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need amp recommendations for more separation of instruments

I've noticed that if I play music that only has a few instruments playing at the same time it generally sounds great, but, if it's got a lot of instruments playing different parts at the same time it all mushes together and you can't hear the individual instruments clearly. My current rig is a NAD M10 and Focal Aria 948s. At a store, I heard 948s paired with a front end costing about $100,000 and that system did not have this problem, at least it not to my ears. That tells me that with really good electronics this problem can be greatly reduced and that the problem is more with my electronics than it is with my speakers. But $100k is out of my budget. My questions are:

  1. Are there some classes or types of amplification that are notably better at getting separation between instruments in complex music?

2.  Are there some brands that are notably better at getting separation between instruments in complex music?

3.   How much would I need to spend to get something that solves this specific problem notably better than my NAD M10?

4. How much would I need to spend to get something that's a really good solution, where I probably wouldn't notice the problem unless I went out of my way to listen for it? (I know, this differs between people, but I'm still interested in your opinion).

Thanks,

ahuvia
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,742 posts
 

How big is your room? How far are your speakers from your ears? How fat are they apart? How far are they from the front wall? How far are you from the back wall? Do you have a carpeted floor? 
The questions can go on, but your room and the position of your speakers is where I’d start.

dweller's avatar
dweller
3,785 posts
 

My Oppo, BAT, Wireworld, B&W Diamond rig excels at this kind of definition. I believe it’s called "dynamics". Usually we think of dynamics as music going from soft to loud (which it is). Dynamics also means the softest sounds VS the loudest sounds found in the music. Your system must have the capability in each chain-link to do what you are wanting.

mihorn
511 posts
 

In my experience the quality of "more separation of instruments" depends more on the source than amps. The source must generate a good signal to amps to perform. 

By OP  2.  Are there some brands that are notably better at getting separation between instruments in complex music?

3.   How much would I need to spend to get something that solves this specific problem notably better than my NAD M10?

I am not sure if the sound in below video can be as good as $100k system you heard. 

For your info, whole system in the video is $30k. The integrate amp (IC cable included) is $10k.

Original video

 

Wavetouch sound 

 

Alex / Wavetouch audio

bimmerman2's avatar
bimmerman2
86 posts
 

Having owned a pair, I’d suggest an amplifier that can handle the Arias 2.5 ohm minimum impedance, which many, especially integrateds, can’t. Also placement, Focals need very little toe in to image their best. The suggestions for room treatments are also on target. 

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

At a store, I heard 948s paired with a front end costing about $100,000 and that system did not have this problem, at least it not to my ears. That tells me that with really good electronics this problem can be greatly reduced and that the problem is more with my electronics than it is with my speakers. …

A good salesman should want to do everything to make the more expensive gear sound better in the store. Speaker placement and wall treatments would be a couple of ways to aid in that.

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