satkinsn
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how many stereos do you own?
mark evans
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Hey! Great thread

Currently I have only one system. I have re-modeled my area that I use for listening. It is a living room/dining room combo, nice rectangle 24'x 11.8'x 8'ceiling.

I have plans for some ASC tube traps, panels and diffusion for the ceiling later. the gear upgrades are killing me now.

Mark Evans

JIMV
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Two, one digital for serious listening and one vinyl based in the living room with the TV for background music..The second sounds better than the DVD player playing CD's but is not yet on a level with my digital system.

Jim Tavegia
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Living room: Sony STRDE-185 100 watts/ch receiver, AR 15 bookshelf speakers on Lovan Stands, Sony PS-LX5 TT with a Shure M91-ED, Sony 5 disc carousel cd player C-400, Sony MJDS 330 Minidisc player/recorder for recording NPR broadcasts off WABE in Atlanta off a Wingard FM only outdoor antenna. This is basically my wife

dbowker
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Three and a half: Main listening room which is where all the really heavy duty gear is, then there's 7.1 channel setup for movies/TV but gets used for stereo often too (and was a lot of my former main system), and lastly my office stereo (an iPod/Wadia input to receiver and bookshelf speakers on stands).

The "half" system is a laptop that's in the kitchen that goes to a desktop/sub system atop some cabinets for cooking or morning music.

Buddha
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I scatter them around, with a several decades in the building supply of this and that.

I'll look for pics.

Jim Tavegia
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Mark,

The one system you have is to die for. Way to go.

JSBach
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Listening room, HT room, bedroom = 3 but if you count my Meridian F80 Tuner/CD/DVD player as a stereo system ( I do!) it's 4.

Freako
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I have only room, time and money for one system, so I have only one. But I do love that one system

limelakephoto
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I have one that i use everyday. I am always swapping my many speakers in out for fun.

Buddha
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OK, here goes...

Computer room in Las Vegas. Marantz integrated and Infinity Intermezzo 2.6 speakers.

Cedar City Utah, stacked Advents and Yamaha electronics.

Las Vegas living room.

Vegas basement...had to share with the TV....rats!

Vegas basement, front speakers.

Vegas basement, rear speakers.

Vegas bedroom system.

Buddha
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Chico CA spare bedroom.

Chico in front of the treadmill.

Chico living room with the Klipsch before the Cerwin Vegas.

ncdrawl
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I have one analog-only system(turntables(Sota Sapphire and Hotrodded rega p2, custom built vacuum tube phono stage(s)/magnum dynalab tuner/mastersound due venti amp/audiokinesis jazz modules speakers

one digital system in the living room (used with movies and cable)
oppo>>>mytek>>>jolida 102B>>>von schweikert vr-4

and one computer based system in the songwriting/recording studio

Prism Orpheus>>>>>bryston 4B>>>>B_W 802

analog for dedicated listening, digital for fun and background music(my xbox is played through it too, with cable and tv, and movies)

and the computer system for work(audio engineering/vo)

satkinsn
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Wow.

All the way round, wow.

Something jumps out at me - a lot of us use computers in some fashion for playback.

I notice that Jim and Buddha use - at least sometimes - off the shelf computers without a lot of extra fuss and muss. Does the machine noise bother either of you? (And B., is that a cube you have in play with one of your systems?)

Also: for all the new audio toys out there, you guys are pretty firmly in the tradition. I didn't see a lot of T amps and the like.

Cool stuff. Thanks.

s.

mark evans
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Wow! Buddha.

First of all, nice home! looks great. I love the Adcom amps. Are those GFA-5800's by chance? I am a huge fan. These amps deliver and are priced right. The apogees are a nice addition too. I hope to eventually fill my home with nice gear like you have done with yours. Great job!

Mark Evans

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Great question, I was going to say two, then I started to think about it!

In front of me at work is a Monitor Audio i-deck with my old 60 gig ipod.

At home I have two systems. The computer room system has the Rega P3, Grado cartridge, bellari phono amp, NAD 3140 integrated, and Primus 150 speakers. I also have a Gateway computer with an external terabyte drive for music and my Denon 3810 (?) universal player for rips.

In the living room I have a Mitsubishi 65 inch dlp tv, 6 Infinity Alpha 20 speakers, the big Infinity center channel speaker, no subwoofer (the flood took my Outlaw, and I will replace that soon) a ps3, a denon avr whose number excapes me, a Gateway computer that handles the music playback.

