How can i improve my setup?

[LightZY]

Hi all, recently i've managed to set aside a sum of money to upgrade my setup (finally).

My current setup consists of,

Cambridge Audio 640c V2 -> Straightwire Encore II (Interconnects) -> Musical Fidelity X-T100 Tube integrated amp -> Soundstring speaker cable -> Dynaudio Focus 140

I find the depth and soundstaging of the sound isn't really what i expected but imaging is pretty ok-ok. Transparency wise still manageable. Dynamics wise i find it lacking.

My room dimensions are 2.6 X 4.6m.

The speakers are about 1.45m apart. As my room is rectangular shaped, the speakers are on the shorter side of the wall, which is the 2.6m side.

As i've read that the distance between the speakers should be equal to the distance between the listening position, i normally sit at around 1.65m away.


So, with the budget of around 3k USD, i hope the gurus of Hi-Fis here would kindly advice me on which direction should i go? Anyway, i've thought of going the pre and power route as my current amp can act as a pre-amp as well.


My preferences for music are normally, Rock, Jazz (Norah jones, Diana Krall...) and those drums music such as Matsuri by Kitaro, Mickey Hart etc.

(I totally feel no impact when listening to these drums though. I've been told that what i lack is dynamic headroom and my source and the lack of a power amp are responsible, is these true?)

Thanks a lot guys!

Sorry for my bad English as i'm not a native English speaker.

Cheers.

[ssuellid]

Try a power amp - Dynaudio speakers seem to love lots of power. I had a 70w amp with my old Dynaudio 62s and they sounded massively better when I switched to a 150w amp.

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by ssuellid

Try a power amp - Dynaudio speakers seem to love lots of power. I had a 70w amp with my old Dynaudio 62s and they sounded massively better when I switched to a 150w amp.

Thats your problem. The NF amp really is not capable of delivering into those speakers.

http://www.stereophile.com/integrate...mf/index4.html

Dont use speakers that dip below 4 ohms.......Dynaudios forte.

[LightZY]

In this case, would adding a power amp such as the Bryston 4B SST with my current MF amp acting as a tube pre-amp improve things a lot?

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by LightZY

In this case, would adding a power amp such as the Bryston 4B SST with my current MF amp acting as a tube pre-amp improve things a lot?

Actually that might work out very well. A big dual mono power amp and a tube pre amp can be a really nice combination. The Bryston almost doubles its output at 4 ohms which pretty well guarantees it will pump the speakers.

[sue_hall]

Lo there,

The Bryston power with the tube pre would work superbly. We had Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MKII's for ages and as previously said, they like a lot of power up their chutes.

We were using a 400w @ 4ohm amp and before that a 140w @ 4ohm amp. The Dyns sounded a lot lot better with the 400w and I knew they would have sounded better with even more power.

Also another little tip.

If poassible, move your speakers to the short wall and move them out from the wall behind them. You'll suddenly find the speakers sound a lot more airy and dynamic, and they'll have that back to front soundstaging to.

Rob

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by sue_hall

If poassible, move your speakers to the short wall and move them out from the wall behind them. You'll suddenly find the speakers sound a lot more airy and dynamic, and they'll have that back to front soundstaging to.

Rob

Its almost always best to fire speakers down the length of a room. This means that the listening position is clear of any rear wall reflections. It also gives room for the speakrs to breath.

I think the OP already has the room set up like that.

Moving the speakers out from the wall can have different effects, notably a drop in bass output but usually better imaging.

Bass output can be helped by using heavy stands.......Kudos used to do some brilliant stands for that purpose and make sure you blutac the speakers to the stand using 4 small blobs.

[sue_hall]

Originally Posted by karkus30

I think the OP already has the room set up like that.

You are of course correct, for some reason my brain seen the text as saying "on the long wall" :-)

The Dyns definetly sound better with space to breath, ours sounded like a different speaker once away from the constraints of the room. Yes you'll lose some bass output but IMHE, most people place their speakers too close to the walls and end up with the bass overpowering the whole sound.

Rob

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by sue_hall

You are of course correct, for some reason my brain seen the text as saying "on the long wall" :-)

The Dyns definetly sound better with space to breath, ours sounded like a different speaker once away from the constraints of the room. Yes you'll lose some bass output but IMHE, most people place their speakers too close to the walls and end up with the bass overpowering the whole sound.

Rob

Its so room and speaker dependent that I really think there are no rules. Easiest is just to keep trying different positions until it sounds right. I have heard some speakers lodged right in the corners of a small room and sat on the floor. My first instinct was to point out the mistake...............but they sounded fine.

[LightZY]

From what i read, it would seem that my dynaudios are lacking the power that my current amp can't deliver.

Well i guess i should play with the room placement more before i move on to getting a power amp as well as a better source...

In the meantime any suggestions?

[CJROSS]

Originally Posted by LightZY

From what i read, it would seem that my dynaudios are lacking the power that my current amp can't deliver.

Well i guess i should play with the room placement more before i move on to getting a power amp as well as a better source...

In the meantime any suggestions?

Primare I30 / Krell 400Xi / AVI Lab series

Work well with Dynaudio Contours/Focus from the user systems I have seen on various hifi fora. They do need a stick waved at them TBH to get the best out of them. Lovely speakers.

[OneDesi]

As everyone has pointed out - your amp isn't powerful enough to drive those speakers (I used to have the XT100 and it is a great amp but needs a light load). The one thing I would say is that the XT100 will never give you clean/tight powerful bass.

I wouldn't so much add a poweramp but look for something more suited to power your Dyns - maybe a Krell/Densen or something of that ilk.

The other thing is that your CD player is good but not really up to the rest of your system. IME it is a very forward in yer face kinda player but not too hot on detail so I would also review that.

[LightZY]

Uhm... I was searching for reviews on power amps and i chanced upon this... http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/ESL-Amp.htm

Anyone heard of it before? Heard it was put up against Krell and the likes before...

[karkus30]

Best power amp I have heard was a Dynavector HX75. Wiped the floor with everything..........coupled with a Rose preamp

The next best thing was an LFD pre power the Linestage with a pair of PA3 mono blocks is fantastic. http://www.stereonow.co.uk/lfd.html

Densen also makes a great set up.

[loonykev]

Hi, I've passed this on to a US forum that I am a member of, and will pass anything that comes back on to you. Don't forget that when siting speakers, your listening position should be at the apex of an equilateral triangle, and just off-centre. You should be sitting the same distance from each speaker, as the speakers are apart. This is not quite the same as taking the measurement from between the speakers. Also try to have the tweeters at the same height as your ears, and try angling the cabinets towards your position, so that you cannot see either side of the cabinets. There are so many variables, and you just have to keep trying until you find that sweet spot.
Good luck, loonykev