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Need help determining next upgrade - 3rd ATTEMPT

Hello, my third attempt in 3 days to get this thread started. My system sounds a little smeared when playing complex musical passages, I'd like to have more detail and separation. Consider the sound of a full orchestra or even the crescendos in the works of Explosions in the Sky. I blame either the pre-amp or amp for this. Seeking suggestions for upgrades in these areas.
Pre-amp: Halo P5, McCormack RLD-1, ??? (must have remote)
amp: Parasound A-21, Odyssey Stratos, ???
Check out my system link and let me know what you think.
realremo

Showing 7 responses by realremo

realremo OP
460 posts
 
Nice link Rodman, I'll research room treatments. Also have looked at power upgrades. Entry level looks like $800 or so for new power strip/wall plug/cables. Also have gotten an estimate to run a dedicated line. Schubert, planning to audition the new Focal 906 standmounts. I run a 2.1 system so full range speakers are not totally necessary, providing I can integrate the sub with the new set...
realremo OP
460 posts
 
So most comments seem to be angling toward speakers, room treatments and speaker positioning. The room is 12x12x8, so not very large, and square in plan. The guy that treated the Odyssey room at last years RMAF pretty much demanded that I coat the rear wall of the room with sound absorbtion, more important than side reflection in his opinion.
I really thought someone out there would say "AMP!" but that hasn't happened, very interesting.
Schubert what defines a cheap crossover? Don't know much about them.
realremo OP
460 posts
 
Description of the 22L2's crossover from the TechRadar review:
"Fed from twin terminal pairs, the crossover unit has a glass-fibre circuit board with large, non-interlacing tracks. Components (mounted to avoid magnetic inter-modulation) include air-cored inductors and metalised polypropylene low-loss capacitors, and the internal wiring uses heavy-gauge oxygen-free copper."
realremo OP
460 posts
 
Thanks all. The power upgrade is something I want to do. but first, the room treatments.
realremo OP
460 posts
 
Thanks Al, this speaker positioning was in response to a two-person seating layout, which is hard to do in this room. I had a friend over and we were auditioning cables. Was trying to widen out the stage a little. I did originally have the seats too close to the rear wall and we had to move them out. My typical arrangement has the speakers closer together.
realremo OP
460 posts
 
OK I've shifted my system to the short wall of the room. It's actually 12'8 x 11'4, so this layout gives me more space behind the speakers, and a little more distance between speakers and listening position. I'm also ordering some 2" foam for the back wall. The sub is now in a corner bracketed by concrete foundation walls, the room is in the basement. Bass has tightened up. I think the soundstage has shrunken in width tho, because the system is on the short wall.
realremo OP
460 posts
 
Clio, that audio physics website has a ton of good info, so thanks for that.
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