjustments. Un-solid state sounding, excellent bass.
- Sony SCD-XA9000ES
Mlti-channel SACD player.
- Oppo BDP-93
Blu-ray universal player
- Apple Mac Mini
My music server, remote controlled by iPhone. Music are stored on a pair of Western Digital 1TB hard drives.
- Alesis MasterLink
Wonderful HD recorder capable of recording in any combination of (16, 20, 24 bit) and (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96K); It can burn Redbook and CD24 (24/96 CD) with one button. Very easy to use. Great for transferring LPs to CDs and 24-bit CDs.
- Benchmark DAC-1 USB
For music server
- Yamaha DSP-A1
Use as processor only. I am not big in HT so this is good enough. I might upgrade it some day in the future.
- Balanced Audio VK-50 SE
This preamp is very dynamic sounding with great soundstage. But it took a very long time to break in. When it was new, it sounded like a bad solid state and did not sound great until after six months.
I have 8 HAL-O tube dampers installed and they took this preamp to the next level.
- Balanced Audio VK-51SE upgrade
Black face panel
- Balanced Audio VK-75 SE
75W/ch, not quite enough power to drive the Vandersteen 5. I might get another one later to make a pair of 150W monos.
- Theta Digital Dreadnaught
200W x 5. My Summer amp.
- Vandersteen Model 5
Use as front left and right. Rose wood finish, balanced external crossover, wonderful mid-range, construction could be better.
- Martin Logan Script
This is left over from my pervious all Martin Logan HT setup. It may not be the best match with the Vandersteen but I just don't feel like spending the money to replace them.
- Cardas Golden Reference 1M RCA
Use as phono cable
- Cardas Neutral Reference 1M RCA
Connects KPE and SCD-XA9000ES to preamp
- Cardas Neutral Reference 1M XLR
From VK-50SE tape out to MasterLink, for recording.
- Acoustic Zen Silver Reference 1M RCA
Currently unused. Used to be in between DAC and preamp.
- Harmonic Technology Cyber Link Platinum 1M RCA
Connects MasterLink to DAC.
- Harmonic Technology Pro Silway MK II 4M XLR
Connects VK-51SE to VK-75SE
- Harmonic Technology Pro-9 plus
12 ft biwired
- Audience Au 24 1M RCA
Originally I planned to use it as phono cable but I like the Golden Reference better.
- ASC Tube Trap
Four Full round 16"x47" stacked to make two 8' columns.
- Walker Audio SST
Silver paste contact enhancer. This is the most effective tweak in my book.

Comments 21

Showing all comments by islandmandan.

View all comments

Sidssp, very nice system. I just read your reply on a thread about speaker selection, I couldn't agree more. I also have an integrated two-channel/multi-channel system with the priority on two-channel. A much upgraded VPI Scout Signiture with the 300 RPM motor upgrade, on a Brightstar Audio BigRock2, Dynavector XX2MKII cart,TTW copper mat and heavy brass clamp.

A Fosgate Audionics FAP T-1 handles the processing duties, however, it is old enough to not have HDMI inputs, but it's adequate for occaisional multi-channel listening.

Congratulations, and enjoy, as I know you are.
Dan

islandmandan May 10, 2011 20:12

Audiogon

Forum

Bluebook

Merch