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!
 

Mattson Media System
As of March 30th, 2006
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88"
Projected HDTV image |
System view
front |
Rack in A/V
closet |
MIT Shotgun S3
Cables |

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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')
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| Center
channel speaker cables |
Bi-wired with 2 10'
runs of MIT AVT-1 |
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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....)
| 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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