2. amps-preamps
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Let's play the "what if" game

Say I had $10,000 to spend (that's the amount I recently spent on attorney's fees on litigation I had hoped could have been entirely avoided- In the last year I've been sued 3 times; 2 cases so far dismissed, crossing my fingers on case 3). Let's say I still had that $10,000 to play with.

Take a look at my system profile. Not saying you have to spend it all, or for that matter, any of it (I sure would like a week away).

Personally, I think all my stuff is at least very good, but I've had my speakers and turntable (plus arm and cartridge) and tuner each for over a decade and I get used to things and don't tend to flip major components frequently. So if there's a weakness , it's not glaring and right now I'm not really perceiving it. With good source material, I think my system sounds terrific.

Have friends who are into audio doesn't necessarily help. One fellow thinks my system sounds spacious and "locks" into my room very well. Another friend thought my system presents a great soundstage (I don't count that as one of my systems strengths) but felt the high end was a bit shut in (and yet, I've thought his system was bright). So what I took away is that different things appeal to different people. FWIW, the first friend tends to keep gear a very long time while the 2nd one is a searcher/flipper.

So with out the distraction of an audition (!) where could I improve things?

I have 2 thoughts- my phono cartridge, a Linn Arkiv B was pronounced by my Linn Dealer, in whose ears I trust, to still be in decent health, but fair is fair, and I bought it as a dealer demo at least a dozen years ago- maybe more.

My second thought are my speakers. I have heard the new Revel 208. I do believe they in fact image well, but I also think it's low end is not as voluptuous as my F30's (yet the newer speakers are no doubt tighter). Some years back I heard a pair of Wilson speakers which Knocked my socks off but I did not think them worth the asking price. FWIW, I do not at all care for a bright or tipped up sound as I'm not in the hyper detail camp.

A remote 3rd thought is to keep everything and add a JL sub. I've had a sub in the past with a pair of Magepan MG2.6R's ( had those a decade) and found that adding the sub not only increased the bass (duh) but that my soundstage took on magnificent proportions, truly extending past the speakers.

Look, music these days is my main distraction from some very rough turn of events,particularly over the last 2 years (significantly health problems with 2 surgeries - one was open heart, unfortunate domestic issues and uncertainties of work). Music allows me to forget, albeit temporarily, of these issues. So I figure, what the heck, let me enjoy my music to the max. One fortunate consequence is that these days I need not explain any purchase, audio,or otherwise, to a spouse.

So, brother and sister audio hounds, what further distraction do you recommend? As a side note, I found building my headphone amp from a kit (Kudos to Bottlehead for an excellent assembly manual) and building a line level switch box from scratch, were quite rewarding distractions).

Thank you for bearing with me and making it through this inordinately lengthy post.
128x128zavato
timlub
1,649 posts
 
Hi Zavato,
Yes, recommendation... start with the perfect triangle set up... Meaning if your speakers are 8 ft from your ears, make them 8 ft apart, then use a full tow... On Revel F30's, point the midrange directly at your ears. This formulation helps remove the room acoustics from the picture... If you have the need, you may reduce your tow a bit, but now you have the issue of no back wall reinforcement, but I suspect as long as you don't completely remove the tow in, You will still have good results. As far as changing your equipment... feel lucky that you don't have that disgusting virus that makes you want to change everything every few month... No matter how you look at it, there is always something better. If you want a different flavor, I would consider changing speakers, but they are proven performers. They go done fairly well, but as you, a subwoofer as always improved my soundstage also, Good Luck brother, let us know how it goes, Tim
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
903 posts
 
Hi Tim- good thoughts- I sit slightly father away from the speakers than the distance between the speakers. I tried having the drivers directly face me but it was just too much; from my listening position I now see the inside side panels of the speakers, but they still have some toe in. I wound up using the speaker placement guide on the cardas site to very good effect. I moved my speakers out somewhat and contrary to what I would have thought, the bass improved. Where they were might have been causing some bass cancellation.

Thankfully, I don't have the bug to change equipment several times a year. Look at my turntable- bought in 1998; look at my speakers and tuner- bought in 2000. I had my last phono pre-amp 14 years. I know there is better, and I heard it, but I know spending $ is no guarantee of anything except, spending money. I once heard a $16,000 preamp that frankly I thought was nothing special at all. I recently listened to a pair of $12,000 speakers via Shindo electronics and a Shindo 301 turntable. Yeah, it was nice. I listened to the same record at home. My system did some things better, the Shindo system did some things better.

I would be very interested in a subwoofer, and have been interested in the JL Audio F112, not too big, not too little, you know, the 3 bears. I realize that for legal reasons I probably can not buy that now as I am constrained to not incur anything but normal daily expenses (yeah, automatic orders suck). Maybe if some kind soul just gave one to me . . . . .

Not really interested in different flavor; I think I just want more tunes.

The only thing I'm seriously considering is an iPure 20 or something similar so that I can use my phone as a conduit to the world of internet radio.
raymonda
847 posts
 
So when you pickin up the sub?
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
903 posts
 
Hi Tim- played around with your triangle set up- to do that I moved the speakers somewhat towards the corners and the speakers are fully toed in towards me. turns out this is a nice suggestion- when in my original location and fully toed in I didn't care for what I heard. But now spread more apart, somewhat closer to the corner, I've got a very solid soundstage, solid center definition when it's on the recording, and definitely no sense of listening to two separate speakers. The stereo illusion is workng well! Thank you!

And to Raymonda, no sub!
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
Hate to be Mary, Mary Quite Contrary but I suspect if you move the speakers closer together, generally speaking, of course, the soundstage will improve, better center fill and better imaging. I suggest starting with the speakers about four feet apart. Then slowly move them apart by a few inches at a time until the soundstage locks in.
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