So got everything set up, but the sound doesn't seem as good as I thought it would be.

[PENG]

By the way I wanted to ask if I set my volume on my AVR at 50 that doesn't necessarily mean that's 50db, basically the number on the front panel does not represent actual db, it's just a volume number right ?

It typically does mean each 1 dB change in the volume dial represents 1 dB change in spl measured at the same position.

 

[Davvy]

Define 'thin'. Thin usually means that the frequency response has an upward tilt from bass through treble, without strong midbass. Decreased mids would cause what we called 'boom/crash' when we described the sound from Japanese speakers in the late-'70s and into the '80s.

Have you used Room EQ Wizard? If so, run a test and post the response, so we can see what may be happening.

I'll try my best the Bronze 100 was more extended, detailed at top. Midrange is more on the cooler side. No I haven't ran any RC yet and won't for a bit. I'm giving my brain a break from this stuff.

 

[highfigh]

I'll try my best the Bronzs 100 was more extended, detailed at top. Midrange is more on the cooler side. No I haven't ran any RC yet and won't for a bit. I'm giving my brain a break from this stuff.

If you want to make the frequency analysis easier, you can download an app for your smart phone- I use the Dynaudio app and the RTA is accurate enough for this.

 

[Davvy]

I have another off topic question that I wouldn't want to start a new thread about. So I'm curious do most of you guys that do make your own speaker cables, do you just use a sharp knife like a box cutter or do you actually use a wire stripper tool ? I was thinking of buying a wire stripper tool.

 

[everettT]

I have another off topic question that I wouldn't want to start a new thread about. So I'm curious do most of you guys that do make your own speaker cables, do you just use a sharp knife like a box cutter or do you actually use a wire stripper tool ? I was thinking of buying a wire stripper tool.

Always good to own a stripper, lol.. seriously yes, buy a good one. Irwin makes a pretty decent inexpensive one if you don't need 22g or higher.

 

[Davvy]

Always good to own a stripper, lol.. seriously yes, buy a good one. Irwin makes a pretty decent inexpensive one if you don't need 22g or higher.

Yeah I saw those on Amazon. I used a box cutter but even being careful I cut some of the strands of copper off not many just couple to a few. I don't like the wire I got, so I'm going to get something diff.

 

[everettT]

Yeah I saw those on Amazon. I used a box cutter but even being careful I cut some of the strands of copper off not many just couple to a few. I don't like the wire I got, so I'm going to get something diff.

Unless your terminating HDMI, rs232, or other thin wire, it will serve you good for the price.

 

[lovinthehd]

Even a really basic wire stripper is better than a box cutter...

ps While I have a couple of the basic ones, I prefer to use this one

 

[TLS Guy]

Well I will say the Bronze 100 did have good bass, that wasn't the problem. They sounded thin and mids not robust. I always double check the connections when I set up diff speakers. I'm not putting them back up on the stands anymore.

You have a very good ear. Those Bronze 100 speakers actually do not have good bass, they peak at 100 Hz, and the bass falls off a cliff below 80 Hz.

Worse there is an audible rise in response between 3KHz and 10KHz. The ear is very sensitive in that range and even small aberrations are audible and very annoying.
Those speakers would sound thin.

So by ear you picked the best pair of speakers out of the three.

If you lived near by, I would definitely include you in my listening panel of critical listeners.

Now make sure you look for objective data before you buy speakers and give them a listen either in store or at home with right of return.

As I said originally your problem was going to be speakers, and I congratulate you on being able to identify bad speakers right away. Unfortunately bad speakers are the rule rather than the exception. Audyssey, Dirac or what ever you want, will not put it right.

 

[Davvy]

Always good to own a stripper, lol.. seriously yes, buy a good one. Irwin makes a pretty decent inexpensive one if you don't need 22g or higher.

I'm going to get these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JNNWQ2/?coliid=I20SBG9NUSL5GJ&colid=14E8BUJKAD8TH&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Davvy]

You have a very good ear. Those Bronze 100 speakers actually do not have good bass, they peak at 100 Hz, and the bass falls off a cliff below 80 Hz.

Worse there is an audible rise in response between 3KHz and 10KHz. The ear is very sensitive in that range and even small aberrations are audible and very annoying.
Those speakers would sound thin.

So by ear you picked the best pair of speakers out of the three.

If you lived near by, I would definitely include you in my listening panel of critical listeners.

Now make sure you look for objective data before you buy speakers and give them a listen either in store or at home with right of return.

As I said originally your problem was going to be speakers, and I congratulate you on being able to identify bad speakers right away. Unfortunately bad speakers are the rule rather than the exception. Audyssey, Dirac or what ever you want, will not put it right.

Thanks

 

[Davvy]

Well I moved the living room around all my stuff now is on the long wall in front of the fireplace but I never used it anyway. I have everything with proper distance and all, no interference from any walls it sounds really good and I'm satisfied.

Maybe this just comes with the hobby but I was thinking maybe I should get even better speakers LOL. Is this one of those hobbies where you're always thinking about the next upgrade.

I spent $1200 on my Electronics maybe I was thinking of getting better speakers like the Elac Unify Reference for $1200. The reviews I've seen which aren't very many cause I was just looking at them late last night are really good it's a 3 way design speaker. The tweeter is inside the mid range woofer. I'm assuming that still considered a 3 way speaker.

I guess I'm thinking I have 60 days to enjoy my system cause I can return it for a refund with crutchfield and get something else. I'm keeping my electronics but if I'm just gonna spend another $500 for supposedly better speakers or a different pair am I gonna get any appreciable difference going up to a $1000-1200 ? Basically when I hook up the speakers will I be able to tell right away that this better to my ears ? Probably not worth talking about tower speakers cause $1200 ain't enough for a good pair anyway.

