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  3. 1134310887

Effortless, grain-free sound - is it possible?

I'm starting to wonder if I'm searching for the impossible. I sold my former system (built around MG 3.6R speakers, Bryston electronics, Delphi turntable) in search of a simpler, purer, less "hi-fi" sound. I bought Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor speakers, a Cary SLI-80 Signature F1 integrated amp, Nordost "Blue heaven" cables, and I'm now searching for a new CD player (still using my Parasound CD/P 2000). I'm leaning toward the new Cary 306 SACD. I listen mostly to opera, piano music, and some jazz (with a smattering of other things).

Opera is a brutal test for equipment, as we all know. An orchestral crescendo with a soprano singing at full tilt will test any system. We've all heard our systems turn to mush at such times. Piano music, at volume, will also separate the men from the boys. My new sytem, while it has many virtues, is not cutting it in this department. It seems to fall down hard when the going gets tough. I'm trying to figure out if what I'm hearing is a function of what I've grown used to with the old system, or if it is CD player related, or if the SLI 80 is running out of gas, or if these little speakers really can't play as loudly as advertised, or what. I also think it may be that most of my listening before was on the Delphi (LPs), while now I have only CDs to listen to.

For example, the first Act of Verdi's Otello is rich with wonderful orchestration and massive coral passages. I have a mid-70s Angel recording on LP (Glossop, Freni), the sound of which I have always greatly prefered to any CD. The loud passages just seem to stay together better and the whole thing seems richer, fully, and . . . well . . more like music. The horn blasts, the concussive effect of drums, etc all seems much better. I can't test this on my current system because I'm without a turntable now. Will my problems lessen when I go back to LPs? Am I now hearing problems with the CD format, or am I just expecting something from my current gear that it just can't deliver?

Thoughts and comments would be much appreciated.

Msmcelwee

msmcelwee

Showing 2 responses by plato

plato
1,543 posts
 
My feeling is that you're expecting a lot from a 50 watt per channel tube amp (good-sounding triode mode), when asking it to drive not-so-efficient speakers with small (under 6-inch) woofers. Unless you're playing this system in an 8 x 10 foot room your amp will be woefully clipping and your speakers just won't move enough air (no matter what) to give you the kind of sound you're describing.

So if you want bigger, more dynamic sound, why not get a more powerful amp or bigger, more efficient speakers, or both? Or maybe add a more powerful amp and a decent quality subwoofer, or two... There may be more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.

Certainly what you're looking for is possible, but not with your current amp and speakers in your particular room (which you apparently forgot to describe). I highly doubt that your problem is related to your using CD as the source.
plato
1,543 posts
 
It's also possible that something is overloading or not performing correctly, especially if you're playing at relatively low levels. Substituting other gear like a CD player or amp might tell you this.

89dB/watt is not that inefficient, but for small speakers in your room, it's never going to have authority in the low registers of the piano, though it might do fine on vocals with the right amplification... Offhand, I don't know the specs on your electronics, but it's even plausible that your CD player's output could be overloading your amps input stage. Let us know how you make out.
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