2. amps-preamps
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Amp quality / Slam

I need some help with my amp set up. I currently have a theater/2ch stereo set-up, and I'm not pleased with the "size" of the sound being delvered when I listen to 2ch music. I have a Marantz mm9000 bi-amped/ bi-wired to my main speakers and the 5th channel powers the center ch. when I'm watching movies. I'm looking for that powerful, full sound that hits you when playing music at higher volume. Right now I feel like the sound is not as clean or crisp as I would like. I'm not a metal head, (although I do love AC/DC)in fact I listen to reggae and jazz most of the time. I'm wondering if the problem is the amp? I know its not the speakers, the have great range and can deliver in the right environment. The amp delivers 150w per ch., so I have a total of 300w going to each.....I'm just not as blown away as want to be. HELP!!!
mhubbard
mhubbard OP
86 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I do have after market power cords, they are the hi-end voo-doo cables. As far as speaker placement I've screwed around with that so much I'm DONE! the imaging is really good, its just the attack I seem to be missing. I also have all source componets isolated with vibrapods (I'm a total geek about this stuff). The one thing I'm really not sure about is this polarity issue that "estrnad" mentioned? Can you please go a little deeper into what you mean?
killerpiglet
374 posts
 
see:
http://www.webervst.com/spterm.html#phase

KP
estrnad's avatar
estrnad
117 posts
 
Just check that the "+" or "positive" (ie, Red) output wire of your amp goes to the corresponding "+" terminal on each speaker, and the black "-" or "Negative" terminals on amp-speaker also match up. If one speaker has the polarities reversed at the speaker terminals or at the amp, it will be "Out of phase" with the other speaker, and the bass will cancel out.
A test: Put the amp in "mono" and play something with a lot of bass and have the speakers facing each other. Reverse the polarity to one speaker. If the bass increases, they were out of phase. If the bass dies, the speaker polity was correct. The correct polarity will be obvious to the ear.
-Ed
jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
Interesting thread..you seem to have decent gear and are into the hobby as much or more than most of us here. If I were in your shoes I'd sell the Sunfire and Marantz amps and buy either the Theta or YBA five channel amp. Plenty of ballsy power.
brulee
564 posts
 
Hi Mhubbrd, you may be getting too much vibrapod sound. My experience is they slow things down a touch and take away a bit of vibrancy. Take a few out and see what happens.
Good luck.
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