2. speakers
  3. 181608-89924

I have NOVA V's and I am not happy

I have a Mark Levinson 585 and a pair of Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V's and although I admittedly have some room acoustic issues that I am working on I am not happy with the sound. 

I listen to music LOUD. This Pairing thru a pair of Kimber Cable 8TC's gets bright in what I think is the 2 to 4 khz range and the sonus faber nova's seem to mute the lower end of female vocals, artist like Macy Gray or Tina Turner dont seem to have the same drive in the lower octaves. At the same time the upper end of vocals like Sheryl Crow can get too bright and cause fatigue (I am assuming this is in the 2 to 4khz range) I have tried every speaker placement you can think of, toe in, toe out. distance from front wall and I am adding acoustic treatments as fast as they can be shipped. 

Here is my question, I had Mark Levinson 436 Mono Blocks in the past connected to a pair of B&W Nautilus 802's thru a pair of MIT Shotgun bi-wire speaker cables and I never noticed that system to be bright. Granted that system was in a different room in a different house. Everyone is telling me that B&W is a brighter sounding  speaker by far over Sonus Faber. If I decide after all my room treatments that I am not a fan of the Sonus Faber sound where should I turn for my replacement speaker? Or is it Mark Levinson's Fault? I want Rich Lush Loud Musical sound. I like a decent sound stage, I also really love it when when you hear decay from the instruments. I don't really care if that's what is neutral or not that's what I like :) 

Where did I go wrong and what can I do to fix it?

Thanks Lee

Ag insider logo xs@2xrlross3
aniwolfe
760 posts
 

@danoroo 

Why is the OP not telling us more about his system? If his source was the problem why wouldn't he fix it with the software himself? He obviously has experience with other types of equipment. Who would pay $18k for a set of speakers and not plan accordingly.

Judging by the OP's answers it doesn't appear he wants any help and by placing the speakers on USAM seals the deal. This is why Audiogon forums is a waste of time...why post if your NOT going to show any effort to fix the issue from recommendations. Very comical indeed .

grislybutter
2,984 posts
 

I have never seen more passive aggressive parenting on a forum. The OP can do whatever he wants with the advice, he is not your kid or slave to follow through with it and do exactly as you say. It's his ear, his equipment, his happiness.

arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,662 posts
 

I saw the asking price on usaudiomart. Not sure who would pay this much for a used pair of speakers. My local dealer will give a better price for brand new, and install it for me as well. But you never know … there’s a sucker born every minute. 

grislybutter
2,984 posts
 

@arafiq it doesn't make a big difference what the asking price is, Half the people will offer 6K and half of them will try to resell it. If he's lucky, someone will be in the market for this exact model, and happily pay 13K

yyzsantabarbara
4,801 posts
 

@rlross3 No one beeching about your placement is really offering you any advice as to how to remedy it. Send me a DM on A’gon and I can direct you to some DSP solutions that will get you excellent sound and you will want to keep your speakers in the exact spot you have them now.

That TV in the back is a big problem though a lot of people do it that way. My buddy has a projection TV in his office (projector cost about $2000). I forgot the tech that was used but he projects the picture to the wall and the projector sits on the floor about 1 foot away from the wall. That is what I would use if I had to have a TV in the middle like that. The picture was very good, or good enough for me.

 

More to discover