Help, my system sounds lifeless!


Hi, this is my first post.  I rushed putting my system together when i emigrated from the UK to New Jersey.  In fact this site was partly to blame as i was attracted to the amazing  "used" deals!  I bought a pair of Dali Helicon 400 (mark I)  as they passed the WAF.  The rest of the system contains a Belles Soloist Integrated and Simaudio Equinox SE CD player, wireworld platinum eclispe 6 interconnect & Audio Art Cable Classic SC-5 Speaker Cable.  My room maybe partly to blame but generally the system sounds lifeless, with little soundstage (better when i play vinyl).  I am not feeling/falling in love with the speakers and do not like the bass response (which is often reported).  I would like to change the speakers and was wondering if you could help.  I have an extremely large cd collection (and have recently bought a used Lumin D1, but unfortunately not set up yet) covering all kinds of music.  I am thinking 8ohm with better sensitivity would be a better option.  Looking to spend around $3000-4000 used.  Some contenders include Revel F206 or F208, Tannoy DC8 or DC8T, ATC SCM40, JA Pulsars (maybe too much $), PBN Liberty, Aerial 10T (never see them used) but they must have grills as sometimes kids go in the basement.  Maybe Monitors with stands would be better option?  I am hoping the flickr link works so you can see my room (excuse the feet!).  I want to fall in love with my large music collection again!  Looking for good bass & soundstage and speakers that can play all kinds of music (sometimes I'm partial to deep electronic music).  In some ways because my taste is so vast i am not particularly looking for ultra revealing speakers (Nora Jones speakers i think you call them!).  Looking forward to the NY audio show so i can hear some systems.  Thanks for all the help, cheers Paul  https://www.flickr.com/gp/97665913@N06/a5G6d9
spoutmouzert

Showing 2 responses by oregonpapa

 spoutmouzert ...

Those in this thread who have recommended room treatments and speaker placement have hit the nail on the head. If you sell your Dali's, only to replace them with different speakers, you're just throwing your money away. If nothing else is done, the new speakers will sound like crapolla too. 

You can't  just throw speakers into a room and expect them to sound right. Consider that the room is part of the overall system and has to be thought of and treated just like another component in the system.

There are tons of room treatments and tweaks, some expensive, and some truly cost effective, that would get you a lot further down the road toward audio nirvana. Keep exploring this site and you will discover them. 

If you want a blow by blow description, just ask. 

Good luck ...

OP

 
Its one of my pet peeves.  A guy comes into the room with a problem. He asks for suggestions on how to solve the problem. He gets tons of sincere answers ... and doesn't have the common courtesy to just say a simple "thank you," but doesn't even acknowledge the responses in any way.

Rude.