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Upgrade to ATC / Bryston

My system consists of a Squeezebox Touch, Audio gd digital interface, Metrum Octave DAC, HK990 Integrated Amp and Dynaudio Excite 12x Speakers. I also have a Rythmik 12 inch sub that produces tight and controlled low frequencies and blends in seamlessly with the Dynaudios.

I am not in the least unhappy with the sound produced from my current audio system. In fact, I'm am in love with what I hear, describing it as sweet, musical and heavenly with no ear irritation no matter how load I play the music.

The question I have is can I get even more detail and resolution without sacrificing the sweet sound I have come to love in this setup? I am primarily considering swapping out the power amp and speakers to see what if I can find anything I like more. I'm afraid I am going to go through this exercise and end up with exactly what I have now but may be pleasantly surprised.

When I picked up the Dynaudios from the dealer a few years ago, they where driving them with a Bryston 3b SST2 and the resolution was amazing. I can not talk to the musicality because I did not like the source material but it definitely had more detail then my HK990. I've been thinking of buying a used 3b SST to see if I really like it, or is the musicality of the Harmon Kardon worth more than the resolution of the Bryston? I may still use the HK990 as my preamp for now and eventually get an Onkyo P3000R preamp for all the digital it's digital inputs.

On a separate occasion I have also auditioned the ATC SCM 11 driven by the ATC 150 w amp and several other amps. With the ATC amp, the SCM 11 sounded amazing, with lots of detail and beautiful musical synergy. With any other amp, they lost all the magic. Evan adding a non ATC preamp made the speakers lose the wonderful sound.

So now I am considering trying out a Bryston amp and ATC speakers. Both are supposed to be extremely transparent. I could end up with one, or the other, both, or neither. If I can get fantastic detail without sacrificing musicality then I have succeeded. I was planning to get the new version of the SCM 11 speakers (2013) and a used 3b SST2. What do you all think?
earlxtr

Showing 4 responses by kiddman

kiddman
341 posts
 
Just a couple of points:

1. It is totally possible to use a subwoofer with a state of the art speaker in a state of the art system, using totally different amps on the woofer and main speakers, and achieve world-class results.

2. Should be number 1: ATC are in lots of the most expensive new studios for a reason: they have some of the most pure, natural sound available at any price, along with detail and dynamics. You are going in the right direction!
kiddman
341 posts
 
Douglas, don't misrepresent what I said. I never said that a bookshelf/sub combo is better. I merely said that different amps can be used on a sub and a speaker and still get great results.

For the record, I've never heard a bookshelf speaker and sub combo that sounds state of the art. The best subwoofered systems I have heard use big, full range speakers in conjunction with subwoofers. I don't do bookshelf speakers, I don't like bookshelf speakers, with subs or not, and never represented anything about bookshelf speakers.
kiddman
341 posts
 
Thanks Doug.

Original Poster, you were heading in the right direction with the ATC. No power conditioner or power cables will give you that increase in purity, detail, etc. that the ATC will.

Comparing the magnitude of improvement from accessories like conditioners and power cords to the improvement of using a great speaker like ATC is like talking about how you should keep your Ford Mustang and improve it with to aero windshield wipers, special smooth license plate holders, and cool wheels instead of upgrading to a Porsche.
kiddman
341 posts
 
And figure out the speakers first, then the amp.
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