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Looking to improve my system

I have been a member for a while and check the forum listings daily. My first posting. Looking for some advice on tweaking / improving my system which I started a couple of years ago

Before this I had a Denon amp, CD player and some JBL 4412 speakers inherited from my father-in-law, RIP.

My current system is


Primaluna EVO 400 and  Arcam A49

Q-Acoustic Concept 500 speakers

LKS MH-DA004 DAC

Bluesound Node 2i

Pro-ject Carbon Espirt SB turntable


QED XT40 speaker cables.

Blue Jean coax and RCA

Audioquest Yukon XLR

Signal Power Cable on the amp (can't remember which one but cost about $100)

The other components are using original power cables.  

Furman PL-Plus-C

GIK acoustic panels (bass traps in back corners. 7 other panels in the room)


The room is 12 X 19. 8 foot high ceilings. I sit on the long wall so I’m about 8 feet from the speakers. The speakers are an equal distance from the side walls. Today they are about 7.5 feet apart and toed in slightly. 15 inches from the wall


Mostly listen to the Bluesound either streaming through Amazon or Neil Young Archives and a hard drive or Network drive which contains my many CDs ripped to FLAC files through EAC. Very little vinyl.

My musical tastes vary

Classic jazz - MIles Davis, Art Blakey, Bill Evans but also Joshua Redman and Diana Krall

Classic and Grunge Rock - Stones, Beatles, Pink FLoyd, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, DIre Straits, Pearl Jam, Alixce in Chains

Acoustic music - David Grisman / Jerry Garcia Bob Dylan, Bluegrass, Neil Young.

Indie Music - Ryan Adams, Bon Iver, Lord Huron


So what is the problem? Not really sure. There are moments that are really good, but to be honest it seems never as good as a live performance.  (Not sure if you can really  reproduce the live experience and I have been to poor sounding live shows )  I would  say it does depend on the recording. Talking Heads -Stop Making Sense Psycho KIller and David Grisman / Jerry Garcia The Thrill is gone recordings are great. Miles Davis- Kinda Blue and BIll Evans -Sunday and the VIllage Vanguard are really good. But much of the rock music and indie stuff (except maybe for Bon Iver) can be lacking.


What is the problem? Not always sure but maybe a separation of instruments, or that some instruments get lost and others are too prominent. In the Miles Davis song “So What” I  love to listen to the bass, drums and piano in the background while the sax and trumpet are playing. Sometimes, even in that song, those background instruments get lost, especially the drums. Rock music is worse, Seems like no separation. Just generalizing here.  I would almost rather listen to this music in my car.

Also some music can sound harsh, at times. What I want is to not be thinking about the system but just enjoy the music and feel like I’m being enveloped by the sound. To not just hear the sound but feel it.


I feel I am set with my amps. I want the Concept 500 speakers to work but also looking at the Klipsch Forte III. (I think the Cornwall IV are too big?) Or maybe something else? Also not sure if I would change the DAC or streamer. Have looked at the Furman Elite15 PC but not sure if I want to go that way. I plan on adding a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Not sure about adding higher end cables. I don’t want to re-ignite a battle. While I can’t wrap my head around some of those cable upgrades it is more from lack of experience. I wish I could compare speaker wire, connectors and power cables, just not sure how. There was a suggestion from GIK to add some additional panels to the ceiling and more bass traps high on the back wall .


