I need your help about loudness

[admin_exported]

I have a ROTEL RA1602 amp. and POLK AUDIO Monitor 40 speakers.

The sound is very clear but too flat - I really miss a loudness in my system

Can you advise me how to add loudness (except EQ) ?

Thanks,

Benny.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Benny,

What do you mean by loudness? one of those old fashioned loudness buttons? What aer you looking for exactly? more bass? or just a louder sound? Maybe a different pair of speakers with more sensitivity may solve your problem, I don't know anything about Polk speakers, but the Rotel will drive speakers quite loudly I would have thought.

 

[Anonymous]

I misses bass and middle.

Yeh, the old fashion loudness was great.

What speakers goes well with RA-1062?

 

[Tear Drop]

The obvious choice for Rotel, especially if you want more bass and mid, would be B&W.

 

[Anonymous]

When I add the sound of TV it sounds fantastic (tv + tv through amp.) it gives it the sharpness

what your advise?

 

[Anonymous]

ive just looked for the Polk on the net, it's a odd looking speaker and I can see why your not getting much bass, reading a few reviews remark on this as well. The B&W would be a good choice, so would the Revolver music series 3 or MA if you like that kind of sound, depending on your budget, a EQ won't solve your problems, but a better pair of speaker probably will help you.

 

[Anonymous]

can't i add more speakers for more clearly and volume sound?

 

[Andrew Everard]

I'd follow the advice above and change the speakers, rather than adding more to what you already have.

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, i can't replace them.

I have to stay with them.

Can't i add some good speakers for high and alear sound?

 

[Andrew Everard]

No, i wouldn't add extra speakers to the system.

Assuming the settings of the contour control (see manual, p8) don't give you the effect you want, the answer could be to add an active subwoofer to the system, connected to the preout sockets.

But the problem may lie in the source component(s) you are using - what are they and how are they connected?

 

[Anonymous]

The sources are pioneer CD that connected to cd and and danon tuner connected to tuner.

They are good instruments.

The sound is very flat without depth

I played a movie and the sound was good in high level

I miss the crispy and clear. if i put them on ground i do get a better bass.

I spent $2000 on the system and i don't find the problem

the sysytem is:

Amp: ROTEL RA-1062 - used

Speakers: POLK AUDIO - Monitor 40 - new

CD/DVD: Pioneer DV 410 - excellent - new

Tuner: Denon - TU - 235RD - excellent - used

 

[matthewpiano]

Think that Pioneer DVD player might be the problem. A dedicated CD player will give you much better sound. I'd be tempted to try a Cambridge Audio 640C V2.0 for a more balanced overall sound and retain the Pioneer for DVD playing duties alone.

 

[Anonymous]

its the same sound with the tuner and the tuner have a good sound

 

[Anonymous]

Buy an amplifier that has a loudness button, such as the Marantz PM6002 or Denon PMA-500AE. Chasing the 'loudness' sound through expensive source and speaker upgrades is silly. If that's what you want just go out and get the loudness button.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Wild Willy"]Buy an amplifier that has a loudness button, such as the Marantz PM6002 or Denon PMA-500AE. Chasing the 'loudness' sound through expensive source and speaker upgrades is silly. If that's what you want just go out and get the loudness button.[/quote]

Or buy a graphic equalizer. (shock horror!)

 

[Anonymous]

What EQ is prefered to my system?

 

[Anonymous]

Those speakers DO lack depth as the reviews show and you seem to be trying to achieve a bassy/punchy sound that really should be achieved by a decent set of floor standing speakers or an active subwoofer. To try and achieve it with the loudness control is not going to get the best quality output, but, you do already have this feature on your amp. The Contour button if set to L1 or L2 gives you a moderate boost at 100hz and the H setting gives a boost at 10Khz. By using LH you'll achieve both increases, which is exactly what a loudness button does. An EQ won't add anything to this system in my opinion.

However as previously mentioned by others, the DVD player will not be helping either. DVD players always suffer on audio playback as this is not what they were designed to do and are generally geared up for movie surround. Recommendation: Buy a dedicated CD player such as the NAD 515BEE (not too expensive) just to up the quality of audio being fed to the amp.

The amp is a lovely amp and there should be no reason that this would cause any of the problems you're experiencing.

