Wrong setup?


Hi I love great sound, especially when hearing to classical piano music, but i don't know much about high-end audio components... In order to build a good setup, i bought quite good single components (based on internet reviews for the most part) but i didn't check what would be the final result once put together... I just assumed (and hoped) that good components together would just produce a good result... but the truth is that i am a little bit disappointed with the end result. I find that the sound has no (or little) depth + i hear a sizzling noise in the tweeters on high piano notes... So now i think that i should probably have put more attention on the "compatibility" of the different components. And i am looking for advices :) I'm thinking that maybe i should change my speakers... but need some specialists opinion. Here is my setup:
Marantz Integrated Amplifier PM-11S1
Marantz Super Audio Cd Player SA-15S1
Speakers Totem Hawk
Any advice or opinion is welcome. Thanks! Julien
julthi
Another thing to consider is that not all recordings are good. First thing you need to know when evaluating a system is to make sure you are using properly recorded source material.
That's good advice you're getting. I'd also add that piano recordings are by far the most difficult to engineer and reproduce. High-frequency sizzle is sometimes, strangely enough, more common in good quality speakers, if only b/c the low quality ones muffle the weaknesses of the recordings. As my speaker quality has improved, so has the high frequency sizzle on piano recordings.

One other thing about classical piano recordings is that the bass and mid-range tends to be weaker than I like. That bone vibrating solidity that you hear (and feel) when you get into the baritone and bass registers of a real concert grand piano isn't readily captured in the recordings I'm familiar with. That's less of a problem for me now if only b/c I can raise the bass volume to taste, owing to a bi-amped system.
Sounds like a fine collection of three components you bought. What about the fourth component - the room?

You make no mention of the room. Do you have a lot of highly reflective surfaces like untreated windows, hardwood or tile floors, etc.? This could account for lack of depth and pronounced sizzle. Also, as other have pointed out, how are the mains spaced relative to the listening position? Finally, speakers require break in and a quick look at Totems website for the Hawks makes strong mention of this.

Address all of the above first and you may find you have the synergy you are looking for. FYI, your speakers are 6 Ohm with a sensitivity of 88 db so your Marantz amp can drive them with all the clean power they are likely to demand. I would say you matched the amp to the speakers very well. I have a Marantz PM15S2 LE (similar to yours but less power) driving 4 Ohm, 90 db Vienna Bach Grands and have found the synergy and high end sound I was looking for. But it also took hours of careful testing, moving them inches at a time, to find just the right spot relative to my listening chair to make them really sing. Now just find the best place in the room to make yours sing too.

Have fun and happy listening!
Great advice from everyone so far - that's all really good equipment, Julien, I agree that it's time to examine your precise speaker positioning relative to the room and your listening position, as well as the quality of the recording, and the acoustics of your room. All of the components you purchased are excellent - it's far too early to be thinking about different speakers. You have the makings of a fine audio system, you probably just need some fine tuning.