Let's Spread a Little Holiday Cheer!

2

Comments

  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited December 2011
    Tweaking speaker placement as suggested by several members.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    chumlie wrote: »
    ...In the Polk spirit i will make a matching donation to the local foodbank.

    Nice one, chumlie!:cheesygrin:

    For those who have not posted a story yet, we're now up to 5 charitable bucks per post!
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,957
    edited December 2011
    Back in the day when sonic frontiers was top dog and muscle cars were all the rage, tweeking was just a distant thought to most of us. Since joining this forum, I found that everything matters in the chain, cables do make a difference, tubes are still king, and speaker placement is critical. How to impliment a wife into all of that is still a challange.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • auTTiman
    auTTiman Posts: 9
    edited December 2011
    Too new to the forum to give an example but I know for sure that I am throwing away these monster cables and getting my wire at Lowes.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    auTTiman wrote: »
    Too new to the forum to give an example but I know for sure that I am throwing away these monster cables and getting my wire at Lowes.

    COUNTS!

    ...though I'm not sure that'll be a positive tweak.. depending on what Monster wires you have and what you plan on getting at Lowe's. Some Monster stuff is pretty decent. Look at Monoprice over Lowe's... or Signal Cable if you want to step it up without breaking the bank.:wink:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited December 2011
    Upgrade to Lsi system (15's, 9's, 7's, center). Wife actually likes them and told me they sounded much better than my other sets!
    Never would have tried out SACD's if it wasn't for this forum (Curse you Danny! :cheesygrin: ). Own two players and a stack of SACD disks.

    Never would have tried a Squeezebox if it wasn't for this forum. Own two now.

    The "What are you listening to" thread expands my musical taste.
    An old thread got me exploring classical music. I think it was Micah?

    Obviously, this forum has cost me a lot of money but my musical enjoying has been well worth it. :lol:
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,147
    edited December 2011
    I bought a Carver Sunfire 600x2 Signature per Nooshinjohns' and others recomendations. That is the most powerful amp I have to date and I doubt I'll ever replace it. It handled my SDA-SRS2's 4 ohms with ease. Never ever got past just warm even after hours of loud rockin'.

    Spikes per Jessie F1nut. Bass got tighter on my SDA-SRS2's. Of course. if speakers aren't anchored, the woofers energy is deminished by the slight if minuscule rocking of the enclosures.

    I have a GREAT DENON DL-160 cartridge from Alan, Starkiller, that is surely to be a great tweek ..WHEN I PUT IT TO USE..LOL
    Soon Alan Soon...

    I have Larry's rings (one set won in his AWSOME Karma giveaway, bergman's gaskets and Dynamat extreme just pounding at my mind to get to it and install them.

    My Monitor 9's that sound great because a member told me to use a certain brand of capacitor that was the best bang for the buck on a budget.

    I bought a record clamp that's awsome even though it's almost the cheapest out there. "The Mitchell clamp" ...around 50-60.00.
    I learned from clamps here reading about Joes' clamp. Hearing impaired's own creations. I missed out getting one of his but they were alot more than 50.00.


    I've tweeked my TYPING skills and a little on my spelling skills to. I still have problem words and still don't proofread some posts so there's no telling how many mistakes I let go but hey, we have to have some faults don't we.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited December 2011
    Only a couple of days til Christmas and we have what 5 polkies that are in on this?
    Take a minute to think of the $$$ you spend on equipment, tweaks,music,etc and then think about something else.
    Maybe you have healthy kids.Or maybe you are just a healthy person.
    Maybe you have a good stable job.Or maybe someone did something for you in your life you couldn't repay them for.
    Then consider for a little more than the price of a new 180g record or remastered SACD or new blu-ray you can give something to help save a child or make them more comfortable in life.
    Think about matching the $1 per post.
    And keep the posts coming folks!
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • polrbehr
    polrbehr Posts: 2,830
    edited December 2011
    Wow, I don't know where to start? In no particular order...

    Decent speakers, decent amps, separates, cables of every type (power, IC, speaker), Twister Clamp, spikes, SACDs, SDA2Bs, and probably the most rewarding things of all -> Polkies, about 30 or 40 of whom I'd consider friends because of this forum.

    All because 8 1/2 years ago the sales guy at PC Richard easily convinced me to go with Polks over Bose (no kidding).
    And my check to Mr. Grand will be on its way tomorrow.
    So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?


    http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited December 2011
    My whole system has been 'tweaked' by this forum! :biggrin:

    But my biggest NFW 'tweak' from this forum was cabling. Me, being an engineer skeptic, I ponied up some money to hear for myself, and literally shouted at my rig...."NFW" using some quality ICs.

    And down the rabbit hole I've gone.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited December 2011
    Not totally sure I will get this right or what I am signing up for but here goes.

