I also love having a system in my bedroom. I had a dresser, about 5' wide and maybe 18" deep to work with. I couldn't hang speakers or run cables all over the place - the whole thing had to fit on this one piece of cherry realestate. Here's what I did:
a Shanling STP-80 integrated tube amp. Looks great, sounds great, affordable (I think I paid about 1200 brand spankin' new). Gorgeous build quality, easy to use, the nice warm glow of tubes...
a Shanling CDT-200 SACD/CD tube player. Looks scary good, sounds great, affordable (as these things go - I think I paid less than 2k for it). Works gloriously with the STP-80.
I have tried several different speaker combinations, most recently a pair of Linn Katans and a Linn Sizmik subwoofer on the floor (I know, breaking my rule of confinment). I have settled on an absolutely wonderful pair of Spendor SP3/1p monitors. Quite a bit larger than the little Katans, but oooh that mid-bass. Wow.
I use Sonic Euphoria cables throughout, and tied it to a little Rotel RLC900 (I think that's the model number) power conditioner with an A/C trigger plug. This goes to the wall through a home depot remote controlled switch. While prone, I can easily turn on or off the whole system with the click of a button, AND the little rotel has delayed on/off - so that the amp gets a few seconds head-start on the player to light up those glorious tubes.
The whole system cost less than 5k; and gives me truly outstanding sound stage width and depth - even while falling asleep: which is admittedly alittle hard to do until the CD runs out because I get drawn into whatever I'm listening to and just can't let go.
Hey, atleast I don't dream about work anymore - but I have awoke many times in the middle of the night to the somewhat eerie blue glow of the shanling CD player casting shadows in the room.
Did I mention that these things look fabulous side by side? Not a single person seeing them hasn't stopped to exclaim at how gorgeous they are. Wives included.
- David
