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Notice:  On July 14th 2006 I moved into a new, larger home and I'll soon begin the process of building a dedicated listening/movie room.  What fun! 

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Mattson Media System
As of March 30th, 2006

88" Projected HDTV image

System view front

Rack in A/V closet

MIT Shotgun S3 Cables

Dry bar/entry to A/V closet

Parasound HALO A21

Rack front


System Components

Recent upgrades/changes in March 2006:
1.  Replaced the Signal Cable speaker cables with MIT Shotgun S3 and AVT1

2.  Added a PS Audio Plus power cable to the A 21 amplifier
3.  Installed MIT Shotgun S3 interconnects

Video
Projector Panasonic PTL-300U LCD 960X540
Video Processor/Scaler DVDO Iscan HD plugged into a PS Audio P300 Power Plant MWI
Screen Da-Lite 52" X 92" (Actual projected image: 88" diagonal)
Vertical Screen Masking (4:3/16:9) Remote Controlled/Motorized/Black Velvet Material
DVD Transport/Player Denon DVD-2900 plugged into a PS Audio P300 Power Plant MWI
HDTV Source Sony HD-200 HDTV Satellite Receiver, Off-Air UHF Yagi w/amplifier
Video Cable Belden 7712A RGBHV/Canare BNC's, RGBHV to HD-15 adapter
AC Power Treatment PS Audio P300 Power Plant MWI with Signal Cable Magic power cable
Audio (Electronics)
Digital Surround Processor/Preamplifier Meridian 565z3(ver 6.2a) plugged into a PS Audio P300
Center Channel Amplifier Madrigal/Citation 7.1, 4 Channel 150 w/ch amplifier with Signal Cable Magic power cable
Front L&R Channel Amplifier Parasound HALO A 21 250 w/channel with PS Audio PLUS power cable
Side Effects L&R Channel Amplifier TBD
Rear L&R Channel Amplifier Madrigal/Citation 7.1, 4 Channel 150 w/ch amplifier
Cables MIT Shotgun S3 interconnects for front left & right + center channel, MIT ZAP interconnects for rear channels, Wireworld Gold Starlight 5 digital coax between the DVD-2900 and 565z3.
Remote Control Sony RM-AV3100
AC Power Treatment PS Audio P300
Acoustic Treatment RPG Systems
Audio (Speakers)
Front L&R Mirage M3-Si
Center Channel Mirage OM-C2
Side L&R N/A TBD
Rear L&R Mirage FRX-1
Subwoofer Mirage BPS-150i
Main L&R channel speaker cables MIT Shotgun S3 (10')  
Center channel speaker cables Bi-wired with 2 10' runs of MIT AVT-1

Description

My home theater system currently uses the Meridian 565z3 digital processor.  The 565z3 is a THX processor that supports Pro-Logic, Dolby Digital, DTS and several music surround modes (most notably Tri-Field) and still holds its own against today's best surround processors. 

The Mirage M3si's are effortlessly driven by the highly regarded Parasound HALO A 21 amplifier. 
Click here to read my review of the A 21.

For center and rear surround channel amplification I use a Citation 7.1 amplifier designed and manufactured for Harmon Kardon by Madrigal Audio Labs  (now Harmon Specialty Group, Mark Levinson/Lexicon/Revel)).  The Citation is a 150 w/ch 4 channel amplifier that can be bridged to output an astonishing 450 w/ch X 2!.  I am very impressed with the Citation's low frequency control and articulation, ultra smooth midrange and sweet extended sibilant free high frequency response.  If you are in search of a powerful audiophile quality amplifier in the 1K price range try to find a used Citation 7.1, they were produced in the mid-late 90's and originally sold for $2800.00.

The speakers are all Mirage.  I am quite fond of the older model Mirage sound and the bi/omnipolar approach works extremely well for home theater applications, especially for those sitting off-axis.  The front L&R loudspeakers are a classic pair of M3-si's (many audiophiles agree that the old M series is the best series Mirage ever produced).  The M3si's are very special loudspeakers (Rated Class B full-range by Stereophile) capable (when properly setup) of producing an ultra detailed, powerful and extremely dynamic reproduction of music and film soundtracks...Holst The Planets is quite an experience!    

The OM-C2 omnipolar center channel is one of the best sounding center channels I've heard under 2K. 

The FRX-1 rear channels will soon be replaced with the Mirage HDT-R's.

The video section includes the highly acclaimed Denon DVD-2900 DVD player driving the DVDO Iscan HD scaler/processor which drives the Panasonic PTL-300U LCD projector.  The source components are plugged into a PS Audio P300 Power Plant with Multiwave I.

To date, my wife (yes, my wife!) and I are very pleased with the system.  A lot more to follow....

My 2 Channel Audio System
Circa 2002 (No longer in service....)

Front-End

Apogee Stage

 

Turntable None
Phono Preamplifier None
CD Transport Sonic Frontiers SFT-1
Digital Interface Cable MIT Digital reference AES/EBU
D/A Processor Mark Levinson No.36
Line Stage Preamplifier Sonic Frontiers SFL-2
Upgraded
Siemens 6922's
Amplifier Mark Levinson No.332
Loudspeaker Apogee Stage w/Apogee Stands
Loudspeaker Cable MIT MH-750 Bi-wire
Cables Kimber Select 1120 AES/EBU
MIT Proline AES/EBU
Accessories BrightStar Audio Airmass 3 under SFT-1, No.36 and SFL-2 power Supply.  Airmass 3S under SFL-2.  
Kimber Kable PowerKord-330 for No.332
RPG Room Treatment


If you have any questions or comments in regards to the systems, please feel free to send me an email.

Shane Mattson
SoundReproduction.com

 

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