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All Benchmark System Question

Long time lurker, first time poster. So question relates to my all Benchmark System. I am using the all Benchmark system (AHB2, HPA-4 and DAC 3B with my P3SER’s and loving it most of the time. But if I wanted to add a little more warmth for that 20 percent of the time I think I need to, What would be the best way to do that. My thoughts are maybe switching out the DAC 3B some of the time with an Audio Mirror Troubador, keeping the rest of the system the same. My other, more expensive thought is to leave the DAC 3B and i swapping in the Coda 07x part of the time as I have heard the AHB2 and Coda 07x is a great combination. Obviously that is an expensive fix for 20-30 percent of my listening.
What do you people think?
regg
pedroeb
493 posts
 
What is a warm sound and why would you ever want it?

From what I've been able to determine it seems pure sound is often though of as being too clinal so it's important to add some warmth, which seems to suggests a warm sound is modified or contaminated.

If certain frequencies are considered too harsh then it likely to be an issue with the equipment and a so called warm sound is never going to be the answer.

As a side note: Audyssey can set incorrect speaker distances in an attempt to fix room issues, but in doing so inadvertently creates a harsh sound. Even a tape measure can be inaccurate, so a laser measurement is worthwhile investment.
regg OP
32 posts
 
@pedroeb, I don’t think of music as sounding “warm” or “harsh”, just different. I used to have a CJ amp with a Sumo Athena pre and when I switched to Benchmark it was night and Day. The Benchmark system retrieves more detail and the CJ system was more fluid I guess. I don’t ever want to change out my Benchmark System/I love it. Only wondering if sometimes I want a different flavor, what’s the best way to do it without changing the whole system, but rather swapping in a different DAC or preamp?
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
regg, you have two choices. Changing loudspeakers or adding digital EQ to your system. The DEQX hp-5 would be perfect with your Benchmark equipment. You would not need the DAC anymore as there are excellent DACs in the DEQX. You also gain digital bass management should you ever want to do subwoofers. With digital EQ you get room control then you can EQ the sound to get whatever you like. Boosting 150 to 300 Hz just a dB or two will add that warmth. Changing DACs will do nothing. Your sound is all about the speakers and the room. The AHB2 is one of my favorite amps. Huge value.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
I can’t help but think that there’s a market for more powerful, beefier Benchmark “AHB3’s(?)” that can handle more power demanding, lower impedance loads.
regg OP
32 posts
 
DEQX HP-5? Never heard of it. Anybody else use it? @mijostyn do you really feel switching out DACs won’t make any difference? Seems like others have spent a lot of time and money switching out DAC’s to get a more “analogue” sound seemingly with success. Again, I think my all Benchmark system is killer, especially with the somewhat warm P3SER’s, but sometimes I would like to hear a different flavor.
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