Sound Distortion & Quality Problems

[admin_exported]

Hi,



I recently purchased new HiFi separates and speakers which I used for the first time this week (see below).



The quality of sound isn’t as good as I expected and with certain albums (e.g. Fat Freddy’s Drop) the sound starts to distort when the volume dial on the amp is turned just past half way (in source direct mode)



Any idea what might be causing the problem?



[size=3>[font="Times New Roman"] Marantz PM6003 – 45w at 8 ohms load[/font][/size=3>[font][/I]

[size=3>[font="Times New Roman"] Marantz CD6003[/font][/size=3>[font][/I]

[size=3>[font="Times New Roman"] EB1 (EB Accoustics) – 8 ohms impedance[/font][/size=3>[font][/I]

[size=3>[font="Times New Roman"] Chord Company Carnival Silver Screen [/font][/size=3>[font][/I]

[size=3>[font="Times New Roman"] Atlas Equator Mk II 6N[/font][/size=3>[font][/I]



Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

HI , Allow the amplifier , CD and the Speakers to burn in . Use the product atleast for a month before you decide. The sound will become more refine after a certain period of time .

 

[matthewpiano]

Half way is about the comfortable limit on most amps.

 

[Anonymous]

45 watts, average efficiency speakers (just 86dB), volume over half - most likely distortion for this amplifier is complete normal. Good thing - you have right hearing for music and safe use of audio equipment.

 

[the record spot]

You've got a limitation on the amount of whack you can put onto the speaker; you've got a 45w amp going into an 86db impedance, which will be enough, but if you want Donington in your living room, you need to look at either a heftier amp, with a bit more welly in it and more generous speakers (Q Acoustics 1050i and I think the latest 2050 are 92db for instance), doing one or the other will result in a louder output before the distortion kicks in.

86db isn't exactly difficult to drive, but 45w a side has its limits!

Of the two, I'd suggest the heftier amp first as the EB1s are capable of more than one or two upgrades.

 

[davemartin01]

Wise advice from the likes of Record spot and others above. Ignore the burn in reply below the original question though, I wouldn't want you to think that after a month your amp will produce anything different than it does after 30 minutes of first turning it on.

 

[ID.]

I don't think I ever had amps that could go past halfway without distorting when running off the CD player. That's pretty normal, and no amount of burning in will change it.

 

[Anonymous]

That depends on the amp. Budget amps tend to go hard when pushed, as do budget speakers.

However, if it's distortion as in fuzziness in the sound, then running in won't help. It could be a fault with the amp or the speakers, or it could be the mismatch as people have mentioned.

I'd agree that it could be the amp isn't powerful enough, but I'd still check with your dealer re the amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Don,t know if it is the amp to blame, remember power isn,t everything. My amp is only rayed at 36 watts but it can push the spendors as much as i want it to without any distortion.

 

[idc]

Try some attenuators, google Rothwell and Goldenjacks. They help the CDP and amp to match and give you a more usable range with the volume. Otherwise 12 o'clock is the usual place for volume to start to distort.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Most amplifiers are chucking out their comfortable maximum at hafway - the 12 o'clock position.

Let your speakers run in first, and if you still feel the need to use tha amplifier near or above the 12 o'clock position, you'll need a more powerful amplifier.

Some will say you'll be fine, but lower sensitivites need more diving to get the best from them.

 

[Anonymous]

idc:Try some attenuators, google Rothwell and Goldenjacks. They help the CDP and amp to match and give you a more usable range with the volume. Otherwise 12 o'clock is the usual place for volume to start to distort.You should add the words "on budget amplifiers". Certainly not true on others.

You're also assuming that the signal from the CDP is too high for the amp, which may be true but not necessarily - perhaps a word with the dealer or Marantz themselves would sort this out. Also, if it is a genuine fault with the amp, then attenuators will at best mask, if not worsen, the problem. The thought had occurred to me, too, but there are too many other variables. Plus it the problem is an underpowered amp for the speakers then attenuators will definitely not help.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you had the amp looked at in case of a fault. I don't understand why you need to have the amp cranked up that far to 12 o'clock to achieve a decent listening level. They do say that amps output full volume before distortion at around the 12 / 1 o'clock setting. I only have a 30W per channel amp and its very loud and powerful at only 9 o'clock, but my speakers are 91db i suppose compared to your 86db.

I go along with what others here have said, if you want more volume then try speakers with i higher sensitivity rating or change the amp, but to be honest i think you have a fine amp and a good system on paper so have it looked at by an engineer first before buying anything else 🙂