This is my attempt at an exceptional two channel system that includes a nice Home Theater rig.
The room functions as a Family room and a dedicated Two-channel audio/Home Theater. The system is used 80% for two channel listening and 20% for movie playback and sports.
The two channel system front end consists of a VPI Aries "Extended" turntable with a Koetsu RSP cartridge mounted to VPI JMW 12.6 tonearm and an Electrocompaniet EMC1 CD player with all the latest mods and "Spider" clamp. The phono stage is an "all tube" design custom built by Tom Tutay.
The remainder of the playback chain is an Air Tight ATC-2 preamp, ATM-3 monoblocks and Thiel CS 7.2s
The Thiel CS7.2s have great synergy with ATM3 monoblocks. Plenty of power to spare.
The Home Theater side of the system is anchored by the Yamaha A/V receiver handling video switching, surround sound processing and power to the three pairs of in-ceiling speakers. HDTV and DVD and playback are over HDMI directly to the TV and Projector.
The front main, surround and surround back speakers are all in the ceiling. The Thiel SCS3 center channel is driven by a dedicated Marantz 200 watt monoblock amp. Finally, a Phase Tech Octave 1 15" sub does the LFE work.
Movie soundtrack reproduction does not suffer at all with the surround speakers in the ceiling. I have no interest in multichannel music, so it is a moot point for me.
Finally, the quality of LCD front projector is very good provided there is NO ambient light in the room. This means the projector can only be used after nightfall with all lights in the house turned off.
Light control is a serious issue with this room so I put in the 55" HDTV for daylight viewing.
2 chassis design, tube regulated power supply, (4) Telefunken 12AX7 in output stage. 62dB gain. Both cahnnels matched to .04dB!
Electrocompaniet EMC-1
Upgraded to latest specs. including replacing passives on the DAC and analog PCBs. Spider clamp
Air Tight ATC-2
Used for 2 channel listening
Air Tight ATM-3 Mono Blocks
110 watts Ultralinear, 55 watts triode mode Monoblocks. Six EL34 per chassis.
Marantz SA-700
200 watt Monoblock for center channel.
Yamaha RX-A1000
A/V RECEIVER - only used for A/V switching, surround sound processing and powering six Phase Tech CI-60VI in-ceiling speakers. Ceneter channel pre out to Marantz 200 Monoblock feeding Thiel SCS3
Thiel Audio CS7.2
Upgraded CS7s
Cardas Golden Reference
Incredibly smooth and detailed presentation.
SAMSUNG UN55J6200
55" HDTV
SONY VPL-VW60
1080P LCD Front Projector, 35,000:1 contrast ratio
System edited: Finally, an all tube LP playback system! Great synergy between Thiel CS6's and Tom Tutay updated ATM3's. The Art Audio Vinyl One (also tweaked by Tom) just entered the system and LP's have never sounded so good. Big dent in the couch from all the late night listening when the house is quiet...
Thanks for the kind words anthony. You have pointed out the room's second weakness - speaker placement. The speakers are back against the wall because my spousal unit wants them that way. Also, the left speaker starts to obstruct the view of the rear projection TV sitting in the corner. Bass response certainly is not optimized with the speakers that close to the back wall, but suprisingly good. My 2.3's worked VERY well in the same position - got PLENTY of bass - possibly because the cabinets of the 2.3's are several inches shallower and the back of the speaker was actually further off the front wall.
Very imprssive system. I have 3 Thiel SCS2 speakers for Center and Surround and I am about to purchase 2.3's for the front. My living room set-up will be very similar to yours. I have a Pioneer Elite Rear Projection TV (About to be replaced with drop down screen and DLP Projector) I noticed that you had your speakers very close to the front wall as oposeed to out in the room. Is this due to the constraints of funiture arrangemnet? Or can Thiel speakers be placed close to the front wall due to their design. Iwould need a simailar placemnet. -Anthony
System edited: Doing a little house cleaning. Added a Bryston PowerPac 300 SST to the Center channel. Picked up a pair of Air Tight ATM3's that are on their way over to Tom Tutay for the latest upgrades.
System edited: Dumped both Amps to raise cash for a pair of Air Tight ATM3s that went sour. Using the Sony D3AES receiver to fill in - yuck!!! The sound is so bad I had to pick up a Bryston 4B-SST to hold me over until another ATM3 comes up for sale or Tom Tutay can build me a pair of Altec 1570Bs. Stay tuned...
System edited: Added pictures of the equipment in the Salamander rack. Can't believe it holds that many "black boxes"! No more room for a pair of ATM2's or other capable tube mono-blocks - bummer...
