Remarkably better sound possible with just 1 system component change?
@dave_b Never my man - the affliction is terminal and runs deep. I best stop before this thread quickly digresses and devolves into anything but audio related banter.. http://imgur.com/a/TeAJ5aG |
Stereo5 - I believe the main difference between the Kanta 3s and 2s is that the former have larger woofers. More/better bass isn't something I'm looking for.. Inna - I don't use special power cords or a power conditioner. I'd rather upgrade a component to be honest. I am open to going that route, albeit I can't help but be a tad skeptical that this would yield the major improvement I'm looking for.. CM - my listening location isn't really modifiable in terms of acoustics treatments or config. I've included a pic - I am sure some folks here may detect all sorts of audiophile transgressions and even deem some/all of them to be limiting in nature and possibly even the singular constraint that precludes my objective, but if so, that would be unfortunate.. http://imgur.com/a/JnmMStG |
Perkadin- ty ty ty ! I never realized, until now, that my quest is futile, folly, inconsequential in the grand scheme of things and life, an utter waste of $$$ and of course, monetarily and otherwise mutually exclusive with endeavors such as staring into the abyss in Sedona while listening to great headphones. I just booked a trip to Sedona and made arrangements for an acoustically treated outdoor enclosure with a glass roof - I am also going to take my gear there and stare into the starry abyss soon. No doubt my current gear will sound remarkably better under those conditions. Thanks again for the life changing enlightenment - I feel like the Buddha must have felt.. |
Wow guys - didn’t expect an avalanche of responses like this. So much to analyze and consider. This forum is no doubt the greatest one of it’s ilk on earth, replete with knowledgeable folks who are generous with their time and expertise (save for a smattering of trolls, but that comes with the territory I suppose). I also love the respectable and healthy debates and differences of opinion perennially prevalent on this site. There’s no surer path to success than surrounding one’s self with differing perspectives emanating from amicable, smart and experienced folk - that goes for audio related quests and everything else.. Allow me some time to sift through all the responses and revert with my thoughts.. |
@jond - I have a HT system integrated with my HiFi stereo system via an Anthem AVM60 processor. And I will sometimes swap amps to see how different permutations sound.. And when HiFi audio isn’t the overarching objective, I will let ’em all rip in unison, to the point where I occasionally trip the breakers and rattle the foundation..only when the missus ain’t around tho..or during a favorite sporting event..like UFC 257 tomorrow.. And somewhat miraculously, perhaps because the overall space is large, none of my art moves in the least during the audio induced plate tectonics. If that happened, I’d be quick to yank them all off and go with some acoustic treatments.. |
Thank you all for your thoughts so far - keep the ideas coming please. All of you have presented me with a bewildering yet cogent array of first class options to consider - that's for sure. To aid in the analysis of the myriad options laid out thus far, and to help whittle them down and converge on the optimal game plan, I will be implementing one of the oft cited recommendations this weekend, as illustrated below. I find this helps to achieve a much enhanced clarity of thought, and makes my system sound much, much more expensive and remarkable than it is in actuality. Totally obviates the need for acoustic treatments, upgrades, et al. Perhaps this is the road out of the never ending rabbit hole and which leads to salvation of the wallet and soul for all audiophiles. I wish! If only it were that easy.. TGIF |
Hey guys, I took all your feedback right to the heart of my tympanum and spent all weekend converting my mancave into an anechoic listening room. Luckily I was able to repurpose all my posters/art by first painting them with acousti-coat sound and radiation absorbent paint and then wrapping the pieces in DMD acoustic fabric to create acoustic panels. I credit dave-b's post for sparking this inflection point and my transition to a true audiophile. See below for a picture of my new Man-echoic cave. http://imgur.com/a/hSHVUHo Many thanks to dave_b for helping me realize the error and folly of my hitherto non audiophile ways. I used to pretend that I was an audiophile, but that was just fake news and nothing could have been further from the truth. I also lied about loving the sound of my system. Truth be told, I had created the perfect echo chamber, so much so that no matter the source or music I played, all I would hear is this. https://youtu.be/sJlpoQnlrw0 PS: I punctured all the soccer balls, strategically placed them around the manechoic cave and am now using the hollowed out acoustically treated cores as bass traps. Dave-b gets credit for that too |
Update - I've implemented a few acoustic upgrades to the listening space, namely a bookshelf and some art that doubles as smart sound wave canceling/reinforcing/diffusing acoustic panels. They work quite brilliantly, I have to say. http://imgur.com/a/cVlTvTQ http://imgur.com/a/uyW7SFQ Apart from that, I just placed an order for a pair of REL S/812 subwoofers. After those arrive, I plan to build a 2nd listening space in my man-echoic cave, anchored by either a pair of Focal Sopra 3s or B&W 802 D3s. I've been lusting after those speakers for some time and I just have to have one of those pairs, acoustics be damned. And I plan to use an integrated tube amplifier for that 2nd system, such as something like a Raven Blackhawk. Following that, there are several recommendations I've received that I plan to investigate and potentially pursue, including speaker and component footers/podiums, power conditioning, a higher quality streamer/DAC such as the Lumin T2 or X1, and better cables. Thanks again for all the input. |
