2. amps-preamps
  3. 1233535547

Why Can't I Get The Right Sound? Krell pre + PSB's

I had a Rotel RC 1070 and an RB 1070 with a pair of B&W DM 602s3 Book shelf Speakers.
I liked the sound compaired to my Denon reciever and Klipsch KG 5.5's (LOL) First home stereo.

But the problem that sent me searching for a better system was not enough bass in certain demanding recordings. Also I felt there was not enough detail coming from the Preamp to sound at all real. I went looking for a sub and was talked into a bigger pair of floor standing speakers, amp, CD/DVD player and preamp.
I switched up everything for some equipment that I thought was going to fix everything. If I can remember a year back correctly, it was great in the sound room with the HiFi shop's CD. It must have been...

I bought a Krell KRC3 Pre amp, (used $1,300)
PSB Goldi speakers, (used $700)
Arcam P80 power amp (used $600)
DV78 DVD/CD Player (used$700)
all this used equipment was in outstanding condition and still is.
I also bought some Transparent audio cable for pre to amp and TARA Labs from DVD/CD Analog to Preamp.

Can anyone tell me why I can't seem to get the volume of bass and mid?
It sounds to me like I can hear everything in the recording (much more than ever before) but all the low and low mid frequencies are quieter than they should be.
Either that or the high mids and highs are turned up louder than normal. I was told by the retailer that my speaker placement was the problem.

Placement seemed to make sense because there are nice fat bass tones in areas outside the listening area.
Like, for example, if you stand up in front of the couch, there is far more bass than if you sit down. The end of the hall and the kitchen, the dining room and the bedroom. In fact all over in very little spots, there are tiny bass pockets, except where I want them.

So over the next - 9 MONTHS! - I moved the speakers around, and around,and around and around and...so on
Nearer the wall (like we all know) had more bass, but no mid and shrill highs; further in, nicer mids but no bass. I played with the width, toe in and distance from the back wall but nothing like what I feel I should be getting. Nothing like what I think I remember hearing when I got them. (I think you get the picture.)

Sad thing is, my old Rotel and B&W system had more impact! Not the clarity but much more Bass and deep, thick, mids. I guess they're using a lot of un-natural compression and boosting to acieve that but it sure had some thump ...
I miss that! No thump here )c: It this is the way music really sounds, then give me the compression and frequency boosting. (c;

Is the Preamp supposed to sound like that, or is it something to do with the speakers? or amp?
Anyone got any Ideas?

Thanks for your input...
Going crazy!

sorry for the long one (c;
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xrich007
rich007's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rich007 OP
6 posts
 
All the Bass haters:
I don't like overly boosted low frequencies either, but I think thats a matter of taste and not something any educated person would try to define as a good or bad thing.

However, if you go back and 'read' instead of jumping on the bass hating wagon you'll see, I was looking for a balance of bass, mid and highs. Like I said, it sounds like the low frequencies are turned down. I have heard the playback over nice Ayre, Wilson Audio and Musical Fidelity systems and the before mentioned elements in the recording were far more present. I also listened to the same recording over Grado Headphones and found them to be a bit too boomy in the low mid.

Don't lecture people on what you 'think' they mean, before you get your facts all ironed out.
Take a little time to realize we are all just the same as you, hearing things differently but we know what we think sounds good or bad. You don't have the only pair of perfect ears on the planet. Get your head out of your bum, you just sound dum. I'm sure people will like you more if you do (c;

cheers!

Oh and thanks to the rest of you for all your help and emails.
sufentanil's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
sufentanil
782 posts
 
Rich, a friend of mine whose opinions I trust said that the best pairing he's heard with the Gold's is an old Carver Lightspeed high-current amp. You should be able to get one at a reasonable price used. Just an option to consider.

The Gold's can produce some very prodigious bass. It's a very good full-range speaker, I might add. But you need the electronics to drive it properly to get teh full benefit from it. I once heard it with a big Krell amp and it was stunning.

Good luck,

Michael
kcgumbohead
28 posts
 
The gear sounded good at the dealers shop and I am guessing that it is a treated enviorment, at least to some degree. I had the exact, EXACT same issue when I went from my first rig (NAD/NHT)to my second, I am on sytsem #3 now and heres what I learned. A big improvement came with a DAC-1, that whole thing about cleaning up jitter is for real and the entire freq. spectrum benefits. Placement, my current speakers have been zeroing in on a final position over the last few months and mid/bass was what needed dialing in. The biggest issue and FYI I am in a small room which is tough to dial in right off the bat with hardwood floores, room treatments brought the room from unlistenable to a level where I love to spend time there and can appreciate the sublte differences slight positional changes make. I happen to use the GIK stuff and they are local so I had the benifit of being able to visit there but plenty of resources exist to assist with room evaluation. You will not regret treating your listening space particularly the corners.I put corner busters in all the ceiling corners as well. It sounds like you are sitting in a null where the lower freqs cancel out, no amount of power fixes that. Once you treat the room if the rig is still missing some "meat" there are plenty of powerhouse amps that will kick your speakers in the ass. I went from an ATI to a Bryston 4BST years ago and heard more impact immediately. Best of luck, I feel your pain but once you have it sorted out, you will be happier that ever.
More to discover