Description

Once we decided we were likely in our long-term home, I felt I could finally remodel a basement the way I'd always wanted. Although not perfect, I feel the rooms biggest strengths are it's near perfect symmetry, dedicated circuit box and flexibility. The measurements are around 31x16.5ft. I also think it's a real advantage having most of the equipement in a separate but very close room(esp. turntables which are very suseptable to vibration). The floor is concrete under the carpet and padding. It was put together as a home theater that would not compromise 2 channel sound(at the time CDs). Since then, I've changed speakers and cable a couple times without problem(even though most of the cables run hidden in the walls).

Since construction in the last several years, my focus has switched to about 90% vinyl, 8% movies, and 2% digital. The granite topped serving bar now doubles as an excellent record cleaning station. Movie and sporting event use will likely increase as my four children get older. For now, I mostly try to keep them away from this area.

I haven't added as much sound treatment as I expected. I don't like a deadened room and things sound great in the current state. I feel the detailed solid cherry wood working(esp. the ceiling and columns) provide effective diffusion in a carpeted, furnished room.

Anyway, this is a room I enjoy nearly every day. Hope you enjoy checking it out.

In the future, I hope to add a custom replinthed Technics mk3(if I ever find one)or possibly an idler drive table. I also may look into tubed monoblocks when my kids are old enough to resist touching glowing tubes.(Allnic A7000s?
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Components Toggle details

    • Denon DVD 5910
    Fully modded audio section by Underwood/Parts Connexion with tubed output stage
    • Runco VX 1000D
    Now aging technology. Same sharp vivid picture.
    • Stewart Filmscreen Gray Hawk
    100 inch diagonal
    • Allnic L4000
    Reference transformer coupled design.
    • Allnic H3000
    Stunningly liquid, open and dynamic. Very flexible. Highly recommended.
    • Krell HTS-7.1
    Once again, aging technology but highly adequate performance(it's only home theater after all)
    • Ayre Acoustics MX-R monos
    These sit on custom made amp stands by Silent Running Audio.
    • Krell Theater Amplifier Standard
    200 W/channelx5
    • Vandersteen VSM-1 sigs
    Four of these(side walls and rear walls) They all tie into the REL Brittania B1s at the rear of the room for 5 channels of full range sound.
    • Genesis Technologies 6.1c center channel
    Built into a custom, dampened enclosure above the screen. Teathers to the S2/12t sub to make center channel full range. A hold over from prior speaker system, vandy's big center won't fit the enclosure and this works too well to bother with a remodel. The enclosure also tilts the baffle down toward seats.
    • Vandersteen Model 5A
    Wide bandwidth, tonally balanced, and great imagers. Dark? NOT in my system anyway.
    • Genesis Technologies S2/12t
    Teathers to Genesis center channel to make center channel full range. The sub is in a custom triangular-shaped enclosure occupying the center two sections of cabinet. (Double walled MDF with sand fill in void spaces).
    • Rel Brittania B1
    A pair of these in the back of the room connect with surrounds making all channels full range. No LFE used.
    • Audioquest Cheetah
    10 meter pair from preamp to monos
    • Transparent reference
    balanced and single ended on audio side
    • Audioquest K2
    4 foot double bi-wired pair from MX-Rs to 5As.
    • audioquest Monte Blanc
    25 feet to center channel
    • audioquest midnight
    To surrounds
    • Shakti Hallographs
    Front corners of room
    • Shunyata Darkfield cable elevators
    Keeps interconnects and speaker cables off carpet
    • Zoethecus Reference
    Throughout audio and HT system
    • Music Direct MD 150 record rack
    2 of these with 4 shelves each. Rapidly filling. Fit and finish OK, price and performance excellent.
    • boltz record rack
    build quality,fit and finish excellent but more expensive and not quite as functional as the Music Direct racks
    • Crestron Isys IO
    Automated touch screen contols lighting, black out shade, home theater functions, CD/SACD plyback, and preamp volume.
    • VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine
    The Audio Desk has replaced this mess. It worked well but I don't miss it.
    • Mint LP Best Tractor
    Essential tool for both the 10.5i and 312s Magnesium arms(the SME's had to be made specifically for the MHST distance of the Air Tight PC-1 Supreme.
    • PS Audio Power plant
    P600 and P300 both with multi-wave/power port upgrades
    • Tice Audio Power Block 3C
    mostly used for video components
    • PS Audio Power Ports
    On most outlets(Power Port Premieres to the monoblocks) all on dedicated 20 amp circuits on a dedicated circuit box.
    • Cinematech Cinaloungers Valentino
    Seven of these, with electronically motorized recline. Four in the back row(on riser) Three in the front row. Center front is the sweet spot for 2 channel. Site lines meticulously maintained.
    • U-Line U-2075RB-00
    Under-counter beer fridge. Go Hawks!
    • Homo Sapien Generation Y?
    One of four good reasons to keep this stuff locked in the basement
    • Technics SP-10 mkIII
    Power supply rebuilt by Bill Thalman. Mods by Richard Krebs. Plinth by Artisan Fidelity. SME 312s/ PC-1 Supreme and EPA 500 ( 7 wand/Cart combinations)
    • Technics SP-10 mkIII
    Dobbins direct mount. Power supply redone by Bill Thalman. Reed 3P with Benz LP-s, German carbon fiber arm with Shelter 90x
    • Custom Custom
    Custom built record shelving. I am not a hoarder, I am not a hoarder.
    • Art Vinyl Play and Display
    Play and display record frames. Easy to change out cover art. All records accessible to play. Great design.

