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What's next for the ultimate sound quality?

The question may be naive, but I'm not sure what's next to try in the quest for the ultimate sound. I owned the entry level magnepans mmg (didn't like them much for anything but jazz), monitor audio S6 (good all around, imho, but nothing spectacular except for the cheap price tag). Lately I built speakers myself that should supposedly rival the best in the world (ZRT 2.5 from Zaph Audio with Scanspeak drivers)

(design):
http://www.zaphaudio.com/ZRT.html

actual speakers:
http://picasaweb.google.com/grybkin/ZRTSpeakers

The question is what's next? These speakers use one of the best drivers in the world and the best I've heard to date with excellent bass and accurate sound, but soundstage and imaging could be improved (magnepans are better). Also, the sound is a little thin. Am I asking too much, though, from 2 wooden boxes with paper diaphragms in the middle? The speakers are built precisely up to spec and I'm pretty sure that's the way they should sound.

Have I reached the limit where the speakers should be left alone and improving other components can make better returns; e.g, room acoustics and/or amplifier not to mention using quality recordings?

P.S. The receiver I'm currently using is Panasonic SA57 connected to a computer via digital COAX cable and JULI@ sound card. Despite the cheap price, this receiver is great, imho, and sounds better than my NAD 754 (probably because Panasonic is on the bright side and the speakers are warm, so it pairs with them better).

Thanks!
Gleb.
asdf777
s7horton
1,077 posts
 
Don't confuse dollars with quality. There are some pro drivers that are better, but just because they cost several times more than the scans the OP used does not make them better. There are also much more expesive consumer drivers. Accuton, and Audio Technology to name a couple, but the general consensus is that the Scans still come out on top. My personal opinion is that there are better drivers than the Scans, but these two (8531 and 6600) are widely recognized as some of the best for home use - regardless of price.

Zaph is definitely a measurements type of guy. Which is great, I think. He designs first, then listens. Tough to listen while you are designing, that why measurements work.
asdf777 OP
7 posts
 
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of experience with different speakers to compare them with. The best I've heard to date (besides these ones) were monitor audio gold reference 60 ($3K retail). ZRT speakers are a *little* better imho -- they have more airy highs and deeper bass (probably due to silk/paper drivers vs metal ones in MAs). At the same time, it feels like continuation of the same sound -- nothing radically different. Not sure if shelling out $2,500 for a Krell receiver would change the sound much... Or will it? Is it a warm receiver? I feel like these speakers need something bright and pushy. (Which is what Panasonic SA57 is)

Basically, my only problem with these speakers is that when I close my eyes, they don't disappear and sound a little thin -- I'd like to hear a wall of powerful and clean sound but still not there yet... Can the thin sound be due to poor room acoustics -- all the walls and floor are flat and there must be a ton of reflections?

Thanks for your comments, btw!
asdf777 OP
7 posts
 
BTW, the receiver may look dorky and cost less than some of your cables, but it sounds quite amazing: it beats my NAD 754 quite easily in the extended bass range and definition and If you look at this thread down below, there is a post that compares it with sunfire ultimate http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/239777.html
avrij's avatar
avrij
70 posts
 
i would consider a tube amp, maybe a nice little integrated. tubes have a nice way of fleshing out the sound and it may add a nice element to your perception of the speakers as thin. you can get nice amps under a 1k and even under 500$.
asdf777 OP
7 posts
 
Interesting. Tube amp? Never even considered them... To be honest, I thought tube amps were kind of in line with power conditioners and gold cables (i.e., look cool and audiophile, but not really add anything besides design value :) Can they really beat modern all digital receivers? It would be interesting to try, though.

Does anybody know of an audio show in the Chicago area where companies bring hi end equipment? It would be a great experience to attend one of those to at least look at what's out there.
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