BobDole42

Over the past month I have completely re-done my HT system and it is finally done. I would love to get comments, criticisms and suggestions. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, so I can't have a dedicated room just yet, unfortunately. I was previously using an older Pioneer Elite receiver as a pre/pro with an Anthem amp and Adcom GFP-750 stereo preamp. I moved the Pioneer Elite into the bedroom system (not pictured - Elite receiver, Paradigm Titans and Samsung 26 inch LCD HDTV) and replaced it with the Krell gear. The system's focus is audio, so I didn't spend too much time or money on the tv. I decided to go with a DLP because it is good enough for the time being and cheap enough that I won't mind when I, inevitably, replace it in a year

Digital Front End

Sony CDP-CX 555ES 300 disc changers (x2)
Perpetual Technologies P-1A upsampler
Perpetual Technologies P-3A DAC (with Level I Signiture Mod by Dan Wright)
Monolithic Power Supply for P-1A and P-3A
Escient Tunebase 200 changer manager


DVD Player

Denon 2910 (outputting 720p to the display)

Preamp/Processor

Krell Showcase Processor

Amp

Krell Showcase 5-channel Amp

Speakers

Paradigm Reference Studio 100s (L/R)
Paradigm Reference Studio CC (Center)
Paradigm Reference Studio ADPs (Surround)
Paradigm PS-1000 (Sub)

Display

Samsung HL-R5067W 50 inch DLP

Misc.

Marantz RC5200 Touchscreen Remote
Marantz RX-77 RF extender
Monster HTS 2600 Power Conditioner
Studio Tech HF-33 Rack
Xbox 360

Sdallnct

Krell

BobDole42

Thank you! I am loving the Krell gear. I was planning to buy an Anthem Statement D1 and another Anthem amp (MCA-50), but once I heard the Krell I was sold. The Showcase processor is actually the same price as the Anthem. The Anthem has more bells and whistles (Zone 2, video processing, etc.), but the Krell wins hands-down for sound quality. It's 2-ch section is actually better than my beloved Adcom GFP-750 (which is, in my opinion, the best 2-cd preamp under $2000 ever made)

Spiky

Hey, is that....VACUUMED carpet?? I gotta get me some of that. Very nice stuff. I can see where the audio would be affected by a big box. May have to work on you a bit, though. You need a sub to match the rest.

BobDole42

Thanks, Spiky.

The big RPTV in between the speakers was holding me back more than I ever knew. Even before the gear swap, I pulled the tv out of there and the improvement in imaging and soundstaging was dramatic. I'm very happy with the system. For the first time in ten years I don't feel like anything is missing. Except, of course, a dedicated room with a projector.

Spiky

That pillar is in an unfortunate spot for imaging, too. Can't have everything. I have an adjacent space on the right side, also. Makes audio setup tricky. My next purchase will likely be equalization, at least for my sub. Maybe some room treatments. Both for audio and to make the ceiling darker for the video's sake.

I'd be happy to just add an amp like that, but I gotta pay off so much stuff (not HT stuff) first.

BobDole42

The room really couldn't be worse for audio setup. It's much better now, but still far from desirable. The Showcase processor has EQ, so I'm going to mess around with that this weekend. I would also like to add some audio treatments at some point.

I'm hoping to move out of the apartment within 18 months. When I do, I am going to make a decent living room one of my top priorities. I have placed a moritorium on upgrades until I have a decent room. I'd love a pair of Sophias or a Meitner stack, but that will have to wait for a proper room (and 20k I don't have!)

Mr. Cinema

Nice setup!

The 360 is what really sets it off though.

Spiky

It could be a cube!

BobDole42

haha - true!

What sort of room treatments are you considering? Do you know of a good primer on room treating?

Spiky

Offhand, no. I've not looked at it for quite some time. I have some old links, but not even sure what's what anymore. Lost some of them with a HDD failure, too.

First for me will to glue shut or remove some shutters. They rattle, esp when certain frequencies get going. See here:

Brian Shannon

Very nice! I love the Krell as well. Hope you enjoy the Denon 2910 as much as I have loved mine!

BobDole42

Thanks! I am really enjoying the 2910. It is a huge step up from my old dvd player (Sony 400 disc changer - absolute garbage).

The Krell gear constantly amazes me. I am so glad I have so little impulse control

cpgator

Great system - everything looks nice together, and I sure it sounds great.

Spiky

AIX. Chesky. Been there?

Mordred

Looks really nice. Next movie night is at BobDole42's house!

bdshort

Nice looking setup. I'm looking at getting one of those Studio Tech racks in a few months actually. Need more space for the eventual Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player and new receiver and TiVo and some other things I want to pick up.

BobDole42

thanks! I really like the Studio Tech rack. One nice thing about it is that you can order it with whatever size shelf spacing you like (7, 9 or 11 inches on one or both shelves). It's very sturdy and a snap to put together.

BobDole42

I'm not familiar with AIX - is it another line of well mastered discs like Chesky, XRCD, etc. ?

Spiky

Oh, yeah. www.aixrecords.com

BobDole42

duh - you mentioned these a few months ago and I totally forgot about it. Are there any discs in particular that you reccomend?

Spiky

I've only tried a few. They're all good in terms of quality, so genre is the only question. I've got to try some Chesky stuff, they have several albums I'd love to try.

BeanDip0001

party at Bob's house

yeah really man i mean the only thing you're really missing there is me sitting in front of all that awesome stuff playing DOA4 on 360.

BobDole42

thanks! xbox 360 looks and sounds amazing. I still need to pick up DOA4. Call of Duty is a blast with the setup.

gabeon

Nice TV...

I love my Sammy DLP like the Precious.