I recently acquired a pair of Dynaudio focus 360's and hope there are folks here that have had these or similar Dynaudio's that can shed some light.
My system currently consist's of a Rega p6 and auralic vega1 into a McIntosh mx110,to a adcom gfa5452 out to the focus 360's.
First off I know these speakers like a lot of power and currant,and I have plans to get a amp with 350 watts per channel.
Here is what is going on.
If I listen below 70% of my maximum listing volume,the sound falls flat on its face and sounds like a cheap radio with 4 inch speakers in it.
If I turn up to 80%,things sound much better,at least modern quality recordings.
Tunn up to 90%,things sound real good,until the singer backs off for a softer vocal delivery.Bam.The vocals fall way way back and way to low.
Same thing with electric guitar.As long as its playing lead up front in the mix it sounds good,but the rhythm guitar just melds into mush.No tight loud crunch where it normally is.
The vocals only sound clear and good when it is a sparse mix,with few instruments competing for space.
Then the vocals sound very very good.
One example:Alison Krauss Baby now that I Found You.
Stunning,I mean it sounded like she had walked up to me and was singing 3 feet from my face.
Please assure me these drop outs in mid-range and vocals will go away with big power and currant.
These speakers sound fantastic with acoustic instruments and drums.
They just can't reproduce electric instruments with the required oomph on my classic rock recordings.
They come close when I crank it to 100% of my listening volume,but still the krang of a Marshall stack is missing.
It is strange how when ever the vocals are just a little bit reserved the volume drops a lot and looses all body,even on the intro of a song.
I'am going to wait until I try these with the more powerful amp before I make my final judgement,just hoping I can get some encouragement here that all will be well.
First off,the amplifier made a huge difference in the clarity and bass response.
I was still getting a less than stellar mid range performance on Rock music.
I ended up going direct from my Auralic streamer to the CJ amp.
I was amazed at the way the mid range opened up and revealed a lot more musical information.
The crunchy rhythm guitars were now heard clearly.
Gentle female vocals were made even more life like.
Sounds great doesn’t it.
Well along with the newfound clarity came a annoying abundance of harsh treble on some recordings,with no way to turn it down.
There are some tone settings on the auralic but they were not up to the task.
I know I will hear about this on here,but I put a 31 band dbx EQ between the streamer and the power amp to tame the treble and the over powering bass..
It worked very well.
Now I have to learn how to leave it alone,and not get up 5 times per song to fine tune it.
Then I realized they I could no longer play my vinyl with out the pre-amp.
So I put it back in and was greeted with some muddy midrange.
I was able to dial most of it out but still think things could be improved with a better pre-amp and or phono stage.
I had switched out the last 2 JJ’s in the macintosh pre-amp with telefunken’s hoping that would clearer things up.
No such luck.
It is a really good pre-amp for instrumental music and jazz and blues IMHO.
I will be on the look out for another pre-amp in the future.
The Dynaudio’s sound very good,they are the best sounding speakers I have had any experience with.
I don.’t think they excel at classic rock though.
When there is to much information in the mid range they kind of just get blurry.
I put my old Polk monitor 10’s back in to see what was what.
They sounded just like I remembered,pretty good but not near the detail or the vast sound stage the the Dynaudio’s can have on occasion.
But you know what,when I crank the Who,Pete’s guitar comes through loud and clear.
I can hear all the strings,and all the noise that comes with that.
I love the Dynaudio’s and have began to listen to so many new artists’s and styles since I got them,they are going nowhere for the conceivable future.They are fantastic for prog,and folk as well as any pop from the 70's on up.They have me listening to more Jazz then ever before.Miles Davis Bitches Brew was just fantastic through them.
I think I will just get some JBL’s or Klipsch’s for a dedicated classic rock speaker when I need to go all in..
I do not miss tone controls, but I understand that there's an appeal. I've had them with certain integrateds in the past. The 17LS2 does have push-button volume control, which did take some getting used to. There's clicking, rather than the turn of a knob.
I've been enjoying your threads. I'm curious about the incoming power amp and how you might feel that it sounds with your Dynaudio 360s.
