2. amps-preamps
  3. 1070807620

Sound is too big for my room.

I just got an original B&K st140 amp and PS Audio 4.5 preamp. I use them with my Music Hall MMF CD25 and JM Lab Chorus 706 speakers. The sound in straightire (passive mode) is great. The B&K has really tamed the highs. Everything sounds like natural, live music. The B&K really brings the bass out in the speakers. WOW! The soundstage has disappeared as it seems like the players are in my room. The problem is it sounds so live their are no boundaries to the sound. Most of the imaging is to the rear of the speakers and along the width of the room and Im in a small 10'x14' room. I think my room is too small for this set up and Im considering going back to my Arcam A65 integrated. Any tips or should I just sell?
bundee1
bradz's avatar
bradz
229 posts
 
I agree with Nutella with the room treatments and I'd also like to add that you should play around with the speaker placement.
nutella
223 posts
 
I didn't mean room correction per se. I was referring to simple adjustments such as placement of furniture, curtains, an area rug, etc. to help absorb or diffuse some of the reflected sound in the room. These sorts of things helped tame my listening area and cost next to nothing.
bundee1 OP
147 posts
 
Thanks for the advice Nutella but the system is in my bedroom and Ive done so much rearranging there its nuts. I do have curtains and Ive hung heavy tapestries behind me to absorb sound. It has worked but this amp seems to image behind the speakers and without more room it seems like I wont be able to hear this system at its best.
subaruguru
1,375 posts
 
Ok, ok. Just try the integrated, as you don't need the giant dynamic swings anyway. The imaging/scale/WOW is more about the Chorus/room setup than the electronics. So turn it down, get a smaller amp, or suspend a couple of tissues over those JMLabs tweeters if they're a little hot for you. No kidding...they're on the bright side, and if you can't dampen the sidewalls this might help take 'em down a dB.
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
It sounds like what you are missing is "life" at low volume. The amp is a factor here, but so are the speakers. Some don't come alive until you crank things. Are you saying that with the old integrated, you got this sense of life at low volume?
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