Description

A few months ago, I was able to move my 2-channel system to a room in the basement that measures 12' wide, 15' long, and 7' high. Now in the main living room upstairs, I do not particularly care if either of my boys knock over or damage the equipment as it is much less expensive.

It is a great relief off of my shoulders.

My goals for this system? Just to be able to relax for ~45 minutes every night and enjoy the music. Sorry, I am not much on flowery descriptions.
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Components Toggle details

    • Dedicated 20 amp circuit armoured cable 12/2
    About 20 feet of 12/2 armoured cable to a dedicated 20 amp breaker.
    • Merlin Music Systems VSM millennium
    The new VSM-MX piano black. I have owned the VSM-se, M, MM, and now the MX.
    • Heart Cable No model
    Belden 89259-based with Eichmann bullet plugs. Currently used between the CDP and the S-BAM and from the S-BAM to the ARS Integrated.
    • Jon Risch DIY Absorption Panels
    At first reflection points and in the front corners and also the middle of the front wall.
    • Marantz SA-15S1
    2 channel SACD
    • Dynavector P-75
    Great little phono preamp
    • ARS Sonum Filarmonia 30 watt/channel
    Very nice integrated amp. Matches well with the Merlin speakers. Comes with Cardas GR power cord.
    • VPI 16.5 Record Cleaner
    Wet vaccuum record cleaner
    • Monster Generic
    16 ga. spiral wound single run, 8', terminated with a circular connection (very much like that on the jumpers supplied by Merlin Music).
    • Technics Technics SL1210M5G
    Bought from Kevin at KAB USA. I had the tonearm damper installed.
    • Ortofon Concord Pro S30
    Bought from Kevin at KAB. Very easy installation on the Technics arm.

Comments 15

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Owner
System edited: Sold my VPI HRX turntable and Dynavector XX2 MKII cart for a simple Technics 'table and Ortofon cart. Overall, very happy with the switch.

david_berry

Owner
You know, I'm a real fence sitter with respect to cabling. Recently, I borrowed a pair of Cardas GR biwire speaker cable for several days from a fantastic audio store. I can't say that I heard a difference between the single run of Monster speaker wire that I have now (8’) and the Cardas. If there was a difference, it did not justify the price. If I have to shell out something in the order of thousands of dollars, I equate that to how many Fantasy 45 records can I get. The records (or CDs) win out every time I think about getting Cardas GR interconnects/speaker wire.

david_berry

Owner
Hello Jaytea,

I'm really sorry, but I am so new to vinyl that I don't have anything to compare it to. My thought process was that VPI really recommends them (Dynavector) and it costs about 3x less than the XV1S!

david_berry

Owner
System edited: Big changes over the last 6 months. I decided to buy a turntable (VPI Scout with a Dynavector 20-XL) and loved the sound so much that I moved up the ladder. Analog is fantastic! My SACD player is getting a little dusty.

david_berry

Owner
Thank you Spencer.

About 20 years ago, I remember lusting after one of those RX-202 Nak tape decks. Well, I saw one come up for sale on Canuck Audio Mart about 1 year ago for $120 Cdn. I jumped on it as I still had all of my old tapes. The neat thing about this as the source is that any pretense of "critical listening" gets thrown out the window, especially with 15-20 year old tapes!
I have yet to finish the Jon Risch DIY absorption panels in the rear by putting the same bulap that is on the ones at the sidewall first reflection points.

david_berry

Owner
Got the VZN-100 in musicwood (piano black to match the VSM-MX) from Jud at Joule Electra about 2 months ago. Just as everyone says - GREAT match!
I've got to update my pictures.

david_berry

Owner
System edited: Forgot to mention that I am also awaiting a pair of VZN-100 OTL monoblock amplifiers in musicwood from Jud at Joule Electra. Hopefully they will be in my system in November.

david_berry

Owner
System edited: I recently removed a partial wall in my dedicated basement music room to make it about 45 square feet bigger. Re-arranged system to acheive better sound.

david_berry

Owner
System edited: Received my Merlin VSM-MX so I thought it would be a good time to update my pictures.

david_berry