Quality of Sound

[Sangeet]

Garcia,

Speakers are placed on either corner on one side about 12 feet from each other next to the walls and I sit in center on the opposite side about 15 feet from the speakers.

 

[GranteedEV]

Speakers are placed on either corner on one side about 12 feet from each other next to the walls and I sit in center on the opposite side about 15 feet from the speakers.

You should certainly toy with placement.

Move your seat closer - about 9 feet from the speakers.
Move the speakers further from the walls - maybe about 3 feet away laterally and 2 feet into the room.

 

[Sangeet]

GranteedEV,

Thanks. I like in Houston TX and my budget is about $ 1000

 

[Sangeet]

OK . I will try to work with speaker placement and update

 

[jonnythan]

Speakers in the corners? Generally a pretty bad idea.

 

[Sangeet]

@ BoredSysAdmin

I agree with you. I thought if I had a good receiver, speaker doesn't matter but now I know was wrong and that the reason why I have come here to learn from you gurus. Anyways my budget is $1000.

Note that I have done auto calibration on my system at least 50 times in last 6 months.

 

[j_garcia]

It is OK for the sub to be near the corner, but your mains should not be. Bring them in closer, pull them away from the wall behind them at least a foot. The rule of thumb is, they should be about as far apart as you sit from them, however if you are 15' from them, that may not be reasonable. For music, that rule is not a firm rule and it depends on the room, so experiment with placement.

If you are sitting right up against the wall, this will also degrade your sound. Consider hanging something soft on the wall immediately behind you; aka sound panels, but a rug, curtain, etc... should at least help too.

 

[jonnythan]

I'm not generally super happy with auto calibration for music listening. I love what Audyssey does for TV and movies, but when I listen to music I turn off all that processing and use the EQ controls on my HTPC instead. That makes me a lot happier.

That's why I asked what kind of EQ you're using.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...
Your ROOM can be a big factor as well. ...

I have already tossed the polk subwoofer but have not installed the new subwoofer. I will do it this weekend

Garcia

I have carpet with drywall. room size is not big - 15 feet X 12 feet.

Yes, your room makes a huge difference. Think about the room configuration at the different stores you auditioned speakers in and compare your room to them.

If you have a favorite speaker from one of those stores, see if they will ket you borrow them for a weekend, or some other time period and see how those speakers and your room react.

I would not worry about your receiver nor Cd player unless the speaker you select has difficult impedance loads and sensitivity that needs a LOT more power.

It also sounds as though you have a replacement sub? What is it?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

@ BoredSysAdmin

I agree with you. I thought if I had a good receiver, speaker doesn't matter but now I know was wrong and that the reason why I have come here to learn from you gurus. Anyways my budget is $1000.

Note that I have done auto calibration on my system at least 50 times in last 6 months.

Ok, So mid size room, 2.1 speakers.Music only. $1000 budget.

Ascend CMB-170SE and HSU VTF-2 MK4 Sub (other options: Outlaw Audio LFM-1, Power Sound XS15)

You could get Energy RC-10 bookshelfs - they have better finish and a bit more bass, but you don't need to worry about the lower stuff with any of above mentioned subs)
CMB-170SE measures better than RC10 - but the difference is not that big. Another highly recommended option is EMPTEK E41 , which are budget spin-off from E41B which had beryllium drivers.
(E41 switched to more common and cheaper aluminium)

 

[mtrycrafts]

Mark,

My receiver's power is 140 watts per channel. but my concern is the sound quality

Not a concern, not from the receiver
And, I hope the stores are not directing you to components other than speakers.

 

[Sangeet]

@ anamorphic96

Can you please clarify on : I would also make sure you have no sound processing turned on - Do you mean zero bass and Treble and also flat equalizer ?


You should be running in some sort of pure direct mode to really get an idea of how the speakers sound : Can you please elaborate

 

[Sangeet]

@ mtrycrafts

have a 15 inch Velodyne subwoofer but it's still not installed. I will put this later this week. currently installed is a polk 12" subs

 

[jonnythan]

I mean the Pioneer MCACC room-correction stuff. Your receiver has a "direct" mode which disables all of the audio processing. I don't know precisely what you're using for a source, though.

 

[Sangeet]

I mean the Pioneer MCACC room-correction stuff. Your receiver has a "direct" mode which disables all of the audio processing. I don't know precisely what you're using for a source, though.

I have already tried direct mode.

For source I'm using a sony 100 CD changer with optical output.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I have already tried direct mode.

For source I'm using a sony 100 CD changer with optical output.

Now, you tried playing with electronics, As other suggested you could try to move around speakers/sub - but without measuring tools it'll be a guessing game
Try to follow the general guidelines and see if you hear results.

 

[Sangeet]

Can anyone please advice on Paradigm Monitor Series 9 floor standing speakers

 

[GranteedEV]

Can anyone please advice on Paradigm Monitor Series 9 floor standing speakers

Not very good speakers at all. Bloated and resonant sounding with spiked up treble response.

 

[j_garcia]

Agreed, that would be a lateral move from what you have.

 

[Sangeet]

Ok, So mid size room, 2.1 speakers.Music only. $1000 budget.

Ascend CMB-170SE and HSU VTF-2 MK4 Sub (other options: Outlaw Audio LFM-1, Power Sound XS15)

You could get Energy RC-10 bookshelfs - they have better finish and a bit more bass, but you don't need to worry about the lower stuff with any of above mentioned subs)
CMB-170SE measures better than RC10 - but the difference is not that big. Another highly recommended option is EMPTEK E41 , which are budget spin-off from E41B which had beryllium drivers.
(E41 switched to more common and cheaper aluminium)

OK will check out these but just to let you know, I have a Bowers & Wilkins DM320 bookself but not happy with these.