I'd heard Dynaudio C1 platinums, and Contour20s (pre-i) with a CJ CA150 control amp, and it was a pairing that had me visiting the shop more than once. It influenced the direction of the next several moves. The top end of the dynaudios was more to my ideal for box speakers.
I picked up an old pair of Dynaudio DM 2/6 bookshelves for the basement. That fellow was moving on to a pair of the 360s! A CJ 17LS2 preamp to an MF2275 power amp runs the main system. And now a set of Heritage Specials is previewing upstairs with the semi-vintage Pass gear.
cellorover, who posts here now and then, is a concierge for conrad johnson equipment. He'd had a 350 in his queue several months ago, and I recall the ad saying something like "the last amp you will ever need."
I have no doubt that a good set of speaker cables would do wonders for the Dynaudio Focus 360's.
I need to get the amp first and listen a bit to hear how that sounds before the next improvement.
I have really been enjoying what I have now,but occasionally I still run into a recording where when the singer seems more laid back in the mix than I remember.
I will be getting the new amp sometime this week,so I will have to see what that does.
I'am also curious to see what the noise levels will be with this old Mac going into a amp with that much power.
I will let you know.
I have been looking at CJ Premier 17 pre-amp as well as a Musical Fidelity pre-amp In case I don't like this match.
@twangy57I have learned some things from your series of recent threads even after being reactivated in this hobby for the last 20 years after a long break. You can get a lot of valuable information here once you learn how to apply the appropriate filters.
At one point I had convinced myself that a tube preamplifier and high damping factor solid state amplifier was the way to go. I ran into the same impedance matching issue you have been describing when shopping, and I ultimately went in a different direction. Based on everything I have read here, I think the CJ amp you purchased will sound very good in your system, and look forward to your comments on whether it meets your needs.
Folks have suggested you adjust or upgrade your cabling. I would hold off on that until you are satisfied that you have the right gear, or are at least comfortable with the sound of the McIntosh pre, CJ amp and Focus speakers. I agree that power cords can make a big difference, but given that your pre is essentially vintage, it is probably more valuable in resale unaltered. A great 20 amp c19 power cord may unleash even more of the beast in your new 350, but something tells me it would rock pretty hard with whatever comes with it from the factory. For my current system, I did not realize some of the soundstage characteristics and capabilities until I upgraded from budget speaker cables. The Focus 360’s deserve good cables and you should be rewarded immediately for upgrading there once your amp arrives. You can start another thread for advice on cables when you get around to that but be prepared to buckle up and watch some sparks fly.
And yes, a decent budget phono pre will pay great dividends. Some here have mentioned Rega and Schiit. I have both a Schiit Mani and ProJect phono preamps and prefer the ProJect. YMMV.
The original Exact cartridge was panned. The Exact 2 is excellent. If you have a P6 and it came installed with the Exact, it is most likely the 2 version.
I had the Exact 2 on a P6 and it sounded great. Real sweet sounding, something my Ania lacks. I owned numerous MM carts before the Exact and the Exact was by far the best.
Don't want to beat a dead horse, but the Mac phono preamp would be easily bested by Rega's least expensive phono preamp.
I have been listening for a least a couple hours a day since getting these speakers and the tidal streaming.
I have to agree I should at least get a standalone phono preamp,
A lot of Rega users don't really like there MM cartridges from what I have read. I have the Exact,which isn't the best or the worse from the things I have read.
I will have to decide if changing to MC would be better considering my system and budget.
I have been enjoying this learning experience.
I think the one thing I never realized,is how much the recording quality of the music maters.
I was listening to steely Dan Aja yesterday,a recording that I thought I heard enough of to last the rest of my life and can't believe how great it sounds through these speakers.
So I'am already enjoying listening more then I have in a long time.
@twangy57 - As I mentioned before, the main indicator to identify a high current amp is does the rated wattage double as you drop from 8 ohm to 4 ohm. There are plenty of "modern" amps that are available. But, as you noted, the impedance requirement is definitely limiting your options.
