Two channel CD/SACD and Tuner based system in a 95% dedicated room. Classical Rock, Blues and Jazz with some Show and Claassical music being the genres of choice.
Nothing on the horizon for changes in 2006 at this time.
Audio Research hybrid tube/transistor preamp with RCA and Balanced outputs and a remote control. Tweaked with a grounded tube cooler for the NOS Siemens and Halske 6922 CCA, floated top cover, shorted spare inputs and sitting up on spikes. Original owner since the mid 1990's.
Sumo Andromeda II A Mk II
One is my 1991 oiriginal which powered the MOSFET loving Acoustats since 1991. The second amp showed up on eBay in 2005 being sold by its original owner across the state. Inquiry revealed its serial number was 23 different than my mine ... built same day, same shift, same parts bins in 1991. Now running the left channel. One channel each side drives the bass modules and the other the electrostatic panels at each side. They live on spiked Target stands and are isolated from them by sorbathane pucks and some additional lead dampening. In 1991, Jason Stoddard, this amps designer, furnished a letter certifing the typical bench of these units as 340 WPC into 8 and 480 WPC into 4, so musical dynamics such as drum hits, string plucks, etc., are real world and breathtaking.
Acoustat Spectra 1100
Also purchased in 1991 are these electrostatic panel hybrids with abuilt in 8 inch woofer module. They are now undressed and bi-amped. The woofer moduiles were repaced with acoustic fiberglass in 1991 until the bass was just right. Pinpoint imaging, side to side, front to back and incredibly transparent with amazing visceral impact. Can't imagine listening to music on anything else.
Sansui TU-9900
Purchased in 2005 and Worked over from top to bottom by Mike Williams at RadioX. New op amps, black gates capacitiors, beefed power supply, upgraded power cord, removed balun silver wired antenna input and other mods too numerous to list. I wish I would have known how good FM could sound and image twenty years ago.
PS Audio P-500
Also added in 2005 is the PS Audio A/C Regenerator with Multiwave and Clean Sweep. Amazing component.
Signal Cable Power Cable
Power Cables for the PS Audio P 500, Sumo Power Amps and Marantz SACD.
XLO Ultra
Speaker Cable for the bass modules - 1 meter run a side.
Straightwire Maestro
Speaker cable for the electrostatic panels - 1 meter run a side.
Monster Interlink 800
Have tried and shot out more than a dozen interconnects over the years and this one has always gotten it done better than any of the others. May not be a fancy brand but the results speak for themselves. It is Used throughout with runs from Marantz to Audio Research to Sumo Amplifiers custom converted to balanced. Has not been made for the last ten years or so.
Acoustic Sciences Corporation Room Tuning
Corner bass and mid-range floor standing traps with studio traps on stands and half rounds in the rear of the room. With dipoles such as the Acoustat they make all the difference in the world. Your room is your biggest component.
Magnum Dynalab Signal Sleuth
Signal Slueth for FM which makjes the Sansui sing just right.
Magnum Dynalab ST-2
Half Wave Mast Antenna in the rear corner behind the traps feeding the Signal Sleuth.