What stereo(s) do you listen to? What do you want?

you mean which stereotypes?



how is this a 48 page thread?

Recent upgrades:
Maggie MGCC center
Martin Logan Depth sub

Nice Dr. No.

My current main setup:

Toshiba HD-A1 as CD source
Integra DTC-9.8 preamp
Rotel RMB-1075 amp
KEF Q-series w/ Q7 mains

In other rooms I am running Totem Dreamcatchers and Swan Diva 2.1s.

I'm really hoping to get into vinyl and tube amps a bit soon.

Originally Posted by brianja

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I'm really hoping to get into vinyl and tube amps a bit soon.

You won't regret it.

Originally Posted by audiophilia

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You won't regret it.

So true.

Originally Posted by audiophilia

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You won't regret it.

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

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So true.

I hope not. Both are fairly intimidating for a newcomer to get into. It's a lot of unfamiliar hardware with subtle nuances (tone arms, phono cartridges, phono stages, etc.).

I need to just jump in and start some research/testing when I get some time.


I forgot to list that I also listen to a pair of Sennheiser HD650 running off of a Little Dot MkV headphone amp. I've been really enjoying this combo recently.

Originally Posted by brianja

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My current main setup:

Toshiba HD-A1 as CD source
Integra DTC-9.8 preamp
Rotel RMB-1075 amp
KEF Q-series w/ Q7 mains

In other rooms I am running Totem Dreamcatchers and Swan Diva 2.1s.

I'm really hoping to get into vinyl and tube amps a bit soon.

Good stuff. Budget is a bit out of whack, but you spent it smartly on a solid preamp with Audyssey MultEQ XT, and the rare budget speakers with reasonably controlled directivity.

No sub yet?

I started out experimenting in car audio. I took some left over equipment, bought some new, and created a custom set up which consists of:

Self-fabricated bookshelf type speakers using Focal Utopia 5.25" drivers
McIntosh mobile power amp
adcom pre-amp/tuner

Sources:
Carver 5-disc CD changer
PS3
XBOX 360
iPod

Display: sony kdl-40w3000

Have yet to build the box for the raw sub I have also sitting in the room.

A dream system would consist of most or all of the following:

Focal Grande Utopia Be
Power by McIntosh tubes or Mark Levinson
Krell transport
Pioneer Elite Plasma
and some other stuff

I'm quite happy with my current set-up, however.

Originally Posted by Sprezzatura2010

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Good stuff. Budget is a bit out of whack, but you spent it smartly on a solid preamp with Audyssey MultEQ XT, and the rare budget speakers with reasonably controlled directivity.

No sub yet?

This wasn't all put together at once.

The KEFs were originally mated with a Denon 3803 receiver. I was never really happy with the sound and after a few years changed out the receiver for the separates I am currently running. I'm pleased with the results I have gotten for now. Eventually I will upgrade speakers I am sure.

I do have a sub, I forgot to mention. It is an SVS 25-31 PC-plus.

Wow! The last time I looked at this thread AF was waxing philosophical on the benefits of styrofoam cups. In the interest of helping you audiophiles hit the 50 pg mark, here's what I have (goes to check): a Sony CD palyer (single play only - no shuffle capability); a Denon receiver. Don't know about 'wattage', but it's got all the choices: CD, phono, tape, receiver, A & B speakers, etc., plus you can plug in headphones. There's a tape deck which hasn't been used in 7 years that I think is also a Sony. I'm not sure about the speakerwire (cables?) - got a bunch at J&R. Crank it up and it rocks the house!

Originally Posted by brianja

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Eventually I will upgrade speakers I am sure. I do have a sub, I forgot to mention. It is an SVS 25-31 PC-plus.
A cheap potential upgrade you might want to try (assuming you're not already set up this way) is plugging the ports on your mains (the Q7's are the ones with the 6" Uni-Q and the "racetrack" bass driver, right?), setting your pre-pro to "DoubleBass" (I believe that's what Onkyo calls the mode Denon calls "LFE+Main"), and re-running Audyssey. The plugs KEF provided should be fine. That way, your mains will be producing the whole signal, giving you more points from which to excite room modes and better randomizing overall excitation. Plugging the ports protects the speakers and avoids possible phase problems that could hamper integration. I've never seen a system with decent sized mains not get considerably smoother response in the 40Hz-160Hz octave pair when run in that manner. As for future upgrades, the KEF Reference stuff is lovely since they dumped that stupid supertweeter, but I think my favorite current "mainstream" speakers are the Gradient Revolution. How much better either would be than a set of KEF Q-series bolstered by a solid MultEQ XT run is an open question, though. Have you upgraded (or thought of upgrading) to MultEQ XT Pro? I believe the Integra preamp can do it. Or it might just be some of the later Denon gear. And you might want your next upgrade to be two more subs to place randomly in the room to excite more room modes in the midbass and smooth overall response. They needn't be as big, expensive, or powerful as your SVS. (That's the tube one loaded with an underhung TC Sounds driver, right?) Actually, they can be considerably smaller and cheaper. Not quite Bose small, but not a water-heater either. They'd just be there to smooth the upper bass, not to give you much more down at the extreme low end.

