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2 Channel system sounds weak and lackluster

Hi

For starters let me go into my system. I have a 13x11x8 dedicated room (no room treatment at the moment and vinyl floor). Speakers are Focal Aria 936 driven by an Audio Research DSi200. Vinyl is Rega P6 with Exact through Whest TWO.2 phono and CD is PSAudio Perfectwave Transport and DAC. Each component is powered by and interconnected with Audioquest cables.

 

I have moved the speakers in many different positions and found close to the wall gives them the best sound, but no matter what I do they sound lifeless and have no real impact to the sound. Cranking the volume up helps to some degree but there isn't any intensity to the sound and just leaves me frustrated and wanting more.  The speakers are positioned on the 11' wall, though I haven't moved them to the 13' to see if the different angle changes much.

I also changed out the speakers last night with my Wharfedale Denton speakers and they were even more dull and lifeless.

End game for the room is to tear it down to the studs, sound deaden the walls and put carpet in, but other projects are more pressing at the moment. For now I just want to be able to listen to and enjoy my music.

 

Thanks all

boxboy83
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,541 posts
 

get your speakers away from the walls.....

mapman's avatar
mapman
23,663 posts
 

get your speakers away from the walls.....

Yup.  Almost always a good idea unless specifically designed otherwise.

Once they sound best away from walls, then add a sub if needed.  That's a good formula in general.

 

gano
750 posts
 

 dull and lifeless is not a room problem. Since you tried 2 different speakers, I'd swap the amp.

gano
750 posts
 

A bear skin rug might be just what you need.  :) 

 

shipping is a bear 

problem solved

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,455 posts
 

 dull and lifeless is not a room problem. Since you tried 2 different speakers, I’d swap the amp.

I generally agree with this. By all means, OP should experiment with positioning in case he’s sitting in an null whereby bass is largely cancelled out - but quite often when sound is bad, it’s squarely the gear’s fault. 

Now my favored Tannoys are a different than most because 1. their controlled dispersion makes them more room friendly and 2. their internal fast-on connectors (drivers, binding posts) are awful and come loose easily - but a lesson I learned is to ensure your drivers are actually wired correctly. At least feel the woofer surrounds during playback, to verify they’re working. A "cold" woofer will certainly make the sound lacking! I’ve also recieved a set of Tannoys with all kinds of mis-wired nonsense - out of phase, tweeter and woofer leads mixed up - they obviously sounded like GARBAGE until that was resolved, then they sounded GREAT :) There are many mistakes made out there, and they aren’t always caught.

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