Then I remembered the polk speakers and the cool old marantz quad integrated I let my friend Chris borrow. Oh yeah, then there is the old Yamaha receiver that my daughter uses, and the old Denon AVR that survived the flood. And the Technics universal player that was only wounded in the flood.

Do guitar amplifiers count?

And Buddha, what wonderful systems you have! I am happy that you are so blessed!

Trey

Jim Tavegia
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Quote:
Wow.

All the way round, wow.

Something jumps out at me - a lot of us use computers in some fashion for playback.

I notice that Jim and Buddha use - at least sometimes - off the shelf computers without a lot of extra fuss and muss. Does the machine noise bother either of you? (And B., is that a cube you have in play with one of your systems?)

Also: for all the new audio toys out there, you guys are pretty firmly in the tradition. I didn't see a lot of T amps and the like.

Cool stuff. Thanks.

s.

The computer I use for a cheap server in my office, the tower is in the adjoining room so I don't hear it. Yes, computer noise is a problem, but I took care of that.

In my man-cave that tower sits under a large table I use for a desk 5' x 3.5' deep. That homemade rig is in a super large case and I generally am not bothered by that tower/fan noise. I would bet it is way under 25db, but I can hear it faintly when I am quiet in that room. It sits within a foot of my feet under the table so it should be worse than it is.

Surprisingly, when I am listening to my Wind Ensemble recordings I can hear the noise of the HVAC system in the background of those recordings(as the tracks start) more than I can hear the tower.

Freako
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Man, some home(s) you own, Buddha! I bet my apartment would fit 4 or 5 times in your Vegas place!

Jim Tavegia
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I'll bet Buddha did his homework when in school. or, won the lottery...either one works, but you can only really count on one.

Freako
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You forgot a bank robbery....

j_j
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Is that at home, home and work, set up and working, could build from parts in the garage, or what?

The asnwer is "many" in any case. 2 minimum set up at home, and 4 at work. But some of the "stereos" are 5.1, 7.1, or even more complex.

ncdrawl
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Quote:
You forgot a bank robbery....

friggin doctors!

satkinsn
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Quote:
Is that at home, home and work, set up and working, could build from parts in the garage, or what?

The asnwer is "many" in any case. 2 minimum set up at home, and 4 at work. But some of the "stereos" are 5.1, 7.1, or even more complex.

Tell me more! Especially the 'even more complex' part.

tks,

s.

Jim Tavegia
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What did Raul Julia answer in the Adams Family, "I'll bet you're a Lady Killer?" He replied, "Yes, but twice acquitted."

mrlowry
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-The big two channel system
-The "TV speakers suck for watching movies" system
-The "I'm too lazy to sell this gear" bedroom system

and last but certainly not least . . .

-The "It isn't really a stereo because a Tivoli Model One has a single drive but I'm going to count it anyway because it's used to listen to my iPod and Cubs games at work" system.

So that's four but Buddha has me beat.

Orb
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Quote:

Quote:
Is that at home, home and work, set up and working, could build from parts in the garage, or what?

The asnwer is "many" in any case. 2 minimum set up at home, and 4 at work. But some of the "stereos" are 5.1, 7.1, or even more complex.

Tell me more! Especially the 'even more complex' part.

tks,

s.

At a guess could be the front height speakers (whatever its called) that is being added to the latest AVRs.

Cheers
Orb

j_j
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Quote:

Quote:

Quote:
Is that at home, home and work, set up and working, could build from parts in the garage, or what?

The asnwer is "many" in any case. 2 minimum set up at home, and 4 at work. But some of the "stereos" are 5.1, 7.1, or even more complex.

Tell me more! Especially the 'even more complex' part.

tks,

s.

At a guess could be the front height speakers (whatever its called) that is being added to the latest AVRs.

Cheers
Orb

errr. Hmm. Let's see if I can find you something.

(sorry, can't be too specific)

"Loudspeaker array providing direct and indirect radiation from the same set of drivers", US Patent Office Publication: 2009/0060236

Yeah, I know, that's a crappy reference.

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Ah k, so how do you see this working/product in the average consumers house?
Although I guess this is more professional orientated, and possibly under some sort of NDA hence how you responded.
Appreciate this means there may not be much you can say.

Cheers
Orb

satkinsn
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Quote:
-
and last but certainly not least . . .

-The "It isn't really a stereo because a Tivoli Model One has a single drive but I'm going to count it anyway because it's used to listen to my iPod and Cubs games at work" system.

