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Toronto First Try

post #1 of 13
6/2/11 at 9:34pm
Thread Starter 
Hi, I've only been on AV Forums for a while and these threads are always my favourite. I'm a long time lurker, but this is my first post in the SysConfig area. My obsession was ignited the last few years after I moved next door to a home theater & automation installer. Better.

After hanging out in my basement with a couple of beers and a j finally got me off my butt and snapping pictures. Here's my cave and the components.

I look forward to reading comments.

Components:
screen: Draper 100'' Hi Def Grey
Front R & L speakers: Monitor Audio RX6
Center speaker: Monitor Audio RX Center
Rear R & L speakers: Monitor Audio C365FX
Subwoofer: Anthony Gallo TR-1
Projector: DWIN Transvision 4
Pre/Pro Amp: Arcam AVR200
Phono Stage: Yaqin MS-12B
Turntable: Sansui SR-212
Cartridge: Shure M97x
Stylus: Jico SAS
Gaming: XBOX360
HTPC & music server: Windows 7 running WMC with My Movies Plugin for movies, VLC for TV shows, iTunes for lossy and Foobar200 for loseless
Wires: tributary speaker cable and monoprice interconnects
AV Rack: don't know off the top of my head, but make and model are on the bottom. I will check next time I re-organize the rack.
Vinyl Rack: IKEA Expedit 4X4
Coffee table: Thomas the Train

Personal comments:
vinyl is the death of mp3.
my projector may be only be 720p but the video processing is unbelievable.
the center channel is loaner from by neighbor.
my neighbor gave me the sub DOA, All-In-One Electronics down the road (shameless plug) brought it back to life.
all other components (except the turntable) were at cost thanks to my new best friend.

Future?
upgrade the turntable, I'm thinking J.A. Mitchell Tecnodech
upgrarde my sub to svs.
stop buying records so i can upgrade the above.
buy more records.

Pix:

front wall...


front wall perspective...


dimples...


backwall...


looks like a piggy bank...


back ceiling...


dwin tv4 projector...


sansui sr-212, yaqin ms-12b, arcam avr200, xbox 360, dwin tv4 processor, htpc...


sansui sr-212...


shure m97x...


jico sas stylus...


my cocaine...


where I store my cocaine...
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post #2 of 13
6/3/11 at 6:47am
Nice work - anyway you can get the center off the floor?
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post #3 of 13
6/3/11 at 5:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scout's staff View Post

Nice work - anyway you can get the center off the floor?

I figured I'd get a proper stand once I purchase the RX Center, but now you have me thinking. I'm sure I can find some to temporarily raise it higher.
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post #4 of 13
6/3/11 at 9:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scout's staff View Post

Nice work - anyway you can get the center off the floor?

Took your advice and put a small stool (about a foot high) under the center speaker. Remarkable difference...why the hell didn't I do this months ago? Thanks!
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post #5 of 13
6/3/11 at 9:39pm
Boy is that what a turntable looks like!!!!
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post #6 of 13
6/5/11 at 5:06pm
Nice set up. I agree the center skeaker should be placed higher. Also, maybe the two front speakers are two close to the wall?
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post #7 of 13
6/6/11 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qiong View Post
Nice set up. I agree the center skeaker should be placed higher. Also, maybe the two front speakers are two close to the wall?
Center speaker is now off the floor thanks to "Scout's staff" initial suggestion and it's made a huge difference. I'll update the picture to reflect that soon.

As for the L & R speakers...I keep them up against the front wall due to the basement doubling as the children's play area. They're most safe close to the wall. I do however have about 3 feet of lose wire and I do move the speakers forward a bit for TV watching. And for music listening I bring them way forward to get the "golden triangle" going with my seated postion.
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post #8 of 13
6/8/11 at 10:00pm
I haven't quite decided if the age of pirated MP3's & 50 cent I-pod ear buds has helped spread music appreciation or killed it. Generally things are appreciated more when you have to work for it...or at least pay for it. I'm sure your record collection and the equipment to make it sound good didn't come cheap. Obviously music is a part of your life and cleaning that phono cartridge is part of it. Kids brag about the thousands of MP3's they've stolen, but I'm not sure if most of them truly appreciate music.
Keep spinning the vinyl and enjoying your system. Don't forget that the environment is just as important as the equipment. Throw a couple dark colored quilts on the wall & ceiling to cut down on reflections...light and sound. Might be the cheapest upgrade (besides lifting your center channel off the floor) that you will ever do.

Most people don't get the vintage thing, and although I've never gotten into records I understand the appeal. For me its every time I feel the cold click of the steal volume control and see the monster power guages spring to life inside the half inch aluminum front plate of my vintage 70's amplifier. I can hear the voice in my head say get a life but I never listen.

Enjoy.
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post #9 of 13
6/20/11 at 9:41pm
animal collective.....nice.
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post #10 of 13
6/20/11 at 9:43pm
just noticed the panda bear too.....nice haha
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post #11 of 13
8/21/11 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
Just purchased two new pieces for my den...

1 - Upgraded my cartridge's stylus to a Jico SAS. The difference is AMAZING...should have done this a long time ago. It makes my $150 cartridge sound like a $500 cartridge!

2 - Finally bought a storage rack for my vinyl!

Pictures added to the initial post...
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post #12 of 13
8/21/11 at 3:14pm
Nice job, glad you are happier with the sound now that the center is off the ground. Even though you are using a 720 PJ, it is still better than none - like my set-up. I'm still using the 50" pioneer elite plasma I bought in 2007. PJ and screen are on the list
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post #13 of 13
10/5/11 at 9:31pm
Thread Starter 
New purchase! Finally upgraded my center channel and now have a complete Monitor Audio RX theater set-up. Next on the list is a stand for the center speaker that MUST have an 18 1/5 inch clearance due to the screen

old:


new:
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