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Non-audiophile needs help with older system.

I recently inherited a number of 10-15 year old high end audio components. I am not an audiophile but do appreciate high end sound. I do not have a dedicated room for this system. But, it was free and I'd like to figure out how to use it without spending a lot of money on it. I am not looking for audio perfection, just to optimize what I have. This will be used for two-channel music only. I'll try to describe the setup as best I can but I'm sure I do not know the proper terminology.

The components are as follows:

Pair of Aerial Acoustics floor speakers. Towers. No model number. I'm thinking 7B maybe. Have contacted Aerial to see if they can help me identify them. They have a tweeter, midrange and two woofers. Rear bass port. Separate connectors for woofers and midrange/tweeter. 

Madrigal Proceed HPA 2 amp. 250 watts. Weighs a ton.There are very large shielded(?) 'biamped'(?) cables from the amp to the speakers.

Audio Research LS16 Stereo PreAmp. There are large shielded XLR cables from the pre amp to the amp.

Onkyo home theater 'receiver' that I do not like. Remote is lost. Set up is tedious.

There is a very basic Arcam CD player and a Sony phono.

I've got it all hooked up. Bass seemed poor just running CD through pre-amp. If I run CD player to Onkyo to pre amp and adjust bass with Onkyo the sound is incredible (to me).

This system will be used for casual listening, CDs, records, radio, and iTunes via cell phone. I know that is like using a Porsche 911 to get groceries....but it was free. And there will be times when I can sit down for serious listening but that will be infrequent.

I plan on replacing the Onkyo home theater receiver with a basic FM Tuner/Bluetooth/receiver (probably a Sony). This will be for radio and iTunes so even though it is probably not a quality unit I don't think that will matter since the input (iTunes) won't be all that great anyway.

My main questions have to do with how to route the CD, the tuner and the phone through the system.

The preamp has RCA input connectors for all three. But if I run the CD and the phono directly through the preamp there is no way to adjust bass and treble and as mentioned running the CD directly through the preamp resulted in great high and midrange quality but low bass. So should I run the CD and phono into the receiver I'm going to buy and then just run the receiver out to the preamp in?

Sorry for the long post and appreciate any help you guys can give.

George


n80
n80 OP
2,133 posts
 
Thanks djohnson54, I do think that was what was happening.

On another forum, not really an audio forum, I was told that I could not run a combo tuner/receiver/amp through the LS16 preamp. But, the LS16 (I've determined that mine is the MKII) has a set of RCA inputs marked "Processor". That is what I ran the Onkyo home theater unit through. Is there any reason I can't use the Sony tuner/receiver plugged into the "Processor" inputs to get radio and phono (until I purchase a dedicated phono preamp)? In other words, I know it sounds okay to my untrained ear, but will it hurt anything running a 100 watt receiver into the LS16 preamp?

Sorry about all the stupid questions but this high end stuff can get overwhelming.
mcreyn
293 posts
 
N80,

It sounds like most of the issue you are having with the system is that you are used to a certain sound and it is taking time for you to adjust to this new, arguably better system.  It seems you have it at least tentatively set up properly.  The components you have received, are all great quality and the speakers should have plenty of bass.  Here are my additional suggestions:

1)  It appears your pre-amp has a tape loop.  For $149, you can buy a Schiit Loki, which is an eq that runs in the tape loop.  http://www.schiit.com/products/loki  I caution you however, to limit how much bass boost you add, as you can end up overdriving the speakers or clipping the amp.  If you are listening at low levels, the ear is less sensitive to bass and many will use something like this to restore the perceived loss of bass at lower levels.  The term for this change is called the Fletcher-Munson curve if you wish to read about it.  You could also always add a subwoofer later if you want (Rythmik is my suggestion).  

2)  Please take that Onkyo receiver out the loop.  It is not helping anything and adding to your issues.  For the turntable, you can get a phono preamp that will work better than the one built into the Onkyo for $50.  Try the Art Pro Audio DJPREII or RollsVP29.

3)  Radio Tuner-  Nobody want's them anymore.  I just gave away a great Proton Tuner.  You can find them on craigslist for a song. 

4)  Bluetooth/Music Streaming-  You will likely notice that Bluetooth from your phone doesn't sound great.  If you have internet at your Cabin, take a look at a Google Chromecast audio for $25.00. It will let you stream from your phone and most music streaming services.  If at some point in the future, you want better sound from it, add an outboard DAC.  You can get perfectly decent ones from $100 (Schiit Mani is my suggestion for that price) up to ones that cost more than a car.  

5)  Cables to hook it up-  For your needs, don't go spending a lot.  There is a company on Amazon named "Worlds Best Cables" that sells some great value cables for about $20-30 a pair.  Otherwise, Amazon Basics or Monoprice RCA cables will get the job done for even less money. 

6)  As others have said, have fun with it.  You have been given something great.  For less than $350 you can configure it to work how you want it to.       
mcreyn
293 posts
 
" On another forum, not really an audio forum, I was told that I could not run a combo tuner/receiver/amp through the LS16 preamp. But, the LS16 (I’ve determined that mine is the MKII) has a set of RCA inputs marked "Processor". That is what I ran the Onkyo home theater unit through. Is there any reason I can’t use the Sony tuner/receiver plugged into the "Processor" inputs to get radio and phono (until I purchase a dedicated phono preamp)? In other words, I know it sounds okay to my untrained ear, but will it hurt anything running a 100 watt receiver into the LS16 preamp?"

This should work ok, subject to a couple of items:

1) Does the receiver have a pre-out? It will say pre-out or preamp out and have RCA’s. If yes, you can use the processor inputs, and the receiver will act as the phono preamp and tuner, with it controlling the volume.

2) If the receiver DOES NOT have pre-outs, you will have pull the signal from a tape out and route it to a regular input on the ARC. If this is case, DO NOT use the processor loop on the ARC, as the processor loop removes the volume control from the circuit and will result in full volume going to the speakers with no control from the receiver or the pre-amp. In this case, using the tape out from the receiver, the ARC would be the volume control.

Keep in mind, when you run a signal from the RCA’s, you are not coming off the amplifier in the receiver, so the power output of the receiver becomes irrelevant.
skywachr
124 posts
 
mcreyn, you've done a great service to the OP here. Kudos to you!
pkvintage's avatar
pkvintage
209 posts
 
You have a very nice system there. It will sound awsome when the bugs are worked out. Here is my advice. 

1st Forget the Onkyo receiver. There is a reason high end Audio gear does not have tone controls. You will not need them. Promise. Your amp and pre FAR exceed that unit in quality. 

2nd Get the tubes checked out.

3rd buy a used tuner. Under $50

4th google images Arial Acoustic speakers. You will probably see them there then you will know the model.

5th get a DAC under $300.00 for your purposes should do it. Ask advice on this here. You can then play high quality FLAC files and run all you music off a cheap laptop. Upgrade the DAC if you get the bug it is worth it. 

You amp was/is a devision of Mark Levinson and will not need recapping. 
Your speakers, I doubt need recapping. Most likely all poly caps or a form of. 
The AR is very good  but it could need tubes. 

If you explore vinyl, under $500.00 including cartridge will get you a very nice TT. Ask for advice. 

Most CD players sound the same unless you are spending pretty good money on them so why bother. Rip your Cd's to your computer in Flac and enjoy. 

You have a system to be proud of there. Get it working right and you will thoroughly enjoy it. 

You dont have to spend a fortune to get great sound. 

PK


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