    DUe in large part to this forum and many members I am amazed at far I have come for good audio and how far I have to go.

    Lets start off with going from RTI8s to Monmitor 12s to SDA 1C studios to my now SDA 1C hardwoods.

    Crossover, spikes, rings, dynamat and other tweaks to SDA 1Cs

    AVR to SS seperate amp, to tube amp.

    AVR for all sources to AVR to Preamp SS and tube

    PS3 to Rotel CDP with PS AUDIO DAC to Jolida JD100

    SOund panels

    Technics TT to Clearaudio with MBS cart

    AVR phono pre to seperate SS phone stage to tube stage with SUT.

    Tube rolling, that needs to be said again, Tube Rolling

    Monoprice cable to AQ T4 to Mits Shotgun S3s IC and speaker

    WDTV to MAC Mini

    I owe many a great debt for advise, guidance and sharing of their knowledge.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited December 2011
    If I had The money I'd be right there with you brgman, but since I don't I deiced at least make a post in this thread as soon as I saw it, and saw what it was about. For all of you contributing, good job, and to all of you who are kinking in the funds...well what can I say? Thank you for helping all of us other polkies help by bring up the post count to bring some help help to others.
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  • bobsauto49
    bobsauto49 Posts: 973
    edited December 2011
    I bought my 1st amp because of this forum! Hearing everyone talk about how much it made a difference,i finally jumped! And as it may not be the most popular amp on this forum,it made a major difference to me! Thanx Club Polk! Happy Holliday's Everyone!
    "Everything I ever did in my life worthwhile I caught hell for"
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited December 2011
    Keep it coming Polkies! Please don't make me start begging... it won't be pretty... :redface:

    I think we can get there with one final PUSH. C'mon, keep this thread near the top until we reach the goal. I love reading these stories!

    :smile:
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  • Glowrdr
    Glowrdr Posts: 1,103
    edited December 2011
    My audio endeavor started by getting some Monitors from NewEgg. Then I discovered all of you folks here. My tweaking involved an Oppo, SC-37 and PF60.

    (Who in the hell has ever heard of Oppo outside of here? Still can't believe I spent $500 on a preorder for something I never heard of before)
    65" Sony X900 (XBR-65X900E)
    Pioneer Elite SC-37
    Polk Monitor 70's (2)
    Polk Monitor 40's (4)
    Polk Monitor CS2
    Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    Oppo BDP-93
    Squeezebox Duet
    Belkin PureAV PF60
    Dish Network "The Hoppa"
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  • evhudsons
    evhudsons Posts: 1,175
    edited December 2011
    Whatever the final post # count is I'm in for a dollar a post. George's charity is a good one. We have to appreciate what gifts we have recieved to even enjoy our hobbies. Not everyone can be so blessed as to be given the natural tools to be able to procur much less enjoy our rigs and setups. Many of these charitable folks also love Audio but lack the means and capabilities to enter and fully know the Rabbit hole. I'll send my check with a George Grand and Club Polk Audio star.

    -Ev
    Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    evhudsons wrote: »
    Whatever the final post # count is I'm in for a dollar a post. George's charity is a good one. We have to appreciate what gifts we have recieved to even enjoy our hobbies. Not everyone can be so blessed as to be given the natural tools to be able to procur much less enjoy our rigs and setups. Many of these charitable folks also love Audio but lack the means and capabilities to enter and fully know the Rabbit hole. I'll send my check with a George Grand and Club Polk Audio star.

    -Ev

    Nice, Ev!

    I think we're up to 6 bucks per post!:smile:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,415
    edited December 2011
    SDA1 signature and SDA2a cross-overs completely rebuilt;mills,sonicaps and axon caps. Larry's rings, Monitor 5jr+ recapped
    I'm now re-capping my SonyX33es CD player. I was a complete newbie until i came to this forum to ask for advice. Both Brock(Heiney9) and Jesse(F1nut) both have helped walk me though stuff I didn't quit understand not to mention many others. Both of these guys have answered all my PM's even though I most likely sounded like a dipstick you guys rock.
    Thanks
    Ivan
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  • agfrost
    agfrost Posts: 2,427
    edited December 2011
    Replacing blown tweeters in my Monitor 5jr+ Series 2 led to a pair of RTA11TLs, which have subsequently been Sonicapped/Millsed/RD0'd; I've gotten into vinyl and SACD. Good sound and the poorhouse, courtesy of Club Polk. Thanks! (I think :razz:)
    Jay
    SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
    Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
    Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
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  • BeefJerky
    BeefJerky Posts: 1,320
    edited December 2011
    I held off on responding until I had a better idea of what my post-holiday-spending bank account looked like, and it came out better than expected. I would like to help with the charitable donation as well, so count me in for $2 per post as well! I ended up better off than I expected this holiday season, and I really want to pass some of that along to a good cause.

