2. amps-preamps
  3. 1075645071

Help me find it again

I need your collective advice.

I have reached a critical point. If I don't start enjoying my system again, I will give up and sell!

I listen to mostly rock and pop with some blues and jazz. A little large orchestra stuff. I grew up listening to the best jazz and rock and roll live at my father's bootleg clubs. I've sat at the piano and poured drinks for the count, twisted with Chubby and lived in "Salt Pork West Virginia". I played piano and hammond organ professionally for several years working everything from rock to jazz to blues to gospel. I know how music sounds. I know how it can move you.

I have been living with my current system for about 6 months. "Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but it just don't thrill me the way that it should."

The sound is very clean but lacks emotion. It has a thin low end. Sometimes sounds harsh in the high end. The mids are good. It sounds like crap on lots of recordings that were OK on less revealing systems.

Components: Audiomeca transport and DAC, Aloia pre-amp, Goldmund 28M amps, Piega C-40 speakers, Goldmund line treatment, Piega speaker cables, Audio Techne interconnects.

I already have dedicated lines.

I'm done with vinyl. Just too much work... My turntable and record cleaner will be on the gon soon.

Room is large (32 X 20 with vaulted ceilings that rise from 10 to 18 feet). The system is on the longer wall with the shorter height. I have thick rug and window treatments. The speakers are spaced 3.5 feet from the wall and 11 feet apart. Seating is 10 feet back from the speakers and 6 feet from the back wall.

I'm thinking I need to change the preamp (perhaps tubes), but I'm willing to consider almost any changes. My current economic situation might limit my options. Also, since I live in central NC, it is almost impossible to audition anything...
spudco
newbee
4,767 posts
 
I wish I had more familarity with your equipment, but I don't so FWIW, the problem you describe suggests to me that you should revisit your amp/speaker/room selection and interface.

My sense is that your room is too large for good bass reproduction from your speakers. One of the things you could try is to supplement your main speakers with subs.

Another thing to play with is speaker and listening locations (look at Rives web site or the Cardas method spelled out in a site on Audio Asylum for starting points). Are your speakers a spaced a bit far apart for good imaging and bass reinforcement.

Lastly, it appears all of your stuff is fairly high end - nothing wrong with that in itself, but much high end stuff is voiced lean to emphasize detail. Could you have too much of a good thing? Personally I have selected very neutral full range speakers which I power with slightly warm tube amps and I use three different sources, one neutral, and two warm (CD and LP). For old CD's or poorly recorded CD's I use the warm CD system, for new production I use the newer CDP.

Just something to think about - don't give up yet!
islandflyfisher
94 posts
 
I'd play with speaker positioning. Move them out another 6 inches from the back wall and closer together by a foot to 18 inches. This should inprove your bass dramatically. A better bottom end will smooth your highs.
nighthawk
259 posts
 
I've heard the Piega C-40s and they sound pretty much like you described - very detailed and somewhat thin sounding. I think you would be happier with warmer sounding speakers. Your electronics are quite good. I don't think you need to do anything there. You could also probably do better than the Audio Tekne ICs.

Try speakers from Vienna Acoustics, Vandersteen, Soliloquy, Aerial, Avalon, and Sonus Faber. All of these are available for audition in a day trip from central NC. I live in VA and know your problem. You just have to be willing to travel a bit. Robert Taylor (Taylor House) in Sherrills Ford, NC is a good dealer. Audio Art in Richmond,VA is another. JS Audio in Bethesda, MD and Gifted Listener in Centerville, VA are a little further away, but also worth the trip.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Newbee is obviously NOT a "newbee" as he consistently offers insightful responses.

As a side note, Stereophile just reviewed a pair of Piega's. Their basic suggestion was that these were nice sounding speakers, but not for anyone wanting a fuller, richer sound with deep bass extension. Given the size of your room, this would really come across as a "double whammy" in terms of a lack of body, bass weight and prat.

To cut to the chase, start off with a pair of Goertz MI-2's for speaker cable and try reconfiguring the speakers for a more even tonal balance. Goertz speaker cables tend to let the music flow in a very smooth and rhythmic manner. On top of that, Goertz offers in-home trials, so you've got nothing to lose. If that doesn't get you what you are looking for, time to check into a good quality sealed, isobarik or transmission line sub OR replace the speakers with something that has some "heft" to it. Just don't confuse bloated bass response with a lack of definition for incresed bass weight and extension. Otherwise, you'll be on the opposite side of the fence. Sean
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holzhauer
201 posts
 
I'm with Sean and Newbie on the subs. Like Sean said, transmission line designs are the way to go. Might I suggest the Buggtussel Tegmentum subwoofer. It should give you the live rythmic pulse you crave and then some. I also agree the better bass will probably deemphasize the harshness you are experiencing. Absorption or diffusion at the first reflection points can help with this also.
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