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[PettyMC]

Thank you MasterLu! I will post some pics once I have graduated up a level. I found in a search you suggested the Niles LS-1 for triggering non-McIntosh components-do you still use that particular trigger? We are working on some additional items for our system that will need a trigger to turn them on and off with the McIntosh components. (we would like to do that)

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by PettyMC

Thank you MasterLu! I will post some pics once I have graduated up a level. I found in a search you suggested the Niles LS-1 for triggering non-McIntosh components-do you still use that particular trigger? We are working on some additional items for our system that will need a trigger to turn them on and off with the McIntosh components. (we would like to do that)

Yes, I still use LS-1’s when I need to create a 12v trigger.

[zele]

System: Roon Nucleus, D1100, C2700, MEN220, MC452, VPI Avenger, SF EA III, JL Audio e112, PS Audio P10

I have a nice picture about the system/room as well, but can't upload it, so for the time being here's the textual description:

My taste / overall „voicing” of the system: much emphasis on warm, big sound stage. I personally find neutral and precise sounding systems boring (simply a matter of personal taste), with this current system I often find myself sitting down for just a 10-15 min short listen and ending up spending at least an hour. Longer sessions can easily go into the 2-3 hour range.

Room: quite small, 3m (10’) wide, 5m (17’) long, 2,6m (8,5’) high, treated with GIK Akustic panels.

Speakers: Sonus Faber Electa Amator III, positioned for NearfieldListening. I also tested B&W 805D3 before buying the Amators and I found them very harsh sounding in comparison to the Amators. As for positioning, I don’t really have the room for pushing the speakers much back from my armchair, but having experienced the huge sound stage Nearfield Listening can create I would not even do it anymore, even if I had the space for it.
In addition, I also have a JL Audio E112, to extend the sound of the Amators in the lower segment of the frequency range.

MC452: One of the most stable part of my system. I’ve had it for 5 years and I don’t have the intention to replace it in the next 5 years either. I think it is suitable given room and speaker sizes.

PS Audio P10: The other staple in my system, no intention to replace it anywhere in the near future. It does have a major impact on the sound, makes the entire system sound smoother (maybe even warmer) with quieter background.

C2700: just upgraded from C2500. Before the upgrade I considered the C1100 but gave up on it because it doesn’t have tone controls. I use +1 dB on bass (as said before, I prefer warm over precise). Reason for the upgrade was that I was not very satisfied with the stability and sound quality of the DAC module in the C2500 and the C2700 takes care of these issues. Also, the sound of the C2700 seems to be just more mature, although it is hard to compare, because I could not compare them side by side and the C2500 had 5 years old tubes in it while the C2700 has new tubes obviously and it is not fully broken in yet (with appr. 30 hours run time). All in all, I’m happy with it.

D1100: after ordering the C2700 I could not put on the brakes and as I spent more and more time reading up on this hobby I got somewhat carried away and bought a used D1100, just to push the limit to the max within the McIntosh DAC world. In comparison to the DAC in the C2700 the D1100 is of course better, but not by as much as I expected it to be. For the time being I go with the D1100 but I see this as the next upgrade, maybe in the direction of a Lampizator DAC. I definitely need something on the long run that sounds more analogue than the D1100.

Roon Nucleus: I use it to stream music from my Qobuz account and to play downloaded files from its internal SSD. Secondarily it acts also as a local NAS for family videos to be streamed by Apple TV with the Infuse app.

VPI Avenger TT with Ortofon Cadenza Bronze cartridge: this is also quite new, here I also wanted to test the capabilities of the analogue world within my financial limits. I have not yet managed to set up the turntable properly, I actually have some issues with it (It’ll be another post under the VPI section) but I have to say that already in this not properly set up stage it is better than the D1100 and it basically showing the way for me to find the next DAC beyond the D1100. The sound is more natural and as my 13 years old daughter has put it “more colorful in a good way”. This TT, combined with the rest of the system definitely hits my sweet spot. It looks like a keeper (provided that I can set it up properly).

MEN220: this is the next blasphemy in my system besides using tone controls. I read the reviews before buying it second hand and it just simply did what many reviews on the web already described, it simple made the entire system sound better. Bass has become much better and somehow the entire sound stage sounds better with it. It is definitely a keeper and should McIntosh come out with a new and improved version I would order it immediately, without thinking twice about it. Nevertheless, for everything I wrote about the MEN220, keep in mind, that my target is a warm (colorful) sounding system. If your target is a precise sounding system, the MEN220 might not be what you might need.

Furniture: for the time being I got it made from cheap wood to experiment with the design and its dimensions, I will have small adjustments in the size and have it made out of wood similar to the color and texture of the Amators.

Cables: JPS Labs and Audioquest

All in all a great sounding system that makes me listen to music hours long.

[Charles]

My McIntosh System:

[Charles]

More pics:

[urei]

Spectacular system Charles! You are very fortunate to have put together such a masterpiece. I am sure you rarely leave the room.......

[Charles]

Originally Posted by urei

Spectacular system Charles! You are very fortunate to have put together such a masterpiece. I am sure you rarely leave the room.......

Thank you so much Urei. The last two pics are sentimental. They show my Alexx. Taken just before their removal.

[JWJW]

Wowzer! Beautiful!

[zanewm]

Very Nice, Enjoy.

[Charles]

Thank both of you so much. I have worked very hard to get to this point. I enjoy my McIntosh very much. For me for many reasons McIntosh is my choice for amp, pre, and all sources. I think I know how to get the best out of McIntosh and would not swap my Mac gear for the much more expensive equivalents if given the opportunity. At some point I may swap out my AQ Wind IC that connects my Wilson Watch Controller to my D1100 with an AQ Wild Blue Yonder Balanced or a Wel Signature. All my IC's BTW are balanced and Wels except this very short in length IC. It is the weakest link in my system.

Charles

____________________
Charles Updated System
Most recent updates: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes enough to turn the room into a virtual anechoic chamber if desired; however, at present my room is significantly reflective giving me a bright, vibrant, dynamic, highly resolving, smooth sound free of harshness and grain and perfect for my taste; zero slap echo; gorgeous midrange
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house