2. amps-preamps
  3. 1097950144

What does "good" sound like?

I'm not sure where this topic should go, but here's the deal....My old roommate had an Adcom 5400 on my Kilpsch kg 3.5's with a Yamaha receiver and player(don't know the model #'s). We went our own ways and I decided to buy another 2 channel amp. I loved the way the Adcom sounded, but that was all I had ever heard. I did a little research and found many people loved to mate Aragon with Klipsch. So I ended up getting a 2004 mkII. It sounds way different, apples and oranges. I had no idea an amp could sound different. The problem is I don't listen to what most people listen to on here. I listen to mostly alternative/hard rock. Plus, it's in a different room with different components and wiring, although my wiring is better. I have a Yamaha htr5250 receiver and I had a Sony dvd player, it crapped out. I used to dac's from the Yamaha anyway because I thought they sounded better. With the Adcom I could really hear the guitars, they really stood out. Now with the Aragon the lead guitars are set really far back and the bass guitar and kick drum are really brought forward. I have to say, I like the Adcom better. The bass was pretty weak but the mid's and hi's were so much better. It seemed much more "alive" as you could hear guitar plucks and finger slides and much more detail. The Aragon is much better through the entire spectrum though, that thing will slam. I had no idea those little Klipsch's would go so low. So what am I missing here? Is it just that the Adcom was strong in the right frequencies and was more suited to the music I listen to? Or could it be the dac's are different? The room is different, but I doubt that's it. I don't think I have the right words to describe what it is I'm trying to say. Like, do I need better mid range or top end? I kind of want to swap out the Aragon for an Adcom 5500, but I love the aragon with movies because it has such great bass. Any suggestions? Thanks.
todd76

Showing 4 responses by todd76

todd76 OP
13 posts
 
The responses I've gotten were what I was looking for. As far as swithcing music, I won't do it. But....if having a little different variety of cd's around to showcase my system, so be it. You know when a friend comes over, lol? I think in the end I'll sell the Aragon, but not just yet. It's not that I dislike it, it has it's strong points. I also wonder if I'm not making the old Adcom out to be better than was in my head. It's been like 4 years since then. I'll wait unitl I buy the house I'm looking at so I'll know what the final room set up will be, and until I get the new dvd player. That way I'll eliminate most of the variables. Thanks for the help.
todd76 OP
13 posts
 
Yeah, about the wife, lol.....I already owned all this stuff before me and her got together. Well I never really discussed exactly how much it all cost, she just knew I was into it. Well the dvd player goes out and I'm thinking I'll be conservative because I'm about to have a baby. Like $300 or so. She about slapped me, lol. Same thing with the tv. Keep it around $1000. She's starting to understand though. Now at my parents's, I hooked some of their stuff up and showed her the difference one thing can make. She couldn't believe wiring made a differnce. I didn't tell her "only if you have equipment to take advantage of it", lol. I'm definately open minded about all this. Once I get settled for good I'll see what it sounds like. Bascially it comes down to 1)do I want the movies to sound great or 2) do I want the music to sound great, because each amp had their fortes's. So what most people consider to be good sound is if it sounds live? I say most people, not everyone.
todd76 OP
13 posts
 
Tvad, the music you suggest, is it sold in stores(best buy, goody, etc.)? I actually love acoustic music, but not the elevator type. I have an acoustic recording by Fuel I'll have to go find. Any acoustic guitar cd's out there similar to Dave Matthews? I don't like him too much though. I know he had a cd with a guy named Tim something that could really play. Thanks.
todd76 OP
13 posts
 
Thanks for the responses. The Yamaha receiver is being used as the preamp, yes. The amp doubles for home theater as well. As far as the dvd player, I haven't bought another one yet. I'm having a baby, my wife and I moved in with my parents as we are trying to buy a house, so I'm using their's. It's a Kenwood, major junk. I think I'm going to go with a Denon 1910 though. I'm trying to find one that has better dac's than the Yamaha receiver being used right now. The Sony I had before sounded pretty bland so I used the receiver's. As far as the room goes---With the Adcom, it was in a town home so things were tight. The room the Aragon was in was 18x12 with the speakers in the corner of the 12ft side. So you were a little too far from the speakers technically. The room was mostly closed in with an opening about 3/4 back on one wall 18'wall, and 2 windows and a door on the other. It was an old house and was very "loose"(old windows, big crack under the door, etc). I just set everything up here at my parents' house and I haven't gotten many oppourunities to listen to it. Let me ask about my wiring. I got it from a guy that makes them(heartlandcables.com). I think he uses Canare wire and they have Eichman Bulletplugs. Also I have his speaker cable as well. Any thoughts on that? One more ?. How much an effect does the preamp section on a receiver have on the sound? Like I say, it was a Yamaha receiver used before, but I think his was a better model than my Yamaha, just older. I've already thought about trying to compare the two amps back to back, but one of the channels is dead on his Adcom. I wish he'd fix it, lol!!! Thanks for the help.
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