Author Topic: minicooper's garage.... (Read 6929 times)

MiniCooper · « **on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 12:03 PM »

we moved to our new house late last year and was able to make changes to my setup.

here's how my system evolved.

then.... Jan. '04

http://pinoydvd.com/board/index.php?topic=1788.msg302168#msg302168
this was in our apartment...

now.... Jan. '06 (this is still a work in progress).

Plans are to mount the LCD on the wall to enable proper setup of the center Channel. The speaker setup is now optimized for Audio. As soon as I complete the dedicated listening room I will have to rearrange the AV gear.

AV setup:

HDTV: Sharp Aquous LC-37D4U
Receiver: Yamaha HTR-5250 (no change here)
Pioneer DV-663A (Universal Player)
Sony SLV-N50 VHS
B&W DM602 S3 (Fronts)
B&W DM601 S3 (Rear)
B&W HTM Matrix (Center)
Sunfire True Subwoofer MkII
Monster Power HTS-2600 (Power center)
DirectTV std. box
Cables:
Synergistic Research Alpha Quad(X-Series)Active Shielding speaker cables
RCA's: Cardas Microtwin, Tributaries, Monster (component cable)
Speaker stands:
Lovan, Sanus systems
Rack: Busch Furniture
Indoor HDTV antenna: Zenith Silver Sensor (for off-air HD TV programming)

the living room HT/Audio setup

AUDIO Setup.

The dimunitive Ruark right next to the B&W 602 S3. The B&W cannot compete (in this setup) with the Ruarks. It may not go down as low as the 602's but the mids and the extended highs are just to die for.

Amp: Dynaco ST70 (Vacuum tube Audio mod)
Pre: Tono Preamp (Telefunken 12AU7's)
Turntable: Yamaha PF-1000
Cart: Denon DL-160, Grado Green
Phono Preamp: Hagerman Cornet 2 (I built this one myself)

CD Player: Rotel RCD-951
Speakers: Ruark Epilogue

RCA Cables: Cardas Microtwin, Harmonic Techonology Precision Link
Power Cables: Cardas twinlink
Speaker cables: DIY Home Depot ext cable
Line Conditioner: Tice Solo Power Conditioner
Speaker Stand: Sound Anchors Pro
Standesign Design 4 Audio rack
Isolation rack (turntable): Brightstar audio ISORock5
Tweaks: Golden sound ceramic cones
Herbie labs tube dampers

coming soon....additional amp to accomodate a new pair maggie 1.6QRs

Superman · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 12:08 PM »

coop, congrats! cozy set-up you've got there!!

Munskie · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 12:12 PM »

nice set-up you got there sir!! great gears!!

oh btw sir, di ba 602s3 yun or a 601....lam ko 603 are floorstanders, correct me if im wrong sir...

MiniCooper · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 12:18 PM »

Quote from: munskie on Jan 14, 2006 at 12:12 PM

nice set-up you got there sir!! great gears!! oh btw sir, di ba 602s3 yun or a 601....lam ko 603 are floorstanders, correct me if im wrong sir...

munskie, thanks! sorry about the typo. I edited the entry na.

MiniCooper · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 12:19 PM »

Quote from: Superman on Jan 14, 2006 at 12:08 PM

coop, congrats! cozy set-up you've got there!!

thanks sups! i will post it na rin sa WS.

Munskie · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 12:26 PM »

Quote from: MiniCooper on Jan 14, 2006 at 12:18 PM

munskie, thanks! sorry about the typo. I edited the entry na.

great gears pa rin!!

aldrinpsx · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 09:37 PM »

Very Nice Contemporary Living Room set up.. it blends with all your gears.

peace!!!

ricky · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 10:47 PM »

WOOOOOW AUDIO and VIDEO setup and not audio/video set-up

cool bro,best of both worlds

congrats and more power.

sanmig_ph · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 14, 2006 at 10:54 PM »

nice nice

ganda naman ng mga gears mo bro
congrats

peace

ronjet · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 15, 2006 at 08:09 AM »

GANDA naman talaga Sir!

ang sarap maginvite sa ganyan.

congrats po sir minicoop!

levi · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 15, 2006 at 09:30 PM »

Pare any plans of going home? Dalhan mo naman ako ng Phone amp mo. Nice setup hataw baka magalit na si Misis. Overspending ka pre.

MiniCooper · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 12:02 PM »

Quote from: aldrinpsx on Jan 14, 2006 at 09:37 PM

Very Nice Contemporary Living Room set up.. it blends with all your gears.

peace!!!

thanks, aldrinpsx, likewise congrats on your setup.

