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Help, my system sounds lifeless!

Hi, this is my first post.  I rushed putting my system together when i emigrated from the UK to New Jersey.  In fact this site was partly to blame as i was attracted to the amazing  "used" deals!  I bought a pair of Dali Helicon 400 (mark I)  as they passed the WAF.  The rest of the system contains a Belles Soloist Integrated and Simaudio Equinox SE CD player, wireworld platinum eclispe 6 interconnect & Audio Art Cable Classic SC-5 Speaker Cable.  My room maybe partly to blame but generally the system sounds lifeless, with little soundstage (better when i play vinyl).  I am not feeling/falling in love with the speakers and do not like the bass response (which is often reported).  I would like to change the speakers and was wondering if you could help.  I have an extremely large cd collection (and have recently bought a used Lumin D1, but unfortunately not set up yet) covering all kinds of music.  I am thinking 8ohm with better sensitivity would be a better option.  Looking to spend around $3000-4000 used.  Some contenders include Revel F206 or F208, Tannoy DC8 or DC8T, ATC SCM40, JA Pulsars (maybe too much $), PBN Liberty, Aerial 10T (never see them used) but they must have grills as sometimes kids go in the basement.  Maybe Monitors with stands would be better option?  I am hoping the flickr link works so you can see my room (excuse the feet!).  I want to fall in love with my large music collection again!  Looking for good bass & soundstage and speakers that can play all kinds of music (sometimes I'm partial to deep electronic music).  In some ways because my taste is so vast i am not particularly looking for ultra revealing speakers (Nora Jones speakers i think you call them!).  Looking forward to the NY audio show so i can hear some systems.  Thanks for all the help, cheers Paul  https://www.flickr.com/gp/97665913@N06/a5G6d9
spoutmouzert
dleech
2 posts
 
A short p.s.  From your snap:

1. the speakers appear a bit big for the room, but I don't see any obvious reason for the sound being dull, assuming you move your feet to allow the sound waves to flow over you...
2. you need to grow a pair and relocate your stereo to the optimum living room location. 
3.  The Dali's might be a difficult load?  The Soloist isn't a powerhouse is it?
4.  Try the cable change first, least expensive option.
5. I hope you didn't leave Blighty looking for a calmer, more stable political process.....


lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes
681 posts
 
Agree with everyone else here that the speakers are too big for the room, but for S's & G's, why not try this experiment:  Buy a cheap small pair of British mini monitors and see if you don't just love the way they sound compared to your large speakers in that room.  Celestion C3's, Mission 70's mk II, or Mission 731's for $100 or less and I'll bet you'll be floored with how good they sound in that room.  And then you could upgrade into a smaller pair of speakers.  I just love the ProAc Super Tablettes and if the money is really burning a hole in your pocket, get a pair of LS 3/5a's or ProAc Response 1's.  
hglaser
7 posts
 
Not sure if the OP has given up on us, but for posterity at least . . . 

+1 on using a DSPeaker or similar room correction component.  

I had a similar set of problems in my listening room (a study -- smallish room, reflective surfaces (french doors), one speaker nearer a wall than the other) and a similar problem of lifeless sound.  The DSPeaker (Antimode 2.0 Dual Core in my case) made a huge difference.  The system sounds awesome -- to me at least.  I had a nasty resonance around 75mHZ that is now . . . gone.  

One aspect of using room correction equipment that isn't often mentioned is that -- completely aside from moderating unwanted low frequency bumps and dips) -- they can help you determine, in objective terms with actual microphone test results, optimum speaker placement and room treatments.  It's a little tedious to do the experimentation and testing, but at the end not only can you "trust your ears," but you can see the data through frequency response plots.  In my own case, shortening a long story, the DSPeaker actually saved me money by demonstrating that a separate subwoofer in addition to my ML Motion 20's was not really doing much.  The speakers alone were getting down to about 32 mHZ +/- 3dB on their own and the improvement in low-end frquency response was marginal, and boomy to one degree or another, irrespective of sub placement.  The sub went back and I've been delighted ever sense.  

YMMV, of course, but that's my own experience with the DSPeaker.  Easily the most impactful component I have.

Cheers,

Alex 
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
I disagree with everyone. Especially those who disagree with me. 

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,152 posts
 
Maybe it came back to life.  🍷
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