Gunbei's Messy Listening Room

by gunbei on Ever Evolving
Sitting in the Magro 24
The lovely Kora
Goofy Gilbert's creation
A ProAc Sunrise
The dirty carpet
Pearl on a Neuance

Description

I've greatly enjoyed persuing people's Virtual Systems and looking at their cool pictures. I've had a system posted for about a year that has changed considerbaly since then, and never had any attached images. There's a good reason for that. I'm ashamed of my listening room. It's messy beyond belief, and some would consider unfit for high end audio.

Incredibly, I'm very happy with the results of my efforts. The room is approximately 12 x 14 feet, but has tons and tons of cabinets, desks and equipment. My 2-channel set up shares space with an HT seup, two computer stations, wall mounted bookcases, dressers and a bed.

I decided to post photos because some of you may want to see what that goofy Gunbei guy has at home. Well, if you look carefully you might notice a bathroom behind the left ProAc and a walk-in closet behing the right one. I have photos that better illustrate this, but I'm too shy to show them.

I promise, one day I will get this room together and pictures of a real system like the rest of you. But I've spent buying equipment and tuning my system to work in this bedroom/storage space, so I'm afraid if I clean it up the sonics will change completely.

The journey continues...
Read more...

Components Toggle details

    • Theta Digital Pearl
    Black unit with RCA connections
    • Neuance Platform
    Placed under the Pearl transport
    • Acoustic Zen MC2 Digital
    RCA digital cable
    • Kora Electronics Hermes
    Tube DAC using two NOS Mullard 6922s.
    • Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II
    RCA interconnect
    • Blue Circle Audio BC-21
    Tube preamp using two NOS black glass Ken-Rad VT-231 6SN7s.
    • Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference II
    RCA interconnect
    • Balanced Audio VK-200
    Solid state 100wpc amplifier
    • Zoethecus z.Block 2
    Cherry Amp Stand
    • Audience AU24
    Single run with AU24 jumpers
    • Proac Response 2.5
    Yew Wood Finish
    • Virtual Dynamics Audition Power Cords
    Cryo treated power cords for transport, DAC, preamp and amp.
    • Virtual Dynamics Nite Extension Cord
    Extension cord with cryo treated three-way splitter for transport, DAC, and preamp
    • VH Labs Flavor 4 DIY Power Cord
    I bought allthe parts from Chris at VH Labs an Frankensteined it together.
    • Furutech eTP-60
    AC Power Distributor with no filtering
    • Porter Port AC Cryo'd Outlet
    Albert's big contribution to my system

Comments 83

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Owner
Marco, call me paranoid, but I have this fear that flapping my arms may cause the broomstick to do even more damage. Sorry, but it just doesn't sound like a smart way to ease into the listening position. A toy truck is one thing, but I don't know how I'd explain to a doctor how that broomstick made it into my intestines.

Ray, yeah I live in LA, so Vegas is just a 3 hour and 35 minute jaunt if I can get some open space between Barstow and the Nevada border. I went to CES in 2003 and had a fun time at Alexis Park and The SHOW. But what was even more fun was the AVN Expo at the Sands.

Here in LA Mexican Americans refer to underwear as "chones"[sp?]. They are very effective sound dampers.

gunbei

Hey Dean,What is a chone?I actually have an audio qustion for you!!Im thinking of getting an Audiomirror DAC,are you still happy with yours?I should have a Monarchy DIP Monday im looking forward to hearing,,,I checked out Marcos system pics,pretty cool!Being in California have you ever been to the CES show?Marco,you may be onto something,,Audio and sex!!Ill bet theres a lot of juicy stories out there,,,i have one concerning a lesbian,bisexual girl,me,and a blown poweramp at 4:00 AM!!!how about a forum, call it ;(The Erotic Audiophile) hehe!! Peace,Ray

raytheprinter

The secret is in flapping your arms like a chicken Dean. Perhaps you could get your lady friend to demonstrate it for you on your bone pipe. Hey, this gives me an idea for some instructional videos!!! Lead (in the solid form) can be had from sculptural supply houses. You'll need a proper ladle and a torch to melt it down. DIY Perch's are not recommended and you do so at your own risk my friend.

Marco

jax2

Owner
I still don't understand how you got your feet off the ground. And where do you get the molten lead?

gunbei

Albert, you may be onto something there: I never thought of trying it with
fish! I guess you may have to freez'em to get'em stiff enough. Hey, if you
cryo a Perch does it stay frozen longer? Are Perch like some insects and, is it
amphibians; you can freeze them, and then, when they thaw, they come back
to life? There's a hamster in this story somewhere, but I ain't going there...it's
already sunk pretty low.

Ellery - that's my favorite weekend getaway!

LMPHO

Marco

jax2

Marco...they have a wonderful psychiatric ward over at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue...a very caring staff...and I'm sure that they would let you bring your SET system with you.

then...after they REALLY screw your head up...you can jump on the psychotropic medication lawsuit bandwagon and you'll then soon have the system and "perch" of your dreams ;o)

ellery911

I'll never be able to eat Perch again, even if freshly caught.

