Help with a pair of Focal Aria 948 please

[Krorghar]

Greetings People.

Let me introduce Myself please. I am a total novice to the Hi -Fi world. When I was a child I lived with my old brother, and he had an old Marantz Model 4240 feeding a pair of Celestion Ditton 33 Speakers. That setup was continuosly playing at home, and I grew up listening to them, and I got my ears used to that wonderfull sound.

Now that I have grown up, I thougth it was my time to get a nice equipment for myself. First of all I wanted a 7.1 set up to watch movies at home, and got a Marantz SR7008 receiver. I was planing to get a good Turntable, feed it to the marantz, and be able to hear our own vinyl colection again, then I decided to get some good main speakers, and purchased a pair of Focal Aria 948. That was my first novice mistake, since soon it was clear that the Marantz is a good 7.1 Amplifier, but it lacks when you intend to power the Arias 948 with it.

Told the problem to my dealer, and he lend me a Devialet 120 Amplifier, so i could feed the Focals properly, with that kind of gear, I should get the sound quality that I remebered from my childhood, but, to my surprise and alarm, the experience was a disapointment.

With the devialet the Arias sounded much better, of course, but I feel that the speakers lack bass power. The sound is very clear and defined, but I find it lacking in presence. It doesnt "fill" the room, dont know if Im expressing myself properly. Tweaked with the amplifier a little adding more bass, improved a little, but still not the bass I remembered from childhood, added more bass and then the sound turned into a mess.

So guys, I Dont know if the problem are the Speakers, the amplifier, or maybe the problem are my expectations, that are too high, please give me some advice, Im pretty disappointed with my purchase.

 

[crossedover]

Your room can play a part of what your describing. The speakers have a high sensitivity but a very low minimal impedance of 2.5 ohms. Depending on where that occurs a stout amplifier maybe required. Having said that have you considered a subwoofer to supplement the low end?

 

[zieglj01]

My main question is, how are they placed in the room - and how much space is around them?
Plus, how far do you sit from them?

 

[macddmac]

Welcome to the forum!
Great speakers but they need to be properly setup.
I heard the 948s at RMAF last fall and the setup wasn't optimized at all. They sounded dull.
In another room, the 936s were playing and sounded fantastic.
The answer to your problem is most likely in the setup end not 6500.00 integrated amplifiers.
Don't get me wrong, the Devialet is extremely capable, and very stylish as well, but the issue is likely the room/ speaker placement related.
Could you provide pictures of your system and dimensions of your room?
Cheers, Mac

 

[Krorghar]

Many thanks guys, I have drawn a small diagram of my room and took some pics of it, but i need 6 post to be able to upload images, will try to get em asap.

 

[Krorghar]

Anyway, if it helps the room is 4x6 meters (13x19 feet) and listening distance is 2 to 2.5 meters. Speakers are separated 2 meters (6 feet) and they still dont have the feet pins, because im waiting for some protectors, so they dont scratch the floor.

 

[Krorghar]

Ok now i have 6 posts

First of all many many thanks guys for your posts. I have made a small draw of my room and the Speaker placement to help you make a picture of what i got. Here it is:



Room floor and roof is that stuff that pretends to imitate real wood, I dont know the name in english, is a kind of corrugated wooden grains, with a epoxy resin covering it. All walls are made of Pladur, the spanish commercial name for gypsun plates, Also I got some glass expositors for my figures that I think are a perfect reflexion material for sound. Listening distance from speakers are about 2 to 2.5 meters (6.5 to 8 feet)

Here you can se the actual speaker positions (the boxes will be replaced for another glass expositor in near future)



Here you can see the speakers in detail. The feet pins are not installed, while Im waiting for some protectors, since they just ate the floor.





I presume that my room is far from optimal as a listening place, but is what I got, and since the electrical instalation is allready made, is nearly impossible to rearrange the stuff. Anyway im more concerned about the speaker than the room, please let me know what you think guys. If i should sustitute the speaker or maybe somethnig I can do in my room.

All comments greatly appreciated, many thanks guys.

 

[macddmac]

The glass cases and bare floors are creating severe reflections of the sound coming out of your speakers.
This can (will) result in a very poor listening environment due to the same sound arriving at your ears at different times.
First, get a nice thick rug that will take up the floor space between the speakers and the bed to tame floor bounce.
Next, I would consider some sort of a cover like a small duvet to place on your left side first reflection point and see how much of an improvement that makes. Tough room!
Cheers, Mac

 

[Krorghar]

Many thanks macddmac

I knew the room was far from optimal for sound, but sadly is what I have, those glass cases cant be moved, since theres no room in the rest of the apartment to place them, also the rug option is impossible, since im handicaped and live in a wheel chair, and a rug would difficult my movement in the room. Problems and more problems. Leaving the room apart, do u think that somethnig could be made to improve the situation? Maybe getting a sub like other friend sugested before? Maybe the Arias are too big for the room?

 

[zieglj01]

I knew the room was far from optimal for sound, but sadly is what I have, those glass cases cant be moved, since theres no room in the rest of the apartment to place them, also the rug option is impossible, since im handicaped and live in a wheel chair, and a rug would difficult my movement in the room. Problems and more problems. Leaving the room apart, do u think that somethnig could be made to improve the situation? Maybe getting a sub like other friend sugested before? Maybe the Arias are too big for the room?

I know things are challenging - however, it is clear as a bell that it is the room.
Not only the glass - also all the boxes and storage around your speakers.

They need room to breathe (space around them) - glass is worse.

A sub will not be much help compared to what you are missing, with the lack of
radiation space for good imaging and soundstage presentation.

A bookshelf with a sub, will also have some of the same limitations - however, you
can try it.

With all due respect - with a room like that, I would not spend a lot on speakers or
equipment, which helps to feed buyers remorse.

Have you tried some good headphones?

Your call

 

[Krorghar]

Many thanks again guys, here is a little update:

My dealer has offered to change the floor speakers for smaller, high quality ones, he claim that since the room can´t be addressed, smaller speakers should make less powered wave sounds that shouls interfere and cancel less between themselves, and so, I should get a better sound. He have sugested the Atohm GT1, that sells in a pack with the devialet, and can benefit from the SAM system thats built in the amplifier (a stuff that adapts the output wave form of the speakers so the wave that comes into the speaker throught the cable, and the wave that finally get outs, get identical.

These are (the smaller ones in the floor stand):



I know I have a real problem here with the room. My dealer has also told me, that he can install a wall picture, that is made of some anti-reflective stuff, in the wall where the bed is (the opposite from the speakers), to help improve the room a little. Do you guys thinks that with this picture, and the speakers, the sould could improve, even a little? or I am wasting money here?

Im begining to lose hope

 

[GranteedEV]

With due respect, the advice offered by your dealer does not sound very reliable.

My suggestion is to get speakers designed for difficult rooms, such as these Audiokinesis units:

AudioKinesis - sound that moves you

or these Soundfield Audio speakers:

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