This leads me to my final question. What sort of cables are you using? Are they standard out of the box RCA cables or have you upgraded these to some decent cables such as QED or Chord? If not, you will surely be loosing the extremeties of the frequency range in a very poor standard of cable.

Essentially you should follow this order of preference :

1. Test the Contour feature

2. Change cables

3. Add a dedicated CD Player

4. Change speakers

 

[Anonymous]

Jeez, don't buy an amplifier with a loudness button, or a graphic EQ, the Rotel is a very good amp. I also think with what you've got the DVD player will do the job, even though I can't stand the Pionner house sound, I don't think it's the root of your problem.

The problem I think, is set up, get the speakers of the floor and invest in some stands, get the tweeters at ear height. Then get the speakers at least 2 metres apart if you can, away from all walls and all corners, it may appear to give you less bass, but what you'll end up with is hopefully, a tighter bass, better imagery, a clearer sound, instead of messing your sound right up with daft graphic EQs and loudness buttons.

 

[Anonymous]

your last two advise are very helpful.

I ask polk audio for this and they said that those speakers are not fit to the rotel amp and sugested me to use RTI6 model - what do you think?

If i will have to replace them, what is the best for the ROTEL to get a good clear sound with nice bass?

Also, here (Israel) the prices are crazy and the polk audio cost me $600 while in USA you can have them for less then $150 - but no one want to send it.

Thank you.

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen soooo many people upgrade from a midi system with loudness button only to be dismayed that their new kit "doesn't sound as good". They then go for bigger speakers, more powerful amps and the source gets changed yet still it doesn't provide as much bass as their old midi system (despite spending thousands of dollars by this point). If someone misses a loudness button no cables, speaker stands or changing of source will give the same effect. Rather than chase it why not just buy an amp with a loudness button (if that is what you want)? Trying to convince someone that they need bigger speakers and to spend $$$$$s when they STILL won't achieve pronounced bass at low volumes is daft. Those who don't like loudness buttons or EQ of any sort aren't really of much help in this thread. Some people liked the sound, simple as.

 

[Anonymous]

Indeed, if all that is wanted is a relatively flat, bass heavy sound that the loudness button provides then by all means "go buy an amp with a loudness button"

However, surely the fact that he has Polk speakers (and paid over the odds for them), a good quality amp and other reasonable components means that he was not happy with the quality the old system produced.

All were trying to do is highlight some of the weaknesses in his system (as I have requested in other threads) and suggest possible solutions at initially low cost.

I used to have a loudness button and used to love it (despite the fact that increasing bass at all volumes is NOT what a loudness control is for, it is meant to increase response of frequencies lost at very low volumes due to the physics of speakers).

With different positioning, cables, good musical amp etc however, I don't find that I need it. I miss some of the bass but accept that my speakers are slightly on the weak side on that front. Next upgrade will be the speakers but I will not be paying a lot for them nor filling my room full of unsightly boxes.

On this issue, I think that changing the amp is that last thing you do, unless like Wild says, you get one with an EQ or loudness control. If you do change the amp, this may be you safest option.

All we feel is that a bit of low cost (or even no cost) tweaking may make a difference, or the more viable changes would be with the lack of cd player and maybe as a last resort the speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Wild Willy"]I have seen soooo many people upgrade from a midi system with loudness button only to be dismayed that their new kit "doesn't sound as good". They then go for bigger speakers, more powerful amps and the source gets changed yet still it doesn't provide as much bass as their old midi system (despite spending thousands of dollars by this point). If someone misses a loudness button no cables, speaker stands or changing of source will give the same effect. Rather than chase it why not just buy an amp with a loudness button (if that is what you want)? Trying to convince someone that they need bigger speakers and to spend $$$$$s when they STILL won't achieve pronounced bass at low volumes is daft. Those who don't like loudness buttons or EQ of any sort aren't really of much help in this thread. Some people liked the sound, simple as.[/quote]

Loudness buttons are adding distortion, they are not adding more bass. A small loudspeaker can not defy the laws of physics, if people prefer the sound of high distortion exaggerated by loudness and EQs then that's fine if that's what they want.

To the original poster, try the latest B&W as suggested before, I would imagine the would be a big improvement over the Polks, offer more clarity, better mids and a more realistic bass quality.

 

[Anonymous]

What model of B&W ?

 

[Anonymous]

In POLK Audio they told me to replace to RTI6 or RTIA3

What do you think?