All components in BOLD are loaned; all components in standard face are owned by me.
LOUDSPEAKERS
Sonus Faber Stradivari Speakers. REL No. 25 Reference Subwoofers.
ELECTRONICS
VAC Signature Mk IIa SE Preamplifier w/Phono Section. Pass Labs XA100.5 Monoblock Amplifiers
SOURCES
Analog: VPI Avenger Plus Turntable. VPI Unipivot Fatboy Tonearm w/Nordost Reference Phono Cable. van den Hul Crimson XGW Stradivarius Moving Coil Cartridge.
Digital: dCS Bartók DAC and the Aurender N10 Music Server.
CABLES
Synergistic Research Element CTS Cables throughout.
ACCESSORIES
Synergistic Research PowerCell 12 UEF SE Power Conditioner. Synergistic Research Passive Ground Block. Rix Rax Hoodoo Component Rack. Adona Zero GX1 Amplifier Stands. Custom Isolation Inc. Acrylic Shelves. Magico QPod Footers. HRS Analog Disk Heavy (ADH) Record Weight. Synergistic Research UEF Record Weight, IsoAcoustics GAIA I Speaker Isolators
Listening Room
My finished basement listening room is dedicated to my two-channel system. It is fairly long and narrow with dimensions of 14' by 26'. It has an 8 foot high drop ceiling with 10" of acoustic insulation above the drop ceiling. The floor and three walls are concrete. The fourth wall is a standard stud wall and configuration. All three concrete walls and the stud wall have two layers of sheetrock. Wall to wall carpet and padding are used throughout.
From an acoustic standpoint, the room is somewhat of a "live end – dead end" design. All equipment and speakers are located at one of the short walls. Records and shelves are also located behind this equipment on this short wall which deadens rear reflections and supports the "live end - dead end" implementation.
I have a single leather love seat and two ottomans in a near field listening position. Speaker and subwoofer placement have been determined via the "Sumiko Setup Protocol" which has proven to be a very effective strategy in terms of sound quality. Check out the pictures for a better understanding of the layout.
I also love to collect art of my favorite musicians and I display them throughout the listening room. Please see the photos, album art and concert posters that I have also included in this gallery of listening room pictures.
What I Listen For
My listening priorities continue to evolve. Regardless of all the subjective variables that might impact my listening experience, I have learned over time that it is the emotional connection that is still an absolute requirement. Proper weight, timbre and pitch are the most critical requirements for me to receive the ultimate satisfaction. Speed, detail, transparency, and sound stage are always important and contribute greatly to the experience, but I consider myself more on the "musical" side of the fence these days. If I can hear a very natural and organic presentation, I can be one very happy camper.
Female vocals, piano, and reed instruments are my favorites for general listening. I love all types of music, but lately I have been listening primarily to small jazz quartets and female jazz vocalists. Don't try to pin me down though. Recent concerts include Wilco, Patricia Barber, the Rolling Stones, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
