Eclectic system put together over many years, piece by piece.
Main stereo consists of Rega planet 2000 to DACMagic, feeding Adcom GFP750 to a Krell KAV 250A, driving B&W Matrix 801 S2. Clearaudio Solution-Graham Robin=Clearaudio Sigma Wood-Monolithic Sound vinyl front end.
The rest of the list is for SACD, which is probably used only about 5% of the time.
Recently just tried out Nordost Heimdal's for the front end and the sound just blew me away.
The listening room measures 15X30X9. Original walls are 70's wood panel painted over, and the front end is floor to ceiling Stone fireplace. To the left is a large triple panel sliding patio glass door. So the side walls and part of the rears are treated with Sonex, and there are two 2X4 fiberglass panels placed along the front where the opening to the fireplace is, and along the left side at the 1st and 2nd reflection points. The glass doors have aluminum vertical treatment, which I usually close and have rotated at a 45 angle for listening. There are 2 RPG skyline diffusers along the rear wall at ear height.
Contrary to current fashion, I really hate the reflective room sound. Even classical recordings that are recorded in empty halls sound unnatural to me. The only problem I have with the current listening set up, is that the room has an opening to the main foyer of the house to the right-rear corner, which creates a slight unbalance to the sweet spot location.
The next anticipated upgrade is the addition of the North Creek B&W crossovers.
Picked on the Audiogon as a demo. This is on the Robin
Monolithic Sound PS-1, HC-1b
Used for the Clearaudio-Robin combo
Garrard Zero 100SB
Probably my first non bargain basement piece of stereo gear. Just couldn't bring myself to toss it.
Clearaudio Aurum Beta S
This is used on the Garrad. Also have a Shure V15 Type V I'll occasionally use
Yamaha C-85b
Old preamp before the Adcom. Now used only for phono stage for the Garrard
Rega Planet 2000
Main cd player
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic
This is my main DAC using a Pangea P-10 Power unit
Monarchy Audio DIP
This is bwtween the Rega and MSB LinkDAC
MSB Technology Link mkIII
I use this connected to the Rega for its HDCD chip
Pioneer DV-588A
Used only for it's SACD
Sony DA 333ES
Used as a pre-amp for 5.1 sources
Adcom GFP-750
Purchased after the review in Stereophile.
Krell KAV-250a
This powers the front mains
B&W Matrix 801 s2
Main fronts
North Creek Music B&W Matrix 801 Crossover
Have received the NC crossovers and have about 310 hrs burn-in time. These have brought the 801's to a new level. High's, mid's are more delicate, the soundstage is deeper, and the background is much quieter. The bass goes lower, has tightened up, and is much punchier. In the updated front photo,it is the small black box to the right of the front right speaker. To the left, it sits behind the speaker.
Krell KAV-150a
This powers the rear speakers
Audiosource Inc. SW-4
Strictly for 5.1 sources
JBL S-310
Bought used of ebay for the 5.1 rears
JBL Venue Stadium
Used only for 5.1 center. Moved out of the way most of the time
Audioquest KingCobra
Majority of the system
Nordost Heimdall
XLR between Dac Magic and Adocom and Adcom and Krell. Just tried these out recently and they blew me away.
Nordost Heimdall, Blue Heaven
Heaimdall bi-wire for the fronts and Blue Heavens for the rears
Auralex Metrofusors
Added 12 Metrofusor diffusers to the listening room, 2 in the front between the speakers, 2 on each side at the point of first reflection, and 6 on the ceiling along a line from the both speakers to the listening seat.
System edited: The North Creek Music B&W matrix 801 outboard crossovers have arrived. In the updated front pic, one of them is the black box to the right of the right speaker. I have about 315 hours of burn-in time on them. Definitely worth the upgrade. The highs, mids are more delicate. The soundstage is deeper & wider, the noise floor is much quieter. The bass is deeper, tighter, & cleaner. Have also added 12 Auralex Metrofusor diffusers to the listening room. 2 between the front speakers, 2 on each side at the point of first reflection, and 6 along the ceiling between speakers and the listening seat.
Ssglx Thanks for the complement. I took a peek at your system. I noticed that you also use VTI racks. I would really love some SolidSteels, but can't justify the cost at this time. I filled the VTI's w/ sand, but if there's any difference, it's in my own mind. I also had to add additional pads under the MDF shelves here & there, as most of the shelves are not flat. Similar to you, almost every piece of audio stuff I've acquired, I've kept. For a while there, a had another rack w/ SAE 2100L, 2400L (acquired via ebay, couldn't afford the stuff growing up) next to the current setup, but rarely used it as the sound quality, although acceptable, wasn't as enjoyable. Right now it's in another room awaiting a future purchase of a Arnie Nudell era pair of Infinity speakers. Happy listening.
