2. misc-audio
  3. 159039-149390

Looking to improve my system

I have been a member for a while and check the forum listings daily. My first posting. Looking for some advice on tweaking / improving my system which I started a couple of years ago

Before this I had a Denon amp, CD player and some JBL 4412 speakers inherited from my father-in-law, RIP.

My current system is


Primaluna EVO 400 and  Arcam A49

Q-Acoustic Concept 500 speakers

LKS MH-DA004 DAC

Bluesound Node 2i

Pro-ject Carbon Espirt SB turntable


QED XT40 speaker cables.

Blue Jean coax and RCA

Audioquest Yukon XLR

Signal Power Cable on the amp (can't remember which one but cost about $100)

The other components are using original power cables.  

Furman PL-Plus-C

GIK acoustic panels (bass traps in back corners. 7 other panels in the room)


The room is 12 X 19. 8 foot high ceilings. I sit on the long wall so I’m about 8 feet from the speakers. The speakers are an equal distance from the side walls. Today they are about 7.5 feet apart and toed in slightly. 15 inches from the wall


Mostly listen to the Bluesound either streaming through Amazon or Neil Young Archives and a hard drive or Network drive which contains my many CDs ripped to FLAC files through EAC. Very little vinyl.

My musical tastes vary

Classic jazz - MIles Davis, Art Blakey, Bill Evans but also Joshua Redman and Diana Krall

Classic and Grunge Rock - Stones, Beatles, Pink FLoyd, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, DIre Straits, Pearl Jam, Alixce in Chains

Acoustic music - David Grisman / Jerry Garcia Bob Dylan, Bluegrass, Neil Young.

Indie Music - Ryan Adams, Bon Iver, Lord Huron


So what is the problem? Not really sure. There are moments that are really good, but to be honest it seems never as good as a live performance.  (Not sure if you can really  reproduce the live experience and I have been to poor sounding live shows )  I would  say it does depend on the recording. Talking Heads -Stop Making Sense Psycho KIller and David Grisman / Jerry Garcia The Thrill is gone recordings are great. Miles Davis- Kinda Blue and BIll Evans -Sunday and the VIllage Vanguard are really good. But much of the rock music and indie stuff (except maybe for Bon Iver) can be lacking.


What is the problem? Not always sure but maybe a separation of instruments, or that some instruments get lost and others are too prominent. In the Miles Davis song “So What” I  love to listen to the bass, drums and piano in the background while the sax and trumpet are playing. Sometimes, even in that song, those background instruments get lost, especially the drums. Rock music is worse, Seems like no separation. Just generalizing here.  I would almost rather listen to this music in my car.

Also some music can sound harsh, at times. What I want is to not be thinking about the system but just enjoy the music and feel like I’m being enveloped by the sound. To not just hear the sound but feel it.


I feel I am set with my amps. I want the Concept 500 speakers to work but also looking at the Klipsch Forte III. (I think the Cornwall IV are too big?) Or maybe something else? Also not sure if I would change the DAC or streamer. Have looked at the Furman Elite15 PC but not sure if I want to go that way. I plan on adding a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Not sure about adding higher end cables. I don’t want to re-ignite a battle. While I can’t wrap my head around some of those cable upgrades it is more from lack of experience. I wish I could compare speaker wire, connectors and power cables, just not sure how. There was a suggestion from GIK to add some additional panels to the ceiling and more bass traps high on the back wall .


Sorry for the long post, I know there are a lot of you out there with so much experience and knowledge and I will take all suggestions openly. If there is anything I have taken from reading the posts in this forum, it's that people are passionate about their music.



stalajkowski
bobby1945
79 posts
 
As a post script to my post , may I suggest you get a copy , stream or a download of 
Jazz at the Pawnshop
A phenomenal recording that won't disappoint 
daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1
512 posts
 
Personal opinion is you should be able to fix your problems with two things.  See if the speakers can be set up on the short wall.  Use the Vandersteen method for figuring out where they should be.  It is on their website.  Also a couple subwoofers(or more) would help.  I would send everything from 80-100 Hz through the sub woofers.  This takes load off your main amp and less distortion in mid range as you take away most of the speaker cone movement.  This will do a lot to open up your sound stage.  You don't have to buy big expensive subwoofers to achieve solid bass down to 30 Hz.  I talked to Duke at Audiokinesis and he has an amp and 2 subwoofers for $1600.  They are 10" subs.

I say this because I personally wouldn't like taking a loss on speakers that cost $5500 and are advertised as having a wonderful sound stage.  You already have some sound treatment.  That is great.  That helps fix any dips and peaks but you could still have those if your speakers aren't placed correctly.  PS I have Bluesound Node 2i and imaging, soundstage and detail are not a problem. however, I say that without trying a better streamer.  Nothing in my system is very expensive but once I found the Vandersteen formula, I was done moving speakers around like I did the previous 8 months.  
treynolds155
179 posts
 
I could be way off here but you kind of sound like what I went through years ago. What I came to realize is that I just don't like some kinds of music. I used to think that a better system would be so good that I'd enjoy anything on it. Not true for me. Going tubes didn't help, R2R didn't help, high end streamer, cables...nope. 

While I love lots of different kinds of music, my brain/ears just don't like a lot of the music that I'd call "congested", where too many instruments and singers are active at a given time. Not to say I'm strictly a pipe and slippers kind of listener...far from it. 

You may want to try this. First buy/use a really good vinyl pressing of an album that you're not really enjoying while streaming and play it on your tt. Does it sound night and day better? If not, don't bother upgrading your digital sources. Do you have a friend or family member that has a much better system than you, or local hifi shop? Listen to this same music and see if it's much better.

You may find out it's not your system. Good luck!!
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,175 posts
 
Go for Klipsch Heresy's and add subwoofers down the line. Without subwoofers you are missing most of the visceral sensation you get at a live concert. 

Harshness is a problem we all have with certain recordings when played louder. You either have to back down on the volume or add a harshness filter which can can do digitally. 
cdamiller5
97 posts
 
Different streamer. I suggest the Simaudio 680D which has an awesome DAC. Also consider the Nordost QX4 it is very good at aiding in instrument separation and adding depth or blackness to the sound.

adding a better turntable isn’t a bad idea either. Trust me when I say this, nothing beats great vinyl for sound, especially with the amps you are using. Look at Rega for the turntable change. 

More to discover