After adding a large attached garage to our country home, I decided to turn the existing 25 x 23.5 x 10 two stall garage into my audio/video/writing getaway. After all, my space in the family room was getting crowded.

What an education in acoustics! Going from a 7 foot ceiling with lots of soft surfaces to admittedly challenging dimensions and a painted concrete floor, my system’s debut in the new room was inauspicious. All sorts of echo, which mushed the high frequencies. Whereas the previous location had lent itself to a very precise presentation, this was a big disappointment. Not anymore.

After adding furniture and Auralex absorption and diffusion tiles, a couple of rugs and other diffusion panels in the back of the room, the system snapped back into focus while retaining a livliness that is a joy to listen to. Bass is solid and tight. The system also includes 5.1 surround sound and a projector. The 6 x 10’ screen on one wall seemed to play a part in settling down the echo issue.

To be honest, I had been disappointed in my Wilson Sophia’s in the previous location. Though they bested my beloved Meadowlark Hot Rod Herons, I still felt they were overrated. Now, I get it. There are times when the soundstage is so deep, it become hypnotic. It has never been clearer to me that environment is the biggest factor in any set-up.

The system:

• Wilson Sophia Speakers. Very particular about placement but well worth the effort!

• Symphonic Line Kraft 250 Monoblocks (250 watts of Class A power per side). There may be as few as a dozen pair in the U.S. but simply the most transparent, unflappable, beautiful sounding amps I have ever heard.

• Symphonic Line Die Erleuchtung Tube preamplifier. I’ve measured this against some awfully heady competition, but there is a tube magic in this preamp that keeps me coming back.

• Symphonic Line Reference CD Player. Headturning sound. Massive capacitors inside and large outboard power supply (like the preamp) make this a very special player. Bested my Wadia 850. It sounds like a tube player but it is solid state.

• Bix Turntable, Rega 250 arm and NOS Adcom MM cartridge. I’ve experimented with MC cartridges but have not found anything I liked better—yet. The delivery is very fat and bold but lacks the delicate top end shimmer the CD player delivers. I am sure there is an upgrade in my future.

• Camelot Lancelot Phono Preamp. DC powered. The best fit so far. Under-rated unit.

• Otari 5050 Reel to Reel player/recorder. Well recorded tape still sounds awesome at 15 IPS. Plus, as an old radio guy, I just couldn’t live without one.

• Speaker Cables: Speaker cables are the last Music Metre cables ever made. Brilliant design. They are very open and revealing. Cymbal decay seems eternal. I have tried all sorts of cables including pricey Purist Audio Cables, but these were just the best fit in this system.

• ICs: Music Metre Bel Canto. Open without being shrill. Also using Morrow MA2 ICs to the amps. Minimalist design. Solid core.

• AC Cables: Variety of PS Audio Statement, Voodo Mojo, Eichman Express, Tributaries 10 gauge Silver Series. The Tributaries are a great inexpensive performer. Looking to upgrade to PS Audio Premier or similar AC cables.

• Power: Direct line from the pole to PS Audio Soloist Wall outlet. PS Audio 300 Regenerator powering components. I will be adding individual 20 amp lines for each amplifier.

• Stands. Audio Elegance custom built stands. These are gorgeous and they really enhanced the performance when I got them. I had them put wheels on the racks to make it easier to get to cables.

Other Misc. Gear:

• Carver M500T amp powering Paradigm CC370 and CC570 center speakers. Makes dialogue sound very natural. I like using outboard amps on the center channel since it contains the dialogue and I like the way the Carver punches out the voices.

• Oppo 980 DVD. No Blueray, yet. I own two Oppo players. Very reliable. They do everything well.

• JVC G10 Projector. The used to use these at NASA and for medical imaging. Very high resolution and a super picture that rivals HD.

• Yamaha RXV-995 Receiver. Bought it new and I’m not up to figuring out a new one. Works great as a preamp. It is powering my rear Arcam speakers. It still sounds very good. Just a good solid machine I will probably never give up.

• Velodyne ULD 15 Servo controlled sub. Great, great sub. Almost a waste for HT! Best I have ever owned by far. Very tight, fast and controlled.

The HT system is also connected to satellite television but we use it mostly for movies. I bought the material for the screen and had the local lumberyard frame it. It’s a budget HT system comprised of components I owned with the exception of the screen and projector, but the performance is very pleasing.

My first love is audio, but since I had the space, the projection system makes movies much more of an adventure and a family event.

We have tube based systems in three other places in the home with a variety of components, but this one is my baby.