How do I find an audio advisor who does home consultations?
I live on Eastern Long Island and am looking for someone who could do an assessment of my system. Over the last couple of years I've taken the leap into a better quality vinyl system, but just can't seem to get the sound right consistently. In the past year I purchased a Rega Planar 3 TT, a Line Magnetic tube integrated amp and a Heed phono stage. There are times it sounds great, but not consistently. I've told two different dealers that my CDs sound better than my vinyl and the response and look I get is like I've spoken heresy.
I'm in the middle of trying the myriad tweaks (vibration control, new rack, cork mat, record cleaner), am looking into my electrical system (think I have a dedicated line), power conditioner and so on. I'm considering new phono stage and cartridge as well.
I know how electrical issues ( air conditioner running, dehumidifier on another line) influence sound, but is it possible that vinyl is influenced more that CD's?
Anyway, I'm willing to pay for someone to assess my system in my home as opposed to going to a dealer and guessing that I need this or that without hearing what I am. Are there dealers that charge an hourly rate to do this?
... Over the last couple of years I've taken the
leap into a better quality vinyl system, but just can't seem to get the
sound right consistently. In the past year I purchased a Rega Planar 3
TT, a Line Magnetic tube integrated amp and a Heed phono stage. There
are times it sounds great, but not consistently.
When it doesn't sound great, what do you hear?
I've told two different
dealers that my CDs sound better than my vinyl and the response and
look I get is like I've spoken heresy.
It's certainly possible for CD to sound better than LP, depending on the system and how it's setup.
I know how electrical issues ( air
conditioner running, dehumidifier on another line) influence sound, but
is it possible that vinyl is influenced more that CD's?
With LP, you're working with levels in the millivolt range, so it's not a surprise that electrical issues could be more of a problem with LP than CD.
I'm willing to pay for someone to assess my system in my home ... Are there dealers that charge an hourly rate to do
this?
Some charge for this service, others will be happy to do it at no charge.
I think you should not be so adverse to dealers. Yes, I have had some negative experiences, but dealers have helped me put together some really great systems that I don't think I could have done myself. Don't be intimidated and let them try to help you. But I also think it's a good idea to try and find some local audiophiles that may be able to assist you.
For what it is worth, I can bring over several components for you to hear in your system that may help you understand what can make your system sound "better". That way you may be able to understand strengths and weaknesses in your home/system and possible understand what components you would benefit the most from.
Years ago I swore that I would never buy another component without auditioning it in my home system and I’ve consistently broken that promise. If I had to give anyone advice now, it would be to find a set of speakers that please you in your listening environment, mate amplification, and then assess source. My theory is that if you don’t get the first part right, you’re going around in circles trying tweaks and cables ad infinatum. A decent CD player (an Oppo) can give you excellent sound for not much money. Then you can use that benchmark for your vinyl playback. I’ve found that good vinyl playback ain’t cheap: I use a VPI Classic One with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC and a Sutherland phono pre so I’ve got about $6K into it to find decent playback. One big recent change was buying a Lyngdorf integrated with Room Correction. Really helped smooth out Room effects.
Chayro I may have given the wrong impression about my dealings with dealers. They have been extremely helpful. In fact, after one discussion related to the CDs sounding better than vinyl, he re-aligned my cartridge, thus improving the sound, and has been very helpful. I brought in my integrated tube amp to test it with B&W speakers I ultimately bought, so it was a win win for both of us. In the meantime, my listening room (my basement) was renovated and its taken a long time to get it back together and the vinyl setup is the weak link. With temps in the 90's in the northeast, AC and dehumidifiers have been going full blast with my system suffering as well with surges, drop-offs and inconsistencies with the electrical system. Pointing toward better power conditioning. Thanks for the other suggestions, will be looking for audiophile groups in the area. This site has a few listed and will look into them. Keep the suggestions coming.
austinbob, I can see how expensive this can become. Went to one dealer who had 20k speakers and an ultimate VPI system that was the best I ever heard. I don't know if there's a market for it, but I personally am willing to pay 100-200 for a good listening session, don't know if this already exists. Is it out there?
While I do not know that they offer this type of service, but you might want to check with Audio Den in Lake Grove. Been there a couple of time and the guys seem very knowledgable.
When I had my store I think we spent more time LEARNING than we did selling. Back then--early 1970's--manufacturers were bending over backwards to provide education to dealers that was not only "their" product-based. I found that having a professional audio consultant available provided a better ROI than all the advertising co-op money I got in a year.
We made more sales by taking systems to customer homes, setting them up, and letting the customer find the exact "sound" he/she was looking for than we did with "hard sell" tactics or even by cutting retail prices.
Any dealer--Lyric Hi-Fi in your area??-- should have a pro on staff to help you audition components in YOUR ROOM and provide professional measurements to help you see what is possible in that space. Now, we all know that measurements are not the same as sound, so whatever you learn, you still get to pick what YOU want in your system.
We always suggested Lyric back then to our snowbird customers who were in the NYC area. Not sure if they are the same 50 years later, but probably are. If not them, ask them who they suggest.
There is also another setup guy in the Jim Smith category that is also known as a turntable Guru. Many top companies use him to set up their TT gear at shows. Unfortunately he's in Petaluma CA in NorCal wine country so about as far from you as it can get in the US. He has traveled internationally to practice his craft. Check out :www.audiosystemoptimized.com. Sterling Trayle. Be sure to post your results should you decide to utilize his services. I live in Scottsdale and plan on contracting him to come down and work his magic but will wait till fall when it cools off here isn the desert. Good luck and happy listening.
Note there is a typo in ptrck887's post above with the link.
Here's the right one http://www.audiosystemsoptimized.com/ and it is a great read. Thanks for sharing. I'd really like a consultation like this too... but I couldn't afford to fly him in from CA to Minneapolis.
Thanks for the many suggestions and help. I have used Audio Den, in fact they realigned my cartridge and helped match my amp with a new pair of B&Ws, so I have had some help. Just looking to see what else is in my area and other resources.
I went through this a few years ago - I posted an ad on Canuck Audio and had a quick response from a very knowledgeable audiophile that was willing to help me out if I covered his gas expenses for travel. Needless to say I jumped at it and it provided me with a lot of very positive results - and a lot to consider down the road as I make changes to my system.
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