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Need more slam! Help!

Hi all,

For the most part I am very happy with my current system. I’m still pretty new at the hobby, been about 3 years or so but in that time I feel that I’ve been able to cobble together a pretty nice system.
I currently have a vpi prime scout with an ortofon 2m black cartridge running to a musical surroundings phonomena to a rogue rp1 preamp, to rogue st90 amp and concluding with vandersteen model 3 signatures. Audioquest diamond back interconnects and kimbercable speaker wire.

First, here’s what I love about my setup - huge soundstage, really open and three dimensional. And this is probably what I find most exciting in home audio reproduction, I love feeling as if I’m looking at the stage from the third row and can pick out where everyone is, truly magic to have that feeling from the living room couch. I am pleased with the speed and accuracy of my system, it feels very articulate and controlled.
Now for what I’m yearning for, basically just more omph. I want a lot more snap on a snare hit, I want to feel the music more in a physical sense. I guess you could describe this as a more “live” sound but that’s not exactly what I mean. I really just want some more slam. Where should I be targeting, thinking power amp? Thanks in advance!
128x128sammyshaps
avanti1960
1,458 posts
 
sammy, 
i have been in your situation with similar rogue audio amplification.
there are a few things working against you at the moment.
1, your vandersteen speakers have a flat, neutral response while most speakers do have a bass peak in the bass and midbass area.  
adding more power will not add more slam.  
2, the rogue rp1 has only 3db of gain.  i had the rogue rh5 which had adjustable gain, 3db, 12db and 16db.  the 3db setting was very soft and flat, lacking dynamics.  the 12db setting was awesome!
i highly recommend a preamp with more gain at some point. 
however there are some measures you can take.
a, put some brimar 12au7 in the rp1.  i added them to the rh5 and bass slam was improved noticeably, again altering the flatness in your speakers response.  upscale audio has good deals.  
b, a rel subwoofer.  i have 2 rel t9i in my system. they are musical, seamless and easy to integrate and provide a good amount of heft. 
they will not step on that famous rogue image and will add to the already spacious rogue sound stage.  
fyi even with the rogue stereo 100 and parasound a21+, the rogue rh5 linestage sounded lifeless at 3db gain.  that is your main issue.  
peace and good luck!
sammyshaps's avatar
sammyshaps OP
43 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses! Definitely going to check out active subwoofers. 

And thanks @avanti1960 for the advice. I will definitely try out the brimars. And interesting point about the rp1, that limitation hadn't crossed my mind.
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,874 posts
 
@ sammyshaps, The Rogue RP-1 preamp line stage gain is 7dB and the RP-5 is 10 dB gain. :-)
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,085 posts
 
You need a solid state amp with balls try a Passlabs 250
thst will work out great with a tube preamp , even a 150
reno audio has a lot of excellent deals.
dill
2,513 posts
 
You might check if your stylus rake angle is too low. If you can adjust the height of your tonearm, put the stylus on the lead in track with the platter stationary. With a magnifying glass and a flashlight, look at the cantilever and the top of the diamond. If the rear is lower than level, move the arm up so the top of the diamond is parallel or the rear ever so slightly higher than the surface of the record. This might give you a bit more slam.
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