A Little HELP From Members

[STD305M]

Not sure if this is the right area for this post, if not could one of the moderators please move to the correct area

Hello fellow members,

I’m seeking help and advice regarding the sound of my system –
System comprises of -
Project 2experience sb-dc - Oroton 2m silver
Strathclyde STD305M – ADC ZLM
Schiit Mani Phono Stage
Cyrus CD8se
Rega Brio 2017
Dynaudio Emit20
Inter connects are Klotz with Ms Audio rca and Audioquest Diamondback rca
QED QT40 Speaker Cable


My issue is this, The overall sound is really very good – tight bass fantastic mid (acceptable) treble but id like a little more sparkle at the top. My amp seems to drive the speakers with ease but the finer nuances of cymbals and hi hat seem a little lacklustre.
Any advice on how to tackle the issue would be welcomed
Not sure where to start E.g. speaker cable, interconnects, blah blah blah
The vast knowledge of members here will I'm sure help sort my problem.

Regards Steve…

[Bigman80]

Which bit isn't delivering? Digital or analogue?

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[hifi_dave]

Is this a new issue ? Is it with CD and both turntables ?

[Yomanze]

First off, speaker cables and interconnect changes are not going to give you what you need, so tread carefully here.

What you are looking for is a more fundamental change... what stands are you using with your speakers, and are you using spikes? How is your turntable set up i.e. is it on a rack or wall-shelf, is it decoupled? What rack are you using, if any? Often, a different approach to setting up components e.g. with coupling or decoupling techniques can give you what you need without having to change components.

[Freddypipsqueek]

You may find a cheap set of supertweeters are worth a go. I have a pair stacked on my Mission 750's and they helped define the base and added to the top end and placement. I would not be without them albit I expect somebody else would find everything a bit bright. Having said that those Dynaudio should not be lacking anything particularly with the Cyrus CD. Adrian.

[STD305M]

Hi,
The sound is the same from all sources, My speakers are mounted on Partington Dreadnoughts and the issue has been there since day one.
Both the turntables are on racks with one on a thick wooden plinth and one on a granite plinth.
Im begining to wonder if I need to change the amp or speakers as Ive already tried various combinations of cables and different locations for the speakers???


Any Thoughts would be welcome

Regards Steve...











hi

[STD305M]

Thanks Adrian, the only issue is the very top end - otherwise im quite happy with the sound .
I just feel the system should be giving more!!!!

[struth]

could try a different speaker cable. supertweeter maybe too. If you have an aquaintance borrow their speakers and see if any difference. they are quite small so depends too on the room

[STD305M]

Thanks Grant
I don't have anyone nearby i could borrow and try another pair of speakers from.
So far i have tried 3 different sets of speaker cables with no success also half a dozen pairs of interconnects which will now have to be sold as no difference

Regards Steve

[Naass]

Silver speaker cables can help a bit as they tend to better pass hug frequencies.
Have a look on Chord Odyssey cables.

Sent from my Plus E using Tapatalk

[hifi_dave]

Hi,
The sound is the same from all sources, My speakers are mounted on Partington Dreadnoughts and the issue has been there since day one.
Both the turntables are on racks with one on a thick wooden plinth and one on a granite plinth.
Im begining to wonder if I need to change the amp or speakers as Ive already tried various combinations of cables and different locations for the speakers???


Any Thoughts would be welcome

Regards Steve...











hi

There's nothing wrong with a Brio and that wouldn't give a rounded off HF.

Try some other speakers to hear if the Dynaudio can be improved on.

Cables won't make a huge difference, so try before you buy.

[STD305M]

Hi Dave
Will go compare other speakers and see if that will satisfy my quest for a better top end
Thanks for your help!!

Steve...

[Yomanze]

Thanks Grant
I don't have anyone nearby i could borrow and try another pair of speakers from.
So far i have tried 3 different sets of speaker cables with no success also half a dozen pairs of interconnects which will now have to be sold as no difference

Regards Steve

It's good that you have experimented with cables, so you can now understand that what you're looking for is more than what cables can offer.

Another idea that won't involve any equipment changes: have you tried spreading your speakers a bit further apart and toeing them in a bit more?

[struth]

Thanks Grant
I don't have anyone nearby i could borrow and try another pair of speakers from.
So far i have tried 3 different sets of speaker cables with no success also half a dozen pairs of interconnects which will now have to be sold as no difference

Regards Steve

maybe if there is a company nearbye you might get a home trial. Otherwise you could see if any members are close and you could do a bake off

[STD305M]

Yomanze
Thanks, that's something i can try right now ( hang on )!!!
Yep, that made a little difference also an improvement in sound stage but still a little dull

Regards Steve...

[Wakefield Turntables]

Try some SUPERTWEETERS, these are widely known to give top end sparkle.

[Eaton Mess]

Do you have the M20's very close to the rear wall?
Understand this can impact their sound, believe they require a bit of room to hit the right tonal balance so try moving them a little further into the room.
Do you have them toed into the position where you listen?

[bobvfr]

Have you considered your room that you listen to music in.

All the cables in the world aren't going to overcome a poorly laid out and unsuitably furnished room.

This may go against the grain on here, but in my book the room setup is almost as important as the list of gear you have.




EDIT: Had started my post before yours Eaton Mess and got distracted so hadn't seen your post.