So that's four but Buddha has me beat.

Yes, but you get points for caring about the Cubs. One is not so much a Cubs fan as a relative of a perenially ill patient, hoping for the best and providing comfort.

s.

jazzfan
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Not counting the stereos in my two daughters' rooms there are four fully working and often operated stereos within the Jazzfan emporium.

1) The Big Rig: Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers with Vandersteen subwoofer, Sim Audio power amp and preamp, Linn LP-12 turntable, Logitech Transporter and McCormack UDP-1 disc player

2) Home Theater: Energy Veritas 2.1 speakers with Mission rear speakers, Totem center speaker and Linn subwoofer, Marantz A/V receiver, Oppo blu-ray player and Squeezebox Classic plus what seems like about two million remotes

3) Bedroom: Energy Veritas 2.0 speakers, Audio Refinement Complete integrated amp, Headroom Desktop amp with DAC, Squeezebox Classic and several pairs of headphones

4) Computer Room: Energy Veritas 2.1 speakers with Energy subwoofer, Aragon power amp and preamp, Headroom Desktop amp with DAC, Squeezebox Touch and several pairs of headphones

However please deduct several points since I am a non-suffering NY Yankee fan and proud of it!!!

Jim Tavegia
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I must confess. I have been a Cub fan for 58 years, but that ended the day they traded Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers. My sister was visiting and she took all my Cub's stuff back to Aurora, IL with her. She was shocked.

As a long time HS and college player and coach...as Popeye said, "I can't stanzit no more". What Hendry and Piniella did to that team is a crime. Piniella did his best "Perry Como-tose" impersonation all year. Of course DLee and Ramierz did not help. Castro will bat .300 and have 30 errors.

Go Braves and Dodgers. I already have a Dodgers hat. Sorry I had to let the fizz out of the bottle.

Xenophanes
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It depends on what you count.

Main system in living room.

TV (2.1) system in family room

Desktop computer with little Creative speakers (astonishing for the price), but usually use headphones.

New Laptop computer.

jazzfan
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Quote:
New Laptop computer.

I don't know, what do you think my fellow members - should we count things like laptops? I say no because before you know it people will be listing all kinds of things like shower radios, the car stereos, boom boxes and their cell phones with built-in speakers. Come on now let's have a minimum standard for what makes a "stereo".

By the way, Xenophanes I don't mean to single you out and I do mean for my comments to be taken in a humorous way (sometimes the humor doesn't come through in a written post).

Jim Tavegia
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I agree that "table radios" may not qualify, but I wuld sure think a laptop or a Squeezebox should as a part of a amp/receiver/speakers combo.

It may even be that a netbook would. I have not owned one so I do not eally know what the audio capabilities are. I would think it is as good as a Nano, but a Nano would not qualify by its self.

jazzfan
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No doubt that a laptop or netbook would "qualify" when it is used a source but not when used with the just the crappy built-in speakers

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I have two. One is my main system in a 25' x 14' x 9' dedicated room. It used to be my living and dining rooms. I knocked down a wall to make it one big room. This system serves double duty as a two channel and MC/surround system. When playing two channel music only the front speakers and amps are used. For surround my preamp is used in bypass mode and my Lexicon processor drives all my speakers (4 ESL's and four subs) and amps. I have no center channel speaker. I use phantom mode. My music server PC is fully integrated with my system. It's one I built myself; file server case 5 one terabyte HDD's and other assorted goodies. It's also used for gaming.
My bedroom system is some old Kenwood separates, Sony DVD, Advent Mini's and an old CRT based TV.

j_j
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Quote:
Ah k, so how do you see this working/product in the average consumers house?

I can comfortably say it looks like a wierd soundbar, without too many qualms, since people have seen it. So it's something you'd put under the TV, on the wall, etc. It is, however, rather higher in quality, at least the ones I've built...

satkinsn
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Quote:
I must confess. I have been a Cub fan for 58 years, but that ended the day they traded Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers. My sister was visiting and she took all my Cub's stuff back to Aurora, IL with her. She was shocked.

As a long time HS and college player and coach...as Popeye said, "I can't stanzit no more". What Hendry and Piniella did to that team is a crime. Piniella did his best "Perry Como-tose" impersonation all year. Of course DLee and Ramierz did not help. Castro will bat .300 and have 30 errors.

Go Braves and Dodgers. I already have a Dodgers hat. Sorry I had to let the fizz out of the bottle.

