Comparing amplifiers

[Macca]

Yes, or one of the big bangers from the 1990s. Celestion A3, KEF Reference Model 4, something like that.

Would be a big upgrade to the system.

Not sure what availability is like in Estonia though.

[Lawrence001]

I'd agree with Martin having owned both in the past.

[Sansiiro]

Hello!

So I am comparing speakers and amps and had the working theory
about a particular system lacking mid-range-volume and therefore
being unable to represent certain music with much satisfaction.

I tried different variations and finally decided to put the room-factor
to the test, having two different systems to play at the same exact spot.

First of them is a system in question - B&W 603, Edge A2-300 monoblocks,
Topping Pre90, Denafrips Ares II, iFi Zen Stream
The second is - Estonia 35 AC, Onkyo A9130 integrated, Denafrips Ares II.

two ways.jpg

"Estonia" speakers are from the year 1986, but in good condition.
They were bought by my father and manufactured here in Estonia by the
company "RET", which was founded in 1935 and is well respected here.
At 1992 after collapse of soviet union, it was rebranded "Audes",
as in "AUDio from EStonia". Also, a chief-engineer and owner of the high-end
company "Estelon" springed off from this company.
There are a lot of them speakers still around here, and I think one of their
best features is the indifference regarding placement. As in, they are very forgiving
in regard of where you put them.

This also became evident as I was listening them and doing AB with the B&W.
I can not say that the second system solved the said problems, not to the extent
that I would confirm. However I felt that B&W 603 made me constantly raise my head,
raise my chin, to kind of "process" the sound in my head, to piece it together like
a puzzle, I felt like the sound was not given to me straight, but I had to work and pay
attention. Like when you are looking at a glossy photo and you have to turn it around
so that you could see the colours well. And of course, it had the detail and crisp.

After I removed the second system I also tweaked the speaker-position a little, brought
them closer together, turned the right one more inwards, and moved my listening position
a little to the left. So now when I listen to main system I dont feel puzzled no more.
In fact, I like it very much. Listened to Cassie Kinoshi by the SEED Ensemble and loved it.

This also got me thinking - are there really many excellent settings for hard rock?
This question might be a red flag for some, but I start to think that some of them metal
bands are very difficult to represent in a way that would sound captivating, or to put it
more bluntly, audiophile-friendly. (After certain age???)
For example Guns N Roses - I have not had a system that would play them good. And this is
the band I have listened and loved a lot in my life, I did that as a teenager and I know
these songs inside out. At those times of course the thought of sound quality never entered
my head. I listened to it via very cheap gear and were happy as can be. After taking
interest in gear I have discovered it don't sound exciting to me no more. Perhaps it needs more
specific conditions.

Here they are in Tallinn 2018, before covid and war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWCYozVutwU

Good times.

Thanks to all that weighed in