MiniCooper · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 12:13 PM »

ricky, sanmig_ph, ronject, thanks! I opted to make it a separate setup as the two system do have distinctive characters. The current audio setup is currently being tweaked. I might set it up in a separate room to maximize it's full potential.
You guyst are most welcome to visit if you are in the NJ area. :-)

Superman · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 12:14 PM »

Quote from: levi on Jan 15, 2006 at 09:30 PM

Pare any plans of going home? Dalhan mo naman ako ng Phone amp mo. Nice setup hataw baka magalit na si Misis. Overspending ka pre.

uy, ako din...phono stage ganda ah!

MiniCooper · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 12:22 PM »

Quote from: levi on Jan 15, 2006 at 09:30 PM

Pare any plans of going home? Dalhan mo naman ako ng Phone amp mo. Nice setup hataw baka magalit na si Misis. Overspending ka pre.

Definitely this year pre. Dapat this Christmas pero hirap ng schedule at budget eh. So far masaya naman si Misis.

gusto mo ba ang Hagerman? I can order the PCB from here and you can probably source the parts there. Just let me know.

Vhongbiker · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 12:31 PM »

galing sir!!!
congrats.

MiniCooper · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 12:41 PM »

Levi, Superman, here are more pics of the Hagerman Cornet2. This is just an amazing phono pre amp. you have to hear it to believe it. Dead quiet for a Tube phono pre.

i built this with the recommended upgrade. Auricaps and upgrade RCA's.

Superman · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 01:01 PM »

wow!! great pics! bro, how much are those?

s2kov · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 03:44 PM »

Nice setup bro!

The Hagerman Cornet2 looks promising! Congrats!

H a n $ · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 04:59 PM »

Quote from: MiniCooper on Jan 16, 2006 at 12:41 PM

Levi, Superman, here are more pics of the Hagerman Cornet2. This is just an amazing phono pre amp. you have to hear it to believe it. Dead quiet for a Tube phono pre.

i built this with the recommended upgrade. Auricaps and upgrade RCA's.

Nice phono stage and setup.

levi · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 16, 2006 at 11:08 PM »

Kit ba yan? Can we buy gawa na? How much?

Superman · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 17, 2006 at 08:17 AM »

oo nga, how much if not a kit?

thanks!

levs, pare pasabay kung sakali ha

aldrinpsx · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 17, 2006 at 09:20 AM »

mini.... pasali din.. details naman... 5 hrs away lang ako sayo.. interstate I95 N.

peace!!!

s2kov · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 17, 2006 at 07:36 PM »

kahit pcb lng!

MiniCooper · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 18, 2006 at 01:18 AM »

wow! I didn't expect this much interest. Anyway here's the link to the Jim Hagerman's website.

http://www.hagtech.com/cornet2.html

The total cost will depend on how you build the preamp. Jim is a great guy and he has a great way of sharing his intellectual property (IP)... he sells half kits. He sells the PCB and the manual to build his great creations. The PCB alone is $99 and you have to source the electronics and tubes yourself. If you follow Jim's recipe it will cost around $379 to complete. I found out that this is not the case as the price of electronics and tubes have gone up considerably.

According to Hagtech the DIY version will cost you $99 (pcb) + $100 (electronics) + $55 (iron) + $40 (tubes) + $85 (chassis). If you want to buy a prebuilt/tested unit it will run you $999. This thing can be modded like crazy if you want more details check out the audiocircle forum for details of the mods/upgrades. http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewforum.php?f=52&sid=2c3a44b77ff79464510e08753ecd9782

As you can see from the unit I built I opted for upgraded parts and bought Jim's Chassis. Ain't cheap as the whole thing cost me like $700. It was all worth it as I had fun building it and totally swear by it.

I know that some guys from Wiredstate already purchased from Jim. So there shouldn't be a problem ordering the PCB from him. Btw, he is based in sunny Hawaii.

MAtZTER · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 18, 2006 at 11:47 AM »

Congrats! Very very nice setup!

Cosmo · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 21, 2006 at 06:54 PM »

Dapat mapuntahan na yan!!!! Handa mo na one of the rooms, dadayo kam dyan!!!

slowhand · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 25, 2006 at 05:56 PM »

congrats on your setups! and super-congrats on building your own phono preamp!

MiniCooper · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 27, 2006 at 10:15 AM »

thanks MAtZTER & slowhand

MiniCooper · « **Reply #29 on:** Jan 27, 2006 at 10:19 AM »

Quote from: slowhand on Jan 25, 2006 at 05:56 PM

congrats on your setups! and super-congrats on building your own phono preamp!

cosmo, punta ka na kasi dito eh...