First post Newbie looking for weakest link and next thing to do?

[10CamaroSS]

Hi all. I just moved into a new home and have family room that is 16'x21'x10' (ceiling) with wall to wall berber and an acoustic ceiling. I have my system set up along the 21' wall and it was lo-fi when I moved in and consisted of a Sherwood RX4105, a pair of Cerwin Vega VE12's and an ipod or PC though the aux RCA as a source. It sounded terrible at my old house which was a room that was approximately 10x15x7.5 and hardwood floors. To my surprise, when I hooked it up in the current house, it sounded like a different system and at the time, fantastic to my ears.

I knew the Sherwood had to go, it cut out when the bass kicked in, overheated and shut off. I replaced it with an Adcom GFA 555 and Adcom GTP500 preamp. Sounded a lot better, but it wasn't until I lost the ipod in favor of CD though my Samsung DVD 1080P7, connected though the TV with HDMI and then into the preamp, did I realize the HUGE difference compared to an Ipod source. So, next I bought an Emotiva ERC-1 CD player and that's my current setup, to my ears, it keeps improving and sounds fantastic when I listen to CD s burned with 320kbps MP3's or original CDs.

Next I want to add a music hall 2.2 record player. I keep reading how terrible my CV VE12's are....and I don't entirely understand because I THINK they sound good, but just wondering these are in fact the weakest link now with the setup and I could be much better served with proper audiophile speakers like B&W 801's, speaking of which, could the 555 drive used 801's to their potential?

any input helps. Thanks.

 

[Pyrrho]

When moving your system from the old place to the new one, you have noticed the difference that different acoustic spaces can make. This is a major part of how a system sounds, and many people do not pay enough attention to it. Generally speaking, a room that is acoustically live (i.e., reflects a lot of sound; e.g., like an empty room with an echo) is much worse than one that is more acoustically dead (reflects little sound). So hardwood floors are usually acoustically bad. There are exceptions to such general rules, but the main point is that the room matters a great deal.

As for your iPod, what you probably were doing was using highly compressed "lossy" files (i.e., files in which data is discarded) instead of lossless ones, and therefore a CD would be better, since it is not compressed with data thrown out. If you were listening to lossless files of the CD data on your iPod through a decent digital to analog converter, it should sound the same as a CD of the same mastering of the same music.

Now, speakers make a huge difference, and so better speakers will sound better.

As for the B&W 801, your amplifier should be able to drive it more than adequately. However, the rated claim for it is such that it can handle more power than your amplifier is rated to deliver. But the difference would a small loss of maximum volume, not likely to matter much.


What I recommend that you do is to go out to all of your local audio stores, with a CDR of all of the types of music to which you listen, and listen to as many different types of speakers (e.g., ribbon, horn, dome, whatever) as you can find, of as many brands as you can stand to audition, that are in your price point. Take your time and do not buy anything right away; a mistake can be costly. If none of them sound better TO YOU than what you have, don't bother. I would want something else, but you are not me, so that doesn't matter.

I recommend adding Magnepan to your list of speakers to audition, if you can find a dealer close enough. They are quite different from most speakers, so you may love them or hate them.

 

[Ponzio]

You may want to think about moving your equipment/speakers against the 16' wall to get a better & wider soundstage and give more depth to your music/HT, if that is physically possible in the room. Regarding speakers, it depends on your budget and sound preferences. I agree with Pyrrho about "to go out to all of your local audio stores, with a CDR of all of the types of music to which you listen, and listen to as many different types of speakers (e.g., ribbon, horn, dome, whatever) as you can find, of as many brands as you can stand to audition, that are in your price point."

Good luck and have fun.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

B&W speakers are known to colorate the sound (vs trying to replicate it as close to source as possible) some like it and some hate it...
As mentioned room acoustics could plays as much as 50% difference in final result - many things will affect it like any surfaces between you and speakers, their type and etc....

Trully Best way to test is to bring the speakers home. Plug it in and see how they sound....
Not bad way to go are EMP Tek E55Ti - currently on sale for $290... See how you like they - they have very open, a bit warm yet neutral, laid back sound
Return in 30 days if you don't like them....

Another one to try are Aperion Verus speakers - same idea, I think they pay return shipping as well

 

[JerryLove]

Next I want to add a music hall 2.2 record player. I keep reading how terrible my CV VE12's are....and I don't entirely understand because I THINK they sound good, but just wondering these are in fact the weakest link now with the setup and I could be much better served with proper audiophile speakers like B&W 801's, speaking of which, could the 555 drive used 801's to their potential?

Firstly: I disagree with BoredSysAdmin's generalization of B&W, my 801Series2 speakers were some of the most neutral I've ever owned.

Which brings me to my next question: which 801's are we discussing? There is no current generation.

I had problems driving my 801S2's with an AVR. I moved to a Yamaha P4500 and the problems were resolved.
But the P4500 doesn't seem to like my Nautilus 801's. I think maybe it's the impedance slope.

I suspect your 555 will be just fine for the Series80, Series2, or Series3; but would have problems with Nautilus forward. For those, I'd think the least expensive choice would be Peavy (which will run 1ohm)

 

[English210]

As noted, the difference you've heard in your new room are typical - change the environment, and the sound changes. The placement of the speakers in the room will also change the sound a lot, which brings up the tricky part of listening in stores - those setups aren't like yours at home, so the sound in the store isn't necessarily representative of what you'll get at home. You can of course compare speakers types and styles to find out what you like and don't like. It is a process, and takes time to learn how to listen, find out what you like and don't like, etc. But it will be worth it!

 

[10CamaroSS]

Hey I am back with an entirely new setup, check it out.

 

[KenM10759]

Wow, nice step up. Congratulations!

Personal opinion but the MacIntosh amp (and preamp?) can really shine with even better speakers than the Polk LSi M707. Something like the Philharmonic 3 would blow your mind with those same components.

What's the unit on the shelf just below the (ProJect Debut Carbon Esprit?) turntable?