Keep working on adjusting the speaker placement. It can take a lot of time and experimentation to get it right. Also keep in mind that room acoustical treatments (which can be as simple as a pillow in the corners or a couple of book shelves) will affect the sound. If you are having to turn down the bass, that is usually a indication that either placement needs work or you have some room issues.
I think you should try the CJ amp. It's not really an antique, just make sure it is functioning properly. If needed you can send it to CJ in the Wash DC area and they will check it out and fix it if necessary. They are a great company to work with. It will be a significant upgrade to the Adcom.
One last thing, I would strongly recommend getting a stand alone phono preamp to use instead of the one built into the Mac. You don't have to spend huge money there. There are plenty of choices in the $400 to $600 dollar range that should be a noticable improvement. (Even the Schiit Mani at $149 might be a step up and worth a try.)
In the end, going forward, take your time, do your research, and be methodical in evaluating and testing. And enjoy the music!
(Oh, by the way... current is spelled with an e, not an a. ...Mom was an English teacher... lol )
you seem to know a good deal about the damping factor and impedance compatibility, I unfortunately don't.
I think Dyna speakers are very good at a few things, and not that hard to drive. I forgot about another great match: Musical Fidelity. They are a bit hard to look at, the newer models but very clean and powerful sound.
I have received so much great information,and I have taken notes trying to put in a logical format to have a practical check list.
Well I know its a little late for that.
I have looked at lot of the suggestions for amps given,and most of the newer amps do not either have the correct impedance or currant to work with the speakers and pre-amp I now have.
Some have said get rid of the Mac and then you will have so many more options.
I really like the sound of this pre-amp,and since making adjustments as far as speaker location and just listening to lot of different music and realizing I can turn the bass way down with these speakers and I will get much more vocal clarity,I have come to the conclusion that I could be happy with everything just the way it is.
I will probably try the CJ amp to see if it will sound as good as I think,and if it doesn't I will sell it and try something else.
I going to sell a lot of my guitar gear so maybe I can get one of those sweet modern amps next.
I know you are probably correct in saying a this amp will show how noisy a old Mac can be.
I called Conrad Johnson just to make sure I could get this serviced down the road,and I was pleasantly surprised.
Someone picked up the phone on the 3rd ring.
I asked to speak to customer service and he said I.am the head of the service dept. can I help.
I asked about setting parts or service for the amp and was told they have a ample stock of any part for the amp.
I also asked him about the matching my old Mac to this amp,He said it will work fine and the high input impedance was chosen to reduce the noise when using with tube pre-amps.
He said try the Mac,but he said I would be amazed if I paired it with a Premire 17 or 18 CJ pre-amp as it was designed to complement this very amp.
When I described the earlier problem I was having ,he said it was probably both the amp and the cables.
I was told the Adcom does not have the currant to really power a somewhat inefficient speaker at 4ohms,and cheap cables will just make it worse.
He also said this amp is the one they get the most requests to do a reissue of.
Anyway,it was nice to be treated with respect,and without being told to get the latest model.
Could you give me a example of what mine is or what it should be?
My speakers are 4 ohm and the output impedance of the Adcom is rated down to 4 ohms,as far as the resistance of my cables I don't know.Just figure towards the high end of the spectrum.
I’am glad you made that point about the impedance.
Yes ,I believe you when you say the impedance mis-match is probably not really the main problem.
I do know that when I replaced my Adcom pre with the Mac,I loved what it did to the vocals on most of the music I listen to.
And that is with the mis-match of the Mac pre and my Adcom amp.
I have found that by moving the speakers closer to the front wall and turning the bass down on the preamp that 90% of the problem I was having with the vocals has gone away.
I guess I'am saying I know you are right about not counting on a better impedance match to solve all issue’s,and I’am not.
I have been reaching out to owners of these speakers and they say the extra currant should fix that last 10% of the issue with any weakness in the midrange
I really like the way it sounds now,and see no reason to change the preamp at this time.
If I find I don’t like the sound of it later I already have someone that wants to buy this preamp/tuner.
I also will take your advice on exploring a cable upgrade.
I was wanting to wait until I got the new amp,but I guess I should at least start looking now.