Yes. The Cubs will, like clockwork, do the wrong thing. What little pleasure there is in rooting for them is the sure knowledge they will show signs of life and then, and then...jump off a cliff.

Amazing you could root for them for 50+ years, and then break the addiction. At that point, most people are too far gone.

s.

satkinsn
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Quote:

I don't know, what do you think my fellow members - should we count things like laptops?

Yes, but only if they hand-compiled the kernel, built their own custom Linux distribution and run all music from a command line with lots of obscure switches.

Or they made Foobar easy to use. Whichever comes first.

s.

jazzfan
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Quote:

Quote:

I don't know, what do you think my fellow members - should we count things like laptops?

Yes, but only if they hand-compiled the kernel, built their own custom Linux distribution and run all music from a command line with lots of obscure switches.

Or they made Foobar easy to use. Whichever comes first.

s.

satkinsn,

You reveal your non-audiophile background with that statement:

It's not that those custom software tweaks won't be impressive but rather that it's hardware tweaks which really make for a true audiophile.

So in addition to the software mods the laptop would need to have, as a bare minimum:

A replacement battery with a custom built external charger/power supply

A rebuilt mother board with all silver solder

Gold plated connections: power, USB, audio, etc.

Hand built DVD/CD Rom drive with an anti-jitter locking device

A dedicated stand with spike feet

Etc., etc.

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I have one stereo system in my living room, which will be replaced this winter. After a series of moves I will then also have a decent bedroom system.

I also have a dedicated headphone system on a wheeled rack, so I can move it anywhere. A Music Hall radio for the kitchen, and an ever changing collection of junk in the garage.

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1. Listening room/man-cave: Vandersteens, turntable, etc.
2. Family/tv room: bookshelf B&W's.
3. Computer, good/cheap Boston Acoustics sub/sats.
4. Bedroom (sometimes deck or garage), iPod, AudioEngine 2's.

Airport Express also streams iTunes to each system. I dig it all.

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Quote:
No doubt that a laptop or netbook would "qualify" when it is used a source but not when used with the just the crappy built-in speakers

It's stereo! Besides, the built in speakers in many new laptops are not nearly as bad as they used to be, especially for spoken word such as those old radio dramas with Cecil B. de Mildew and the BBC dramas that my wife likes to listen to.

In any case, the headphones, Sennheiser HD-280 Pro, work just fine on the laptop, too. The new laptop is by far the most capable computer in the house, BTW!

jazzfan
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Quote:
It's stereo! Besides, the built in speakers in many new laptops are not nearly as bad as they used to be, especially for spoken word such as those old radio dramas with Cecil B. de Mildew and the BBC dramas that my wife likes to listen to.

In any case, the headphones, Sennheiser HD-280 Pro, work just fine on the laptop, too. The new laptop is by far the most capable computer in the house, BTW!

True on all accounts. However as good the speakers in a state of art laptop may be they still cannot provide reasonable bass response, for that you will still need decent headphones which can sound quite good when plugged into a laptop.

Xenophanes
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Quote:

Quote:
It's stereo! Besides, the built in speakers in many new laptops are not nearly as bad as they used to be, especially for spoken word such as those old radio dramas with Cecil B. de Mildew and the BBC dramas that my wife likes to listen to.

In any case, the headphones, Sennheiser HD-280 Pro, work just fine on the laptop, too. The new laptop is by far the most capable computer in the house, BTW!

True on all accounts. However as good the speakers in a state of art laptop may be they still cannot provide reasonable bass response, for that you will still need decent headphones which can sound quite good when plugged into a laptop.

I gather there are a number of good headphones that will work well off the soundcard of a computer, and the Senn HD-280 Pro is among them.

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/sennheiser-hd-280-pro.php

Orb
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Quote:

Quote:
Ah k, so how do you see this working/product in the average consumers house?

I can comfortably say it looks like a wierd soundbar, without too many qualms, since people have seen it. So it's something you'd put under the TV, on the wall, etc. It is, however, rather higher in quality, at least the ones I've built...

Doh, I guess like most other audiophiles I forgot about that technology/product and for manufacturers I can see this is an important sector as it is only recently being targeted (so huge potential).
I guess it is probably going to be the product that has the best chance of engaging with the ipod generation who are less keen or aware of traditional high end stereo speaker orientated systems.

Cheers
Orb

Ronm1
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None dedicated, an integrated HT/2ch setup.
The 2ch competes quite well with many hi-end systems. Not uncommon for many to say cd's have never sounded so good!!

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