 

[everettT]

Well I moved the living room around all my stuff now is on the long wall in front of the fireplace but I never used it anyway. I have everything with proper distance and all, no interference from any walls it sounds really good and I'm satisfied.

Maybe this just comes with the hobby but I was thinking maybe I should get even better speakers LOL. Is this one of those hobbies where you're always thinking about the next upgrade.

I spent $1200 on my Electronics maybe I was thinking of getting better speakers like the Elac Unify Reference for $1200. The reviews I've seen which aren't very many cause I was just looking at them late last night are really good it's a 3 way design speaker. The tweeter is inside the mid range woofer. I'm assuming that still considered a 3 way speaker.

I guess I'm thinking I have 60 days to enjoy my system cause I can return it for a refund with crutchfield and get something else. I'm keeping my electronics but if I'm just gonna spend another $500 for supposedly better speakers or a different pair am I gonna get any appreciable difference going up to a $1000-1200 ? Basically when I hook up the speakers will I be able to tell right away that this better to my ears ? Probably not worth talking about tower speakers cause $1200 ain't enough for a good pair anyway.

You can get deals on towers in the $1200 to 1500 range, Revel is running a nice sale of their F36 currently.

Revel Concerta2 F36 (High Gloss Black)

Floor-standing speaker

www.crutchfield.com

The HECO 1000, reviewed here, is another.

HECO Aurora 1000 Floorstanding Speaker

As the flagship of the new Aurora product series, the Aurora 1000 floorstanding speaker is thoroughly captivating with its elegant visual appearance, innovative technology and, of course, outstanding acoustic properties. The bass and mid-range frequencies are reproduced in a compelling manner by...

www.audioadvice.com

 

[Davvy]

Those seem like they're good choices but shouldn't I just go up within the same series line that I have now that I'm satisfied with though ? I mean wouldn't that make more sense. Their $700 a piece these would be a safe bet seeing how I like the bookshelves. I definitely don't want to spend more than $1400. Is there anything out there that's better for $1400. By the way can towers be as good as bookshelves at lower volumes ? The only reason I'm asking is because sometimes I use lower volumes when watching TV/music at night and I'm only 8'feet away so I don't know if towers would be overkill in my situation and I should just stick with the bookshelves.

ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 (Oak)

Floor-standing speaker

www.crutchfield.com

 

[TLS Guy]

Well I moved the living room around all my stuff now is on the long wall in front of the fireplace but I never used it anyway. I have everything with proper distance and all, no interference from any walls it sounds really good and I'm satisfied.

Maybe this just comes with the hobby but I was thinking maybe I should get even better speakers LOL. Is this one of those hobbies where you're always thinking about the next upgrade.

I spent $1200 on my Electronics maybe I was thinking of getting better speakers like the Elac Unify Reference for $1200. The reviews I've seen which aren't very many cause I was just looking at them late last night are really good it's a 3 way design speaker. The tweeter is inside the mid range woofer. I'm assuming that still considered a 3 way speaker.

I guess I'm thinking I have 60 days to enjoy my system cause I can return it for a refund with crutchfield and get something else. I'm keeping my electronics but if I'm just gonna spend another $500 for supposedly better speakers or a different pair am I gonna get any appreciable difference going up to a $1000-1200 ? Basically when I hook up the speakers will I be able to tell right away that this better to my ears ? Probably not worth talking about tower speakers cause $1200 ain't enough for a good pair anyway.

You have to be careful. There are dreadful speakers in every price bracket. I have heard some real shockers at over 30G per pair.

I think you have some good speakers in those Elac bookshelf speakers. My advice is to buy a sub and round out the bottom end. You could go to towers,, but even then I think you need a sub. As sub is less of a necessity with towers, but still beneficial. Speakers need choosing with great care. You have proved to me you a discerning. Therefore I suspect you will not like a lot of speakers. Please don't think price alone will keep you out of trouble, because it won't.

 

[Davvy]

The sub is coming but just not right now that's just a whole different ball game that I'm not ready to tackle right now that's gonna be a new thread in the future.

Their are tower versions of the bookshelf speakers that I currently have, but here's the thing does it happen sometimes where a company will make a great bookshelf but the tower version kind of sucks ? I don't want to replace good bookshelves with OK towers you know what I mean ? Or maybe I should just take your advice and just get a sub sooner. There seems to be less reviews for towers versus bookshelves though but I could be wrong.

 

[TLS Guy]

The sub is coming but just not right now that's just a whole different ball game that I'm not ready to tackle right now that's gonna be a new thread in the future.

Their are tower versions of the bookshelf speakers that I currently have, but here's the thing does it happen sometimes where a company will make a great bookshelf but the tower version kind of sucks ? I don't want to replace good bookshelves with OK towers you know what I mean ? Or maybe I should just take your advice and just get a sub sooner. There seems to be less reviews for towers versus bookshelves though but I could be wrong.

If you are in a smaller space and you do not play loud, I would keep the speakers you have, and move the sub up the priority list. Subs give more value to bookshelves than towers as a rule.

Another word of warning about speaker reviews. Anecdotal, subjective narrative reviews without measurements are useless, and more often than not wrong and misleading. If a speaker measures badly, it will sound bad, and you can strike it off the list. In the converse, good measurements don't necessarily guarantee a good sounding speaker, but far more often that not point you in the right direction. So only put on your list speakers that have reliable third party measurements. If you order on line always make sure you can return it.