To all. I suppose the next thing for twangy57, is to receive his new, to him, power amp, the mighty Conrad Johnson Premier 350 stereo amp, an amp that will easily do the job driving his Dynaudio speakers. Considering he has not listened to the speakers before purchasing them, or the CJ amp, I believe he will have some fun. I do have a few concerns. The MX110....it might be a bit noisy because the amp has a higher than normal input sensitivity, around 1V. The amp takes a long time to break in. If listening to the system daily, I would encourage to leave the amp on 24/7 (as I do with all of my ss gear). This would require a preamp left on all the time as well, something most tube users do not do, and I understand why. I am excited for twangy57. The owners manual is available online to download.....remember, the amp is phase inverting. My best, MrD.
@twangy57 - Over the last couple of weeks and multiple treads on speakers, amps, streamers, etc., with all the recommendations, information, suggestions, etc., that have come them... (whether they are Good, Bad, or Ugly - queue up a picture of Clint Eastwood here LOL ) ....
I'm now curious as to how do you think you should proceed? Where is your head at? Are there any key, bottom line questions do you still need answered?
Hey Twangy one thing I will say is there are just some speakers that like to be pushed harder and played louder to sound their best. I remember reading some reviews of Dynaudio speakers back in the day that mentioned this. I don't have much experience with Dynaudio outside shows so not sure if they are still that way. A better amp will certainly help you get better sound.
For many years now, a simple (well maybe not so simple to some) modification of mine was to replace the power cords on gear. Yes, go inside the component, remove the factory cord, and hotwire with a much heavier gauge power cord (gear that did not have an IEC power inlet). I mentioned to the OP changing out the cord of his Adcom 545. I have done this with hundreds, yes hundreds, of power amps (other gear as well), and the improvements in sq, in every case, was substantial. Generally, I used 12 gauge cable from the THD or Lowes, sold by the foot, alongside a high quality 3way plug, creating a 2ndary ground. Why it made such as difference? Non restriction of current to the power supply, which is what I was told by an engineer. This one mod was incredible back then. Now, we have ac IEC inlets, and with power amps specifically, huge improvements can be had with power cable upgrades. Anyone who says power cords do not make a difference, has either never tried one, or cannot hear it through their system. My best, MrD.
A few years ago I welcomed a PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube Preamplifier to my rig and ended up with a similar situation that you have - a pairing issue. Voicing was slightly veiled on some tracks, and generally speaking, most tracks had the lead singer in the background, rather than forward - or upfront.
Like your McInstosh, the PrimaLuna required that the amplifier's input impedance be at least 10 times higher than the preamp's output impedance. And like your McIntosh, the PrimaLuna was 10K...so 100K was where my amp needed to be.
As it was at the time, I was using an NAD C275BEE. This amp had both fixed and variable inputs. In the fixed mode, the impedence was 10K, while the variable input (full) was 100K.
I would love to tell you that as soon as I switched to full variable input everything changed for the better, but it did not. While it certainly increased the quality of the sound, it was not where I knew it should be. Still had some issues with vocals and bass was good but a little muddy.
I believed at the time- and still do- that the issue was the dampening factor. DF measures the amplifier's ability to control a speaker's movement after a signal stops. DF is calculated as: Speaker Impedance / (Amplifier Output Impedance + Cable Resistance).
The NAD c275BEE DF vs. frequency is typical of most solid-state power amplifiers: high at low frequencies, then declining throughout the audioband. Hence, the sound was bettered as the volume was turned up. The lower the output impedance of the amplifier, the higher the DF, so this is what you would have been experiencing with the Adcom.
Also, adding speaker cable resistance will lower the DF, so while I am not wanting to get into a cable conversation, it's important to use good quality, low-resistance cables. I don't think my AudioQuest 5 cable was causing the issue or adding to it, but it is possible that your cables may be compounding the problem for you. Don't rule out a chain reaction.
That is a lot to digest. And it is at those times when it is best to try not to fight the power, but to simply start over. I sold the PrimaLuna, upgraded my amplifier and even changed out speakers, cable, etc. I succeeded in getting the sound I craved by ditching a bad partnership that started by simply using what gear I could afford in hopes of hitting pay dirt. I was merely hoping to get lucky.
