I hope you won't take offense to this, but from my experience, both your receiver and speakers are potential weak points. The Focals are mediocre speakers, even for their price range. I know they have a lot of fans, but like some other brands, I think that's more due to brand recognition and wide distribution. If you're experiencing fatigue and lack of "involvement" with the music, start auditioning some speakers. You gotta start with the right speakers.
System Dissatisfaction - My Own Fault
I have been very happy with my current system for several years. The stereo rig is a Yaqin MC-30L tube amplifier with Focal 836v speakers. My home theater rig uses an Integra 50.1 receiver and the same speakers. I got the audio bug and purchased a Cambridge Audio Azur 840A integrated amplifier with the intent of using it as a power amplifier for home theater since it has fixed level input capability and also improve the overall sound for stereo listening when not using the tube amplifier. The end result was that the Integra/840A combination resulted in too much noise in the system. I worked with Cambridge Audio and I'm sure that what I'm experiencing is normal, just not a good solution. Overall, I didn't feel that the 840A was an improvement as it was warmer sounding that I prefer (at least in comparison) to my Integra and tube amplifier, but for some music the stronger bass did sound fantastic. I opted to pull it back out of my system and now I'm realizing that I'm not as satisfied with my current system as I was before. It seems that the 840A was good enough (more different than better) to put me in a state of limbo with both my receiver and tube amplifier. It's sort of annoying that it has come to this.
I'm sure that I'm not the only one that has created their own dissatisfaction by just not choosing to be content.
If I can get a good price out of the 840A I may be able to turn it into Pathos Classic One (I would be able to do an in home audition with it). If I win the lottery I'd be going for a Krell integrated as I heard one in a setup the other day and was once again blown away as I have always been with just about any system with Krell. If only I had $6,000. I could get one if I were willing to upgrade my house for my wife, but short of that it's a pipe dream for the most part. One day I will have a Krell amplifier.
I'm sure that I'm not the only one that has created their own dissatisfaction by just not choosing to be content.
If I can get a good price out of the 840A I may be able to turn it into Pathos Classic One (I would be able to do an in home audition with it). If I win the lottery I'd be going for a Krell integrated as I heard one in a setup the other day and was once again blown away as I have always been with just about any system with Krell. If only I had $6,000. I could get one if I were willing to upgrade my house for my wife, but short of that it's a pipe dream for the most part. One day I will have a Krell amplifier.
Showing 2 responses by helomech
@mceljo My speakers are not a weakness to my ear, but I know they are a polarizing sound that many don’t appreciate.Fair enough. I don’t know of any affordable SS integrateds that truly mimic tube sound. I’d suggest the Croft Phono Integrated but you probably want something with a remote control. Regardless, I’d stay away from the tube + class D hybrids, they sound nothing like a tube amp. It seems many make that assumption, but IME, the typically thin and analytic class D traits negate any tube warmth. If going the hybrid route, I’d stick with a class AB amp. You might check out these. http://www.audioadvisor.com/mobile/prodinfo.asp?number=VISV500Not a lot of power on paper but I’d almost guarantee it’ll seem more powerful than your Integra. |