Hi Chris,
I have enjoyed following the evolution of your MBL 101E based system. I have taken a similar road and have come to many of the same conclusions that you have. I have the black 101s and do use and love the MBL 9008 amps (a perfect match for the 101s). I just purchased the 6010 pre amp and use the excellent Weiss transport and dac. I sold my Walker Proscenium Gold air bearing arm and table and replaced it with the SME 30 and Brueur arm. Here is a wonderful sounding combination that is trouble free. As for cartridges, you can't go wrong with the Dynavector DV XV1S, which I have used for 4 years, though I recently switched to the Clearaudio Insider Reference Wood whose strengths compliment the MBL speakers and electronics. I have had very good results with the Kubala Sosna bi-wire speaker cables and am in the process of sorting out the interconnects. The Audience Adept Response line conditioner works very well on the line level gear. I do not use conditioning on the amps. I love your house. Mine is a 2 year old soft contemporary on a great lot too - no ocean though. My room, like yours, has floor to ceiling windows on the left side. The length is similar to yours (31') but I am blessed with more width (18.5' minimum) but the dedicated audio room is in the lower level with a ceiling that is angled from the front (9') to the back (11'). I also have a fire place, but designed it on the right wall, about even with the listening position and it juts into the room at a 45 degree angle. Love those fire places, but did not want anything between the speakers. Decisions like this are easy when you design and build from scratch and have a dedicated room. The one thing that is different in our systems is damping or lack of it. This is an issue because it intersets both the sonic and aesthetic aspects of the presentation and you, obviously have done a thoughtful job in both. I found the using RealTraps (9) more or less in a "U" around the 101s did more to improve the sound than most of the electronic and cable changes. I only use 2 of them to the left, in front of the windows, but they barely block out the view. To my surprise, they actually look very good in the room. I wouldn't use them in a living area like yours, but they make the front end of my audio room look like a well designed studio. You have a knowledgable MBL dealer in your area, Weinhart Audio. Have you talked to David Weinhart about your needs? Send me your email and I will forward some pictures. They may give you ideas. I will follow your progress. We are on the same quest. I have been passionate about audio for over 30 years and nothing I have experienced (price and time no object) has come close to the MBL experience. I have probably uttered this a hundred times in the past, but I really do believe this is basically my final system. I really did not want to go all one brand (as in MBL) but there is a synergy there that I don't think can be beat. Of course, others will disagree, but that's what makes this a hobby and not science.
Best of everything to you and your wonderful system and environment.