I am not so young either, so it is best to get to the point of bliss sooner, rather than later. Save time; do not waste it on poor pairings.
I think it was the Pass Labs CEO who states that building a system starts with buying the best speakers you can afford. I guess you have done that with the Dynaudio's, so work backwards from there as you seem to be doing. Keep the DAC. Get a good phono Preamp to go with the Rega (a $400 Rega MM or MC phono preamp will sound much better than your preamp in the McIntosh). Use good cables (Rega sells a $150 low cap TT cable to go between preamp and table). But the guts of your system - your amp/preamp pairing that serves the speakers the best is paramount. Good luck.
My experience, @gano, is that it most certainly does, and also that it is not only about wpc and current. However, there seem to be some here and quite a few on audio asylum that will tell you it is all about the speakers and anyone who tries to tell you that what's in front (of the speakers) can make a big difference is trying to sell snake oil.
Agree you're on the right track- ample availability of current needed for high energy bass
Yes,when I explained to the gentlemen at dynaudio that the vocals and midrange instruments seemed to drop at certain times,he said that it might be because there isn't enough available current for second or two.
I believe I looked into them and I couldn’t find any with input impedance of 100koms or greater,which is what macintosh recommends for my mx100 tube pre/tuner.
I must also admit I’am a little leery of them because I remember reading quit a few articles stating they thought they sounded sterile.
I know that they have come a long way over the years ,but I’am old school.
I guess I’am waiting for all the tube folks to start selling everything and buying them
Is there a brand or model in particular they you were thinking of?
@twangy57, not everyone around here seems to feel this way, but I am in the camp that believes the electronics in front of a speaker will impact the way they perform.
OP, if I looked at the specs correctly of the amp you are using, they list 100 wpc into 8 ohms? And those speakers are listed as 4 ohm nominal impedance? Does your current amp have any specs listed for what it does into 4 ohms?
Yes,I puts out 150 watts per channel into 4 ohms.
I have been told the real problem is it puts out 20 amps and that these speakers like more than that.
They are growing on me as I listen more,so I think they will work if I can get the right combination of power and current.
I know classic rock was mostly recorded quickly and as cheaply as possible in many case’s,but it’s what moves me and It’s ingrained in most of the memories of my life.
So,I will find a way to enjoy it if it takes just listing to it in my car through some old Jensen coaxil’s.
I have began to really like these speakers and the problem’s I was experiencing have all but disappeared,since,since trying different placements.
You couldn’t be more right on your assumption that I would start to seek out better recordings.
I put Debussy on my tidal stream and just let it play for a hour or so.It sounded very good on these speakers to my novice classical ears
My dad used to play me Debussy and Stravinsky when I was little and I still remember parts of The Firebird,cool..
To address your question on the Polk monitor 10’s,no they did not have the problem I was having with the midrange
I was just wanting something more revealing and that’s what I got.
As the far as which amp to match with the mx110,I almost wish I would have just bought the speakers first,but I had already bought the preamp before getting on here.
Getting all the "in my opinion", the "for what it is worth"’s, etc. out of the way...
It’s not too late. Alot of us have bought equipment in the past that turned out not to work well with the rest of our systems. It happens. Key is not to let dwell on it and be willing to make a correction.
The old Adcom GFA-545 needs to be replaced. That should not be in doubt. The CJ is definitely a step in the right direction. The Focus 360’s are nice speakers as well. Different sounding than the Polk 10B’s, but also a step up.
That said, you seem to be questioning will the MX110 preamp fit with the rest of your system. It is a legitimate concern. It has a very high output impedance and is going to be difficult to get a good match to an amp. And, please don’t take this the wrong way, but it was introduced in what, 1962? That makes it more than a 60 year old design. And that goes for the phono preamp section as well. You also seem to like a bit of a harder, edgier sound. While I have not heard the MX110 myself, I would wonder if a tube pre from that era is going to be a bit too laid back (even "mushy") for you.
