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System Dissatisfaction - My Own Fault

I have been very happy with my current system for several years.  The stereo rig is a Yaqin MC-30L tube amplifier with Focal 836v speakers.  My home theater rig uses an Integra 50.1 receiver and the same speakers.  I got the audio bug and purchased a Cambridge Audio Azur 840A integrated amplifier with the intent of using it as a power amplifier for home theater since it has fixed level input capability and also improve the overall sound for stereo listening when not using the tube amplifier.  The end result was that the Integra/840A combination resulted in too much noise in the system.  I worked with Cambridge Audio and I'm sure that what I'm experiencing is normal, just not a good solution.  Overall, I didn't feel that the 840A was an improvement as it was warmer sounding that I prefer (at least in comparison) to my Integra and tube amplifier, but for some music the stronger bass did sound fantastic.  I opted to pull it back out of my system and now I'm realizing that I'm not as satisfied with my current system as I was before.  It seems that the 840A was good enough (more different than better) to put me in a state of limbo with both my receiver and tube amplifier.  It's sort of annoying that it has come to this.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one that has created their own dissatisfaction by just not choosing to be content.

If I can get a good price out of the 840A I may be able to turn it into Pathos Classic One (I would be able to do an in home audition with it).  If I win the lottery I'd be going for a Krell integrated as I heard one in a setup the other day and was once again blown away as I have always been with just about any system with Krell.  If only I had $6,000.  I could get one if I were willing to upgrade my house for my wife, but short of that it's a pipe dream for the most part.  One day I will have a Krell amplifier.
mceljo
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
mceljo These speakers you have are said to very similar in their impedance/phase graph to the 826 below,.
And this suggest very strongly, that both amps you are using especially the tube, Don’t have the gonad’s to be able to do these speakers justice, especially in the bass between 70hz and 200hz, where the impedance combined with the - phase angle will present a very hard current sucking load to the amp.

https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/1110Focfig1.jpg

Cheers George
mceljo OP
983 posts
 
no romance - That’s actually the retail price for that model. The digital module is another $1,500 on their website. Thanks.  I think I could do this deal locally.
mceljo OP
983 posts
 
I did find a solid price for a digital vanguard on Audiogon, but it’s still pushing $4,000 which I just can’t get comfortable with. I found a S-300i for closer to $2,500 that I might be able to get comfortable with. It’s from the same online retailer that I purchased the Cambridge Audio 840A and it seemed to be a legit deal and a quality product.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
The curse of 'critical listening' is the op's problem. You got some new toy and 'listened' to "IT" instead of just going on bye.
So now you are in that state of mind where you are LISTENING TO THE EQUIPMENT instead of to the music or movie...
Common curse.
The solution is the stop listening to the equipment and judging it all the time.
Get over it.
Best advice I can give.
mceljo OP
983 posts
 
elizabeth - There's certainly a lot of truth in what you say.  I try to make judgements of my equipment based on the general feeling that I get with it being background listening.  For example, the difference between my receiver and tube amplifier is such that even with Pandora streaming from my phone I can tell if the tube amplifier is being used from the next room.  The receiver will sometimes grate on my nerves a bit, but not always.  I had an issue with my Integra and made a really stupid purchase in an attempt to replace it with a truly budget solution and the result was horrible.  I don't think my wife would have let me keep it it sounded so poor.  For me, it's not so much about if I can hear a difference with careful listening in an A/B setting, but how do I feel about it after letting it play for a few days or weeks while I go about my business otherwise.

In this case the Cambridge Audio did excel in some areas, possibly related to it having more power that's a good match for my speakers.  It did have a powerful sound in comparison to the Integra even though they are rated similarly for wpc.  I don't expect the tube amplifier to have the same powerful sound as it excels at other types of music.

There's no perfect solution in the world of budget audio and maybe never.
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