Adding more texture and seperation to my sound - advice please

[sthomas048]

Hello,

Please see my system listed below. Im generally happy with it but lately i feel it is lacking in the texture of sounds and in the separation of the sound of different instruments - sometimes its like one big muddy mess ! The Musical Fidelity amp is great in that its class a/b and sooo smooth and organic sounding, vocals are v good and the midrange is flawless. The Apollo - is well, the Apollo - one of the finest cd players ive ever owned. The Neutrons just play it like it is, v neutral and i dont think they add anything to the sound.

So what can i do to bring that texture and seperation to my sound ? Ive thought of replacing one bit of my system, then changing my mind and thinking of replacing another. Im unsure. Could it be a different interconnect or speaker cable that would do the trick ?

Can anyone help ! Thanks.

 

[topbloke55]

I am not able to comment on your kit, but the effect you describe could it be the positioning of your kit and the effect the room is having on it?

I would suggest moving your speakers right out into the room like a meter or so, even though you would not leave them there full-time, and see what changes that has to the sound. This will help see if the speakers or there position is the issue and should increase the seperation, although not a perminate solution.

I am assuming you have the speakers on stands?

I have the Silver-line and that does wonders for speration, have no experence with the RA interconnects, but then I have never been blown away with RA cables, even though I have a Reference Cable on my Pre-Amp, New Silver-line due any day now to replace that. 🙂

Hope that helps?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

sthomas048:
Hello,

Please see my system listed below. Im generally happy with it but lately i feel it is lacking in the texture of sounds and in the separation of the sound of different instruments - sometimes its like one big muddy mess ! The Musical Fidelity amp is great in that its class a/b and sooo smooth and organic sounding, vocals are v good and the midrange is flawless. The Apollo - is well, the Apollo - one of the finest cd players ive ever owned. The Neutrons just play it like it is, v neutral and i dont think they add anything to the sound.

So what can i do to bring that texture and seperation to my sound ? Ive thought of replacing one bit of my system, then changing my mind and thinking of replacing another. Im unsure. Could it be a different interconnect or speaker cable that would do the trick ?

Can anyone help ! Thanks.

I would try different speaker cable. I use the Chord Odyssey and it's great.

 

[Anonymous]

Definitely try the suggestions above. Quite often the detail and texture of an amp is down to the resolving ability of the preamp section. Maybe a new amp is the best way to improve this.

 

[Anonymous]

change amp to naim dont wase money oncables

 

[Anonymous]

Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnects brought me much more detail and layering. Partington Broadside stands had the biggest improvement (and at less than 80 squid from ebay, a bargain!).

 

[sthomas048]

topbloke55:
I am not able to comment on your kit, but the effect you describe could it be the positioning of your kit and the effect the room is having on it?

I would suggest moving your speakers right out into the room like a meter or so, even though you would not leave them there full-time, and see what changes that has to the sound. This will help see if the speakers or there position is the issue and should increase the seperation, although not a perminate solution.

I am assuming you have the speakers on stands?

I have the Silver-line and that does wonders for speration, have no experence with the RA interconnects, but then I have never been blown away with RA cables, even though I have a Reference Cable on my Pre-Amp, New Silver-line due any day now to replace that. 🙂

Hope that helps?

My listening room is relatively small, so sorry to say that i dont have much flexibility with positioning speakers. At present they are just over a metre apart. I have the Neutrons on heavy Linn stands. The power cable for the Apollo has helped boost the sound a great deal, i was stunned at the difference it made. Thanks anyway.

 

[sthomas048]

igglebert:Definitely try the suggestions above. Quite often the detail and texture of an amp is down to the resolving ability of the preamp section. Maybe a new amp is the best way to improve this.

I dont know much about techincal stuff regarding amplifiers ! The B200 is an older amp so perhaps you are right, its that preamp isnt up to the task ? I have been looking at different amplifiers. I want one with that smoothness the B200 has, but with more detail and seperation - more exitement ! To have an amp thats smooth, warm-ish, natural sounding and has good seperation in reproduction of instruments during more complex songs - is this asking the impossible ? Maybe.

I do infact have a shortlist of amps im considering -

Naim Nait 3
Arcam Alpha 10
Cyrus 5

I have owned Naim before and they seem like a good choice. Any ideas for suitable amps would be greatly appreciated. Im working with a budget of around £200-250. So this is why im looking at older used kit.

 

[Anonymous]

My listening room is relatively small, so sorry to say that i dont have much flexibility with positioning speakers. At present they are just over a metre apart.

that could be the problem? ... 1 meter is possibly a bit close?....

 

[Anonymous]

Just over 1m apart may indeed be making the problem you have worse, or possibly just causing it! I used to have my SA1s about 1.5m apart but when I moved house put them 3m apart. They now sound more articulate, airy, balanced, spacious and have the room they need to paint the musical picture. Having said all of that, it still used to sound pretty damn good so I'm not convinced this is entirely your root cause.

You could hunt down a Quad 405-2 and 33 preamp for that sort of money. The Quad midrange is pretty damn good and you can get a third party rebuild later on, something like a Netaudio mod.

The beauty of cables is that you can try a few, perhaps on loan from a dealer. Has to be worth a try. Amps are trickier, especially if you go used. At least with a used Quad you're pretty much guaranteed to be able to sell it for the price you paid.

If you're anywhere near Oundle, Northants, we could try my Quad to see if it solves the problem!

Food for thought.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

I would suggest you try some of the other Russ Andrews stuff - Mains Cables / silencers etc. as they improve on the sort of symptoms you have suggested ...... and you can try them at home to see if they give you what you need and send 'em back if not doing what you want ... 'perfect!'

I have used their stuff for some time now, upgrading along the way and find it does improve on that MUSH - with increased separation and detail etc etc.....

Can even call them for advice if you are not sure what's best to try first

[er .... NO - I'm not connected to them at all - just find their stuff good value and 'does what it says on the tin' .....

 

[a91gti]

Don't go spending on cables or components, if you just get the positioning of your speakers right you'll be blown away.

 

[Anonymous]

dont know if its possible...., or if it will work.... but perhaps look at wall moumted brackets for the speakers, then you could possibly place them further apart (closerr to the corners of the wall and tilt them down?

 

[sthomas048]

I think the first step is speaker positioning then. I will have to work out a way of creating more room, there are some options there so i will ponder this over the weekend. Thinking about this i can understand clearly now how having the speakers so close to each other can cause this muddling of sounds i have a problem with.

Thanks folks !

 

[Thaiman]

sthomas048:
igglebert:Definitely try the suggestions above. Quite often the detail and texture of an amp is down to the resolving ability of the preamp section. Maybe a new amp is the best way to improve this.

I do infact have a shortlist of amps im considering -

Naim Nait 3
Arcam Alpha 10
Cyrus 5

Naim Nait 3 is one of the worst sounding amp I have heard/own.

I am not an Arcam's biggest fan but Alpha 10 would be so much better. In fact the Nait 2 would also be a better buy. If you going down Cyrus route, go for Cyrus 7 at that budget.