Hi all, I'd love a bit of advice

[Flatty]

I'm a lazy person who listens to music only through amazon prime. I a while ago set up a system with a Google chrome cast connected to a dac which runs through an edge g3 amplifier and into a pair of waterfall audio victoria evo speakers.
It wasn't an especially cheap set up, but the sound is highly underwhelming. They are in a pretty big room, so the speakers are maybe 25-30 feet apart.
My options are to change the system in some way, by altering the interface with the edge, add a subwoofer, change the speakers, or sell the whole lot and start again with something like a devialet phantom.
Has anyone got any ideas or advice?
It would be genuinely appreciated.
Flatty

[Sherwood]

I would suggest auditioning some components before buying. You do not say what DAC you are using though the rest of the system sounds to be pretty good. The CCA can sound very good if you use the optical output and ensure that you have selected highest quality.

I would try and audition one of the following, both of which have been favourably reviewed and both of which support Tidal streaming which is much better than Amazon Prime.

At 600 quid http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/pro-ject-stream-box-s2-ultra?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi-Kbio_83gIVbr7tCh3F4AqeEAQYASABEgLdzfD_BwE

At 250 quid https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-MusicCast-Streaming-Pre-Amplifier-Bluetooth-White/dp/B01KIGWU6C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543581048&sr=8-1&keywords=yamaha+wxc-50

If neither of these sound good the problem is likely to be elsewhere in your system.

Geoff

[struth]

would also try streaming something at flac rates...tidal etc.... also speakers are probably too far apart

[Macca]

If you're looking for more exciting sound I'd change the speakers. I'm not that keen on those Waterfalls personally.


Quality wise Amazon music is not that great. A system like you have deserves better and will show the differences, even though they are not enormous they are there. Trial a streaming service that does not use lossy compression e.g Tidal.

[walpurgis]

Hello Dan. Welcome to AOS.

As this is the Welcome area, perhaps you could give us an intro. Tell us what music you like and what system you are using at the moment.

General system questions go in the Blank Canvas section and if you want guidance on the Chromecast visit Digital Expressions.

I'm sure members can give you some opinions.


Enjoy the forum,
Geoff.

[Flatty]

Thanks very much indeed. Would the two devices above stream from my phone via Bluetooth?, and how would you set a chrome cast to hi res?
Sorry, but I'm an idiot.
PS, could you add a subwoofer to this setup?

[Flatty]

I like music that most would view as absolute shite, so the least said, the better. I really like music though, and would really like to get really high quality sound, but easily.

[Sherwood]

Thanks very much indeed. Would the two devices above stream from my phone via Bluetooth?, and how would you set a chrome cast to hi res?
Sorry, but I'm an idiot.
PS, could you add a subwoofer to this setup?

Both devices have both Bluetooth and Wifi and support PnP so yes you can stream from your phone. However, best quality is when you connect directly to a streaming service via the internet. You can get a one month free trial of Tidal.

Normally you would connect a subwoofer to an amplifier. However, the Yamaha has a subwoofer output to connect to a powered subwoofer. There is a version of the Yamaha that has a very good amp built in for only a little more (329 quid). The WXA-50 will easily power your speakers. I think PC world sell this too.

This will give you a good sense of the product https://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/wireless_streaming_amplifiers/wxa-50/index.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-MusicCast-Streaming-Amplifier-Bluetooth/dp/B01KIGWU7Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543584837&sr=8-2&keywords=yamaha+wxa-50

The setup menu for the CCA has the option to set streaming quality. You can Google it and find videos on how to do it.

Geoff

[SLS]

The fact that you have your speakers so far apart suggests you just want to fill the room with sound and reference to sub that you want heavy bass. Nothing wrong with that. The Devialet Phantom units do that as they have very long throw and deep bass and wide dispersion. I just bought the Devialet Reactor and it sounds really good, just as a single unit. The Devialet Phantom Gold as a stereo pair are really superb.

[jandl100]

Just seen this thread.

Amazon Prime .... :nono:

Sorry, but it is crap sound quality.
Try another streaming service like Tidal or Qobuz or Deezer or Spotify.

[jandl100]

I reviewed some Waterfall speakers - they were "OK" but nothing to get really excited about. I think it is their looks that would decide the purchase.
Actually, they were the same model you have - https://hifipig.com/waterfall-audio-victoria-evo-loudspeakers/

Worth looking at those with a view to getting something better. I suspect they would have problems filling a room that large. But they weren't at all bad and I'd look at positioning them first.
25 feet apart. Wow. How far away are you from them?

[Lawrence001]

If you're looking at subs to fill out the sound, you should consider getting a pair for stereo use, in large wide rooms they really add a spatial effect in the low frequencies you can't get from a single sub.

Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk

[Stryder5]

I'm a lazy person who listens to music only through amazon prime. I a while ago set up a system with a Google chrome cast connected to a dac which runs through an edge g3 amplifier and into a pair of waterfall audio victoria evo speakers.
It wasn't an especially cheap set up, but the sound is highly underwhelming. They are in a pretty big room, so the speakers are maybe 25-30 feet apart.
My options are to change the system in some way, by altering the interface with the edge, add a subwoofer, change the speakers, or sell the whole lot and start again with something like a devialet phantom.
Has anyone got any ideas or advice?
It would be genuinely appreciated.
Flatty

Have you set the Chromecast and Amazon to give the best quality they can, are you using analogue or optical output to your DAC.

There maybe Tweeks you've missed.

Gary

[struth]

one problem is speakers too far apart and other is probably amazon music as said.. its ok ish on headphones but not through a main system

[Pigmy Pony]

Hi Dan, welcome to AOS,

I have Amazon Prime running from an Echo Dot, through an Amptastic Mini-1 to some Celestion 5's and a BK sub. Ok for convenience and having the radio on, but when I tried Spotify from laptop, the difference was like night and day. And that's with my modest set up and a pair of cloth ears.

Also you must have a hole in your stereo image you could drive a bus through. You could do to bring speakers closer together if possible.