Project Amati Playlist 06 | Virtual Listening Room

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Description

Building out *my* ultimate system.

Now driven by my Mac Mini.

Note that raw-ripped CDs being played via my Wavelength Cosecant DAC is my only source of music.

Despite this, I think many would classify my system as having an 'analog' sound.

The Wavelength Cosecant DAC is awesome. So good that I bought its little brother (the BRICK) for my bedroom system with my old Energies - also very happy.

I use WAV raw-ripped files (in case I want to switch back and forth between OS platforms or music players and I have plenty of hard disk - 11Terabytes RAID5 in the garage).

The current setup is awesome.

I finally have my Chardonnay pre installed and am very pleased overall. Will still evaluate for a while but I believe I like the sound better with the Chard than without - although it a significant change and I was *very* happy running direct with no pre. The Chard also makes the system much more fun at lower volumes...

Now, I am only waiting for amp stands (and component).

The only component that hasnt had a significant effect on the sound is the Nirvana Speaker Cables - everything else has been a step forward to where I am now.

Great transparency, great mids, highs, and a supertight bass. Now a much more dimensional sound stage - I will now schedule the room tuning for the Amatis...

I have also done a little tube rolling with the help of the ATM3s former owner Albert Porter and am very happy with my Tele El34s and the tele driver tubes.

I am really getting there now. In fact, I would say I am becoming highly 'room limited'...

Will update after a few more months of everyday listening!

Components Toggle details

- 3M M170 USB LCD Touch Screen
17
- Apple Mac Mini Duo
Dual Intel Core Mac with touch screen interface running itunes/front row.
Currently attached via gigabit ethernet to 8TB CD/DVD server with all raw wav files ripped using EAC for error corrected transport onto hard drive.

The Cosecant takes the raw source material directly via Apple's Audio Core interface without being touched.

Review later on...
Unfortunately no 2nd video interface to drive the projector, but should be easier to maintain then the Windows MCE with J River Media Center and ASIO... UPDATE: I have had stability problems with the mini - it occasionally wont accept input! This seems to be from the 3rd party USB touch screen drivers. I will be evaluating running MCE on the mini and using Itunes -> Foobar2000 -> ASIO as an alternate. This would make the mini better for its DVD player usage... will update after having tried all this.
- Gefen Mini USB-1 USB Extender
Extends USB 1.1 over Cat 5e/6. Works better with shielded cat cable. In evaluation as Gordon (Wavelength) thinks it to have too high of an error rate. Seems to work pretty well with shielded pre-molded cable so far.
- Generic Cat 6 100' Shielded Cable
Used to extend USB connection 100' from garage to living room with USB sender/receiver pair
- Wavelength Audio Cosecant USB DAC
USB Tube DAC
Beautiful DAC that makes computer (perfect transport on raw error-corrected rips) sound as good as a great CD player.
- Nirvana SX Ltd 1.5M RCA Interconnects
Awesome Interconnects - one of the biggest positive changes of any of the equipment in my system.
- Supratek Chardonnay
Finally got my Chardonnay functional. After 6 months and 2 trips to Kevin Covy in NY to compensate for some shipping problems, I am now getting used to the chardonnay. A preliminary sound description - the Chardonnay 'adds' to my system in that it adds 'resonance' that makes the soundstage of the recording come through. I am still trying to decide on how I like this overall, but I have to admit it to very much enjoying my listening sessions now the the pre is fully functional. I will update later, but currently I will say that whereas my system used to be clean, transparent, and very very 'tight', it is now more 3 diminesional in sound stage, and gives more of an impression of 'being there'. The slight counter is a lost of a little tightness in snare type bass - but a better sense of that bass in the stage... MOre later
- Nirvana SX Ltd 2M RCA Interconnects
2M Interconnects - amazing
- harmonic technology Fantasy AC-10
Auditioned these cords from the Analog Room. As usual, Brian was right and they are a significant improvement. Basically, before these cables, I couldnt plug the ATM3s directly into the WALL without getting significant GLARE in the music that was unbearable. The result was running the AMPs through the conditioner that really cut down on the openness. With these, I get all the openness and none of the glare. Footnote - I also had to replace my wall-plugs - for now with just high grade home depot ones for commercial use (about $30 each)...
- Air Tight ATM-3
Air Tight Flagship Tube Monoblocks. Beautiful. 6 Telefunkin EL34s per block. Now running upgraded inputs as well. And using the HarmonicTech power cords to good effect!
- Nirvana SX Ltd 2.5M Speaker Cables
Spade Terminated, famous speaker cables
- Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario
New version of Amatis have arrived! Now in their break in period, I am already very happy. I am now "in" the music rather than having it played at me. Also, I see much deeper into the details of everything. Will update after breakin. In the meantime, piano, cello, female vocals sound awesome. Attacks are better although still a little rounded by the cosecant. Although piano sometimes a bit back (hope improves with break-in). After break-in Brian from the analog room will return to do a real tuning - cant wait!
- Monster 3500 Mk II
Basic Monster Power Filter/Protection... jury is still out.
- Generic Windows Media Center PC
Windows Media Center PC connected to 8TB of server storage for Video/Audio This system is in the garage and so noise isnt an issue (USB Extender and DVI extenders from Gefen) Currently running J River Media Center. ASIO based usb audio to the cosecant. I finally have this working well, but am fed up enough with windows that I will soon try to switch to the mini... Evaluation time... This PC currently drives my Benq Projector via dvi and the touch screen via VGA. Uses the projector in overlay mode.
- Energy 22 pro
My "Vintage" speakers soon to be replaced with targeted Sonus Faber Amati Anniversarios now on order. Nice sounding horns, base, imaging - thin in the middle.

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Hey CCT,

I'm heading in the same direction. I'm curious to know why you decided to rip in wav rather than flac or some other compressed format that can use ID tags...I'm not talking MP3s.

Also, you said you were fed up with windows. Can you elaborate? Has the mac mini solved your problems?

Have you considered using a palm pilot as a remote control or are you happy with your touch screen? i set my father up with a touch screen and an escient music server and he's pretty happy although I notice he's really not taking advantage of the touch screen.

Regarding your sound card. You might want to check out empirical audio at http://www.empiricalaudio.com/ this is steve nugent's site. He's got something he calls an "Off ramp" which will take the place of your sound card and reduce jitter considerably. I can't attest to this from personal experience (I just ordered one and i'm on a 2-3 month waiting list) but from what i've read, it sounds like the way to go. Your wavelength dac would have to be modified to work with an IS2 connection (I don't know if steve can do that) but it's a thought.

kublakhan May 24, 2006 03:45