Sorry for the long post, I know there are a lot of you out there with so much experience and knowledge and I will take all suggestions openly. If there is anything I have taken from reading the posts in this forum, it's that people are passionate about their music.



stalajkowski
dayglow
1,832 posts
 
I dont know if the Arcam or Evo 400 can be used as a pre or power amp only check your owners manual. Was not sure if the Evo 400 was a pre or integrated amp. Yes your option of different speaker placement is a free tweek that could improve SQ. Try to pull Concept 500 30 inches out from wall and 2 ft. from sidewall if possible. If your looking to improve or create a more energenic "live" sound and improve rock recordings try Nordost or silver infused cables that should improve speed and clarity. I know cables are expensive but look at them as a component not just an add on. Do your research and enjoy the journey!

dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Lived it...many times.  Haste will cost you dearly.  You have good stuff so let’s work with it from the wall out:). First rule, amp goes into wall directly.  Most power conditioners effect the sound negatively.  Trial and error there.  Signal Cable has some value but not on the amp.  Try a no risk Anticables PC.  Next, if there is any pure silver connections, remove and replace.  Try Anticables L3 Speaker cables...they will scare you into believing you are in the club!  Better power cords for amplification and Digital a must...Furman ugh:(. Transparent Reference Cord on digital source is beyond words..glorious!  Transparent Plus level IC’s are an amazing value and will get rid of the grunge.  That’s enough for now.  Oh, BTW...speakers on long wall is better with seating against opposing wall.  Eliminates standing waves quite well👌🏻
sudnh
87 posts
 
I see you have quite a few responses...

The couple of folks who tell you to ignore the first responder who recommended power cables, getting the cables off the floor, etc are wrong and appear to be mid-fi hobbyists if they haven’t experimented with power cables and elevating cables and doing a close listen on what they hear.

Power cables make a significant difference in lowering noise floor which results in better separation of instruments, a more robust fuller sound, and extended low end as a few examples of improvements that can be heard.

I and my circle of audiophile friends have tried many commercial and DIY power cables. The difference are quite noticeable even on entry level high-end components but the better the audio system the more obvious the sound improvements. It defies explanation but is quite audible if you are a care full listening audiophile.

Raising the cables (all cables including speaker and interconnect and power) off the floor is much more subtle effect and what’s audible is a clear up phasiness of the sound making instruments and voices sound more whole.

You don’t need expensive Cable elevators. I tie fishing line from my ceiling (because I am in a basement, best place for a high end system is a concrete floor, if you are able). you could use wood blocks, etc every foot or so to get the cables a couple of inches off the floor. I have a mid level high-end system and raising all my cables off the floor made a subtle but tangible audible difference in coherence of the music instruments and vocals.



Other tweak thoughts that improve sound
1) Speakers and electronics on tiptoes
2) hanging soft material on walls to cut down on reflections, particularly behind you speakers.
3) Speakers moved away from the back walls and about 9 feet apart and then move them closer or further in separation until you hear more of a wall of sound rather than the individual speakers
4) Use Deoxit on your connectors

perazzi28's avatar
perazzi28
227 posts
 
I have a dedicated 2 channel hi-fi room with the speakers on the long wall as you do. L= 12'3" x W= 11'7" Main ceiling is nearly 11' with a recessed tray ceiling going an additional foot up.  The front of each speaker is 30.5" from the back wall & they are about 56" apart (inside edge of each), 3' from the side walls.
I have a 12" subwoofer in the right front corner of the room.  Mono Block amps and a fine preamp as well. To say that they image well would be a colossal understatement.   That is true for vinyl and digital audio...which for me is limited to either my custom made silent high definition audio PC with a phenomenal sound card or streaming from my android.
Try experimenting with bringing the speakers closer together and probably closer to the back wall.... in small increments and abort the toe-in as you do.  You should achieve near perfection when you are in the center of the triangle formed by the loudspeakers.  You will probably have to move your listening position closer than it is now.
If you still feel that you can't achieve the results that you desire...upgrading may be your path.  I have never regretted spending $ on good electronics mated to the proper speakers.
Connectors are best treated with Stabilant 22A formerly known as Tweak (from DW Electrochemicals).
Best of luck
gkr7007's avatar
gkr7007
147 posts
 
Consider lowering the noise floor and power conditioning.  I've become a huge fan of High Fidelity Cables stuff.  Huge air, depth, clarity, soundstage, and reduction of noise.  Stunning results.
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