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**HELP** FOCAL ELECTRA 1028Be sound issue (muffled)

Hi Everyone,

I just recently purchased Focal Electra 1028Be. I connected them to the Sansui BA-3000 amplifier, and the sound is very "dull". It is almost like something is restricting the sound to really opening up. It sounds very muffled. I also run it through the Sansui pre-amp CA-2000, but the results are pretty much the same. I used various speaker cables, and that didn't change much at all. I am very surprised and disappointed. Do I need to start looking into different amplifiers? Did anyone have had a similar experience with those speakers?  Please HELP. 

adbacl
mceljo
1,368 posts
 

@adbacl - Any follow up on this?

adbacl's avatar
adbacl OP
7 posts
 

Update on the speaker sound not being acceptable.

After speaking with a dealer, he suggested reversing the speaker cables (red to black and vice versa). Then use the preamp and then the amp. Next, I measured everything and checked everything on my Sansui amplifier. All tested good. The next step was to try a different amplifier. This was a hit. I tested with the tube amp (McIntosh 240). Speakers woke up, and music was just flowing perfectly. Next, I had an opportunity to hook up a solid-state Luxman L590-AXII. This was even better. To conclude my findings, those speakers need a very sensitive amplifier. Many of you in this post suggested going this route and were right on the money. These speakers dip below 4 ohms. Not many vintage solid-state amps can handle it. After all, I feel I have great speakers (just a little too bright, but I knew this was a characteristic of those speakers). Luxman handles it perfectly. Thank you agin for all your feedback. It was a great experience. I actually ended up buying the Luxman. I couldn't resist such a great deal on this gorgeous machine. Sadly, Sansui is going to be sold...

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,417 posts
 

Congratulations on figuring it out. Thank for sharing the solution. 

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