Lon
Seasoned Member
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"Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick
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I suspect I'm not alone in having a second system that I use regularly, and into which my second tier components move. . . .
Right now I've been playing around with the second system which is in the master bedroom. It's not used frequently outside listening to music lying in bed with my darling, and watching tv and the occasionaly DVD or Blu-Ray pretty infrequently.
It consists of the Turning Point Audio HR-1/Decware IT Radial speakers, the Decware SE34.2 Integrated amp (non-Hazen Grid mod), a Marantz BD7004 Blu-Ray player, a Wadia iTransport and iPod, both going into a Decware ZBox powered by a Tripplite 500 watt isolation transformer and two PS Audio Duet power centers. Interconnects are Decware Silver Reference, power cords are all Decware power cords except for one PS Audio xStream Prelude feeding the Duet that connects the digital components. Eventually I'll probably replace that with a Decware power cord, just to have "symmetry" -- not sure that there will be a sonic difference. Speaker cable is two lengths of cryo'd CAT-6 (just two strands each) that was part of a group buy on the forum many years ago. Works well.
Two weeks ago I added a PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC and Transport combo to my main system, and as a result I played around with adding the ZDAC-1 and CSP2 and Sony SCD-XA5400ES in the system. I also had the Torii Mk II in the place of the Integrated. Opening my mind and ears up as much as possible and doing a week's worth of listening to variable combos, I came to the conclusion that though these in the system made fantastic music, using the compromising speaker positions that I seem to have to use and at the levels I listen, there's not a significant enough difference using these in the system as compared to just using the Marantz player straight into a ZBox and into the Integrated. The biggest difference was the amp: the Torii gave powerful bass and a real focus to the sound, but I could not really lift the volume to take advantage of the Torii's best power zone, and I've grown to like the SET cohesion and the little bit of bloom that the Integrated brings.
The iPod is really only used to play back lossless files of some of my girlfriend's favorite music that I don't yet own on cd. It does sound a bit better with the CSP2 and/or ZDAC-1 in the system, but it's not a major difference, and it's the least used source.
This present set up has been in use a few days and has really grown on me. My gal also has given it her seal of approval, she really likes the sound, and has been able to tell me of differences in the component setup, very useful. It's so wonderful to have two very musical systems to relax into. I'm blessed and know it. Overly blessed. It's quite possible that I may come back from my trip to Ohio next week and decide to sell CSP2, ZDAC-1, SCD-XA5400ES, that ZCD with all the options that has been in my closet, and maybe even the Torii Mk II (Hazen Grid modded) to help defray the reckless expense of the PS Audio PerfectWave combo that is going to impact my fiscal year ahead. Maybe sell my Peachtree Audio Decco system as well, which I was mainly using on occasion as a DAC/preamp, it's strongest suit.
I'm using an aquarium stand we had built about six years ago right now as a support for my source components and ZBox, and I have the Integrated beneath the table on a maple platform on top of a huge old AKAI reciever with a wood case that is sitting on Herbie's Audio Lab speaker spikes. The Integrated is on Herbie's Audio Lab IsoCups, and the amp is nicely isolated. The aquarium table is sitting on Herbie's Audio Lab "Gliders" and the Marantz and ZBox are on Herbie's Audio Lab "Tenderfeet." Probably overkill, but I have the stuff and why not use them?
This second system. . . well I find that I've lowered expectations for it, and I don't listen as critically or analytically in the bedroom, and I'm thus able to really connect with the music and enjoy its benefits. It's nice enough a system to get out of the way of the audiophile process, which is a respite I enjoy.
Anyone else want to talk about their second systems? Or do most have one system that they use for all purposes?
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HR-1,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod; Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD, DAC Mk II, P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls, Reference spkrcbls; Mapleshade SamsonV3; VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones: Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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