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Vandersteen fans..need your input (TREO CT)

Hey Guys, I love my TREO CTs, but I feel like they don’t really start to shine until I crank up the volume to 85dBs or higher. I feel like the details are missing at lower volumes. I know I have a lot of acoustic issues in my space, but generally speaking, at what volumes do you guys listen to your system. Just to give you an idea of my system, I’m using an Ayre AX-5/20 integrated, Aurender N100H streamer, Denafrips Terminator DAC (also an Ayre Codex DAC), AQ Earth XLR cables and AQ GO4 double run bi-wire speaker cables. Any of you guys do low volume listening...like the when your family is a sleep. Any general tips to improve the low volume listening experience? I suspect I would benefit the most getting room treatments but it’s not an option for me at the moment sharing the living room.  Thanks in advance.
Also, check out this link on youtube, it’s rare to see TREO CTs in videos on the web.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zKxBalxq1c
nycjlee
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,779 posts
 
I've found that low volume listening depends on your amp's power supply. A well designed "stiff" power supply will provide details and dynamic contrasts down to the lowest level. If you always think that you must increase volume to hear details, you probably need a new amp.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,895 posts
 
some thoughts
if it is perfect in the near field it is your setup, room or both
hearing test a good idea for all of us
ears aint linear, hence the loudness button...science...
if it is that you might consider a decent mac preamp with tone controls ,

you could also upgrade to 7’s i listen at considerably lower volume vs the 5a
pistonic with a lot less trash = better at lower volume levels
got the same effect just smaller magnitude when Ayre R went to twenty series...

yrmv





tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,895 posts
 
also s/n is critical so float some of tge grounds but not all - inky black background is just better s/n
also look for aural and electrical trash in the room
what is the level of background noise in the room ?
i had to put a bullet in the bar mini fridge as even tho it had a very quiet compressor it resonated...
short of a dedicated room can you also get all your wall warts, etc on to a seperate circuit ?

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,457 posts
 
I have Vandersteen 5A's....but use earphones with a dedicated headphone amp for late night listening.  The phones are in some ways even better sounding.
2psyop's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
2psyop
1,551 posts
 
If you have a somewhat dedicated audio room, I think the ideas of dweller and tomic601 are great. Clapping hands can lead to fixing echos and creating the dead room you want. If you are patient and very observant sitting very quiet in your room without any music turned on you can identify noise, particularly background noise...much of which is low level noise. Compressors (as mentioned),  traffic tires going down the road, wind coming across trees. If you have tinnitus, you will hear that. All this study can help with building the sound upward. Study how much noise you have; how do sounds behave in your room (reflect and bounce?) do external sounds compete with your stereo sound for your brain’s attention? If you want to hear low level detail, you have to create the way and environment for it to happen, no?
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