Description

This is the system I have in my machine shop- a one car detached garage in back of my house. It sounds better than my Denon based home theater system. My kid hogs the home system playing X-box, and I can listen to what I want as loud as I want in the shop.

The shop includes a 1965 Bridgeport milling machine, 9" lathe, and all the tooling to build a 3/4" scale Shay locomotive live steam model.

Added a turntable, rack I had in the house for another system, HD tuner, and phono stage.
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Components Toggle details

    • Omega Grande 8R
    Great sounding speakers, purchased on audiogon.com
    • CEC 3300R
    Purchased on Audiogon.com
    • Decware ZSP1 Pre-amp kit
    Built from Decware kit.
    • Terminator Air bearing
    Bought used Terminator tonearm.
    • Crown International PL-3
    Solid state, plays really loud...
    • VPI Industries VPI TNT III
    Couldn't find on list...

Comments 7

Owner
I've been working on this 3/4" scale Shay for about 20 years, off and on...I love the Shay's! Saw one at Steam Town in LA about 1988- I bought the "Building the Shay" book and work on the train between raising kids and working. The Man Cave is my escape- most times I go in to listen to music. The well insulated space lets me listen as loud as I want, and no one around to complain about the choice of music!

duke58

Owner
System edited: The Man Cave: IF I'm busy machining, I use the iPod or tuner. Chips don't reach the system since the speakers are mounted high, and the components are placed out of the path of chips.

duke58

I have seen a real Shay at Roaring Camp, in Felton, CA. Can't beat live steam, tube audio and vinyl!

hornblower

Sweet shop system! How about some pictures of the machines? I have a 1966 Bridgeport and a 9" South Bend in my garage, but you definitely have a better system! How the heck do you keep the chips away from the gear? Is it a pain to have to wash your hands every time you want to change LPs? I just take my laptop and 1TB hard drive to the garage so I only have to touch it once or twice a day!

ketchup

Owner
Thanks for the compliments!

Next purchase will be a HD tuner, wadia transport later. I've recently bought a Decware preamp kit, and will assemble it when I receive it.

My initial concern was that the amp would not be loud enough, but it is and it sounds great- detailed, accurate, smooth, makes me aware of why many people like tube amps. Best part- most of the system is made in the USA!

duke58

Nice, don't you hate changing disc all the time. Why don't you add an ipod transport, like wadia i170. Use your cec dac and you can listen to your music collection non stop.

usarmyvet91

Very cool. One of the best garage systems I've seen on the Gon!

pdreher

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