The Green Mill North Man Cave

by escritorjuan on Usher ML-802 LoudspeakersQuadratic Audio MC-1 SUTmicro seikiPass labsSchiit YggdrasilRichard GrayLampizatorHsu ResearchStraight WireOrtofon
The system in reflected sunlight.
The Quadratic Audio Step Up Transformer is seen here next to my Micro Seiki BL-91 turntable.
Schiit Audio Yggdrasil
My Mooomat turntable cover in the hands of a salesmen at AXPONA 2014, where I purchased it. Regardless of its efficacy, it goes well with the room decor, playing off the cowhide rug in front of the entertainment center.
My system passes the "Wife Approval Factor" test (or is that Spouse or "Significant Other Approval Factor"?)!
No longer here.

Description

My listening room is undergoing some major changes.  New photos will soon be posted up.

As with many, my system continues to evolve over time. In its present state, it presents detailed, full-bodied music with clarity and oomph.  I cannot say enough about it!  Residing in my man cave, it brings my wife and I much joy, as we take in digital and analog music, HDTV, Blu ray, streamed and DVD movies through it.


You can read reviews on equipment and other subjects at www.prairieaudiomancave.com (which will soon be changing names) and elsewhere.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 32’ × 24’  X large
Ceiling: 9’

Components Toggle details

    • Micro Seiki BL-91
    The Micro Seiki BL-91 turntable now holds down analog duties in my reference system.
    • Quadratic Audio MC-1 Step Up Tansformer
    This adds gain to an MC Cartridge without adding electricity, making for a quieter background and increased dynamic performance.
    • Usher Audio ML-802 Loudspeakers
    • Schiit Audio Yggdrasil Analog 2
    • Pass Labs XP-12 Preamplifier
    • Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Stage
    • Pass Labs X-150.8 Stereo Amplifier
    • Pass Labs HPA-1
    Pass Labs HPA-1 Headphone Amplifier. Superb headphone amp and preamplifier!
    • Intel NUC with Roon ROCK
    I use the Intel NUC with ROON Labs ROCK software as my reference music server.
    • Hsu Research ULS-15 Mk II subwoofer
    Amplifier Power (RMS)2000 W Short Term, 600 W Continuous

    This sub handles delicate passages or those demanding speed and accuracy with ease and, bottom line, is fit company for the likes of Usher Audio, Pass Labs and other high fidelity equipment whether playing music or presenting action movies.
    • Straight Wire Crescendo 3 speaker cables
    • Straight Wire, Inc. USB Link USB cable
    Silver coated copper USB link cable. 
    • Straightwire Pro Thunder power cord.
    This is Straight Wires new reference power cable and is now plugged into the Pass Labs X150.8 amplifier. It is ideal for high level power amps, as well as select components with IEC female receptacles.  9 guadge stranded Oxygen Free Copper.  
    • Sony BDP-S5500 Blu Ray Player
    • Straightwire Black Thunder Power Cord

    This is Straightwire's premium power cable.  It is plugged into the Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier

    10 gauge Stranded Oxygen Free Copper.

    6 @ 18 Gauge per polarity, shielded

    Flexible Black mesh covered Jacket. PTFE insulation, OD 11mm

    • Straightwire TOS Toslink cable.
    This is Straight Wire's premium toslink cable, which I use to convey digital signal from my 42" Panasonic plasma TV to my LampizatOr Lite 7 DAC.
    • Straightwire ConX HDMI cable
    This is the HDMI cable that I run from our wireless cable TV receiver box to the Panasonic plasma TV.
    • MoooMat Cowhide and Cork turntable mat.
    MoooMats are designed not only to look great but to sound great, too.  The coupling of the cowhide on cork provides significant improvements in sound quality.  While reducing vibration and eliminating static your records will sound warmer, richer and fuller. 
    • Panamax M5300-EX Power Conditioner
    • Dan Clark Audio Stealth Headphone

Comments 19

Showing all comments by andynotadam.

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Hi Juan, 

Thanks for the tip on Acousta-Stuf. I'll probably check it out since I'm always tweaking. For the past few months I have been working on a star grounding setup. A few weeks ago I shifted to incorporating a Synergistic Research Active Ground Block into my system so I have been busy fabricating and running ground wires in an arrangement that would not be tolerated by many partners.

Until I found a semi local pair of Dancer Mini Twos for sale I had been seriously looking for some Von Schweikert speakers at the right price to replace my Martin Logan Motion 40s. I knew of Usher because before the MLs I had owned a pair of Usher Compass X19s that I thought really exceptional for the price, a friend still has them. I am so happy I found the Dancers. I think they are really terrific. I take it that you like the Ushers better than the VS?

My piano playing brother is Mike West and he played with Von at the Green Mill, Pops for Champagne etc., and it really got real at the Enterprise Lounge and some other bars on the south side. He eventually decided that being a gigging musician wasn't good for his health--that it was probably better to get up at 5 AM to go for a run instead of staying up until 5 AM playing. He's been living in Australia for the past 30 or so years.

Nice meeting you.

andynotadam

Really great system Juan. The Lampizator is totally cool!

I'm originally from the Chicago suburbs (Park Ridge) and I know the Green Mill quite well--to see Patricia Barber, of course, but also in the day tenor player Von Freeman who was, for a time, backed up on piano by my brother.

You are lucky to have a space where you can pull the speakers out into the room. My room is large with a gradually peaked ceiling, but it serves three purposes so my Ushers must be hard against the front wall making the front firing port critical in my situation.

While I admire the Usher's bass extension, in my room I found the extreme low end to be a bit woolly, so I put about 3/4 cubic feet of poly-fill into the ports and finished them off with blocks cut out of of black aquarium foam. Looks factory.

Tightening up the Usher's bass with the fill allowed me to cleanly get a pair of REL subs under the Mini Twos.

Hsu subs are really great, so you have a solid combo there.

Enjoy!

andynotadam

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