[STD305M]

I Think Malcolm and Bob may be right
Just tried my turntable amp and speakers in a different room and it sounds fantastic, so much more top end, really sweet sound.
Guess i need to try playing around with the furnishing and curtains in my living room.
Still cant believe the difference in sound ( really mad ) wouldn't have believed it if i hadn't heard the difference myself..

Thanks guys, you saved me a lot of money and time running round looking for what i already had:doh:

Regards Steve...

Just goes to show throwing money at the problem wouldn't have solved my problem.... the issue was my room

[Yomanze]

I Think Malcolm and Bob may be right
Just tried my turntable amp and speakers in a different room and it sounds fantastic, so much more top end, really sweet sound.
Guess i need to try playing around with the furnishing and curtains in my living room.
Still cant believe the difference in sound ( really mad ) wouldn't have believed it if i hadn't heard the difference myself..

Thanks guys, you saved me a lot of money and time running round looking for what i already had:doh:

Regards Steve...

Just goes to show throwing money at the problem wouldn't have solved my problem.... the issue was my room

Great, had a feeling it could be resolved without component changes. If you can take a photo of your room (front and back walls) it'd help us in terms of what you can do. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, some decoupling techniques could help get the room more out of the equation with minimal outlay.

[STD305M]

Hi Neil,
I will take Photos as requested and en devour to post them but I have never put photos on this site as i don't know how...
will try tho as I think other members might gain a significantly better sound without throwing good money away

Regards Steve... One very happy chap :cheers:

[sq225917]

Your room is 50% of the sound of your hifi. your speakers probably 40% and the rest of the hifi the last 10%. Sort out the room before dicking about with cables and swapping gear. Your speakers and amp will both go out to 20khz, but your room will soak up HF its it's heavily damped with soft furnishings. Twiddle about with listening on and slightly off axis, crossing speakers in front of listening position etc.

[TazSob]

Your speakers will need plenty of space around them to get the fuller sound. Try standing behind the speaker or imagine yourself standing behind it and picture in your mind where the sound would travel to... Is there anything blocking that path?
I had a cat stand near my right speaker and the treble was low in that one compared to the left speaker even though the cat stand was a few feet away. Also notice that when the curtains are opened the sound changes.
I wouldn't change anything yet just pull the speakers out and let them breath. You could grab one of them cheap 2 channel amps off eBay (around £20) and try that with your speakers.

[mikeyb]

Did anyone mention Supertweeters ?

[STD305M]

Re positioned speakers further out in the room and 7 foot apart
Curtains down, rug gone, settee moved to a different position and repositioned hi if racks.
Hey Preston a completely different more pleasurable sound with higher roll of on the treble.

Thanks to all on AOS No money parted with and a satisfied customer :clapclapclap:

[bobvfr]

Of all the things that could cause domestic trouble my wife knows not to get in the way of my H--Fi setup and placement of or other furniture/decorations that may or may not cause any degradation regarding sounds (Although I did compromise at Xmas by moving one speaker in towards the wall so the Xmas tree could sit in one of the windows)

I was very lucky in my last house, the room with my Tannoy's was 18ft by 16ft, had two large windows on one of the 18ft sides with curtains (You do need some dampening) the walls were all three foot thick stone built, with a really good wooden floor.

I had Tannoy's about 11ft apart on the 16ft end wall and my favourite settee about 14ft away, in that setup it really allowed them to sing.

Just bought a house at the weekend and I have already sussed out the setup I will be having ;-)

[TazSob]

Glad to hear you sorted it out, now you can get back to relaxing with your tunes

[STD305M]

Hi Taz ,
Really looking forward to a long listening session with a bottle of wine. Its strange how we don't quite enjoy our music unless it's just so
Regards Steve...

[STD305M]

Hi Bob,
What system are you looking at getting for the new house

Steve...

[bobvfr]

Now that is a question, and my answer may not appeal to all on here.

My system is really an AV system, but I "Believe" in stereo so no 5.1 for me.

So the speakers will be my Tannoy Cheviots, my current amp is a Quad 33/405 combo but I am considering changing this.

I have just completed the conversion from CD to FLAC having been re-united with my CD collection after an 8 year gap (They were in my last house on a small island).

My TV is a Panasonic Viera 65 inch TX-65CX802B 4k UHD.


Current combined CD and FLAC player is an Xbox One (All I can say is try and have a listen to one through your own system).



I intend to upgrade the Xbox One to a 4k Xbox One X (Just released) and I am also looking to replace (But not get rid of) the Quad with a newer amp that has infra red control so the Xbox One can control it (I like saying "Xbox volume down" or just "Xbox on" and everything turns on)

I have been considering the latest Cyrus One, but I am still thinking about this but the Cyrus doesn't have stand by mode (I asked them).

I really want a very minimalist look.

And a final word on the Xbox, I am not really a games player, OK I do have the odd visit to Victorian London to go on the odd killing spree curtesy of Assassin's Creed, but I mainly use it for it's mixed entertainment so music, TV, films, I can control my lighting, Skype, you name it.

But and I think its a big BUT, it's surprised me just how decent the audio output is and it has the big advantage of being so simple to use that my wife can understand it and use not only my setup but hers as well.

Well you did ask ;-)