Millercarbon's System

by millercarbon on

Description

The System is built around the philosophy that everything matters. Everything either contributes or detracts, and no one single component is any more or less important than any other. Even details as small as where a component goes or how the wire is routed make a difference you can hear. Everything matters.

The System is also built around the philosophy that the ideal component does nothing. The perfect component does not sound a certain way. It does not impart, it does not detract. It is not there at all.

This is why The System looks the way it does. It is extremely difficult to make a rack as good as no rack, ie the floor. A rack puts everything up high closer to ear level and reflects sound more because its all in one block. So The System is mostly on the floor, and with components at differing height and spacing the components diffuse more than reflect. This also provides for shorter and more direct cabling with greater isolation between signal and power cables. 

The Solution Turntable rack is the result of extensive testing and comparing and shows the extent one must go to be better than the floor. Its as low as it can be for comfort, and as close to center as it can be for the screen. It could not be much closer anyway, and by happy coincidence happens to be in a bit of a bass null zone- not that acoustic energy is likely to have much effect on 700+ pounds of solid granite and concrete!
 
The System is dual use. The frame around the screen is a custom Miller creation, identical in dimensions to and covered with the exact same incredibly light absorbing black velvet fabric as the Stewart Filmscreen frame. At 92x52 it provides nearly the same apparent viewing size as seated a little further back than the middle of a typical movie theater.

The single biggest factor in video quality is contrast, and ambient light is the single biggest challenge with projectors. The upper walls and ceiling are a neutral gray for accurate colors, while a darker fabric and carpet combine with window shutters to control ambient light. Most of the light then comes from the screen itself. Direct side by side comparisons show the Grayhawk screen performs much better than a white screen in ambient light.

Stewart Marcantoni taught me it all begins at the wall. The System begins with 4 ga wire at the panel. This 4 ga brings 240v power to a step-down transformer located just beneath the system. Now at 120v, it is only about 5 ft from the Medusa power center. The step-down transformer and Medusa are both grounded to the same ground rod the same 5 feet from the system. Power wire is all cryogenically treated.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 24’ × 17’  Large
Ceiling: 9’

