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After nearly 20 years, I left Magnepan and went ProAc

Listened to proac d48r's a few weeks ago and fell in love at first listen. After a couple of days I got my wife to sign my "permission slip" and took the plunge and they now reside where my 1.6 once stood.  You see, I've never heard a speaker literally mesmerize me and engage me like this before.  Sure the Maggie's have a huge image and soundstage and transparency, but these Proacs simply sound more like a real event, with dynamics and palpability, with a more refined and true sound.  The images are much more dense.   

I only have 48 hours on them so they are nowhere near their final voice, but they are breaking in nicely.  The manual says they require a lengthy break in.  I pulled out my old marantz cd-5000 to do the break in honors and will run these straight for a week or two and then taper off with normal listening.   

One thing I dont care for are the spikes. They have these little slits that aid in tightening, but no tool to go around them, so I can't get a good tightening with just my fingers.......so the spikes jiggle.  When I check  I can hear the spike and lock but chatter, and   this is not helping my  stability or sound.  Any sugesstions to tighten them right would be helpful. Thanks.  Cheers to a new chapter!   Wanted to share my excitement with you.  So grateful and never thought I would have speakers like This.  It feels like a dream!

audiolover718
rspyder
98 posts
 
I have the ProAc K6's and they are amazing!  On mine there is a pairing of a nut and spike.  The nut is used to secure the spike by tightening it against the base with tension against the thread of the spike.  That permits adjustment on all four corners and securely holds each spike in place (no rattling or movement)  That set up works great.
rspyder
98 posts
 
I thought I should also mention that ProAc's do not need much or, in some cases, any toe-in. Toeing them in will collapse the soundsatge. I have a 1/4" toe-in. They also like a near-field set up if your room permits it. Mine are about 5 feet from the back wall.

Ray
genez
220 posts
 
The spikes that have a little jiggle?  That may allow your speakers to breath.  Lock them down?  And, you may find the sound becomes a bit choked.  I discovered this years ago when I locked down my speakers from wall mounts.  Then hung them from chains instead, and the sound just bloomed. Not everything we are told is reality.
gary_c
46 posts
 

Audiolover718, do you live in the Portland, Oregon area by chance? I've owned the Studio 140 mkII and Response D28 in the past, and now using D38. I have a VERY similar room size and is a bonus room above the garage, but has 8ft straight ceiling. My room has issues with treble reflection, but seem to absorb bass; rarely if ever too much bass. Are you using a sub, and if so, have you tried turning it off? Seems like you have a strong wall and/or floor interaction. Your speakers are almost equidistant from the back and side walls; try moving them further from one of these walls so they're not equal distances. Is your room carpeted? Loose spikes not coupling the speakers to the subfloor? Try without spikes? I don't have experience with putting speakers (with spikes) on a separate plinth, but maybe someone else could tell us what impact this has on bass (more or less?). Try moving them closer to the walls; could be firmer bass if closer to wall? My D38's aren't that far from the walls and they image extremely well; they are 9ft apart due to projector screen and wide audio cabinet between them. Do NOT use the factory jumpers, especially if they're still using the solid metal rod. My D38's are toed in quite a bit, can barely see down the inside wall of speakers, to minimize wall reflections. This does impart more bass, but works well in my room. Maybe no or minimal toe-in for you; and move speakers farther apart? Is anything about the rest of your system geared towards more bass, for the maggies, possibly causing too much bass now? What speaker cables are you using? Can you borrow a different amp or integrated amp from your dealer to rule this out? If you live in the greater Portland area, you're welcome to listen to my system, and we could also try my integrated amp on your system. Your speakers are very nice and I don't think the size of your room is the issue, nor is break-in a factor for this particular problem.

soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
audiolover718

There is an expression in England, I think that is where your new speakers are made, and that is " stuff the bung hole " .

They take anything like a cloth rag and stuff it in the port. Should give you a more controlled bass with less resonance in your room. 

I remember when I was younger I had a new girl friend coming over to my apartment, presumable for dinner, and I used my old girl friends panties to " stuff the bung hole ", on my speakers. Not sure how much  the sound improved but I avoided any potential problems, at least for that evening. 

PS. hope that is not too much information..........

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