Home
AudioAsylum Trader
General Asylum: Re: Want to hear what the winning system consisted of? YES by Brian Cheney

General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

For Sale Ads

FAQ / News / Events

 

Re: Want to hear what the winning system consisted of? YES

205.188.200.139


[ Follow Ups ] Thread:  [ Display   All   Email ] [ General Asylum ]
[ Alert Moderator ] [ Edit ] [ Delete ]

I selected the following components for use in our CES system that won Best of Show:

CTC Blowtorch preamp. Simply the state of the art, kudos to John Curl, Bob Crump, Carl Thompson.

Lyra cartridge plus ttl and arm from Immedia, Berkeley. Thanks to Alan Perkins there who can supply you more info. With above preamp's fabulous phono section, analog rules!

Ampzilla 2000 monoblocks ($5000pr). James Bongiorno's latest, unheard by me until showtime. Some of the best SS ever at a bargain price. Amazing punch, detail and naturalness.

CJ Premier 12 tube monoblocks. On hand for those wanting to hear the ribbons fullrange on tubes. Smooth, clear, natural, not the bottom end of the Ampzilla but world class.

Plinis SA250/IV. Drove the surround RM 40's in a 6.0 array (all fronts).

QSC PL236 power amp. 700W/ch rms into 8 Ohms (for $2200!!). Best bass amp I know, not too shabby elsewhere. Drove the sub in 6.0.

Muse Sig 9 CD/DVD. Did not come into its own until Day 4 due to slow warmup.

Krell MD 10 transport ($8000 in 1991). My own, still haven't found anything better.

ART DIO modified by Wayne Wanaanen, Boulder Cable Co. Our digital source for most of the Show. Used with a custom design 25A power supply and variac (very important for best sound). Boulder digital IC also in use here.

Analysis Plus Silver Oval speaker wire and IC's. None better at any price. Requires radically different tuning of a system however for best sound, particularly reduced bass damping.

Denon 3300 DVDA player. Source for our 6.0 demo.

VMPS RM 40 speakers. This is the product that won, but the sound quality of the system is dependent on what's in front of the speakers.

Our system came fully alive when Clark Johnsen installed Aurios under our Krell transport. I am at a loss to explain the added slam and attack this provided.

Room treatment: 96 sq feet of 3" thick Sonex, plus four 48" Roomtunes.
Good sound is impossible under Show conditions without treatment. Most other exhibitors just used houseplants. Maybe that's why their products didn't make the cut.



This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Signature Sound   [ Signature Sound Lounge ]



Topic - Best of CES Awards - Brian Cheney 16:58:25 01/12/02 ( 38)