The thought of all that frying................perhaps in Vaseline.

albertporter

EEEEYOW!! LOL !!!!!!!

raytheprinter

Good man Dean! No wonder she liked your system!!!

Ray, you can find out more about the Perch™ [http://www.nwlink.com/~jax/tweak.html]here[/url]. But be forewarned, it ain't for the faint of heart, and if you don't go in for crude humor, don't even bother. We are backordered for the next six years because Slappy's taken a leave of absense to tend to his performance-automotive-jones. Until he's back in action, we won't be taking any more orders.

Marco

jax2

Owner
Heheh, she helped me break it in. Over and over and over...

gunbei

Hey Jax2,i had a lady friend call my place "rustic" Dont know if i want to ask what the Perch is,,,LOL,Gunbei,any pics of supermodels on the Perch???

raytheprinter

Me thinks your female friend is being...well, "polite". Did you let her try out your Perch™?

Marco

jax2

Owner
Yeah Ray, Gunbei's Messy Room Uncensored would scare most audiophiles right out of this hobby. All you gotta do is look at the reflection in the faceplate of the Kora Hermes and you'll get a hint of the disheveled old bookstore that lies behind.

It's remarkable that a lady friend of mine thinks my listening "area" is cool.

gunbei

You guys are too much!!!!!!!Got me laughing a lot the last few days!!I started to clean my pieces of carpet tonight,,then i thought,, all the organic(dirt)stuff,,,, is probably offsetting the effects from the synthetic fibers in the carpet,and if i cleaned it id have to make some cable lifts,,,,geeezzz its getting late,Peace

raytheprinter

Owner
I was sittin' here laughing my ass off at work reading Marco's post when I came across the line, "cause I know it makes him laugh".

You gotta love it.

gunbei

I've seen the uncropped photos. Consider yourself lucky if you haven't! If he sends'em to you just don't open the attachment...either that or make sure there's a toilet near by in case you're prone to hurling at such sights!

I sling a whole bunch of shit Dean's way cause I know it makes him laugh, but really I shouldn't be talkin' here...as Dean's already pointed out I can be pretty darn messy myself. Ask my wife and she'd likely go on for hours about it!

Marco

jax2

Owner
Ray,

At one time, Marco could have joined us when he had a system in a studio loft. But both your guy's rooms both have a coolness I can't yet approach. Gotta get rid of the random chones first.

Believe me, you haven't seen the uncropped pics like some people have.

Dean

gunbei

Hello Dean,I put pics up today of my messy room,maybe we should start a thread(most unorganized room)hehe,,,

raytheprinter

wait a second...those aren't the pictures i saw...i was sure that there was at least one or two bras (left by some supermodel after thanking you for the wonderful digital touchup job you did of course) draped over the proacs. ;o)

Those weren't bras Ellery, those were Pokey's jock straps!

Dean, you do change components more frequently than underwear my friend. This qualifies you as an official single-guy audiophile. Sheeeeeeoooot, you could be the damn spokesman if you weren't made of green clay! Hey, fly me down to L.A. and I'll do some photos of your space that'll have Architectural Digest pounding down your door for an exclusive!

Marco

jax2

wait a second...those aren't the pictures i saw...i was sure that there was at least one or two bras (left by some supermodel after thanking you for the wonderful digital touchup job you did of course) draped over the proacs. ;o)

ellery911

Owner
Thanks Ray!

I hope I've given encouragement to other single guys like us. We all can't have trophy listening rooms, but that doesn't preclude us from being proud audiophiles as well. That said, Marco in his previous post correctly pointed out that my use of creatively cropped photography is a way of hiding the true extent of my mess. Hahh!

Since this system was originally posted, I've been trying different components so it would look a bit different from this one. I replaced the BAT VK200 with a Bel Canto SET40. The Blue Circle BC21 has been relegated to back up status to make way for an eXemplar Exception II. The Kora Hermes seems to be losing out to an Audio Mirror D1 DAC and the Magro 24 rack has been disassembled and a Solidsteel 6.4 resides in its place.

We'll see how things shape up and what components stay, but before I post new pictures I really have to redo the room first!

Thanks again!
Dean

gunbei

I read where you were busy doing press checks ,,,can be a hectic job!!!!

raytheprinter

Hi Gunbei,Nice system!Ive been afraid to post pics of my system because of the cluttered single guy look it has!I think im ready to give it a try,maybe if i post mine ,warts and all,other untidy single folks will do the same!You are a true inspiration whos willing to show dirty carpet and all!Thank you,Ray

raytheprinter

I note your post regarding dAck v2 comparison against Audio Mirror DAC. Wondering if the Audio Mirror arrived yet, and whether you've had a chance to compare the two? I currently have tube amp and Tjoeb 24/192 CDP, and want find complementary Non-os DAC. Any thoughts on these two?

mikemarv

Owner
I'm riding a bike right now, heheh.

gunbei

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