Steve's new system

[SL1800]

Hello AA members I'm Steve from Oklahoma and I'm an audiophile!! I recently found this forum and I must say it's the best!! A little history about me before I dive into the detail of my system. I have been a music nut since I was a child and a audio equipment buff since the age of 15 when I acquired my first decent system, i.e. Yamaha and B&O. That system didn't last long and I was on the upgrade path which seems to never end.

This year was financially a very good year for me and I just turned 50 a couple of weeks ago so I decided to buy myself a few toys. Enter my new sound system. The only things of old are my home made turntable, a VPI Aries look a like that I made from MDF using a VPI Aries platter and motor with a Michell Techno Arm and Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge and my Mac Mini. All of the rest is new within the last month. First up are my new speakers and amplifiers. The speakers are Martin Logan Summit X in Dark Cherry. I have been a fan of dipole speakers for about 7 years now and I have always lusted after Logans so now is my time to enjoy. Decided to drive them with 2 McIntosh MC275 tube amps, one just didn't seem to have enough muscle for my liking so 2 it is. Also bought a used McIntosh C2300 preamp from Marc, aka 2fastdriving, beautiful piece of equipment and super nice guy. Back when I bought that first Yamaha system, 1976, the dealer also sold McIntosh and I remember thinking how cool it would be to have such nice equipment but it was out of my league as a 15 year old kid. Also new is the Oppo 105 blue ray player which is doubling as my DAC. Just added a Panasonic 60" VT series plasma so I can watch some movies and concerts back here in the man cave. The diffraction units on the front wall are removable to reveal the plasma.

I will be building a new equipment rack which will be a low double wide rack sitting on the side wall to my left. It will be influenced by Greene and Greene style furniture using dark cherry and black anodized extruded aluminum, getting started on that soon. The front wall will have the two amps sitting on individual stands between the speakers with a new Martin Logan Balanced Force 212 sub.

As I get the room cleaned up some I will post more pics of my acoustic treatments and I hope to make some progress soon on the new equipment rack, I will keep everyone posted with progress on that.

Steve

[jdandy]

Steve.......I like it, the entire system, and especially the way in which you are able to cover the wide screen when not in use. What a great way to treat yourself after a banner year. This system will bring you years of joy. Congratulations.

[2fastdriving]

Steve is quite the handy man! Wow...that screen thing is amazing. And the turntable is homemade?! What the...! So awesome. I couldn't have asked for a better home to send my c2300 to. She's gonna be happy there! And so will you. Congrats!

[mgbaron]

Do you build the screen cover? I'm very curious about it.

[SL1800]

Mgbaron. I bought the foam diffraction units from PI Audio Group. It comes as 4 units 23.5" wide each. I cut them up a little and glued some of the cut offs to the middle parts to make it fit the screen size. I made the wood frame around the units.

Marc yes I made the TT as a copy of the VPI Aries, I always liked the look of that table. I also built that equipment rack a couple of years back, it's made from cherry and quilted maple. The new rack will be completely different.

[Yamaki]

Great system, Steve!

I will be watching with great interest as you build your system further!

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by SL1800

Mgbaron. I bought the foam diffraction units from PI Audio Group. It comes as 4 units 23.5" wide each. I cut them up a little and glued some of the cut offs to the middle parts to make it fit the screen size. I made the wood frame around the units. Marc yes I made the TT as a copy of the VPI Aries, I always liked the look of that table. I also built that equipment rack a couple of years back, it's made from cherry and quilted maple. The new rack will be completely different.

Anyone that loves this hobby enough to build a clone of a turntable and make it work is pure AA material. Steve, I hope you get a chance to meet Ivan some day. Maybe we can all get together for RMAF 2014 ? I need to meet many more creative AA people like you. Steve, you rock.

[SL1800]

Thanks Marc. I have said for the past few years that I was going to RMAF but somehow I never make it. Maybe next year.

[Pyro]

Looks good.

[paul1]

How good does that look!
Nice really nice