speakers/ amps liking one another

At the end of the day, outside of the room you listen to music in, system synergy is right up there when it comes to overall sound quality, and amp/speaker synergy definitely falls into that category. The ONLY way to know how a system is going to sound, and especially loudspeakers, is to listen in YOUR OWN ROOM. There is no substitute. It's like what Andrew Robinson likes to say, "the only person who has to like the way your system sounds is YOU".

To Mesch and to Shtinkydog:  I will definitely  look at the Fritz speakers, your models for sure. Thank you !!!!      Also to shtinkydog, I have had them for a while and then they just sat.  You are totally correct, they are truly amazing speakers for the money, what they can do .  I will never sell them, they are like a collectors model. Congrats on owning them too. Happy Thanksgiving. Robert

@robshaw those 530s are pretty amazing,  right?  I listen to them both in and outdoors.

When looking for a stand mount speaker you might try Fritz Speakers. I own his Carbon 7SE MK2. Great speakers not requiring a great deal of power to drive and having plenty of bass. He also has a smaller version of this speaker that may  prove better for your room and use of a sub woofer.  I encourage you to give him a call. 

Good evening: I spent the better part  of the day trying different things. I removed the Focal Aria 948's from the room in question. I had an older pair of boxed stand a mount JBL Studio monitors 530 (book shelf) speakers. $600 bucks a few years ago. For the money, they are a GREAT bargain. Combine them with a good SUB, in a small area and you have a nice system. Which is what I found out today. WOW!!! The folks that commented on the room were spot on, and the one's that stated the 948's wee too much, were spot on. The smaller stand a mount was perfect.  I will start to look for a much better book shelf in the next few days. Electronics in the near future. Hard to believe the difference.  Absolutely, too much speaker for the room. Also, tried the Focal's in my main area, sounded very good in a larger area, but, for rock and roll,  I preferred my Tektons.Will be selling the Focal's very soon,probably through the MUSIC ROOM. They have been very good to me in the

  past. Any one interested, please let me know. They are PRISTINE!!!! Make me a reasonable offer. Hey, Thanks everyone that tried to help, MUCH appreciated. Now will start looking for a very good bookshelf. Robert

I’m a big fan of Plinius gear. As a matter of fact I have a Hautonga integrated for sale on the “Mart” site. It’s very dynamic with plenty of power and fits into your price range.

Focal has been teaming up with Naim for a number of years now. You may want to take a look at something from Naim that replaces your present items from Peachtree.

Those 948s are a lot of speaker for that small of a room so you can do some treatments but I'd also suggest some kind of DSP to tame those down (think MiniDSP). I use Anthems ARC software on my Aurum Cantus speakers in my small dedicated room (11.5 x 14) and when I turn ARC off the bass becomes way over powering. 

@urbie 
Obviously to some they are… and there are those that like tube steak, so be it ! In some cases it’s nice to not hear or know what goes on behind closed doors, to each his own. 
Cheers 

I have a room of almost the same dimensions.

I took note from Erik and gave GIK a call.  

Not a cheap fix, but easily the greatest component change for my system. 

The room still isn’t perfect. There is a tone that really seems to light up the room.  So Im still toying with idea of more bass trap improvements.  

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. Starting tomorrow I will move a few things around. (substitutions)  I'm very curious to hear the Focals in my other space, which is much larger and has great acoustics.  I'd agree with most all of you that the current room in question is very limiting and may be my biggest issue? I had originally thought that the Focal 948's were too much for the room, but let the name and Great deal $$ influence my overall decision.  I am laughing a little bit, thinking of moving that AMP as it weighs almost 100 lbs. A little trial and error session forth coming.  Thanks all  !!!

I agree with those that say the weak spot is the small square room. Your components look fine.

Well depends on what you think the weak link is. I’m not usually a conspiracy theorist, but I do believe Focal sometimes deliberately causes a dip in the mid bass impedance specifically to make the speakers seem more discerning of amplifiers.

Also, that room is cramped with very little toe in. Why don’t you try moving your main system’s amplifier over for a listen?

That is also a very small room for those speakers.  If your amp doesn't solve your problem consider room treatment instead. 

tekton speakers are definitely not audiophile quality speakers.

I don't think either of those two systems are to die for, I guess you haven't heard really good systems.