Components Toggle details

    • Audio Consulting Step-down Transformer
    Pure silver wire Swiss transformer, 240v to 120v. Plates, bolts, and all terminals treated with Total Contact. Mounted on BDR Cones in a 2" thick MDF cabinet with one Perfect Path Solutions Omega E-mat. Dedicated copper ground.
    • Miller Medusa Power Center
    The Medusa power center is built on a custom Black Diamond Racing Black Beauty Shelf. Incoming power from 4 ga copper is hard-wired direct to a Jungson transformer with filter caps. Point to point Audio Consulting pure silver wire connects the Jungson to Oyaide and Synergistic Research Blue outlets strategically located on the four faces allowing short direct power to components from the centrally located Medusa.
    Two Synergistic Research Michael Spallone modified MPCs are also hard wired in silver.
    Two Synergistic Research Michael Spallone modified Tesla MPCs hardwired in silver to an additional Audio Consulting silver isolation transformer.
    3/4" MDF mitered pyramid cabinet. MPC transformers and all connections treated with Total Contact.
    Dedicated copper ground.
    • Miller Carbon Turntable
    Based on the Teres Audio turntable bearing, platter, and Verus Rim Drive Motor, the Carbon features a Black Diamond Racing carbon fiber plinth, arm base, and feet. The brass bearing screws directly into a large 4" diameter by 1.25" thick threaded BDR carbon fiber nut for extreme rigidity and vibration control. The Teres bearing is modified with a silicon carbide bearing and tungsten carbide thrust plate. The Verus motor is modified with a BDR Source Shelf base, Cones, and mini-Pits. 
    Miller carbon fiber record clamp together with the carbon fiber washer clamps records so secure and flat that when released it takes a second for the record to pop loose, as if held down by vacuum.
    One Synergistic ECT and One Perfect Path Solutions E-Card on the motor. 2 ECT and 2 Orange fuses in the motor controller. The motor controller umbilical is modified with Active Shielding added using another Spallone modified MPC. The Verus motor controller is on BDR Cones and Round Things, with a BDR Shelf on top. Internal connections, caps, transformers and other parts treated with Total Contact.
    • Origin Live Conqueror Tone Arm
    2007 Conqueror. Leads modified with Active Shielding using Michael Spallone modified Synergistic Research MPC with upgraded caps and diodes hard wired. One Synergistic Research PHT on the arm, 2 ECT on the arm base.
    • Koetsu Black Goldline
    0.4 mV output MC cartridge with body lightly painted with Total Contact, and with one SR Green Dream and one Black Beauty PHT. Pins and leads treated with Total Contact.
    • Herron Audio VTPH-2A Phono Stage
    2018 Herron VTPH-2A phono stage with Synergistic Research Orange Fuse, 3 ECT, 2 Perfect Path Solutions Stop-Its, and all tube pins, transformers, and other items treated with Total Contact.
    • Miller Solution Turntable Rack
    The Solution to turntable vibration control is a modular component rack. Top and bottom shelves are solid reinforced 4" thick concrete with a 2" deep sand bed cast into them. The middle component rack is 2" thick concrete. Legs of polished ABS are filled with concrete, with threaded inserts cast into them. Bottom footers incorporate BDR Cones and are height adjustable for leveling. Assembled on site due to its over 700 lbs total weight The Solution is bolted together for extreme rigidity. The granite machinists plate rests on a 2" deep sand bed.
    • Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Euphoria (Level3) Interconnect
    2m Euphoria, grounded to dedicated Earth ground with all connections treated with Total Contact and supported with ceramic insulators.
    • Melody I880 Tube Integrated Amp
    Melody I880 with 4 JJ KT-88, 4 Sovtek 6SN7, and one D100 rectifier tube. Modified with one pair of input RCA converted to pre-out. The factory feet are removed. Three BDR Those Things on the inside of the bottom cover are screwed together through the bottom plate with three Round Things, with the cover sandwiched between them, and with a Cone screwed into the bottom of each.  The Cones are supported on Round Things on top of a Shelf, Cones, 150 lb granite plate, and Cones.

    All tube pins and connections treated with Total Contact. SR Orange Fuse and 3 ECT. One pair Stop Its.
     
