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Need help - system performance

First I'll explain my system. Have a pair of Martin Logan SL3's (10" woofer with approx 4' esl panel), a pair of Parasound HCA1000A amps at 125 wpc each, a Parasound pld1100 line drive stereo preamp, a Pioneer Elite DV-05 dvd player,IXOS silver series interconnects (1/2 to 1 meter)and 12 gauge fine stranded monster cable MC-1 which has just an outer thick plastic jacket (16' speaker cables).

I have the amps horizontally bi-amped ( 1 amp for lows & 1 amp for highs). The speakers were bought used, are two years old, in mint condition, and were cared for. the amps & preamp were bought new and now have about 15-20 hours on them as well as all cables. DVD/CD player is connected to the direct input on preamp. polarity is correct on all terminations.

This is my sonic situation, when playing my favorite cd's, (you know the ones which have those exceptional quality recordings)the system sounds overall very good and bright. When watching dvd movies, it also sounds very good. When listening to most cd's however it appears to be lacking a little something!!!

It seams if the music be played consists of single or separable instruments, i.e. single guitars, horns or voices, the esl panels sound wonderful, but when its compounded such as rock and roll or the complete frequency spectrum, it seams to lack midrange, clarity, and sound stage. the 10" low end drivers seam to deliver a punchy bottom at times and muddy at others. The lower the volume the worse the condition. As far as listening to music from the tuner, well it sounds like absolute s....t. I have experimented with speaker placement with basically no differences. I have NOT tried to vertical biamp or drive the the amps as monoblocks.

I had a limited budget and spent approx 4K so far. I thought I did all the right research and made the right choices considering my budget. So what happening??

I tend to think the inexpensive speaker cables (bought from circuit city) could be causing the problem but I cant bring myself to spend a $1000.00 to proove it without talking to someone who knows more about it first.

Need intelligent help and recommendations....Steve Rounds
sfrounds

Showing 2 responses by sfrounds

sfrounds OP
35 posts
 
I feel alot better already knowing there's hope without changing primary equipment. I have some questions regarding your comments.

It seams your all in agreement that my inferior speaker cables need replacing. I know theres alot of controversy regarding this issue, so I guess i'll be discovering who was right in the near future.

I wish that I could use short speaker cables but home architecture won't permit it. Believe it or not, I underwent a major construction project just to develop a spot in my living room for my system.

The Martin Logan owners manual mentions spikes, but doesn't mention the concept behind it or the sonic benefits? Please explain.

About four months ago when I was picking brains to put this system together, I started a thread inquiring about the whole biamping theory and best results. It was clear that most agreed on horizontal biamping delivering the best results. I was told that monoblocked amps produced a grainy sound. I am certainly willing to try it, but what are your feelings regarding that grainy comment?
sfrounds OP
35 posts
 
Well, after reading your comments over and over, this is the approach I think I should take. Please feel free to correct me if you disagree! Also, I have a few more questions.

First, i'm going to relocate my two amps next to each of the ML's.

second, I have contacted Fatwyre.com to select for me two 3 or 4 foot pairs of speaker cables best suited for my present equipment. In doing this however, I'll have to vertical biamp instead of horizontal biamp. good idea or not? If I were still to use the horizontal biamp method, I would end up with 1 pair of 3' speaker cables and 1 pair of 10' cables. whats your opinion on this?

third, use long interconnects from preamp to amps using y connectors.

fourth, order spikes from Martin Logan which I have already called today and are in full agreement that they are a necessity.

fifth, keep my equipment for now, and see what results these new changes make to the sonic performance of my system first.

I know that Parasound equipment is not up there with the high end big boys, but for the budget I had and the research I did, it seamed like the right choice. I'm not yet convinced this equipment won't provide the performance i'm hoping for at least for now. These amps are supposed to be high current amps, designed by John Curl, and deliver 125 wpc/45 amp peak current each. They are also supposed to have hand picked/matched whatevers. Over time I'll most likely listen more, learn more, and spend more.

Thanks again for your help and support......Steve

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