Your 13 X 13 room is by far the biggest issue. you will have strong resonant modes (eigentones) in both L-R and F-R at about 87 Hz and multiples: 43.5, 174, 261, 348 Hz, etc. The speed of sound is 1128 ft/sec (sea level) divided by 13 ft = ~87 Hz. if you have a 9 ft ceiling there will be eigentones at 125 Hz, and 141 Hz for 8 ft ceilings.

Acoustical diffusers and absorbers are the only method of dealing with these. An equalizer or DSP like DIRAC can only change the speakers input into the room. They have no impact whatsoever on the output of the room from acoustic resonances. If you are in the lest interested in sound quality you must deal with those before you make any other changes. Not just my opinion, its the physics..

Tekton are amazing and do not break the bank. How about you toss the Focals into your main room and have a listen. I think that will help you determine if the Focals you aren't liking. If that's the case, we'll that's easy. Sell them and pick up a pair of Tekton Impact or Pendragon monitors for your smaller room. You would probably break even. You should get $2k or better for the Focals. 

If you keep the Focals +1 for the Hegel products. I would also consider Bryston amps and the higher end Parasound products. All of these brands include models with very high power output, both integrated amps and power amps, that will drive your speakers to high volume levels with ample bass. All are class AB solid state amps that represent a good value.

Have you asked your Focal dealer what amps he pairs with your speakers?

Have you tried setting up your second system in a different room? How about  trying it in the same room as your primary system, a room you seem to think has good acoustics? The room does make a difference, just as speaker placement does. Such an experiment should help determine if you need new amps, if the room contributes to your perceived problem or if it really is the Focal speakers, which as others have suggested you could hook up to your primary system.
 

Good luck! 

After reading a response from Avanti1960, I am wondering how accurate he is on his assessment of the Focal speakers? I set my purchase decision on the Focals based solely on reviews, never heard them prior to ownership. He may be right. How easily I was influenced at the time,  and receiving a good deal on them too. I know my ATI AMP 6002 was a huge upgrade over the Peachtree. Now I'm wondering if the speakers are the bigger issue?  I have little hair left now. Thanks again.......Ps   I listen solely to R&R loudly.    I LOVE MY TEKTONS TOO!

Thanks so much for the posts. When I first started putting together this rooms system I debated on stand a mounts  rather than the bigger towers. However, It is what it is  now.   The Peachtree units were originally in my bigger room and didn't sound bad. Other room is a 20x30 portion of my shop which houses construction equipment, M/C's etc. Great acoustics, just lucky I guess. However, when the Peachtree units were replaced with the ATI Amp and Benchmark Line Amp a metamorphosis had taken place. Just trying to wrap my head around that. In the smaller room, there is a large couch, a floor rug,  pictures  etc. Also an open door leading to a bathroom on one end, and on the other side and open door leading to a hallway. I don't think there is much I can do with the room??? Just not sure whether it's too much loudspeaker,  or to little of a room, or needing a stronger Amp? Or none of the above, or all of the above??? Thanks again for everyone's time and expertise. Robert

I do not see the smaller room being your biggest issue.  

You are coming from a Linear Tube Audio amp which are awesome (i think, not clear in your post) driving the highly sensitive dynamic Tektons going to the Bland sounding Focal towers.  

In my experience it is much more difficult and expensive to make speakers sound dynamic with more amp muscle than to use more sensitive speakers.  

If you want to try, a used Benchmark AHB2 might help but I think more sensitive speakers are needed to compete with your main system.  

The weak spot is the small square room. If it were me I would take measurements, treat the room,then decide on components. My room is slightly larger and also square, so I can relate to the struggle.

What don’t you like about what you’re hearing now, and what specific improvements are you looking for?  Also, as others mentioned your small, square room is a nightmare, and I’d be surprised if you weren’t experiencing bass issues of some sort.  Room treatments would probably go a long way toward improving the overall sound. 

+1 on fuzztone in that I would try room or room treatments before changing amps.

If you decide you want a new amp I would recommend Parasound integrated amp or a Marantz integrated. 

@robshaw  You can't go wrong with the Hegel 390 or 590.  Great amps and fully integrated.  You may find yourself selling the preamp/dac you're currently using.  Give them a listen if you get a chance.  They do come up on the used market from time to time.

Rooms play a towering difference compared to electronics.

Try putting system A in room B.

I spend more time listening to my system B than A (but it shares room A.)

I can enjoy system E (outdoors) just fine.