First update in a long time. Sorry about the rotated pictures, update coming. The system has moved from a dedicated room just for two channel, to a living room with HT and stereo combined. We enjoy having the great sound for movies but I don't get as much 2-channel time now. I hope to obtain a pair of monitors and a better sub in the future. As you can see in the pictures I have two systems but one pair of speakers, a switch at the speaker allows me to turn on the tube gear. I appreciate comments and suggestions.
Continually impressed with this speaker. The bass response in the new room is incredible. Fast, tight and deep.
McIntosh MC-275 reissue
Re-tubed with NOS tubes and Genelex Gold Lion KT88s.
Balanced Audio VK-3iX
Remote option only. This pre amp has taken this system to the next level. I love this thing!!
PS Audio UPC-200 HB
Humbuster unit.
WBT Top-Line Bananas
SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Its like having jewelry sticking out of my vons. The look alone was worth price.
Kimber 8pr
10 ft length. I terminated these with my gorgeous WBT top-line bananas. Will get Transparent speaker cables farther down the road.
Mapleshade Low Heavy Footers
Version 3. Big, beefy footers. Highly recommended. Without them my gear loses its luster, everything sounds flatter and more harsh.
Mapleshade Surefeet
Version 3. Not as substantial as the heavy footers but still yield a great sound.
Universal Remote Mx-500
My remote, couldnt live without it. I prefer hard button remotes so navigation in the dark is easy. Programmable to run up to ten devices.
PS Audio Power Port
Outlet. Great purchase, without it i think my Plus cable would pull itself out of an ordinary outlet.
Transparent Cable Plus MM tech. single ended
1m length. Have these bewtween digital source and pre. This cable is very revealing and seems to get out of the way of the music.
PS Audio Xstream Plus
(2) 2m and (1) 1m (1) 1.5m power cables. I was astounded by the size of these. After i plugged them in i was astounded by the improvements.
Vibrapod Footer
In use under the TT. Tightened up everything as well as adding bloom and blackening the background. Definetly worth demoing if you havent already.
Cambridge Audio 740c
I use this as my two channel CD player, as well as a DAC for my squeeze box for the two channel setup.
Transparent Cable Super MM tech. Balanced
1m. length. I use these beauties between my pre and amp. These cables let so much music through i cant even imagine my system without them.
Eighth Nerve Response Corners & Seams
I am using 3 seams and 2 corners, all of which are on the front wall. I am a true beleiver of this product and look forward to continuing tweaking with room treatments.
I replaced a Musical Fidelity A3cr with the TAD-150. It was a very nice step up, for close to the same money. You have to buy the TAD directly from Paul at http://www.angelfire.com/biz/bizzyb/index.html although I heard he may be out of stock for a while.
FYI, I have no connection whatsoever to Behringer or anyone who sells them. Just a very satisfied customer.
The TAD-150 is a very nice pre, especially for the price. Lots of detail and good low-end control. Not something always associated with tubes. It really fit well with the McCormack amp. If you're looking at pre-amps under $1500-$1800, tube or solid state, I'd give the TAD a listen.
I forgot to mention that I also have a Behringer digital EQ. Keep in mind that I'm one of those people who thought the shortest signal path was ALWAYS the best. But this thing is amazing. It basically corrects for room errors at your listening position. In my room it's like focusing a camera lens. When I bypass the eq, it's out of focus and fuzzy when I put it back in the signal path everything snaps in to focus. More detail, more space, etc. And I don't mean "oh I think I hear a little difference", I mean "holy crap! how did I think that sounded good before?". It is the single biggest improvement I've made in my system. And it only cost $265. Do a search on it and then if you're not convinced buy it from someplace with a 30-day return policy, that's what I did, but you won't return it.
I may be considering it down the road. It's a little pricey for me right now. I would love to get an integrated, but to find one that competes with what I have, is going to cost a lot.
Yes, the Nomad is sexy. Probably more than I need for the trails here in Michigan but it does look sweet. Although I do like the simplicity of the single pivot on my Superlight.
My Superlight is a 2000, I bought it in June of '00. I usually put about 1000 miles per year on it. Last year I had to replace the bearings in the swingarm for the first time, but other than that, the frame has been perfect. I think the Santa Cruz Nomad looks pretty sweet too.
My source is a TRL modded Sony 900. If you're not familiar with it do a search, it's amazing. I have a TAD-150 tube pre-amp, a McCormack DNA 1 amp and Vandersteen 2ce speakers. Interconnects and speaker cables are Usher. Power cables are PS Audio Lab II on the amp and Signal cables on the pre & cd.
I've already got about 300 trail miles in this year. Trails are in great shape here in Michigan. Last year the weather was so bad that I didn't even have 100 miles in by the first of June.
The difference between the two hobbies for me, is I never want to upgrade my bikes. I LOVE the Superlight and the other two serve their purposes. If my Superlight died, I'd go buy another one just like it. My wife always says, why can't you be satisfied with your stereo equipment like you are with your bikes?
I noticed a Rocky Mountain Bicycle poster in one of the pics. Are you a mountain biker? That's my other hobby. I've got a Santa Cruz Superlight, a Cannondale Killer V900 hardtail and a Dean road bike (steel).
