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Sound is too thin. What to upgrade, add or remove?

Need your advise - please have a look at my system below (click on the system link). Just in the past couple of months or so it seems, my setup started to sound way too thin in my ears. It feels as though the bottom-end is just not enough anymore. But I as you can see from the pictures, I try to stay on the minimulist side of things. The aesthetics are very important as well (WAF). I can't really have too much exposed gear (WAF). What can I do to boost the overall sonics of this system without adding a sub? How much more can a power conditioner add? What about replacing the power tubes, IC's and adding a DAC? or should I switch to a different amp - like a Gamut (SS) 200/wcp? What other push-pull (100 wpc or more) quality tube amps are out there? My budget is $2K - $3K plus the value of current amp if I were to swap it out.

I really appreciate your comments. Thank you.

Jewel
128x128jewel_hasan
nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
Speaker placement is critical. It makes no sense to start replacing equipment until the speakers are in the right place. Cosmetically they may be well placed, but sonically they are in Audio Hell!

Placement for my Kharma's was very important. I played around for a long time before settling for the position they currently occupy.

Get those speakers out where they were designed to be placed. You might not need to do anything else once that's done.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,693 posts
 
What I see is a very hard, reflective room with very little in the way of absorbent materials. So you probably have lots of bass but too much of everything else for proper balance.

I would suggest putting in wide-range absorbent panels and/or traps. The former is probably less conspicuous and, perhaps, you can put some on the ceiling in between the beams. That would seem quite unobtrusive. One or two diffusive panels on the wall behind the speakers would also help.

Kal (in the throes of the same issue)
robm321
932 posts
 
ROOM TREATMENT
jgeyer
31 posts
 
Hi, Try some different power cords. I thought the Absolute cords were a little thin sounding. Good luck.
ozfly
887 posts
 
Kal & Robm are spot on. Your room looks like a poster child for rooom treatments. Some of these can have a high WAF (I actually prefer PAF - partner acceptance factor). For example, I just got some nice thick curtains for my room to cover the windows -- big difference! Some acoustic treatments hidden by tapestries can work well in other parts of the room. There are a lot of great threads and readings on room treatments and that's where I would start.
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