Need help to improve my 2ch

[Danny3.0]

[SUP][/SUP]Hi guys/gals.

I'm Danny. I just joined up to gain knowledge about audio and I'm looking for some input about how I can improve my system.

First of let it be known that I do not spend lots of cash on audio, my goals are to have a great system with out spending many thousands.

I like things simple, my system contains the following

Rotel RA04-SE
Arcam CD73T
Bowers & Wilkins DM303

I have the speakers on 880mm stands and the amp & CD player on a rack. I'm not useing pricey speaker or mains power cables.

To me this sounds great but as always I'm looking for gains. I want more upper range detail and a little less brightness in the mid range to suit my tastes. I'm not sure if some new cable (was thinking chord silverscreen) or power cable will give any gains? I was thinking about buying b&w dm601 s3 as I saw a set for a nice price, but will this bring what I want? Will another CD player deliver? I have my eye in a rega apollo but I'm not sure what my next move should be.

New speakers or new CD player or new cables? I am confused and would love some thoughts from people that have more knowledge that I do.

 

[ImcLoud]

Welcome Danny

I would think your cables as long as they are in good shape and the proper size should be fine, and same goes for the cd player if its clean and in working order a new one probably isn't going to tame your top end...

It sounds like you want something warmer and more defined?

I'm thinking a speaker swap is going to get you the most change, something like the ascend sierra 1's but you will have to audition stuff to find out if it works for you... I don't have any experience with your bookshelfs specifically...

Another big change and what I would do if I were you is add a fast sealed sub and cross the bookshelfs to it, something like an svs sb1000 for $499, and then a pair of fmods to stop the lows from going to your bookshelfs, this will free up a lot of your amps power and give you more headroom for your bookshelfs, plus I notice when you have a robust low end the mids and highs seem smoother, kind of pulls them back a little.. For under $600 that IMO is going to make the biggest difference, I would start with some 100 hz fmods... Im not sure if you can accomplish this since you have an integrated amp, I know that rotel has preouts for the sub but I don't know how you would cross the bookshelfs before the amp section and not before the sub...

If that's not an option, I'm thinking a speaker change is in order, start demoing, there are a lot of decent inexpensive bookshelfs out there that are very capable...

 

[3db]

Here is a list of things that affect sound in decreasing order of magnitude

1.) Speakers (48%)
2.) Room acoustics (48%)
3.) Electronics including amps, cd players, etc (4%)


If you aren't happy with your setup, the first thing I would do is play with speaker positioning. If your stuck and can't rearrange the room (which is often the case) then start auditioning for new speakers. That's difficult but fun to do because how a speakers sounds likes in a showroom could be very different in what they sound like in your room due to room acoustic differences. Electronics is the last thing I would touch unless the amp is under powered and is struggling to keep up.

 

[Danny3.0]

Thank you for the reply.
Yes, the amp is barley 8 hours of run time old. The speakers and CD player are in extremely good condition and cables are fine.

It looks like I'm now in the marker for some new speakers which can be a bit tricky as there is very limited stores I can audition here in Adelaide.

 

[ImcLoud]

internet direct demo 30 days to return them...
ascendacoustics.com sierra 1's would be my pic...

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Since you are in land down under it might be worth looking into local dealers to avoid expensive shipping & customs fees
SVS Ultra bookshelves could be a good choice for you:
here are few au dealers:
svs Australia prices
SVS Ultra Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - $999.00

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Hi guys/gals.

I'm Danny. I just joined up to gain knowledge about audio and I'm looking for some input about how I can improve my system.

First of let it be known that I do not spend lots of cash on audio, my goals are to have a great system with out spending many thousands.

I like things simple, my system contains the following

Rotel RA04-SE
Arcam CD73T
Bowers & Wilkins DM303

I have the speakers on 880mm stands and the amp & CD player on a rack. I'm not useing pricey speaker or mains power cables.

To me this sounds great but as always I'm looking for gains. I want more upper range detail and a little less brightness in the mid range to suit my tastes. I'm not sure if some new cable (was thinking chord silverscreen) or power cable will give any gains? I was thinking about buying b&w dm601 s3 as I saw a set for a nice price, but will this bring what I want? Will another CD player deliver? I have my eye in a rega apollo but I'm not sure what my next move should be.

New speakers or new CD player or new cables? I am confused and would love some thoughts from people that have more knowledge that I do.

Don't spend any money until you exhaust placement, room treatment and tone control options...especially room treatments if possible. Taming reflected sound could (maybe) give you the increase in detail you are looking for while cleaning up mid-range harshness. You'll learn in the process too!

