I'm wondering how many...

[dbe]

dedicated 2 channel listeners are here, casual music listeners and dedicated HR guys?

Tell me, what is your passion and why?

Just and informal poll for my own edification.

Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

Dave

[cjd]

My passion is music

I also have a film passion

I have at least 4 systems up and running right now, 3 are 2 channel one HT. I'm happy to listen to music playing in one room while sitting in another, though the music can draw me down to my chair for more serious listening.

I also have a speaker designing (well, ok - not just speakers, as I may try to wrap up or at least make progress on another pre-amp today) hobby driven by a very different passion. This ironically has little to do with my love for music, aside from one inspiring the other. I say "designing" because I haven't done any speakers that someone else designed, and that's likely to remain true.

C

[biff]

> dedicated 2 channel listeners are here,
> casual music listeners and dedicated HR
> guys?

> Tell me, what is your passion and why?

> Just and informal poll for my own
> edification.

> Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

> Dave

Music is the passion. Except for stuff that ends in A, but actually some ska is alright too. So it's just about the music.

The why's? A couple reasons at least. When I was a kid, my Dad took his Magnavox console and added a RTR, then we built some speakers for the porch using the cases that the RTR was originally in. Around 10 I got an Arvin flip down console myself, changed to a better cartridge (almost no output) which meant adding a preamp, then added an old (bogen?) PA amp from an aux out. By 14 I had built a set of 12 inch 3 ways with stock Lafayette XOs. At the same time I started going to coffee houses, live acoustic music every Friday night and realized I would never fit these performers and instruments in my room at home. So maybe I am still trying?

Anyhow, 95 percent two channel (2.1) music but learning to appreciate multi for concert DVDs much more than movie use.

[blair]

Currently I have three systems. A 6.1 HT all peerless and HI-VI drivers. Not too bad for music, but also where I don't listen to music at all.

Then I have a vintage Nikko NA-850 and a Number Cruncher DAC with a Mid-Fi Phillips CD player and a pair of two ways all Peerless. They have 5.25" csx drivers, but they are a model that was 91db efficent and hit a solid 50-55hz with no problems. Nice system. Great imaging and easy to get lost in with the lights low and a couple of my favorite brews or a nice glass of single malt.

Then there is my ST-35 tube amp being fed by a pioneer CD player through another Number Cruncher DAC and all silver ICs through a Modified 6922 line stage unity gain unit. This system is currently driving my newest speakers not pretty enough to post yet, but it is an MTM with 5.25" Peerless buyouts and a Morel MTD30 tweeter in an open baffle configuration with two more of the same 5.25" drivers tuned to an F3 of about 45hz. So far, this system sounds very nice! wide open and atmospheric. Great vocals through these mids. I'm still debating whether or not I want to incorporate a sub. I'm also going to replace the ST-35 with a custom version of the Poseidon 60wpc KT88 amp from DIYTUBE for a bit more headroom.

As for why I have this many systems and plans to build more. I ****** my fiance off to no extent!!! No, I really just enjoy the work and the finished products. It is fun to tinker and find an excuse to get out to the garage. There is nothing that quite sounds like a really good two channel system while I am relaxing. When you can hear every little detail.... Just qualities you don't hear from of BB or CC specials.

Blair

[alann]

[Wolf]

> dedicated 2 channel listeners are here,
> casual music listeners and dedicated HR
> guys?

> Tell me, what is your passion and why?

> Just and informal poll for my own
> edification.

> Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

Music=Stereo for me, but I do like a good HT setup for movies. Matched timbre makes the difference!
Later,
Wolf

[kens]

> dedicated 2 channel listeners are here,
> casual music listeners and dedicated HR
> guys?

> Tell me, what is your passion and why?

> Just and informal poll for my own
> edification.

> Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

> Dave

Music as well! in one word, Worship.
I love listening to concert tracks and get spiritually high. its exciting and new every time.
especially when you have a good system. to feel the emotion and power of the singers voice. i dont have a serious system but im gonna eventually get up there... just my lil Rti4's and a not so good subwoofer.
Cheers~

[dbe]

to the 'T' for a bad typist like me. Hake that "dedicated Home Theater"

My bad,

Dave

[Wolf]

> Music=Stereo for me, but I do like a good HT
> setup for movies. Matched timbre makes the
> difference!
> Later,
> Wolf

My main system is a constantly evolving Music/HT ensemble. I have a Panasonic 5disc DVD, Pioneer 100disc changer(I fixed it so it was free), which are both run into a Technics receiver from 1997, the SA-AX810. The current DVD player and any future digital-audio source, is/will(be) run through the matching Technics Surround Processor via optical. It is a good DAC in my opinion, and I have not a complaint about the unit. I hope to eventually have a 10channel 4780parallel amp to run the surround setup in any fashion I wish. I also am working with Aaron to get boards made for a Super-Leach amp pair, for about 700W into 4 ohms mono each. I have a Class-A can-amp I built from another design, only partially modifying the parts. Curretnly hooked up(but not all running necessarily at the same time), I have a 2ch set for the PC, 4 subs, a cheesy center channel yearning to be replaced, a main pair of 3-way high-sensitivity speakers, and a matched timber 4-set for front/surround duty. I have plans to finish the timbre match for the 3-ways and make that the final HT, with the 10ch running them at 4 ohms. I have all the drivers to accomplish this. On top of this, i have about 17 pair of speakers that are in preparation stages, whether I have the drivers or not.
Nuff sed-
Wolf

[Pete Schumacher ®]

> dedicated 2 channel listeners are here,
> casual music listeners and dedicated HR
> guys?

> Tell me, what is your passion and why?

> Just and informal poll for my own
> edification.

> Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

> Dave

HT as well. I tend to favor the 2 channel room for critical music listening. The acoustics are a bit better in that room than where the HT is.

[dancarroll]

Ironically for someone who builds speakers and tries to critically listen when doing so, music is mainly background for me. I rarely get time to sit down and listen critically to a whole CD. That has actually always been the case -- back before the word was invented, I was always multi-tasking while music was on -- reading, grading papers, after I became a lawyer writing briefs, cleaning house, and on and on.

And, we LOVE HT. We watch movies frequently, and run the TV through the Denon HT receiver, so we get Dolby Pro Logic (through the Dish box -- no, we don't have HD yet) when the tube is on.

So, I have a combined system used for both 2-channel (I listen to music in stereo, well really, 2.1 with the sub) and HT. Dayton Budget MTM (built as towers) mains. The Big Bad Woof (RS HF 12"). RatShack RCA center (someday I will build a replacement). 30 year old Frazier VIIs as rears (they work great, but talk about overqualified for the duty) -- someday to be replaced by Dayton Budgets -- I have the parts but have not built them. As noted, Denon HT receiver (forget the number but it is a pretty basic model) and Sony 5-disc DVD changer that is used both for movies and CDs. I know there is a lot of concern about Sony equipment, but we are coming up on 3 years with no problems, and it gets used a lot.

Then we have satellite speakers run off the same receiver in the living room -- currently JC Penney ones my wife had when we were married, but built by Technics back the day. Someday the Fraziers will go there.

In our bedroom we have a Yammy stereo receiver, old (20 years at least), single Magnavox CD player, and my SO-1 project.

[marlboro]

I'm not sure what two 7 foot line arrays with two subwoofers consists of. The soundstage is so different than a point source.

Marlboro

[alann]

[dthomas]

> dedicated 2 channel listeners are here,
> casual music listeners and dedicated HR
> guys?

> Tell me, what is your passion and why?

> Just and informal poll for my own
> edification.

> Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

> Dave

I have 7 systems... 2 are home theatre... 5 are stereo. But 2 channel and music is what I love about it. Two of my 2 channel systems are tube amps... not everyones cup of tea but I really love the sound. And this is one I do my critical listening on.