So, all that said... Maybe it would be time to take a step back and reevaluate the choice of the MX110? Maybe sell it and get something different? And maybe a standalone, and better phono preamp as well?
And if you do, you wouldn’t be the first to go through it. I’ve been in this hobby since I was 15 with no money and I’m now 61 and semi-retired. I know I have backtracked myself on several occasions. I would dare say, it is all part of this hobby.
The Dynaudio Focus 360 speakers have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. While the exact impedance curve is not provided, it is known that the impedance dips to a minimum of around 3.88 ohms at certain frequencies, and the phase angle can also fluctuate. Dynaudio's speakers generally have a smooth impedance curve, with minimal dips.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Rated Impedance:
The Dynaudio Focus 360 is designed to have a 4-ohm impedance.
Impedance Dips:
While the nominal impedance is 4 ohms, the impedance curve will have some variation, with dips to around 3.88 ohms at specific frequencies.
Phase Angle:
The phase angle of the speaker's impedance can also vary, with some values being as low as -48.21 degrees at certain frequencies, as noted in a Sound & Vision review.
Smooth Curve:
Dynaudio generally designs speakers with a smooth impedance curve, minimizing large dips that could strain an amplifier, as mentioned in a Dynaudio article.
According to my search, artificial intelligence says:
The Adcom GFA-545 II power amplifier is rated at 150 watts per channel into 4 ohms.
If it doesn’t double down it’s not high current in my opinion. And I don’t know much about your speakers, but they probably get into 2 ohms at higher frequencies, (and at 2 ohms there’s nothing left in the tank). So that’s probably a clue.
OP, if I looked at the specs correctly of the amp you are using, they list 100 wpc into 8 ohms? And those speakers are listed as 4 ohm nominal impedance? Does your current amp have any specs listed for what it does into 4 ohms?
@twangy57, did you hear this problem through your Polk Monitor 10s? Although I was a horn guy (still am), I admired many Polk speakers and have had quite a few floor standers by them, including the 10s, in my rotations. I found every model to be able to play at a satisfying listening level, with all types of music. They can handle loud; I am talking about the models manufactured before they went overseas for build, as the 10s. However, I do understand why you changed from them and, did well. Keep in mind, that the 360s reveal a good amount of detail, so you might hear some weaknesses in the recordings themselves. Many listeners only listen to "the finer engineered recordings", and I can understand why. You experienced this in your original post. I would not be surprised if you start listening more and more to these quality recordings. Everyone loves music, but to only a small number of us (relatively to the rest of the world), this is a characteristic of being an audiophile. Last note. IME, most classic rock is not recorded well, so you may hear things in the recordings...use of compression, equalization etc., which becomes obvious once you reach a level of transparency. My truth that I believe, is for bad recordings, listen to the musicians "play" and forget everything else. I feel the same way about great recordings too (1st and foremost, it is all about composition and musicianship), but when one of these recordings is playing on your system, you understand why you spent the money upgrading. It is amazing how recordings can sound so good through the home system. You will have a lot of fun with the CJ 350 (I liked it the few times I listened with it in a friend's system). MrD.
I grew up playing guitar since I was 12 years old,and I’am 67 now.
I don’t think I conveyed my expectations very well.
I was having problems with these speakers recreating the volume of the guitar in the mix of some rock recordings that I have listened to for 50 years.They just sounded neutered and to smooth.
I also understand what you mean by creating a more versatile system that can play most types of music well.
If I’am understanding what you are saying,don’t build a system striving to make some poorly engineered recording sound good,at the expense of all the excellent recordings out there.
If I have that right ,I agree with that.
Since the speaker location adjustments things are sounding better,and I have been enjoying listening for past the few hours.
The guitars are sounding like guitars.I listened to Who’s Next and it was really good.
Vocals are sounding better also,not dropping way down when the singer uses a softer delivery
I’am must admit,I was surprised just how much difference it made by moving the speakers about 4 inches in closer to the front wall.
As the far as which amp to match with the mx110,I almost wish I would have just bought the speakers first,but I had already bought the preamp before getting on here.So I will keep looking,but at least this set up is sounding better to me now.
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