After that new speakers would be the next thing to do...unless the Rotel is running out of power and clipping at high volume. Which begs the question... How loud do you listen and in what size room?

 

[Jeff R.]

If it was me...I would go with a subwoofer first - Likely a sealed 10" of 12" if you are only going to do music......then play with room placement on the speakers and subwoofer. If that does not do it....then look at changing out your bookshelves.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would try room correction like Audyssey XT32 Dynamic EQ and add a few subs.

 

[3db]

If it was me...I would go with a subwoofer first - Likely a sealed 10" of 12" if you are only going to do music......then play with room placement on the speakers and subwoofer. If that does not do it....then look at changing out your bookshelves.

I'm not sure how a sub would tame brightness in the midrange.

 

[ImcLoud]

I'm not sure how a sub would tame brightness in the midrange.

it works, I find crossing speakers around 80-120 (depending on speakers and subs) to a decent sub, makes the mids and highs seem smoother and effortless, even in speakers that are kind of obnoxious...

 

[Pyrrho]

it works, I find crossing speakers around 80-120 (depending on speakers and subs) to a decent sub, makes the mids and highs seem smoother and effortless, even in speakers that are kind of obnoxious...

I don't see how it would affect the treble (if the speaker is not a full range model and is instead something with a tweeter), but it could improve the midbass and midrange in a two-way system by reducing the demand on the woofer and therefore lower the distortion. That would tend to only occur at fairly high volumes, or if one turns the bass way up, so that the bass is at a fairly high volume.

 

[Danny3.0]

Well today I'm going to play with placement. Then I'm off to the only too audio shops in town that have quality gear.

What are people's thoughts on

Focal 706V
B&W 685

 

[slipperybidness]

Well today I'm going to play with placement. Then I'm off to the only too audio shops in town that have quality gear.

What are people's thoughts on

Focal 706V
B&W 685

Lots of people like the Focals and the towers are a good deal at A4L
FOCAL Chorus 814V 716v Dual 6½ Floorstanding Speakers Gloss Black Pair | Accessories4less

 

[markw]

They both have great pedigrees but, as always with speakers, they are a personal preference. It's your ears listening to them, nobody elses.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Well today I'm going to play with placement. Then I'm off to the only too audio shops in town that have quality gear.

What are people's thoughts on

Focal 706V
B&W 685

You should also play with treatments. this could be as simple as hanging a thick comforters or large pillows at the first reflection points. Sure this is just an experiment but it will get you closer to determining is your room is a culprit.

Out of curiosity, what is your room like? can you post a picture? If there is lots of hard surfaces that could be an issue.


Don't get me wrong... your speakers could be the problem but I just think too many people just spend good money after bad over and over when their room/set-up is the problem. Best to be sure where your issues are before spending any significant money. If you look at this as a hobby it should be fun to experiment with it.

 

[tmurnin]

I own the DM303's as well - great speaker for the price. I second the opinion of looking at room acoustics first, then checking out speakers. Not sure what the ID shipping/return policies are to Australia, but Aperion, Ascend and Axiom all have a lot of fans here both for their products and their customer service.

 

[Danny3.0]

Well I had a long day of testing speaker placement & I am actually quite surprised and happy with the out come. There further off the wall and about .5m closer together. So I'm happy, well for now I am. Thanks for the tips guys.

 

[ImcLoud]

I don't see how it would affect the treble (if the speaker is not a full range model and is instead something with a tweeter), but it could improve the midbass and midrange in a two-way system by reducing the demand on the woofer and therefore lower the distortion. That would tend to only occur at fairly high volumes, or if one turns the bass way up, so that the bass is at a fairly high volume.

I don't know, maybe the added headroom, I have noticed a difference in the entire sound everytime we have done it, if you dial the sub crossover and the fmods in correctly, run the bass a tad hot you can make some obnoxious speakers mellow out {or sound like they did}, I lived with my Energy towers this way for a while because of the sub, until someone finally bought them from me, they were so bright and fatiguing but crossing them and running the sub hot made them ok..

 

[3db]

Well I had a long day of testing speaker placement & I am actually quite surprised and happy with the out come. There further off the wall and about .5m closer together. So I'm happy, well for now I am. Thanks for the tips guys.

I'm happy to hear that things worked out for you. A lot of people new to the hobby don't realize how tightly a speakers performance is coupled to the acoustics of a room. Simply playing around with placement changed what you hear...I'm guessing first reflection points off the side walls were reduced and caused less interference with the originating signal. In other words there was less reflected sound off the side walls interfering with the sound coming directly from the speaker.