I currently have a 6V6 based monobloc amp sitting on my desk upside down. I have spent probably 40 hours tweaking the bias scheme and playing with different amounts of global feed back to get it right. I spent probably a quarter of that time chasing down the cause of some ripple in my B+. The love I have for this little project is that this amp was originally a 1953 Webster Electric PA amp. Now granted short of the power tranny, chassis and ouput tranny it is completely redesigned except it did originally use 6V6 outputs. Oh and big thanks to PE for having the Sovtek 12AX7WAs on sale for $5, I am using these for line and phase inverter duties for a pair of push pull 6V6s. Sounds wonderful and I have a matching pair of them. Also gave me an excuse to build a preamp using some NOS RCA 6C4s, which I have started.

I also have 4 RS225s sitting in the floor of my office that are going to be the bottom end for a Seas P17REX and a Seas TFFC. I plan on starting these in the next week or so. I want to have them ready for the Dallas DIY event at the end of the month.

Dave

[wingnut]

> dedicated 2 channel listeners are here,
> casual music listeners and dedicated HR
> guys?

> Tell me, what is your passion and why?

> Just and informal poll for my own
> edification.

> Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

> Dave

I have a passion for both. What drives my passion is the never-ending pursuit of audio perfection. As soon as I braid myself some cat5 speaker cables I'll be there..... ;-)

OK, just kidding!! I love resurrecting vintage equipment. I personally feel that most HT and/or music systems could benefit the most from very high quality low bass. Even if a movie/music track or passage/scene doesn't contain obvious low, low bass, the sound of it always seems to be better on the system with really good, clean extension.

cheers.

[dB]

Provided Link: My main listening system


I have four systems set up.

One is pure music two channel turntable, tube preamp, SS amp, and maggies. I listen to it only rarely because it takes time to get it up and running, dig out records, and sit down to listen. And, practically speaking, I can only do that when nobody else is around...

Next is my theater system. Gets a fair amount of use.

Then my 2 channel system with my TV in the living room. Lots of use.

Finally my garage system -- CD player, reciever, and two speakers du jour. This gets the most use of all.

So, the least sophisticated system gets listened to the most...but it does sound good due to the acoustics in my garage -- lots of sound absorbing junk in there : )

dave

[killerkowalczyk]

Im strictly 2 channel, dont know why but its all I care about. Later on Id like to set up a nice home theatre but its not priority.

[palouse1]

My family loves to watch movies, so I built (still in the process of building the speakers) a little HT area in the basement. This is fun, and something we can all do together. I plan to continually upgrade it and if we move into a new house I will build a bigger and better one. It's a lot of fun, I really enjoy it, the family likes it, and it's fun to have a nice HT to show off to friends.

Having said all that, my personal passion is building my own high end two-channel system just for me. I'm kinda the lone ranger when it comes to audio in my circle of friends and family ... so it's become a personal thing. There's nothing like sitting down for a nice listening session with some good recordings ... and that's just with my current mid-fi crap!

[daneo]

> dedicated 2 channel listeners are here,
> casual music listeners and dedicated HR
> guys?

> Tell me, what is your passion and why?

> Just and informal poll for my own
> edification.

> Thanks. I look forward to your comments.

> Dave

Lets see: Bedroom 2-ch, PP tubes; Living room 5.1 HT, SS; Lower level 2-ch, SET tubes, 3 season porch 2-channel PP tubes; work shop 4 speakers 2-ch. SS. All speakers DYI.

I do any serious listening on my 2-ch tube amps. I guess I like my music a little on the "warm" side. Nice to sit down with an adult beverage and watch the tubes glow.
My 2-ch, err 2-cents - Dane

[rodh]

I use my stereo system for both music and films.

Since we watch mostly dramas and classics the important things for us are voice intelligibility and the reproduction of the musical sound track. Two channel can do both of these fine.

It's not like I dislike SS, but I don't feel like disturbing my music system now that I finally have the music sounding like I want it. If we ever were to do a dedicated home theater I'd go with surround sound.

Rod