    As for what Club Polk has influenced me to do? I came here with a modest Polk R-series home theater system powered by a Denon receiver. A good deal on some LSi7's from a fellow forum member got me into the LSi's, and now I'm swimming in them! I now have a full LSi HT system (LSiC, LSi9 fronts, LSiFX side surrounds, LSi7 back surrounds) running off of a Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH receiver and 3 Marantz MA500 monoblocks for the fronts.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    BeefJerky wrote: »
    ...count me in for $2 per post as well!...

    Nice one, JerkFace!:razz:

    What is it, 8 bucks per post now? It'd be nice to get to 10 bucks per post, that would make a nice cool 500 bones.:smile:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • BeefJerky
    BeefJerky Posts: 1,320
    edited December 2011
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Nice one, JerkFace!:razz:
    Glad to do it, Crybaby72!:razz::cheesygrin:
    What is it, 8 bucks per post now? It'd be nice to get to 10 bucks per post, that would make a nice cool 500 bones.:smile:
    That would be awesome, and I know we can do it!
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited December 2011
    I'm with Beef on this, I've held off until after the holidays but this is what has come of CP for me since I came here...

    Spikes - Probably the first and most noticeable tweak I did after I bought my first pair of polks (Rti A9's). Contacted Walter @ polk and he hooked me up. Next up was proper calibration and toe in. I was inspired to pursue this as well. I then went out and bought my Carver TFM-42 as I learned that external amplification was the best way I would achieve the best results from my setup and I couldn't be more happier. I LOVE my Carver and it's thanks to CP and some of the great people who are really great with the advice they give. Even to learning about digital music and the Squeezebox. I've learned so much about FLAC and about the music that I'm not hearing.

    Last is two things that are significant to me.

    1. Cables/IC's - To me, I thought cheap normal cables and 12 awg speaker cable was the best that it could be. I've been educated and I've pursued this road to find out that even more can be achieved. I switched up my IC's to some weel made Monsters to tie me over and even that had a noticeable improvement. Better wires and IC's are on the radar for 2012!

    2. Headphone Demo - I was thrilled to be a part of this community and offer the small voice of my review for this great new product. because of this, polk has made me feel like the customer DOES matter and I really do love what they do for the customers as well as the privileges that are earned.

    That's really all. Thanks to CP, I'm looking forward to all the new and exciting items I want to integrate into my rig for the new year. I can't wait to experience pure music properly.

    Thanks for doing this Karma. :)
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited December 2011
    Like many a number of things have changed as a result of this forum. All my cables have been upgraded, different speakers and components tried. But the two latest that have made huge impacts is the addition of a squeezebox (from Danny who got it for heiney) which is huge when u have sound kiddos in the house. And external power. Man that really does make a huge difference.

    Great thread and merry Christmas!
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited December 2011
    Members of Club Polk have done many things to help my audio journey.

    The first one that popped into my mind is turning me onto Herbie's tube dampeners. This is a fantastic tweek for all you "Toob-Doods' out there. Better clarity, focus and imaging from your tube equipment.

    Another (as many have mentioned) is crossover modification by installing film caps and better resistors. I am about to try a different combination in my 2.3TL's and can't wait to hear the differences.

    Last I will bring up are Tony's (gimpod's) crossover boards and Larry's (Toolfan66's) rings for SDA's. Fantastic!!!

    Thank you Club Polk and thanks for doing this Karma.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited December 2011
    Wow, despite the fact that encouraging a few more posts is like pulling teeth..., we've really got a good thing going here! By my rough count, we've got about 42 great stories so far, with several pledges of $1 or $2 per, and a couple "my check will be on its way"s, and some pledges to donate to local food banks... WOW! I just love this!

    Total donations could be in the $500 range. :cheesygrin:

    Just a few more to hit 50 tonight?!?!? :cool:
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    Wow, despite the fact that encouraging a few more posts is like pulling teeth..., we've really got a good thing going here! By my rough count, we've got about 42 great stories so far, with several pledges of $1 or $2 per, and a couple "my check will be on its way"s, and some pledges to donate to local food banks... WOW! I just love this!

    Total donations could be in the $500 range. :cheesygrin:

    Just a few more to hit 50 tonight?!?!? :cool:

    Woo Hoo!

    We're getting there! :biggrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited December 2011
    Bump. Sooooo close!
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  • ROHfan
    ROHfan Posts: 1,014
    edited December 2011
    Upgrading from the R50's I bought at 6th Ave to Monitor 60's, thanks to Club Polk.
    TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
    Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
    Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
    Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
    Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
    AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2011
    christmas eve bump!!!
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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