Originally Posted by Sprezzatura2010

Click to expand...

A cheap potential upgrade you might want to try (assuming you're not already set up this way) is plugging the ports on your mains (the Q7's are the ones with the 6" Uni-Q and the "racetrack" bass driver, right?), setting your pre-pro to "DoubleBass" (I believe that's what Onkyo calls the mode Denon calls "LFE+Main"), and re-running Audyssey. The plugs KEF provided should be fine. That way, your mains will be producing the whole signal, giving you more points from which to excite room modes and better randomizing overall excitation. Plugging the ports protects the speakers and avoids possible phase problems that could hamper integration. I've never seen a system with decent sized mains not get considerably smoother response in the 40Hz-160Hz octave pair when run in that manner.

As for future upgrades, the KEF Reference stuff is lovely since they dumped that stupid supertweeter, but I think my favorite current "mainstream" speakers are the Gradient Revolution. How much better either would be than a set of KEF Q-series bolstered by a solid MultEQ XT run is an open question, though. Have you upgraded (or thought of upgrading) to MultEQ XT Pro? I believe the Integra preamp can do it. Or it might just be some of the later Denon gear.

And you might want your next upgrade to be two more subs to place randomly in the room to excite more room modes in the midbass and smooth overall response. They needn't be as big, expensive, or powerful as your SVS. (That's the tube one loaded with an underhung TC Sounds driver, right?) Actually, they can be considerably smaller and cheaper. Not quite Bose small, but not a water-heater either. They'd just be there to smooth the upper bass, not to give you much more down at the extreme low end.

Wow... thanks for the detailed input!

Your recollection of the Q7s is right on. Its the std. Uni-Q + the racetrack driver. I remember experimenting with plugging the rear ports on these a few years back, but that was when I was still running off of my old Denon receiver. I should really revisit that.

IDK why, but I really hated what the Audyssey MultEQ Xt did to my sound. I ran the calibration a number of times and each time it really killed the sound. It took away all the highs in the system and made it sound muffled and dull. As a result I really am skeptical about the idea of upgrading to the PRO setup.

I'm not sure what direction I am going to head in with regard to replacing speakers / subs. I am going to be moving sometime in the beginning of '09 and think I am going to hold off on making any further changes until I have a really good sense of the space I am going to be moving the system into. I like the idea of two subs, but I have to see what I can fit in my new space with good placement (I'm an apt. dweller and have limited floorspace to dedicate to equipment / arrangement options). I also have to worry about pissing off my neighbors. The SVS I have is the cylinder style and I am already have it turned down pretty far most of the time to keep the peace.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by brianja

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IDK why, but I really hated what the Audyssey MultEQ Xt did to my sound. I ran the calibration a number of times and each time it really killed the sound. It took away all the highs in the system and made it sound muffled and dull. As a result I really am skeptical about the idea of upgrading to the PRO setup.

Did you put the microphone on a tripod, and away from boundaries such as chair back and so on?

The highs might just be a factor of the house curve. On Denon's gear, there's an option for a "flat" curve. Onkyo only allows a house curve with attenuated highs.

Originally Posted by brianja

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The SVS I have is the cylinder style and I am already have it turned down pretty far most of the time to keep the peace.

Again, proper use of multiple subs has nothing to do with higher output. Rather, it's all about smoothing out bass response all around the room.

Originally Posted by Sprezzatura2010

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Did you put the microphone on a tripod, and away from boundaries such as chair back and so on?

The highs might just be a factor of the house curve. On Denon's gear, there's an option for a "flat" curve. Onkyo only allows a house curve with attenuated highs.



Again, proper use of multiple subs has nothing to do with higher output. Rather, it's all about smoothing out bass response all around the room.


Yup, I had the microphone at ear level on a tripod. It was above the level of the back of my couch.

It was frustrating because I ran the setup and lived with it that way for a few weeks. I finally disabled it because it just sounded awful and the system came back alive.

I realize that you didn't mean to double up the subs for higher output and that you were suggesting that it would allow the subs to integrate into the system better. I think my response was poorly worded. I agree with you, but have to see what I can fit physically in my new apt after I move. On an unrelated note, I was commenting that I have to worry about my neighbors, so I have lost a bit of focus on the low end of my system for now.

We will see where this goes. I have a few months to plan! I'm excited.