    • Synergistic Research Element Copper Tungsten Silver Speaker Cable
    8 ft Element CTS with spades and Michael Spallone modified Tesla MPCs hard wired into the Medusa power conditioner with in-line Audio Consulting pure silver isolation transformer. All connections and transformer surfaces treated with Total Contact. Supported with Cable Elevators and ceramic insulators.
    • Talon Loudspeakers Khorus X
    Talon Khorus with X crossover upgrade treated with Total Contact and Perfect Path E-cards. Synergistic Research Speaker Kit HFT treatment. On BDR Cones and Round Things.
    • Talon Loudspeakers Roc Subwoofer
    Self powered dual 12" drivers in an isobaric design cabinet. On BDR Cones with Total Contact on all connections.
    • Dayton Audio SA-1000
    2 Dayton subwoofer amps. Each one drives two 10" subs, wired in series for 16 ohms. Transformers, caps, resistors and all connections treated with Total Contact. Perfect Path Stop-Its on unused RCAs. Amps stack on each other with BDR Cones.
    • Miller Morel Subwoofers
    A Distributed Bass Array comprised of 2 Morel 10" drivers in sealed cabinets and 2 in ported cabinets. All covered in stained Rosewood veneer.
    • Black Diamond Racing Shelf for the Source, Shelf, Cones, Those Things, Round Things
    Every single component in The System is on BDR Cones- including even parts like the Audio Consulting transformers, Talon Khorus crossover networks, and the Medusa Power Center. Most components, such as the speakers, amp, phono stage, and turntable, are also on Round Things.
    The Miller Carbon is on a Source Shelf with Cones and Round Things on both sides. 
    The phono stage and amp are on a Shelf with Round Things and Cones on both sides.
    The Verus motor controller is on Cones and Pits. The Verus motor itself is mounted in a Source Shelf, its factory rubber feet replaced with Cones and Pits.
    All the subs, subwoofer amps, and the CD player are on Cones.
    • Synergistic Research HFT, ECT, PHT, and Orange Fuses
    Level 2 HFT Room Treatment. Several ECT on Melody, Herron, Verus motor, and motor controller, and Conqueror arm. Two Green Dream and one Black Beauty PHT on the arm and cartridge. Orange Fuses in Melody, Herron, and Verus motor controller.
    • Perfect Path Solutions Omega E Mat
    Several, located on the main electrical panel, Audio Consulting step down transformer, Talon Khorus speakers, and Medusa Power Center.
    • Perfect Path Solutions E-Cards
    Located on the Medusa, SR Atmosphere interconnect, Verus motor, Herron phono stage, Talon crossovers, breaker panel, and Dayton amps.
    • Cable Elevators Ceramic Insulators
    Cable Elevators together with ceramic insulators on stands support all wire above the floor and maintain spacing minimizing field interference.
    • Synergistic Research Power cords
    Resolution Reference .5 and Master Coupler power cords to the Herron and Oppo.
    • Shunyata Research Cobra
    Power cord to the Melody integrated.
    • Electraglide Fat Boys
    2 Fat Boy 2 foot power cords to the Daytons.
    • OPPO Modded DVD Player
    Extensively modified player on BDR Cones, with BDR Shelf and dive weights on top.
    • Sony VPL HW40ES Projector
    Ceiling mounted. With 10m cryo'd Cobalt HDMI.
    • Stewart Filmscreen Grayhawk Screen
    Viewable 92x50  screen mounted in custom black velvet screen frame.
    • Miller Window Shutters
    Half inch MDF window shutters for shutting out sound and light.
    • Miller Solid Core Door
    With weather stripping for sound control.
    • Miller Corner Tunes
    Owens Corning acoustic panels covered in Art Deco designer fabric for acoustic control in corners where walls meet ceiling and ceiling and walls come together.
    • Radio Shack Bulk Tape Eraser
    Powerful handheld demagnetizer for demagnetizing records and cables, and charging Omega E Mats.
    • Macintosh MacBook Pro
    When used for movies, sits on top of the Oppo, with one ECT and one E-Card. Video out to projector via HDMI adaptor. Audio out to the integrated via mic to RCA adaptor.
    • Townshend Audio Podiums and Pods
    Townshend Podiums are used under the Tekton Moab speakers. 
    Pods are used under the turntable, amp, and phono stage.
    • Duelund, Jantzen, Path Audio, Goertz, BDR, Townshend Audio, Tetrault Audio Caps, Resistors, Inductors
    Duelund JDM Silver bypass caps, Jantzen Alumen Zcaps, Goertz Alpha Core inductors, and Path Audio resistors in crossover upgrade 5/15/21. 

    Crossover components mounted on Tetrault Quantum of Solace laminated to BDR Shelf, isolated on Townshend Pods.

Comments 98

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Great job, love the cable management and attention to detail :)

kota1

Owner
tmiddle, Sorry for the late reply Thom, I haven't been here in a while. Highly recommend Origin Live. You might want to trim it down, and would want to think about that. Couldn't be hard, first cut as close as you can then stick it on a drill and spin sand the edge. Should come out nice and round that way. Or you could always call and ask Mark if he would do one to spec for you. 
Appreciate hearing about the Podiums. They are indeed one of the most remarkable components in all of audio. More than a speaker upgrade, I have heard them transform a system. Besides mine, I mean!

millercarbon

Owner
tmiddle, Sorry for the late reply Thom, I haven't been here in a while. Highly recommend Origin Live. You might want to trim it down, and would want to think about that. Couldn't be hard, first cut as close as you can then stick it on a drill and spin sand the edge. Should come out nice and round that way. Or you could always call and ask Mark if he would do one to spec for you. 
Appreciate hearing about the Podiums. They are indeed one of the most remarkable components in all of audio. More than a speaker upgrade, I have heard them transform a system. Besides mine, I mean!

millercarbon

Wonderful, very inspirational, thanks for posting

kota1

Hello Millercarbon,

I mainly just read AG forums and seldom post but wanted to ask you a question. Recently purchased a set of the Townshend podiums after purchasing a Symposium Segue ISO for my turntable. Difference was dramatic and that’s what led me to the Townshend discussions. The podiums were the best upgrade in my 50 years of audio. 
My question however, is regarding an Origin Live product. Today I picked up an Origin Live Gravity One weight for my SL1210gae to use with stock mat. Considering buying their record mat as well (to use top of stock mat), but it appears that the Origin Live mat is about 1/2 larger in diameter. Thought you might have some experience with these and whether it would be a good fit. 

