2. amps-preamps
  3. 1213568119

I Feel Overwhelmed....Please Help

Hello, all.

I have recently decided to begin upgrading to stereo components around the entry level audiophile range, and move away from home theater stuff. I need help, as I had no idea until I began recently researching modern amps, preamps, integrateds, etc, just how huge the selection there is available.

Currently, I have the following:

Harman Kardon AVR 235 A/V receiver
Front L&R channels:
50 Watts per channel
@ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms

Harman Kardon FL 8385 CD Changer

Klipsch KG 5.5 Floorstanding Speakers
frequency response 34Hz-20kHz±3dB
power handling 100 watts maximum continuous (500 watts peak)
sensitivity 98dB @ 1watt/1meter
nominal impedance 8 ohms
tweeter K-85-K 1" (2.54cm) Polymer dome compression driver
high frequency horn 90°x60° Tractrix® Horn
woofer Two K-1023-K 10" (25.4cm) Injected Carbon Graphite cones
Bass reflex via front-mounted port

Grado Labs SR325 Headphones

I use the receiver strictly for stereo music playback with my HK CD changer, or I play .flac or .mp3 files via input to the receiver from my computer sound cards optical digital output.

I want to keep my Klipsch speakers for now, along with my Grado cans, which I love. OTOH, I have not been particularly happy with the two HK components. Although the sound is not totally bad, it is a tad too bright, and it is fatiguing to listen over long periods of time. My room acoustics are not ideal either, with hardwood floors and drywall throughout. The listening rooms dimensions are 14'x13', with speaker placement along and near the corners of the 13' wall. At present, I cannot afford any of the acoustic treatments I see on the various internet sites.

From what I have seen so far, I think I would favor the warm, rich, clear sound of tube components. My Klipsch speakers are highly efficient at 8 ohms, so I should not need higher power, but I don't want to lose bass response either. I have not had much experience listening to higher end audio, but I really loved the sound of a friends McIntosh receiver (late 70's vintage), and another friends 60's vintage tubed HH Scott receiver, both systems paired with matching speaker pairs of the same brands respectively. Those experiences are why I believe I should really consider tube amps.

Would someone please be so kind as to suggest components that would allow me to play CD, CD-R, and digital music files based upon what I stated above? I suppose I could do without the ability to directly play back the digital files, but a CD player is a must have. Oh yeah, my budget is up to $3000, but I want to get as much as I can for the best possible price under that ceiling. Thanks.
chap_cat
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Great report, thanks for getting back to us.

You'll gain another 5% or so with burn-in, generally. Some systems sound horrible right out of the box and gain a bunch, but the ones that sound good out of the box usually only gain a little more.

If you'd wanted bass, you should have gone SS!! Just kidding, kind of... ;-) (The tube-hugging, tube-rollers will help you improve your sound with some different tubes, just don't expect ALL the bass).

Dave
abucktwoeighty's avatar
abucktwoeighty
1,079 posts
 
Chap_cat, I just removed a Virtual Dynamics Power 3 power cord from my Jolida JD100 CDP because it improved the bass too much, for my system. Check out my system link. With the original power cord in place, the bass has mellowed back to normal. If you're looking for more bass, you may want to try one. I have 2 I'm not using at this time.
phaelon
1,049 posts
 
Speaking from the tube-hugger corner, I would advise you to wait a little before exploring new tubes - make sure everything is broken in first, and that you have whatever isolation you chose, optimally positioned, etc. It's great that you're happy right out of the box so there's no need to rush anything. For me, there is the first impression of new components followed later(sometimes quite a bit) with the much more useful assessment needed to make beneficial adjustments.
mrjstark
1,112 posts
 
I agree with above suggestion. Behaviour of new gear can be deceiving while breaking in. Give it some time to settle in.
Get to know your new gear, and only then evaluate its weak and strong points. Address the isuess accordingly, either by tube rolling, cable tunning (Morrow spk. cables are know to excell in bass, mids - OK, hights OK) or isolation and vibration control tweaks to help you get the sound you want.
It might be also nessecary to reposition your speakers and add some acoustic treatments.

But for now.........just wait and enjoy it.

Cheers

Mariusz
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Mariusz is right, the speaker positioning can have a ton of impact on bass. Don't be afraid to move them back closer to the rear wall.

Dave
More to discover