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Help, my system sounds lifeless!

Hi, this is my first post.  I rushed putting my system together when i emigrated from the UK to New Jersey.  In fact this site was partly to blame as i was attracted to the amazing  "used" deals!  I bought a pair of Dali Helicon 400 (mark I)  as they passed the WAF.  The rest of the system contains a Belles Soloist Integrated and Simaudio Equinox SE CD player, wireworld platinum eclispe 6 interconnect & Audio Art Cable Classic SC-5 Speaker Cable.  My room maybe partly to blame but generally the system sounds lifeless, with little soundstage (better when i play vinyl).  I am not feeling/falling in love with the speakers and do not like the bass response (which is often reported).  I would like to change the speakers and was wondering if you could help.  I have an extremely large cd collection (and have recently bought a used Lumin D1, but unfortunately not set up yet) covering all kinds of music.  I am thinking 8ohm with better sensitivity would be a better option.  Looking to spend around $3000-4000 used.  Some contenders include Revel F206 or F208, Tannoy DC8 or DC8T, ATC SCM40, JA Pulsars (maybe too much $), PBN Liberty, Aerial 10T (never see them used) but they must have grills as sometimes kids go in the basement.  Maybe Monitors with stands would be better option?  I am hoping the flickr link works so you can see my room (excuse the feet!).  I want to fall in love with my large music collection again!  Looking for good bass & soundstage and speakers that can play all kinds of music (sometimes I'm partial to deep electronic music).  In some ways because my taste is so vast i am not particularly looking for ultra revealing speakers (Nora Jones speakers i think you call them!).  Looking forward to the NY audio show so i can hear some systems.  Thanks for all the help, cheers Paul  https://www.flickr.com/gp/97665913@N06/a5G6d9
spoutmouzert
amp1231
2 posts
 
Why not solve the issue of your room...look into the  DSPeaker Dual Core or better yet the new to release DSPeaker X4.
They also have 20 Day review period, so nothing to fear.

This did wonders for my system!  
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
re:  Why would anyone suggest curtains and wall hangings to help deal with "lifeless" sound? Those deaden the room, don't they?

Hark back to you sophomore year physics course - the part about wave superposition and cancellation and you'll see the answer
seanheis1
616 posts
 
For lively speakers in a small room consider kef LS50 with a smaller subwoofer. The rising response in the treble that KEF and B&W tend to have may be just the sizzle you are looking for.
mikapen
31 posts
 
"Wave suppression and cancellation" applies more to the lower frequencies, which aren't generally associated with "Liveliness."
He's not complaining about dropouts - he's looking for more highs and maybe presence. 
Unless you are adding reflective surfaces, room treatments will dull the sound.
It looks like he has plenty of reflective surfaces. 

Standmounts and a small sub will give better flexibility in that space.
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
"Wave superposition and cancellation" applies to ALL frequencies - not sure why you read suppression into that

It may be that is not his problem BUT it is very easy and inexpensive to check - he can simply hang some rugs in various places in the room and test

The kef LS50s have a good reputation, but aren’t easy to test.

Take a look at his pic and if anything it seems he has too much reflective surface... yet another reason to get some analytical equipment in there and find out what is really going on

Still need to hear answers to the questions about what he had in the UK...

One more idea: just maybe it is not a room-speaker interaction (less likely, but...) - he can take the speakers outside and test, OR turn them off and borrow some headphones to test
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