Listening at The Analog Dept.
2-channel audio
A refuge from the harsh realities of life on Earth in the 21'st century. At my age and state of mind, I am often content to peacefully exist in this room listening to music as I spin Lps for hours on end. There is a television that does get watched. And movies are watched and enjoyed. But primarily, the audio system and record collection dominates the room and my interests just as I want them to.
photo below: 1_28_2012
It's a Saturday and I'm listening to Mahler's 7th symphony on the Otari R2R.
Above photo: In case you haven't guessed, this is a bachelor pad (aka waf free zone). View point is looking from just above the listening chair into the system where the soundstage is recreated. Don't trip over the dumbells. After living here for the past 10 years, this is the layout I have found to sound the best.
If there is a complaint I might have with this room, it is its southern exposure. The latitude here in the Seattle area is 47.6 degrees. That angle affords the sun (when there is sun) a clear and direct entrance into this room through the glass as it traces its east-west path. From the hours of around 10:00 AM to 4:00 pm, the sun radiates itself into this room and beams mercilessly (and with heat and uv rays) onto anything in its path. To help reduce the effect of direct sunlight onto my record collection and equipment, I have put up a make-shift shade as a temporary measure to block the sunlight. This seems to work. Over time I will work on a more permanent and aesthetic means to block sunlight.
Another problem with the room is its 3rd story architecture and springy wood beam floor structure. One of the reasons I have placed the equipment where it is is to minimize the effects of foot fall causing records to skip. In the past I have also experimented with wall mounting to help alleviate foot fall and record skipping. The wall mounting was about as effective as the floor standing layout that is seen in the above photo. However, the current layout affords a better listening position. And room acoustics in this layout are notably superior to any other layout I have tried.
The record collection slowly expands. Rather than buy up large collections
at estate sales, I tend to accumulate my Lp library one or two pieces at a
time. Often times my record collection sees growth as I explore one
particular artist/composer/group then move on to another. At this point
the jazz and classical genre's are growing at a faster pace than the pop/rock
collection. Although I do tend to listen to rock from the sixties and
seventies often enough.
CD's do get some play time but the collection of silver discs doesn't grow very
fast. Mainly, I prefer to listen to Lp for its more involving musical
experience.
Cat
Girl, by F. Frazetta
Cat Girl (not your typical jungle goddess) is currently trying out for the position of Resident Pagan Deity on an internship. In that capacity Cat Girl, and her muscular associates, are tasked with the responsibility to ward off any and all bad vibes from the room. I tend to think of it as a kind of room treatment quality assurance program. And I'm quite sure it's working..:-)
(hint: click on thumbnail image to view full size picture)
A nice day for spinning vinyl.
direct drive sampling next project; a Technics SP10 mkII.
12/18/2010
7/11/2010 TD124 on slate.
Above: a Thorens TD150 mk2, customized with R7 mods.... more info: No.79209
The Teres 145 just before I sold it. Link to more shots
of the Teres.
_NHT
2.9 (4-way) loudspeakers
Classe' CAP 151 integrated amplifier
equipment list:
 | Turntables: Thorens Td124/ Zeta tonearm/ Uwe ebony bodied DL103R, |
| Teres 145 (sold) /Graham 2.2/Ortofon MC Jubilee , |
| Thorens Td160C, |
| Thorens TD150 mkII with R7 mods. |
| and a pair of TD124 projects |
| Open Reel Tape: Otari MX-5050 BII 2 (2 each), Revox A77 (1 each) |
| AM Stereo/FM Stereo Tuner: Carver TX-11b |
| Phono Stage / Preamp: Wright WPP100C phono preamplifier/ Sowter 1:10 step-up transformers |
| Digital Source: Jolida JD100A CD player/ Denon DCD1500 |
| Amplification: Integrated Stereo Amplifier; Classe' CAP 151 @ 150 wpc, rms into 8 ohms |
Speakers:
| Speakers: NHT 2.9, standing on sharp factory-issue spikes |
Cables:
| Phono: Incognito Silver courtesy of Garth Phillipe for my Graham tonearm. Thanks Garth wherever you might be. |
| DIY Interconnects per John Risch recipe using Belden 89259 coax cable with Eichman Bullet phono plugs for the rest of the system. |
| HD14G speaker cables in bi-wire configuration The infamous Home Depot, genuine made in China, outdoor heavy gage power extension cable. |
| DIY power cable using Belden 19364 14 gage power cable, Pass&Seymour 5266-x AC plug, Schurter straight IEC, Tech-Flex. Easy, cheap and good. See DIYCable.com for the parts. |
Music played: Rock, Folk, Folk-Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classical, Ancient, Baroque
older system shots.
7/6/2010
system shot: 4_19_2010
hint: click on thumbnail image to view full size
Above thumbnail: wide shot of the room and system as it was 12/21/2008 First day of winter.....and we'd had snow since 8 days before.
Close up 12/21/08
above: self photo. While viewing this it suddenly occurred to me that this is the closest I ever get to cracking a smile. Never mind. I'm smiling on the inside ;-)
webmaster@theanalogdept.com (aka user510)