My Hobbies (to be updated)

 

2-channel audio

 

I am extremely interested in the recording and reproduction of sound.  I have spent the last 5 years building and tweaking my audio system in an attempt to recreate the most natural and 'live' sound as possible.  The primary concerns in my audio system are a well-defined stereo soundstage with precise instrument placement (most possible with a good recording, of course :)), a relatively flat and extended frequency response at the listening position, and very low overall distortion, even at 'concert-like' listening levels.

 

Since I am also an avid electronics hobbist, I have built most of my system from various kits I have found online.  Moreover, I have rebuilt several pieces of vintage audio equipment (power amplifiers, preamplifiers, old radios and consoles) -- some of which are currently in use.

 

At some point, I will upload some albums of some of my kit-building and equipment rebuilding processes.

 

My current audio system:

 

Room:  16' (w) x 22' (d) x 8' (h) -- treated with corner bass traps and a combination of absorption and diffusion at reflection points

 

Front End:

 

- Teac CD Transport or Squeezebox Touch for high-res audio (both to be upgraded at some point)

- Emotiva Stealth DAC

- Behringer DEQ 2496 equalizer used only in the digital domain and below ~500Hz to gently tame room modes

- Vacuum Tube Audio (VTA) SP-13 preamp using 6FQ7 tube linestage -- made from a kit

- Outlaw Audio ICBM-1 Active Crossover for dual Subwoofers (crossover point:  60Hz)

 

Power Amplifiers:

 

- Vacuum Tube Audio (VTA) M-125 Monoblocks (pair, ~140w each, based on Tung-Sol KT-120 power tubes with Cifte 12AT7 driver tubes)

- Class D Audio SDS-470 (~600wpc at 4 ohms, powering subwoofers)

 

Speakers:

 

Mains:

- Philharmonic Audio Model 2 (crossover designed by Dennis Murphy and transmission line cabinet designed by Paul Kittinger)

 

Subwoofers:

- Dual sealed 15' Ultimax (Dayton Audio) subwoofers in 3 cu. ft. enclosures