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Hello from the boonies

MtnHam

MtnHam

Industry Expert
Jan 12, 2014
275
50
335
Nothern California Wine Country
A music lover/audiophile since 1960. Retired in 2003, but am busier than ever running the ranch, being a home based dealer, and soon to be part time city (SF) dweller. Actually, we lived in San Francisco for many years (1968-91), including a two year sailing odyssey (1978-80) to the South Pacific on a 40' ketch. Music interests run from Glen Gould/Bach to opera, country (Hank Williams/Patsy Cline/Willie) to blues lieder and SRV. I look forward to to attending the Symphony at Davies Hall. Also an 'audio evangelist' and planar lover, Was recently asked on another forum if I was "a former snake-oil salesman in the circus?"!
 
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Hello and welcome to the WBF, MtnHam. I believe that you will find this forum holds itself to a higher caliber than most, we hope you feel right at home here.

Tom
 
Thanks Don. Actually, you are correct on two counts. I am a ham radio operator (K6ABC) and a trapper of wild pigs on my mountain ranch. We are located at 1800', about 2 miles from the Pacific near where the Russian River (Sonoma County) inters the ocean. There is a 5 mile private gravel ranch road that climbs from Hwy 1 to the top of the 1st ridge and our home, where we have a 60 mile inland view.
RusGulch.jpg
Russian Gulch (pictured) is where Russian settlers made their landing in 1812 and established a settlement at nearby Ft. Ross for the purpose of farming to provide food to their Alaskan settlements. Wikipedia has an excellent writeup if you wish to read more:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ross,_California

We are on 45 acres, but surrounded by open space, not much different than the early days of California when it was part of Spanish Mexico. With a world class audio system, a solar heated swimming pool, and many other amenities, the Russians never had it even 1/16th as good!
 
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Very nice! Been many years since I drove through Sonoma County. My view is through trees, not nearly as open. I was once a ham but let my license lapse ages ago. Maybe when I retire. My house sits at about 7500' but on a much smaller lot (coupla' acres). I can see Pikes Peak through the trees.
 
What a view!!!

Tom
 
Welcome aboard! This is the best forum on the net, period :)

BTW, what is your (real) name?
 
Thanks Peter. The name is Tom.
Here are 2 photos of my main system-
U-1PX.jpganother view.jpg

and my 2nd system with Majestic 945PX panels in the barn/shop-
Maj945PX.jpg
 
Hi Tom,

Looks GREAT!
 
DonH50 said:
Soundlabs and ARC? Nice match... Is that your garage, or did you need an extra-large door to get all the goodies in? :)
Click to expand...

Here are the system details:


Ayre KX-R pre, MX-R amps
SME 20/2 table SME V arm
Sota Star Saphire table, SME IV.Vi arm
Dynavector XV1-S, Sumiko Celebration,
Koetsu Black & Rosewood Signature cartridges
ARC Ref-2SE phono
Marantz SA-11S2 SACD player
MacMini server, Wavelength Crimson DAC
Skywire cables throughout, most IC's balanced
SoundLab Majestic 945PX, SoundLab Ultimate-1PX
electrostatic speakers

Here is a photo of the main house with garage which is too full of 'stuff' to park cars. The PV system is 6.5Kw:
solarcat.jpg

The barn/shop is for the toys:
barn:Kubota.jpg
 
Tom,

Well, your SoundLab's are much larger than mine ... Great pictures!
 
Hi Tom
Thanks for sharing your wonderful system & gorgeous home. I would love to hear all about your sailing adventures down under when you get a second. Sounds a wonderful time to have done it.

Best Wishes
Andrew
 
MtnHam said:
Thanks Don. Actually, you are correct on two counts. I am a ham radio operator (K6ABC) and a trapper of wild pigs on my mountain ranch. We are located at 1800', about 2 miles from the Pacific near where the Russian River (Sonoma County) inters the ocean. There is a 5 mile private gravel ranch road that climbs from Hwy 1 to the top of the 1st ridge and our home, where we have a 60 mile inland view.
View attachment 13467
Russian Gulch (pictured) is where Russian settlers made their landing in 1812 and established a settlement at nearby Ft. Ross for the purpose of farming to provide food to their Alaskan settlements. Wikipedia has an excellent writeup if you wish to read more:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ross,_California

We are on 45 acres, but surrounded by open space, not much different than the early days of California when it was part of Spanish Mexico. With a world class audio system, a solar heated swimming pool, and many other amenities, the Russians never had it even 1/16th as good!
Click to expand...

Welcome Tom:

Not much more a man could want for, outside of a wonderful mate!
 
Welcome Tom. Very nice house and a great view together with a gorgeous system setup.
 
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