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Sound issues

Here is my current set up. Marantz AV7701, Mac MC205, Oppo 103, PS3, SF Liuto towers, SF Liuto Smart center, SF Toys Monitors (on order), Audioquest GBC speaker wires. The bass is there, but the center seems to be over powered by the towers and missing the highs and mids from the towers. In fact it sounds worse than the set up at the store running a Arcam AV. I have a old Monster surge protector, could that be it? Is it the speaker cables? I'm just at a lost, opinions, thoughts?
kalbi23
13 responses Add your response
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
leave them playing for a week first(may turn off when going to bed or leave them on quiet)
that's the only problem i see.
other than that i'd take a look onto your mac vu meters and the best way is to have a test dvd-audio source to ensure that the power is distributed evenly and properly onto each group of speakers.
also you can take a loaner integrated amp to check out your mains.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,578 posts
 
Yes, in part, it is the Monster surge protector. Those products will 'steal' current from your power amp(s).

Take it out of your system and you will hear the difference!
mik971
153 posts
 
Jafant is correct. The monster surge protector needs to go!!!
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,578 posts
 
Kalbi23,

is getting a dedicated line an option for you?
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 
Sorry if I am wrong, but it sounds like you are saying the center is missing the highs and mids that are present in the towers. If so, have you checked to see if the tweeter in the center speaker is working? If not, cover the center's tweeter with something like a 3X5 card to see if there is a difference in the sound. If no difference, that tweeter is probably blown.

If the monster surge protector is a problem, it should affect all speakers the same.
manoterror
216 posts
 
This may be a silly question, but did you run the room equalization software in the Marantz yet? When I ran that in my system it made a huge difference becasue the towers were overpowing the center.

You can turn it off if you don't like the programmed response they create. You can likely tweak the EQ settings as well. just a thought.

mot
kalbi23 OP
58 posts
 
Dedicated line is not an option for me. I will try covering up the tweeter on the center and see. I ran the audessey, and to me it sounded worse.
kalbi23 OP
58 posts
 
Tested the tweeter and it is good. I do notice a hum coming from the speaker when I get close.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,578 posts
 
Kalbi -

did you remove the Monster conditioner?
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
change position of your speakers
kalbi23 OP
58 posts
 
I have the amp plugged directly into the wall. Monster has everything else plugged into it.
rliddell
5 posts
 
Did you get your problem solved? If not, try DSpeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 room correction for the front two speakers (connect between the amp and preamp) and then run the AV7701 Audyssey on top of that. I use the DSpeaker in this configuration with a McIntosh amp and the Marantz AV7701. The DSpeaker took a 12db, 120hz "bump" out of my room. I had been listening to "mush" for 18 years and didn't know it.
kalbi23 OP
58 posts
 
Thank you, the issue has been resolved, replaced the Marantz with the Yamaha CXA5000, replaced the front speakers with SF Cremonas and replaced the surge protector with a Furman.
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