2. amps-preamps
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Replacing Parasound p7, but with what?

The rest of the system is a Nad c565BEE player and a Halo A21.  Speakers are Sierra 2 or Tannoy Saturn DC6, depending on my mood.  With Wireworld Oasis 7 speaker cables and MA3 Morrows with Eichmann bullets.  Also one pair of  Silver stager Solids.  I've got a iPhone doc that passes digital into the Nad, which does a pretty good job with the processing.

It'a half open basement concept, about 500 square feet, but the main listening area is about 17 by18 with 9 foot ceilings, carpeted.  The sound is on the warm side, I fine that the top frequencies are reduced and I've heard that that's Parasound's sonic signature.  I've also read that their amps are better than their preamps.  Also, I suspect that the imaging isn't as good as it could be for that kind of money with the pre.  

So, any thoughts or suggestions?  I've considered the Wyred STP-SE, Nad C165BEE and selling the amp too for Nad's new c388 integrated.  Emotiva won't do it for me, but I'd like a little more top end.
213runnin
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
At this point I would say to treat the room. There may be too much absorbtion, which reduces upper mids and highs.

One more question regarding speakers, are you using any spikes or footers beneath the cabinets and the monitor stands? Try to keep the cabinets as lively as possible by decoupling them from the carpeted floor.
You can use a hardwood or marble platform underneath the speakers.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,922 posts
 
In my car system using the same track I can hear more top end extension, and I guess I could chalk it up to the speaker’s frequency response or just the gains I have set for the fronts at the amp.
@213runnin

Are your tweeters damaged? They are very easy to damage if you overload the amplifier! If they have removable grills or if you know where the tweeters are, run the system, put your ear to the tweeters and see if they are even working. If you have clipped the amplifier at any time in the past, it would only take a second or two to fry the tweeters. This would explain a lot...
213runnin OP
914 posts
 
No sir, the tweeters are fine.  When I tuned the system I needed little gain on them because they are in the corners of the dash and project into the cabin almost too well with the windshield.  They are crossed over at 3000, so a lot of the voice and up is in the tweeters.

As for my home speaker cabinets, they are on stock spikes which I painstakenly leveled and seem to decouple fairly well.  The platform idea I should look into however!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,922 posts
 
@213runnin?? I was talking about your tweeters at home not the ones in the car. Did I mistake your response?
213runnin OP
914 posts
 
Oops, sorry.  When you quoted my comment about the car system, I assumed you were referring to the car tweeters.  The home speaker tweeters are not damaged either.
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