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A little help please

My room is 13' x 21' x 8.5' ceiling. Speakers are located along the short wall about 12-18" off the wall. They can't come out as they'll block an entrance way.  They are about 4' from the side walls. 

Currently I have a Prima Luna Classic Integrated with their standard tubes. Source is Rega Apollo R, MMF-5/Clear Audio Nano V2, or Proton DAC. Speakers are Totem Arro (no mass laoding).

I realize that my placement isn't ideal and my wife's need for decorating balance with furnishings,etc require some trade-offs but I just don't think these speakers are up for the job in some cases. Some songs, like acoustic blues, female vocals, even piano sound great but I'm sometimes finding other recordings seem to sound muddy and there's no real pop and umf on some drums; like I'm hearing music but not feeling it some times.

The totems are not mass loaded. I have heard that mass loading them will tighten up the bass. I could also try some different tubes, but overall I'm not sure either or both will make that big a difference. Which leads me to a discussion of a sub or some new speakers.

I lean towards new speakers.

Possibilities (depending on what I can get my wife to agree to in price and size) are:

PSB Imagine T2, Quad 25L, Revel F206 - As noted above there are decorating issues. A sofa is located about 2.5 feet in front of the right side. As it is now imaging is good, my concern with these is they all have some low driver positions that will be an issue unless I can relocate. Relocating to the long wall is an issue because I'd have to straddle a working fireplace as well as other considerations. 

A larger Totem Forest - leaves me wondering if I'll have similar issues with bass.

Audio Physic Tempo 25 (NOT the plus version) - demo from my local store.

Vandersteen 3A - Signature - also demo from my local store. These are likely too big for my wife's taste; and quite possibly my amp.

  One thing I didn't note so far was the possibility of a sub-woofer.  I'm not thrilled with the idea but I haven't given it an ear so I can't say.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks for reading and taking the time to respond, Jetson.
jetson
jetson OP
140 posts
 
Thanks akg_ca.

So reading your post I'm coming away with the feeling that you're saying that I could likely find some improvement with positioning the Arro and try some different speaker cables. (Currently running Kimber Kable 4PR). 

I hadn't looked at subs but would probably go with something like the Totem Storm or Revel 10" but as I said, I doubt that.

The most interesting comment you made was how my " post indicates some serious absence of system synergy so far". That is exactly why I'm here. So I'd appreciate it if you would elaborate on that. Is it my current system or the post asking about such different speakers, or myriad options. Maybe it's the idea of pairing some of the speakers with my existing amp. It's probably that I don't really know what I'm doing - which as I said - is why I'm here.

Here is the evolution of the current system and the future plan.

I had a Creek 4330 integrated with JM Lab Micron carats. One of the carats died so I went with the Arros as a similar replacement. Then the volume pot on the Creek went so I decided on the lower end PrimaLuna.

I've now got some money to spend on upgrading the system, and will have more to spend in about a year. My thought was to put the money first into the speakers as that's where I expected to see the most improvement - then look at upgrading the amp or CD player next year.

Thanks for your help.

jetson OP
140 posts
 
OK, I just soldered in new Focal tweeters into the JM Lab boxes and placed them on top of the Arro speakers. Right now I'm wishing I didn't buy the Totems.
freediver
1,195 posts
 
I think the problem here is the amp just can’t handle the low impedance of your speakers.I would upgrade speakers to something a bit more friendly & change  the small signal tubes.Sonus Fabers sound good placed close to walls & love tubes.
jetson OP
140 posts
 
Well that was disappointing to learn. I bought the totems after listening to them at my dealers with his better PL amp.   I trusted the guy, bummed to hear he steered me wrong. 

So giving consideration to the future, might I be better off upgrading my amp now?
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,245 posts
 
IMO .... Consider new speakers as a better match to the gear upstream 

my first round of  contenders .... REGA RS5 or R5 , or even to the "7.s" if space and budget permits. A whole lot less fussy about cables, speaker positioning, great tight bass, industry leading mid-range performance ( they design AND make there own drivers in the UK instead of plunking chi-fi drivers in a box like most others)  and IMHO theyvare a whole step up from the ARROS or STAFFs blah blah.

highly recommended .

The brand new RX speaker series I have not heard, they were revised as one of the hits of the Bristol show, but they are a LOT more money .... Stick with the R or RS legacy series.
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