Amp and speaker advice

[admin_exported]

Hello all, after years of using the same Technic hifi with all separate parts, the use of which has dwindled, first the turntable went then the FM tuner then the cassette player, leaving me with just the amp and a cd player.( not broken I hasten to add, still pristine, but no longer used)

I don't have much use now for the cd player either as all my music is digital.

What I am finding is that at low volumes the sound quality is pretty rubbish so need to know, do I need a new amp and speakers or maybe just speakers? At higher volumes there is no issue.

The days of lots of volume have now passed but I still want quality at the lower volumes.

Where should I be looking, i will need a digital input on a new amp as my music is all on iTunes and apple tv.

I know it is a "how long is a piece of string" question but I have to start somewhere.

What would be the general suggestions. I don't want to be spending thousands but I don't want to miss out on quality for a few extra quid.

Thank for your help

Mike

 

[tino]

You might want to read about loudness to understand why low volumes can sound rubbish http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_compensation.

The Onkyo 8050 (talked about on this thread ... http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/onkyo-tx-8050-alert-its-arrived-its-arrived) is a stereo network receiver with digital inputs and has bass + treble controls which you can adjust to compensate for when listening at low volumes, and that you can bypass when you turn the wick up.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that Tino, the wiki link was interesting, maybe i just need some decent speakers as my amp does have one of those loud buttons.

one further question the amp you refered to, is it an amp as it calls itself a receiver? Don't get that bit.

Mike

 

[plastic penguin]

Hello all, after years of using the same Technic hifi with all separate parts, the use of which has dwindled, first the turntable went then the FM tuner then the cassette player, leaving me with just the amp and a cd player.( not broken I hasten to add, still pristine, but no longer used)

I don't have much use now for the cd player either as all my music is digital.

What I am finding is that at low volumes the sound quality is pretty rubbish so need to know, do I need a new amp and speakers or maybe just speakers? At higher volumes there is no issue.

The days of lots of volume have now passed but I still want quality at the lower volumes.

Where should I be looking, i will need a digital input on a new amp as my music is all on iTunes and apple tv.

I know it is a "how long is a piece of string" question but I have to start somewhere.

What would be the general suggestions. I don't want to be spending thousands but I don't want to miss out on quality for a few extra quid.

Thank for your help

Mike

The answer to your problems are here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leema-Acoustics-Pulse-Integrated-Amplifier-Silver-NEW-/170751104266?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item27c18f150a. It has a wonderful phono stage, great at low volumes (I have to listen to mine at low end due to my daughter asleep). It is one of the best sub-two grand integrateds I've heard and it originally retailed close to 1300 squid before being culled and replaced by a MKIII version.

Speakers that go well with this amp are: Totem Arro, PMCs, Monitor Audio, Dynaudio*, Spendor.

*Not heard this brand with the aforementioned amp but, tonally, should match well.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks plastic penguin that seems like a nice bit of kit, however it is missing a digital lead input (tos link) which is what I need from my apple tv.

Thanks agin

 

[kevinJ]

I know what you're talking about. I've always had the same feeling with (cheaper/less expensive) amps.

On my Denon avr there was even a setting for low volume listening, which pumped up the bass alot and making voices clearer.
Now since that Denon developed a fault last weekend, I'm looking for a new (back to stereo) setup. I've had a short listening session yesterday and I already demoed the Marantz PM-15S2/SA-15S2 with Monitor Audio RX8 speakers and even at low volume listening, they sounded great. Bass was tight and trebble nicely controlled and detailed, a sweet midrange and a nice and big soundstage. When playing at background levels when talking to the shopowner, everything was still there.

And I guess that's what you're looking for too. But I also feel that's the kind of quality one can only get when you get to the more expensive electronics. I've never really had that when using less then 1000euro amps. And that Marantz amp costs 1800euro...

I have another listening session tomorrow and then I'm also going to try less expensive amps: NAD C356BEE with built-in dac, NAD C375BEE, Marantz 7004,...