Comments 37

Showing all comments by sonofjim.

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Owner
Pryso,

I don't know. Both pictures are right side up on my Apple based products. I would like to get some pictures posted that were taken with a better camera.

The MKlll is hard but not impossible to find. You just have to be ready to spend the money when one comes up. What I love about these tables the flexibility. You can finish them in any plinth style you want and then change it whenever. Currently I kind of favor the Dobbins style direct mount. I don't know if I'll change the other to that style some day or keep two different styles. Either way, you have top analogue playback with the push of a button with no belts or drive wheels to mess with.

On the speaker front, with Dunlavy gone I think Vandersteen is where I'll stay. I'm just trying to decide whether to do the 5A Carbon upgrade, trade the 5A in on 7s or just keep the 5A. Decisions, decisions.

sonofjim

Owner
You're absolutely right. If there were no such thing as the 5A business for the 7s would probably be a lot better. If you have a chance to get a pair in good shape used I think it may be one of the better values out there.

I also used to love the Dunlavy line. Being out of production and having such a huge footprint makes them less appealing these days. I really wish John Dunlavy was still out there coming up with designs.

sonofjim

Owner
Thanks, Macdad. I'm really happy with the room at this point. Luckily, Vandersteen made the Model 5A extremely well and priced his Model 7 somewhere north of ridiculous. Otherwise, I'd probably thinking about the 7's. The model 7 powered by the ARC Ref 250s would be very tempting were it not for the cost of doing it. Crap, now I've planted a dangerous seed in my mind.

sonofjim

Owner
System edited: Update long overdue. Two Sp-10 MKlll projects added. Allnic pieces upgraded with new transformers. Audio Desk record cleaning systeme, changes the game.

sonofjim

Owner
Thanks Peterayer. No, I've never tried the V-12. I'm pretty happy with the 312s. I'll certainly check out what Albert has to say about the V-12.

sonofjim

Owner
Boonetrc,
I really don't check my system page often enough. Thanks for the comments. Should update the photos somewhat too. Nice choice on the Thiels in your system. Like the Vandersteens, they use a first order crossover and are a truly time and phase coherent design, an often underestimated advantage IMO.

sonofjim

Owner
Guys,
Thanks for the comments. I really must appolagize for not responding sooner. There had been so little traffic on my system page I stopped checking on it after a while. I also really need to update the system but I've had a prolonged process getting two MKllls finalized and have been waiting until their done.
David,
The SME/Air Tight PC-1 Supreme combination has been reliable and great sounding. I'm sure the Talea and supreme would be nice also. The LP-s has been a struggle for me. It seems quite finicky with arm selection and I may not have a good arm on hand for it right now. I have a 12" Reed 3P on order and hopefully that will control the Benz better.

sonofjim

Owner
Chris,
Sorry for the late response. I love the 5As with the Allnic and Ayre combination. Vinyl's sounding great. I need to update pictures at some point but now will be running a pair of SP10 mk3s each in a double arm plinth by Albert.
If you can swing a pair of 5As, you'll definitely have a reference speaker at what amounts to a bargain price. Good luck!!!

sonofjim

Owner
Sam,
I started with a modest collection of maybe 30 records from my high school years. I started buying new heavy vinyl reissues of my favorites and thought they were quite good until I compared them to some of my originals. My point is, Don't knock those 40 year old records. Clean them up and (depending on the copy) your gear can't be too good for the record. Of the 2000 or so I now have, most are in the age range you speak of and I rarely buy a new copy of anything.

sonofjim

Owner
Yes, I'd love to try R2R at some point but my plates full at the moment with the mk3 project. I'm also putting the mk2 in a twin arm plinth to match the mk3. R2R may be a ways off for me but I find it intriguing.

sonofjim

Owner
Slipknot,
The Allnic gear was a big step up, as I know you have experienced. The SP10 mk2 really opened my eyes to the potential of well executed vintage tables. That exposure I really owe to Albert Porter who I visited in May. Currently we're putting together a twin arm mk3 that turned up in Japan. I'm planning on an EPA 500 as one of the arms and am trying to collect as many of the arm wands for that system as I can find. With the A501H I look forward to exploring the world of MM throgh the H3000.
I'm learning more every day. Still a long way to go. What a blast
though.

sonofjim

Owner
C1ferari,
Thanks for the kind words. It's been fun putting this together. Now if I could only stop!

sonofjim

Owner
Thanks Tom, I really do think it sounds great and I wish I could say I was done for good but if I get my hands on a descent mk3 stay tuned. I did just get the xv-1s mono mounted yesterday with the Mint LP Best Tractor on the VPI.
It's still breaking in but I'm already amazed how much more quietly mono LPs play with the mono cartridge.

sonofjim