2. speakers
  3. 1427424916

Can't get Acoustic Zen Adagios to sound smooth

I have owned a pair of Acoustic Zen Adagios speakers for over 4 years. They can sound very good, BUT also have a HARD AND UNSMOOTH sound when playing certain CD's. I have changed electronics from separates to an integrated amp, and recently purchased a Ayre CX-7e to replace a Rega Apollo. The Ayre easily highlights the limitations of the Rega player and outperforms it.

Nevertheless, the hard and unsmooth sound seems to prevail. It can also sound like an acoustic overtone, and (I think )the music looses its bloom or musicality. The current living space is well damped with maps,and rug hangings on the walls. I also have two 6 ft tall bookcases that contain only 70% less books than my previous apartment These shelves are in the corner, perpendicular to the speaker on each side of the room.

I encountered this problem before in a different and smaller living space.

I also recently changed speakers cables from a 4 year old pair of Audio Art SC-5 to a brand new pair of Grover Huffman which seemed to be slowly breaking in and are more detailed than the AA cable. I also replaced the standard wimpy power cord of the Ayre player with Panagea's new 14SE MKII power cord designed for just components, not amps. The Panagea PC is excellent, and has dropped the noise floor allowing for more detail to emerge. I drive the Adagios with the Rogue Sphinx hybrid integrated amp (100RMS)whose PC was replaced by an Acoustic Zen Tsumani Plus power cord.

I am beginning to wonder if there is another speaker that might provide a smoother top end performance and still have the taut bass, and detailed mids of the Adagios. Will appreciate all and any advice, even new speaker recommendations. Thank you
sunnyjim
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
(I had a pair of 1C about 10 years ago. Nice speaker, but disagreeable owner.))
Jim,
Maybe you caught the man with a question that was in the owners manual hey everybody has a bad day, try and get over it. Its my observation that most brilliant people that are self driven have little tolerance with redundancy, it boils them.
My own Chiropractor is the same way yet there is no one that I trust more with my spinal chord as much as he.

((In addition, the Vandy 2C's are too big and bulky,))

If you let vanity dictate over performance your missing the boat with true performance and could be chasing your tail for another 10 years.
The latest 2 CE Sig II is a mini monitor head disappears better than a box,connected to a sophisticated full range system with clarity detail magic and smoothness few other speakers offer even at 3 times the price.
You get what you pay for.
JohnnyR
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
I'll agree with those who say that the quality of a CD is inconsistent and may be your problem. But I would propose rolling the preamp tubes in your Sphinx. Have you tried using NOS tubes? There are many brands such as RCA and Mullard which have a classic tube sound and would remove any "brightness" from the amp.
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
"Maybe you caught the man with a question that was in the owners manual hey everybody has a bad day, try and get over it."

No, that's pretty much how he is. Not saying that there is anything wrong with it, but don't try to sugarcoat it. Richard isn't a pleasant person to talk to on the phone.

Shakey
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
((Richard isn't a pleasant person to talk to on the phone.))
Logic driven folks like to get strait to the point and deal with the facts,and find a solid solution,Done get it Done.
Thats the way his company works for 30 years and it works well.
Now Shaky put your self in his spot for just a minuet
an remember to be successful ya need to be efficient by not wasting time, curious George calls asking a question that's already answered in the owners manual and George gets told to read the manual knowing he was wrong but cant admit it. No big deal to a man who understands this logic
he is cool and moves on.
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Jim, I agree with Lowrider and Soix that one of the first things that should be done is to try different 12AU7's in your Sphinx. FWIW, among currently produced tubes I've had excellent results, although in a completely different application, with the Genalex Gold Lion reissue.

Also, given that the Sphinx provides a headphone output (which I note BTW does not have the two tubes within its signal path), it may be helpful in diagnosing the perhaps multiple contributors to the issue to purchase an inexpensive pair of headphones. The Sony MDR-7506, which I own and which is widely used in pro audio and video applications, is surprisingly good in relation to its $85 price. Although as might be expected there is no comparison to my Stax's.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
More to discover