Thread: My two channel theater

Originally Posted by MDP

Very nice pics !

Mike, can you list your gear for me ?

Thanks Paul, Mark and Mark!

Mark here is what's in the setup presently:

Aesthetix Calypso Signature (w/ NOS 5751 Sylvania Triple Mica Black Plate & 6dj8 Sylvania NCR tubes)
ARC 100.2
VPI Classic 2 & Periphery Ring
Ortofon Cadenza Bronze on JMW 10.5i
Ortofon Cadenza Mono on JMW 10.5i
Lehmann Black Cube SE II
Canton Ergo Passiv
Sony DVP-NS999ES
Logitech Squeezebox Classic
Avanti Audio Allegro Cables throughout

Ah, those speakers are Cantons, I couldn't tell from the pics. I love my VPI Classic , it's such a great TT. Yours looks great !

Very nice Reg Mike! Thanks for fixing images.

Thanks Mark and George for your nice words.

Next change will be to the phono stage. While I love the Lehmann two chassis phono in the system now, I'm seeking an adjustable EQ phono design to allow playback adjustments for the collection of older mono LP's I have. The new phono will ideally sound great when selecting the RIAA setting for older or modern stereo recordings in addition to having the flexibility to listen to the mono LP's more accurately.

Very nice. Do you find that movies are satisfying in stereo? My current system is multi-channel, but lately I've been watching movies and listening to music in stereo...I definitely prefer music in stereo, and I find that the dialog in movies sounds better (clearer), too.

Originally Posted by Bachtoven

Very nice. Do you find that movies are satisfying in stereo? My current system is multi-channel, but lately I've been watching movies and listening to music in stereo...I definitely prefer music in stereo, and I find that the dialog in movies sounds better (clearer), too.

Not ever hearing a 5.1 or greater setup in this room I can't really say if two-channel is better. We don't watch too many movies but the ones we have watched (or television, football games, etc.) are quite satisfying and don't lack nuance, slam or imaging if the content is there. Many times I catch myself looking to the side (180 degrees) or behind me when some noise is produced well outside the width of the speakers or over my shoulder from my listening position. Just the other night I was watching a drama TV show and heard paper wrinkling behind me and to my right. Startled the heck out of me as I thought someone else was in the room when I knew my wife was in bed reading with the dog laying next to her.

I suppose if we were bigger movie-watchers I might enjoy a dedicated 5.1 or 7.1 system.

On that note, I've likely titled this thread incorrectly. It should have been named, "My two channel setup with a TV too" LOL.

A properly set up 2 channel system, with high quality gear, can offer astonishing imaging. In that regard, I think it beats surround sound, at least for classical music. (I gather from the visible LPs in your photo that you listen to classical music.) Yes, multi-channel SACDs sound huge and superficially impressive, but more often than not, there is too much direct sound in the rear channels, so it's often hard to visualize the exact placement of instruments and is simply less realistic. Pipe organ does sound quite good, though, in surround sound. With that instrument, imaging isn't so important. I suppose it's entertaining to hear gunfire behind one's head in a movie, or some such use of the surrounds, but it can also be distracting! One late night I was watching a suspenseful movie that had a loud door knock panned to the left rear. I jumped about three feet, thinking there was someone pounding on my door at 1:00 a.m.!

Anyway, I don't want to derail your thread!

Originally Posted by Bachtoven

A properly set up 2 channel system, with high quality gear, can offer astonishing imaging. In that regard, I think it beats surround sound, at least for classical music. (I gather from the visible LPs in your photo that you listen to classical music.)

Yes, I mostly listen to Classical music though other genre's get their fair shake too.

Made a few changes since January....






IMG_5848 (Large).JPG


IMG_5850 (Large).JPG

Looking good Mike. Is that the 105-D ?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Mike

Looking good Mike. Is that the 105-D ?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks Mike. No, BDP-95. Here's the revised gear list:

Aesthetix Calypso Signature (w/ NOS 5751 Sylvania Triple Mica Black Plate & Russian 6H23p-EB)
ARC 100.2
VPI Classic 2 & Periphery Ring
Ortofon Cadenza Bronze on JMW 10.5i
Miyajima Zero Mono on JMW 10.5i
Sentec EQ-11 (w/ NOS GE 5751 TMBP & CBS 7318)
Opera Seconda
Oppo BDP-95
Logitech Squeezebox Classic
Avanti Audio Allegro Cables throughout

I forgot about this thread. Fun to look back through how some things have changed and others not! Here's an updated snap of my current setup:

IMG_0544 conv (Large).jpeg

The cleaner does a good job at dusting.

Originally Posted by MikeCh

I forgot about this thread. Fun to look back through how some things have changed and others not! Here's an updated snap of my current setup:

IMG_0544 conv (Large).jpeg

Mike I guess everything changed but the VPI

Hard to tell, can you list your cool stuff

Originally Posted by CPP

Mike I guess everything changed but the VPI

Hard to tell, can you list your cool stuff

Chris, actually not much has changed. There's a few pieces that have taken up permanent residence it seems. Signature updated with gear list.