Thanks, Thom in Oregon

tmiddle

This system looks grand. I'm sure it sounds amazing.

jackhifiguy

nice job MILLER CARBON.
you are a wise person and i'm so sorry

digitalviper

Pretty impressive.

l1975r

MC, Great job on redoing the crossovers in your Moabs.  I bet you have raised their performance considerably.  Tidy work too my friend! Nice!!

jbhiller

My Townshend podiums arrived today so how did you lift them Moabs onto yours.

garypennstate

What does the back of the Moabs look like with the upgraded Xover?

brad1138

Everything is well thought out. My compliments.

robert53

Owner
Bought direct from John Hannant at Townshend Audio, he's been a big help, and strikes me as a fellow serious audiophile always looking for the best tweaks and stuff. You can call Townshend, it is a small family run shop where anyone can help you, I just usually wind up talking with John.

millercarbon

Where did you buy the Townshend podiums?

garypennstate

Where's your new gear?

noromance

Owner
Classic red.

millercarbon

Must-get-lavalamp
:) 

mclinnguy

Owner
Excellent! Yes, that is exactly the kind of thing I have planned for mine. Thanks!

millercarbon

I saw your Strain Guage post this morning. As you appear to be an enthusiast 
And as I own 2 units I thought you may be interested in a modification that I have done to one of mine. I had Rens Heijnis in the Netherlands redo the whole output stage of the SG200. He is a specialist in microphone stages for the recording industry. The Unit is now on Batteries with 3 choices in the gain
A while back, he also custom built  a phono stage for me and this gave me the idea to try this with the SG. The results are remarkable. I also have the DS Master and the SG surpasses it in resolution. I appreciate many of the great tips you give the community  and as I am very heavily into vinyl and have 6 TTs running with 24 arms ( of my own making15/16 inch) I thought you may be interested.

jaafjj

Owner
Earlier pics are Synergistic Element CTS with Active Shielding. Currently Townshend F1. Both benefit from Mats, Elevators and vibration control, about the same. My experience all cables exhibit smearing when run close to other stuff, be it floor or components or other cables, and regardless of what type cable (power, IC, speaker) or model or who makes it. I have done some pretty compelling demonstrations of this, read on down through the comments to see what people have said about that. Over the years I have done this with lots of different things and the difference is greater now that my system is more transparent and resolving but everyone always heard it even way back when.

millercarbon

What do those mats do?  (I guess I can research it.)

Are those Synergistic Cables?  If so, I am curious as to what level.  I bought all Foundation and found them to be exceedingly sensitive to near field contact. When the cables came in close contact with each other, the sound-stage become smeared.

guakus

Owner
Those are Omega E-Mats from the old Perfect Path Solutions. Frank tipped me off that they work on speaker cables. So I cut and rolled them into tubes.

millercarbon

I just noticed that your speaker cables (Synergistic Research?) are all covered in some type of material that you've zip-tied to them.  What is that?

guakus

Owner
You missed it. In the Description, first paragraph third sentence:    

Even details as small as where a component goes or how the wire is routed make a difference you can hear.   

Nothing about measuring. All about listening. You said it yourself: "whether a change improved the listening experience". Exactly.

millercarbon

Just curious - and maybe I missed it - but what do you use to judge whether a change improved the listening experience?  For example, do you put a monotone from a audio signal source into the system and check its measured output on a oscilloscope?  Or is it (at the other end of the spectrum) by what sounds better to your ear?  Or some combination?  

I’m not intending to debate the merits of your approach, just curious what approach you use.  

Thanks!  

bearwalker61

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