Integrated Question

Sorry for delay in response. I was visiting my niece at Charleston Southern Univ. They grow up too fast.

JB71 & Others - I will take your suggestions and continue to play with existing equipment. I have been manipulating speaker/sub placement for awhile. I was thinking about how to address this issue on the drive back to PA. I had previously moved speakers in/out from wall and with distance between. It ended up 45” from front wall and 73” apart. The subs boxes are 5” off of front wall and just inside of main speakers. I tried the subs in the corners and had to dial down subs too much before acceptable. I have the subs set for @70Hz. Room 13x19.

As for tubes, the changes I have heard were more prevalent in the mids and highs. With my preference from Siemens to Holland to stock.

I am still going to listen to other amps. I started with a Parasound A21 with S10 pre and Backert Lab pre. Was ok but did not grab me. Then I tried Prima Luna amp for tube experience. Liked some things but did not grab me. I moved and sold some equipment and new location necessitated that I would go integrated route. I liked some elements of SS and tubes, so I tried a hybrid. 

Like I stated above, I truly enjoy my system except for this one aspect.

Even though Publishers Clearinghouse set me an email stating they have my address, until they knock on my door, I rather not spend another 10k to 15k on audio equipment. When I NEED another Moto Guzzi.

Scott

Scott, 

I also have the same Modwright and just got a Rel subwoofer to help with my large listening room. Exceptional amp with a great phono stage. Still trying to find the perfect speakers to match with them. But the more I listen the less I want to change amps. Next time you are in Chucktown send me a pm. Maybe you could listen to my system for comparison. Joe

@amboguzzi Wrote:

I have the subs set for @70Hz. Room 13x19.

I would try it @80 Hz!

Mike

The Bel Canto Black EX has high and low pass filters, a definite plus for controlling subs.

I’ve never owned or heard any Totem speakers but some internet sleuthing seems to show that, according to the manufacturer, the speakers have a minimum  impedance of 6 ohms.  That doesn’t seem to be a hard speaker to drive.  The trouble shooting guide suggests to check the speaker connection polarity if bass or imaging is an issue.  Maybe take some room measurements using a mic and software to see if you’re sitting in a null space.  My mic cost $100 (Umik-1) and the REW software is free.  I had one room with no treatment that had bass nulls where I was sitting but plenty of bass stacked up at the front and back walls.  My new room has been treated some and it helped clean up bass response.  However, I’ve taken some measurements that show a bump around 40-50Hz so there is more to do.  All that said I know you can’t treat your room but getting a good idea of what your room is doing before you spaff $$$$ on a new SS integrated might be worth the effort.  Once you know what the room is doing speaker placement tweaks might help as well.  Also, it’s only one 6.5” driver so are you possibly expecting more than what the speaker can reasonably be expected to deliver?