Blumenstein Audio

07/17/2026

Shop stereo upgraded to one pair of Orcas, one pair of Marlins, and a 12” subwoofer.

Before I was using a pair of Peavy cabinets upgraded to Eminence 15” plus 1” Selenium compression driver. They were acoustically retuned. Then, every nut and bolt damped and properly tightened down. They sounded pretty great sometimes, but no matter what I did, they couldn’t match the cohesiveness of good single drivers.

As I’ve steadily updated construction practices here, the sound quality has benefitted and I dare say eventually come out ahead of the old Peavy 2 ways with compression driver that were a long time reference for me.

The woodshop is a creation space so the sound needs to be relaxed, centered, composed - especially in the high frequencies. This humble Orcas + Marlins system is probably one of the most transparent systems I have ever put together in certain ways. Perhaps it’s the new supercharged magnets taking things to the next level?

Even though they’re powered by affordable stereo receivers on long speaker cables, the system has a sound that’s easy on the ears even though it’s rich in detail which makes it possible to focus and get work done.

07/14/2026

Current Tower of Power:

LP’s
-Thorens TD124 w/ SME 3009 w/ Ortofon 2M Blue
-U-Turn Orbit w/ Ortofon 2M Blue

Phono pre amps
- Bottlehead Eros
- Denon Receiver phono pre input

Cassette
- We are rewind
- Fiio

CD
- Marantz Professional rack mount CD Player, (optical output to Wiim)

Streamer
-Wiim Pro Plus

DAC
-Chord Mojo

Tuner
-USB Amplified Antennae

TV
-Small external DAC (optical input), long RCA’s to receiver.

Receivers / pre amps
- two identical Denon Stereo receivers

Power amps
- Serious Stereo 2A3 amplifier
- Nobsound G2 Pro

Mostly Bowline RCA cables for critical runs.
Mainsheet speaker cables

The two receivers on bottom serve as pre amps for the 2A3 monos and Nobsound G2 Pro 300 watt monoblock subwoofer amps which are connected through long Bowline RCA cables.

07/13/2026

Ikea Kallax sized Abby and Infrasonic 10” have been playing remarkably well together. We unplugged the 24” subs about a week ago and really haven’t missed them with these new 10’s that are still breaking in by leaps and bounds.

This simple combo is a whole lotta sound for the pound.

While a Cricket supertweeter could technically be added to this system for a whisper more sparkle and high frequency dispersion, a supertweeter really is optional in this case. Fostex has done a remarkable job refining their 166 driver over the years. There is a distinct elegance from only two voice coils covering ~25hz~20khz. Only two square feet of baffle, and only two total cubic feet tuned acoustic volume per floorstanding speaker (Abby’s and Infrasubs combined).

Powered by 3 watt per channel 2A3’s for the Abby’s and only 300 watts per 10” Infrasonic subs.

A keen eye will notice that I offer two parallel modular product ranges for large driver monitors (larger than Orca or Marlin)

One range is centered around interchangeability with the “II” series monitor speakers and the Active 6.5” Barnacle (Abby II, Triton II, Active Barnacle are all the same exact size)

An even newer product range pictured above centers around the Ikea Kallax sized Infrasonic 10” (Abby and Triton sized for Kallax are same width and height as Infra sub sized for Kallax)

Between the Barnacle 6.5” and Kallax Infrasonic 10”? Well now they both have their own relative strengths, and those are due to the inherent differences between smaller and larger subwoofers. Smaller ported subwoofers will have some strengths in musicality - particularly in the resolution of the upper bass region whereas larger sealed woofers have greater headroom and wider frequency range which makes them fully home theater compatible. (Though I’m sure the Barnacle wouldn’t have trouble making most movies come alive either).

Central point: Thus far, have been enjoying the new system too much in the main system downstairs to install them in the Ikea Kallax shelves upstairs in the library.

06/04/2026