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May you help speakers amps

Hi Gentlemen,  I’ve always had a music ear. Over the last 5 years I feel I am listening to too much midrange without smooth but crisp highs. It is like I am listening to a piano playing middle octave. The treble octave is there but not crisp. Yes ok crisp but not like I am standing next to the piano. It sounds like I was listening to a record 20 years ago. I had my hearing tested. I am 62 and just have some normal high frequency loss that comes with being 62. I think I just cannot make out which of my components to match and I may have dug myself into a hole of not being able to choose the right stuff. My speaker wire is in the wall so I cannot run to the A/B input and some of my stuff lacks that anyway. I do listen to a lot of Pandora via Bluetooth and it might be that. I realize the music source isn’t so good. Yes, maybe that is it. I will go to Spotify Premium today if that is the suggestion from you. Here is the equipment I have to work with. There isn’t any fuzz, hum or abnormal components that makes me feel that there is a bad filter 

AMPS: McIntosh MC2100 (recapped), Sonamp 260x3, Sonance DSP 150, BGW 8000, Yamaha P2500 for rbh sub, Yamaha receiver STR SE 591, Denon AVR 1913 for my tv stuff only. I don’t use all of these. I just have them available. I don’t use a pre-amp. 
Speakers: Magnaplanars MGIII (like because of the smooth and forgiving imaging.  They are 2 ft from the wall). Monitor Audio Silver S1, Quadrature DSP 3a, Vandersteen 3ce

I realize that my ear is the test for what sounds the best. Would you mind telling me what the various audiophile audiophile audiophile thoughts are?  I’m sorry that I don’t have super expensive stuff that needs a separate DAC or anything. I’ve just lost my love of sitting listening to music because it all sounds like I am in the back row of an auditorium. Which components would you pick or are they all too old?  Do I need to get rid of Pandora. Any of your personal opinions?

128x128geworthomd
elliottbnewcombjr
5,239 posts
 

Find out what your speakers are producing. Go forth with that knowledge.

FINALLY, after all these years, I bought myself a sound pressure meter, $20. Amazon.

 

mounts on a tripod, put at listening position ear level.

Then see measured output of specific frequencies, see what you are getting, in that position, with those speakers in that location.

I use this Test CD with 29  individually selectable 1/3 octave tones 25hz to 20,000 hz.

 

https://www.discogs.com/release/7290000-Various-Amazing-Bytes
geworthomd's avatar
geworthomd OP
98 posts
 

Great ideas. Hardwood floors. Sure, I have some thick marble slabs, perhaps 4 inch. I’ll get them cut to bring the Maggies up. The sound pressure meter is up. My buddy has a frequency generator.  My music is only streaming and the iphone controls volume so still not sure about adding a pre-amp. I don’t need to switch to another source or use a volume control. I set my volume on my iphone to be at max when I use the amps that have adjustable pots like the McIntosh. You guys are giving me some great ideas. Thanks. 

geworthomd's avatar
geworthomd OP
98 posts
 

So plot a range of spl’d vs frequencies at the optimal listening point and see if there are any areas falling down on the graph, eh 

geworthomd's avatar
geworthomd OP
98 posts
 

Music timber is probably the best word to describe the loss to you guys

danager's avatar
danager
882 posts
 

Bluetooth and Spotify / Pandora are probably the major culprits for the lack of detail. You have a very resolving system but the source can’t provide the detail your system can provide.

Try the free Qobuz trial and see if that helps.

 

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