Always trying to improve. After nearly 15 years of listening, I've discovered the kind of sound I love. Dynamics, clarity and imaging. My system finally brings me closest to a live performance.
I decided to forgo the conveniences of a preamplifier in order to achieve greater immediacy and clarity with the use of resistors connected to the input of each amplifier.
As a result, there are now 2 separate systems seen in the photos. One speaker based system, and one for headphones.
Hi Serjio. I assume that your mistakenly assuming the function of the foil. Those are the actual cables. Both the speaker cables and interconnects are made of thin copper ribbons.
The DNA's will reflect what you feed them- AC, room size/shape, source components, cables etc. Years ago, when I lived in a small apartment, they had a warm and weighted sound that was very easy to listen to. Not to much in the imaging/depth or transparency department though. Now, in a much larger listening space with dedicated lines and better components, the sound is resolving and clear. Finally I realize what imaging and soundstage is all about. Not familiar with the 2.5I's, but if they are anything like the 3.3's, you will be pleased with McCormack.
System edited: Moved to new home Oct 15 07. Much larger listening room, vaulted ceilings, bamboo hardwood floors, 3 #10g 20A dedicated lines, 2 layers 5/8" drywall on all walls for added rigidity. Post pics shortly.
Michael, your system is very impressive, wonderful attention to detail. The sound is very dynamic but the room is just a bit too small for things to really open up. Thanks for your comments Surfgod. The rack was built by a local machine shop. I provided them with the drawings and experimented with some other materials. Originally I wanted the columns to be constructed of acrylic but the samples showed tooling marks which were magnified by the curvature of the column. So 3" aluminum was used that was then sandblasted and clear anodized. The adjustment pegs and conepoints are brass that have been beadblasted and laquered. The clearcoat finish gives them a bronze look. The entire project took about 6 months to complete. Unfortunatly it is very difficult to adjust the shelves and small stress cracks are forming at the corners of each shelf. Since then I have come up with solutions to improve the design and solve the adjustment and cracking problems. There were some difficulties but it was still a fun project and I learned quite a bit.
I actually posted this system about a year and a half ago. It seems that it was somehow deleted from the site at some point. The treatments are 1' foam panels that I fastened to the wall using double sided tape .It helped alleviate a slight echo and also improved/defined imaging. I dont know if the cat likes music but he spends most of his time sleeping on the amps during the winter. Twice a year I clean out all the fur and dust from inside the amps.