2. amps-preamps
  3. 136297-110229

Where do I go from here?

    • Marantz AV-7005, pre/pro (with balanced outputs and 1.4a HDMI);  Rotel RMB-1565, surrounds and center;  Rotel RKB-650, mains w/ bi-amping;  Martin Logan Motion 20, mains;  Martin Logan Motion 8 Center; Klipsch SW-10, sub;  KEF iQ-5, surrounds;  Klipsch RS-41 II, surround backs
    • Alright y'all, here is your chance to help out the newbie with your thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance for what you may offer.  I have the above system, which is sounding really nice, with many of the qualities I've been looking for, but the upgraditis is creeping in, (again, sigh) and I am wondering which of the components may represent the weak link to my music listening nirvana?  As some my recognize, I recently added the Motion 20's to the lineup, much to my satisfaction, but where might I go from here.  I'm thinking my better half may let me get away with another $1500-2000 before I'm sleeping with the system and not her, LOL.  Since I'm more interested in the musicality of the system, listening to a mix of female vocal, rock, and dipping into the ambient realm now and then, I'm considering the replacement of the Rotel RKD-650 with something in a nice stereo configuration, possibly 3-channel to pick up the center. I'm really looking to broaden and deepen the soundstage as much as anything.  What do you think?
    128x128wisciman99
    wisciman99's avatar
    wisciman99 OP
    75 posts
     
    "Close Enough to the Very Best"

    The Absolute Sound magazine awarded the Halo A21 its "Editors' Choice" recommendation for 2012. "Though not the last word in solid-state amplification, the A21 comes close enough to the very best, at such an affordable price…"

    "Its luxurious appearance is more than skin deep. Parasound’s A21 dispensed truly sumptuous sound," notes England's Hi-Fi News magazine for November 2011. "Demonstrating the control and grip of the Bryston and Anthem but with the velvety midband richness of the ATC, the Parasound’s ability to resolve detail, while remaining composed and easy on the ear, proved the equal of my ‘reference’ Levinson amplifier."

    I am certainly not going to experience any buyer's remorse on this.  Sorry, soix.  I will need something with a nice warm sound for the ribbon tweeters of the ML Motion 20's.  But hey, everyone has their opinion, and I have seen that they are quite varied, especially on this forum.  Should I need a pre/pro upgrade in the future, well, that seems to be part of what I enjoy as well ;-)  And BTW, John Curl, so,,,,,,,,,,
    auxinput
    2,920 posts
     

    yes, everyone has their opinion and that review that soix copy/pasted sounds very much like a magazine review.  I actually completely disagree with it, if you are using Hegel H160 as a sample.  Maybe if he was using the older generation Hegels because they were smoother and softer sounding.  With H160 generation, they revised the preamp section and the sound is actually quite bright and exacting.  While the Parasound A21 is definitely has a good fast attack, I would not call it brighter or thinner at all!! 

    Like we've said, everyone has their own opinions on what an amplifier or speaker should sound like.

    wisciman99's avatar
    wisciman99 OP
    75 posts
     
    Again, I appreciate all the input and opinions that were/are offered.  The ear is a very intangible asset, and each has their own taste and level of sonic interpretation.  I only wish (again) that I had a place to audition the gear without a $500 plane ticket.  Even then, the likelihood that any store will have my exact setup for an a/b comparison is highly unlikely so one is still open to the possibility of making a choice which is regrettable.  As I said, tho, I am convinced that either would be a huge step forward in my music adventure.  And now, I can start the search for the better pre amp or speaker, or power conditioner, or room treatment/placement, yada, yada.
    wisciman99's avatar
    wisciman99 OP
    75 posts
     
    "Music with the AV7005 required a bit of reading. Being a musician, I am picky when it comes to music. I know what instruments sound like live and the nuances in sound from within a live ensemble. With the Audyssey EQ engaged, I didn't get that full, wide, engaging sound stage like you do with a live performance. While the music was detailed, the sound was a bit cold and thin. I changed every parameter that I could find and finally, turned the EQ off. After a few manual EQ tweaks, I heard a renewed sound quality and presentation that totally blew away any AV receiver that I have ever owned." Home Theater Review.com  Apparently, the key is not letting Audyssey take the controls.  I'm so looking forward to this.
    auxinput
    2,920 posts
     
    I, personally, have never had luck with any sort of automated room correction. I had Dirac room correction in a Theta processor once. I really tried to work with it, trying all sorts of different calibrations and configurations. I could never get it to sound good. It always made the audio sound weird in some way or another. Most of the time it had a weird phasing effect.
    I have found that a very light EQ is great and then do acoustic room treatments for the stuff you can affect. In my own system, the only EQ I do is a -9db cut on the sub frequencies under 30hz. That keeps stuff from rattling too much in my room and you actually don’t hear stuff that low anyways.

    how is your new A21 sounding?
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