2. digital
  3. 1021234736

want to upgrade music performance in HT syst.

First the system:

Pioneer Elite DVC-36(odvious weak link for music but love video performance and conveniance of 5 discs.)
Krell HTS1
Plinius SA-250mkIV
Aragon 8008x3b
Dynaudio Contour 3.0
Dyn Contour cntr ch
Dyn 1.3mkII
Rel Storm III sub

I'm not getting the performance that I feel I should be getting, for music, from this system. I cannot afford a separate music only system and I know someone will mention getting rid of the HTS. Sorry, but I love the performance I get from this piece overall and I will not let it go. I've looked into getting a dedicated cdp and have rounded up the usual suspects. Budget; Music Hall MMF cd-25, Rega Planet 2000, top of the line Rotel, various Sony sacd players but I'm not interested in multi-ch music formats at all. The more pricier suspects; Rega Jupiter, Accuphase, Electrocompaniet, Wadia, Levinson, ext. The dealer I purchased my Krell HTS from mentioned that the dacs in the HTS are state of the art, so I could run a good transport and have the processor do the upsampling. I'm so confused. I just want to enjoy my music and I know I'm not getting everything I can from my dvd player. I would like to keep the cost down, $750-$1500. I would greatly appreciate any help you guys & gals could give me. I'm running a Goldmond digital cable (RCA to RCA terminated) and I've had my doubts about that purchase. If you have any thoughts on this cable or any ideas for an upgrade I would love to hear from you as well. Thanks in advance for your help.....John
jrwr7

Showing 5 responses by jrwr7

jrwr7 OP
211 posts
 
Hey Mg123,

The disapointing part of my system is the music playback from my DVD player. My 2 ch. main amp (Plinius) is connected to the processor w/Transparent Ultra XL Balanced IC. My L&R front spkrs are connected by Transparent Super XL spkr cables terminated w/spades on both sides. I have my TV, Mitsu WT-46809, DVD player, cable box, processor, VCR and sub, Velodyne FSX-12, all connected to 2 Richard Gray Power Co. 400s. Digital components and 2nd RGPC into the first RGPC and analog components into the 2nd RGPC. I have the first RGPC connected to the wall outlet by a Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler. My 2 amps are connected to a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet, high current version. All of the replaceable power cords have been changed to PS Audio Mini Lab cables. And yes, my system does sound better at 2am then at 7pm. Hope this helps clear things up and makes it easier get some more feedback on my dilemma. Thanks for your post.....John
jrwr7 OP
211 posts
 
Hello folks,

Thanks for the responses. It is hard to put my finger on just what it is that's missing. I get, what I feel, is decent bass and the high end is crisp and extended w/out being harsh or tizzy. But I think there is still room for improvement in every area in the music playback. I'm looking for what everybody seems to be looking for. I want to feel the music. I think the soundstage can be better, broader, wider, more detailed and focussed. I've heard it in audio shops and have read about these incredibly deep, wide and three dimensional experiences that people are having w/there systems and I feel I should be able to achieve this w/my system. I truly think that it has something to do w/the lack of performance I'm getting from my DVD player, the digital cable or both. Again I hope this helps shed more light on the answers I'm seeking to aleviate these concerns I have w/the music playback of my system. Pls keep the comments comming. Thanks.....John
jrwr7 OP
211 posts
 
Hello again folks,
As you can see I'm monitoring this closely, it has become an obsession. To address Kirk. How would I go about getting the DVD players dac out of the loop and using it just as a transport? My room is 22'x 13'x 9' and it is a sunken LR. I have the system facing the long way. The spkrs are 42" from the back wall and 30 1/2" from side walls about 7' apart. The idea of dedicated 20 amp circuits is not an option. I'm in an aprtment bldg. As for Bwhite, I think I mentioned that I have no desire to upgrade to any multi ch music format. But I will have to investigate your suggestions on the players you mentioned. Thank you all for your comments/suggestions. Pls keep them coming......John
jrwr7 OP
211 posts
 
Alright now we are getting somewhere,

I am very happy to get such a response, I really appreciate it. Sugarbrie, I spoke w/Dan Wright and he no longer does upgrades on DVD or CD changers due to the problems they have incurred in the shipping of the units. Although I'm not sure if I looked up Stan Warren or does he work w/Dan? Mg123, thank you. Now I know that I'm using my DVD as a transport, that really helps. Brandon, unfortunatly, I have the TV only 6" behind the front plain of the spkrs. So now I see why I'm not getting the depth of soundstage. I need to get a longer run of spkr cable to be able to move my spkrs further ahead of the Mitsu. Thank you for pointing this out, it makes sense. Bwhite, I apologize, I must have misunderstood how you presented your ideas to me. Again, I apologize. Freinds, thank you so much for all of your comments/suggestions. This is all starting to come into focus, evan if my music still has not. Thanks again and keep it coming. I feel like a curious child having all of my question answered......John
jrwr7 OP
211 posts
 
Hi all,

Thank you very much, one and all, for the helpful information you've shared w/me. It was all very informative and useful. I would especially like to thank Brandon, who suggested I that I move the spkrs out in front of my TV. I know, common sense, but I wasn't doing it. Also, Sugarbrie, who pointed out to me that I could run the digital cable for movies to let the processors DAC handle the 5.1 and hook L&R ICs up for the music and use the DVD players internal DAC. I did this today and it was just amazing. It was a whole new experience in sound reproduction that I knew I could achieve but, up until now, had not been able to accomplish. Let me not forget Mg123 for explaining that, by using the digital cable, I was not utilizing the DVD players dac. If I have forgotten anyone, I apologize. Again, thank you all very much. I don't know how I ever survived before I found A'gon......John
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