2. home-theater
  3. 1086458619

What needs to go?

I am happy with the sound of my system for home theater use but not in two channel. I do not have the room to have two separate systems so I am looking for the best two/five channel combination. Time spent is 50% music and 50% HT. My room is 17' X 13' with the speakers and TV on the short wall. Here is my system:

Sunfire Signature Grand Amplifier
B&K Ref 30 Processor
Sonus Faber Grand Piano Homes,Solo with dipole rears.
Highly modified Pioneer Dv 444 DVD player
Velodyne Sub
MAS cables throughout

My main complaint in two channel is that the sounds is fatiguing.I have moved the GP Homes around and the sound has improved a little but still do not sound as good as my previous Audio Physic Virgo II"s with a Clayton amp. Very few room treatments (foam on wall behind speakers. Oriental rug is in front of the speakers on the floor. Room is open on two sides (behind seating area and right side of room). Sliding glass doors are on the left of the room. I have set up the speakers using the CARA method.

What component or components need to go? Should I add a seperate pre for two channel listening or upgrade the B&K?

Any and all help will be appreciated.
hiflyer
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Hiflyer, bulldogger may be correct on two counts: 1. It may very well be your preamp. And 2. that a good analog pre will solve your problem.

I think I understand where bulldog is coming from, but it would appear that he is not correct when he states "None of the pre/pros can beat a good 2-channel analog pre."

For the record, the Primare P30 pre/pro I mentioned previously provides 100% TRUE analog when in 2-channel by-pass mode. And just so there is no confusion toward the sonic capabilities of this pre/pro, I've also owned or own a Pass Labs X2.5, X-1, Placette Active Linestage, and Chapter Audio Preface preamps. As well as demo'ed in my home an Ayre K3-x, a Conrad Johnson Premier 14, and an Electrocompaniet preamp.

Except for the CJ and Electrocompaniet, all the other pre-amps are more expensive and are all Class A rated 2-channel analog pre's.

Speaking from experience, I can assure you that you'd be hard pressed to find a better pre-amp or pre-pro than the Primare P30 or their later model anywhere near it's price range.

-IMO
darrylhifi
498 posts
 
Bulldogger I beg to differ . Both Classe and Theta to name two offer two in one isolated analog and digital combined pre amps that will wet your panties. They can provide audiophile analog and at the flip of a switch top quality full blown digital home theater. The isolation between the two within one unit is quite remarkable engineering. And although it is possible, it is never the less chaotic to combine two preamps , into one amplification base, especially if you want to maintain total balance.
prpixel
826 posts
 
It's the pre. I auditioned the 30 and thought it was the brightest sounding pro/pro that I had heard up to that point. How about an Anthem AVM2?
hiflyer OP
99 posts
 
Thanks to everyone for their comments. Stehno, I do agree that I have taken a step back from my all two channel system to a five channel system in sonics. I will look at the Primare P30 as an option. The modified Pioneer DVD player was used to great effect in my two channel system so I know that is not the problem. The problem is the synergy or lack thereof between the B&K Ref 30 and Sunfire Sig amp. The cables are MAS grey cables built by Stu Wein. The cables between the pre and DVD player are silver. I might try replacing these with copper to see the change.

I want to work on system changes slowly to acheive my goal of two channel/five channel bliss. Looks like I need to look at either replacing the B&K or adding a tube pre first.Then work on a change in amplification.

Thanks again.
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Hiflyer

Sorry for the slow response, the Mantissa is one of those components you hear or read little about, maybe very few were made before Red Rose bought the company...I don't know.

I would rate it C+ for looks and A for sound in my system. It is without a doubt one of the best buys I have made, the other being my Apogee Duetta Signatures.

Dave
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