Improving Current HiFi setup

[hybridauth_Facebook_10154086561718989]

Hi - I really feel as though I'm not making the most of my current setup. I currently have the following:

Musical Fidelity M3si
ATC SCM11 Speakers
Apple Music
Airport Express

The amplifier is connected to the AirPort Express and I play my music from my Mac using Airplay. The sound lacks depth and I feel as though I could do something different - whether it be how I connect the devices or buy a streamer, etc - in order to improve the sound. Any suggestions?

 

[Deleted member 201267]

Hi - I really feel as though I'm not making the most of my current setup. I currently have the following:

Musical Fidelity M3si
ATC SCM11 Speakers
Apple Music
Airport Express

The amplifier is connected to the AirPort Express and I play my music from my Mac using Airplay. The sound lacks depth and I feel as though I could do something different - whether it be how I connect the devices or buy a streamer, etc - in order to improve the sound. Any suggestions?

More powerful Amp ?

 

[Revolutions]

That amp has plenty of output. AirPlay 2 seems like it could be the weak link.

Have you tried connecting your Mac to the amp via usb to hear how that sounds? Also any other aux input to see if the amp/speaker combo works for you.

 

[Witterings]

Could try a WiiM streamer currently all 3 versions on Black Friday offer on Amazon and if you don't like it send it back
Only thing is you'd still be limited to Airplay 2, unless you also did a free trial with Amazon Music or Qobuz to see if you felt there was a noticeable difference that might make it worth changing.

Won't cost you anything to try any of the above and at least you'd know.

 

[James105]

I'd say the DAC in the airport express, try 7oaks they have the blue sound node @ £399 or the Wiim pro plus at £169, the Wiim pro is £119. As its Black Friday those are proberly the prices every where I'd guess.

 

[Roger_A]

It's not clear whether the OP is currently using the DAC in the Airport Express or the one in the amplifier. This may well have a bearing on the issue.

 

[abacus]

ATC speakers need an amp with plenty of oomph to get the best out of them, unless you are in a small room the M3si is borderline on its ability to drive them, so definitely try out some other amps out. (Go for something that has plenty of output at 4ohm as well as 8ohms as the more current it can deliver the better)

Bill

 

[landco]

Hi - I really feel as though I'm not making the most of my current setup. I currently have the following:

Musical Fidelity M3si
ATC SCM11 Speakers
Apple Music
Airport Express

The amplifier is connected to the AirPort Express and I play my music from my Mac using Airplay. The sound lacks depth and I feel as though I could do something different - whether it be how I connect the devices or buy a streamer, etc - in order to improve the sound. Any suggestions?

At a minimum, you need to add a subwoofer (2.1 system, triphonic). The ATC SCM11 are small bookshelf speakers and are not capable of reproducing the full musical frequency range. As a maximum, you need a sound correction system - Dirac, Sonarworks, etc.



PS. I would sell the ATC SCM11, they cost much more than their capabilities, a pointless purchase in my opinion.

 

[Messiah]

Could you advise on your speaker placement, room etc. A picture of this may help.

Could be some easy tweaks to make to improve the sound such as moving the speakers.

 

[Al ears]

At a minimum, you need to add a subwoofer (2.1 system, triphonic). The ATC SCM11 are small bookshelf speakers and are not capable of reproducing the full musical frequency range. As a maximum, you need a sound correction system - Dirac, Sonarworks, etc.



PS. I would sell the ATC SCM11, they cost much more than their capabilities, a pointless purchase in my opinion.

Clarify?
What exactly do you have against ATC speakers?
I have never needed any software to tune my set-up to my liking. Tried a few and they were all dire in a stereo situation.
As others have pointed out, if there is something missing in a system, it's usually the source......

 

[James105]

It's not clear whether the OP is currently using the DAC in the Airport Express or the one in the amplifier. This may well have a bearing on the issue.

The DAC in the amp doesn't have an optical input just usb for PC as far as I can tell.

 

[Deleted member 201267]

ATC speakers need an amp with plenty of oomph to get the best out of them, unless you are in a small room the M3si is borderline on its ability to drive them, so definitely try out some other amps out. (Go for something that has plenty of output at 4ohm as well as 8ohms as the more current it can deliver the better)

Bill

An M6si would be better !

 

[Roger_A]

The DAC in the amp doesn't have an optical input just usb for PC as far as I can tell.

Yes, it appears that the only digital input on the amp is a USB b socket where most have optical and RCA inputs. The Airport Express USB socket can only connect to a suitable printer as well I believe so they're pretty well incompatible with digital connections.

 

[James105]

Yes, it appears that the only digital input on the amp is a USB b socket where most have optical and RCA inputs. The Airport Express USB socket can only connect to a suitable printer as well I believe so they're pretty well incompatible with digital connections.

They have a mini TOS link out in the 1/4" jack, or they used to.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10154086561718989]

It's not clear whether the OP is currently using the DAC in the Airport Express or the one in the amplifier. This may well have a bearing on the issue.

Excuse my ignorance but I'm not sure about that. I do not have any other equipment.

 

[Al ears]

Excuse my ignorance but I'm not sure about that. I do not have any other equipment.

So how are your cables connected.
presumably you are using a dac at some point? Which?

 

[landco]

asta la vista

Clarify?
What exactly do you have against ATC speakers?

Physics cannot be fooled; the sound quality of the speakers is determined by the size of the housing and the diameter of the moving system. These little ATCs can't do more than they can and the price won't fix anything.

 

[Witterings]

Judging comments by some of the comments above .... I'd sell everything you have and start again spending at least 4 x's your original spend

 

[Roger_A]

They have a mini TOS link out in the 1/4" jack, or they used to.

Yes they do but as I stated, the amplifier only has a usb b socket for input of a digital signal so can't be connected directly to the Airport Express so the OP must be using the DAC in the AE to provide an analogue signal into the amp.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi - I really feel as though I'm not making the most of my current setup. I currently have the following:

Musical Fidelity M3si
ATC SCM11 Speakers
Apple Music
Airport Express

The amplifier is connected to the AirPort Express and I play my music from my Mac using Airplay. The sound lacks depth and I feel as though I could do something different - whether it be how I connect the devices or buy a streamer, etc - in order to improve the sound. Any suggestions?

Where do you think the sound is lacking? On paper it seems like a really good system.