upgrade what


Hello

My system sounds pretty good but can be a little bright, forward sounding and sometimes lacks really good instrument separation. I have decent Morror cables and AudioQuest power cords. Just wondering which component would you be looking at to upgrade? 1) Denon 1700NE CD/SACD Player; 2) Rogue "Dark" Magnum lll Integrated Amp 3) Focal Aria 948 Speakers; 4) Two SVS SV2000 Pro Subs. I was thinking of better speakers. Maybe book shelves since I have the 2 subs. Thanks a lot.

Bill

bzawa

Oh, also, Focals sound better OFF axis.  If you have them pointing straight at your head, I encourage you to try reducing toe-in as well as lowering your listening angle. 

Keep those speakers! Just tame them.

My 1st thought is to alter the toe-in to slightly diminish the volume of the tweeter, as they are narrow sound waves. The horizontal dispersion is similar to the vertical dispersion diagram related to seated ear height.

That should solve ’too bright’.

your speaker’s manual

https://dam.focal-naim.com/m/2f3fa80d26dc9921/original/Notice_Aria900_Web-pdf.pdf

shows my preferred ’starting’ toe-in, tweeters aimed at listehing position

And, they talk about optimization and ’perfectionist’s 

Now, imaging? They should give you excellent imaging, perhaps others more familiar with Focals and your system equipment can offer some clues/ideas.

btw, too much low bass is not always best IME. I went for extended bass in my youth, no longer. I think my imaging is improved by the lack of extended mono bass and the multiple omni-directional reflections that occur.

If I had a larger space, things would be different.

My bass, especially overtones of the fundamentals become directional. The imaging, i.e. Bass Player’s location, the subtlety and decay is revealed.

The improved imaging is there for EVERYTHING I listen to (assuming the engineering is superior), much more enjoyable than the occasional cannon shot, helicopter fly over, or dinosaur stomp which I enjoy in my video system.

Vinyl: Cartridges and Phono Stages, i.e. source equipment, can make large differences in imaging. Stability can sharpen imaging.

Digital: IME It’s the speakers and the room, not the source equipment

i.e. which CD Player, which DAC, which tube, that is all related to ’preferences’, not Imaging.

I’ve owned various CD players, SS Preamps and Amps and Tube Preamps and Amps (and changed tube variations), 

I hear different characteristics, preferences, ... but not big differences in Imaging.

My speakers, adjusted, in my space, do what they do. My prior speakers, adjusted, in my space did what they did.

 

+1 @erik_squires 

Towing out needed with a lot of speakers, not just treatment at first reflection. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to stand any speakers I’ve had to be directly on axis, personally speaking. 

I also have Focal Sopras like Rick and have had very similar findings about them. I do not find them bright or fatiguing and have them tipped downward (leaning slightly forward) which brings the tweeter more in-line with my ear level. The two things that have made the most difference with mine are the leaning forward and new home made diffusion/absorption panels to cover my tv when I'm not using it, which is most of the time. I like mine toed in to the point that the "beam" crosses behind my head, so they are not aimed directly at me.

I have heard/read more than a couple times that Focals tend to be bright with any models below the Sopras. The Kantas especially. I can't confirm that as I've never heard any other than my Sopras, but again I don't find the Sopras bright so maybe there's something to that.