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When speakers almost sound like the instruments

My speakers,(Mirage OMD28) have been a struggle for the pass couple years, with small not very dense images, less sonic weight/bass than expected, lacking transparency, not the requisite extension top to bottom. But, the addition of a few other pieces finally brought image density, size and sonic weight to the presentation, much closer to reality. For me, this is when your system has arrived. The speakers bring Jazz to life. It took a conditioner,(SR Powercell mkII), and an excellent preamp,(Joule Electra LA150 mkll) to get my system there. Amazing how the same speakers you've had for a while, and struggled with (2 years) can be transformed from underwhelming and disappointing to very good.

Have you had speakers that you struggled with for a while and almost gave up on, almost sold, that you transformed from disappointing to all you expected?
foster_9
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,575 posts
 
We all take different paths to that goal of dialing in our speakers. What drew me to my present set was the fact that they sounded so much like instruments from the very beginning. A change of amps, CDP and wires along the way just helped to heighten the effect.

I guess (after writing the above) that some speakers are almost there to begin with while others need a little more help or it was just serendipity or dumb luck that I happened upon mine.

As long as you're there, enjoy.

All the best,
Nonoise
mrmitch
359 posts
 
Have to agree here with Chayro. I too, like Foster 9, bought a Joule Electra LA 150 Mk2, and it transformed my system (had a CJ PV-5 previously).Deeper and wider soundstage, much better bass,and just enjoyed my system much more after inserting the Joule into the chain.
tubeking
65 posts
 
In my experence the larger speakers sound most like real instruments. The body/dynamics of many instruments just are not large enough on small speakers. The laws physics of make most speakers sound like miniture recreations of the event. This is fine but real life instruments have resonances and tonal charteristics much better served by larger transducers. I have just added Tannoy Westminsters Royals to my system and they sound the most true to life I have experenced. They may not be your cup of tea but try to audition some horn type speakers preferably with tube electronics. It is at least a learning experence worth a few minutes of your time. Hope this is of help if I understood your posted question.

Mark
Tubeking
Post removed 
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I have a very similar experience to Foster, the OP. I have had a pair of Mirage OMD-15s for over 4 years. These are the little brothers of the OMD-28s, with a similar array of drivers and the Omniguide, but with downsized drivers and cabinet. I have also had a pair of Mirage bipolar M5si's for 16 years. For a long time I was fiddling with the things that most intuitively bring about more control of the speakers, such as high current amplification, and bi-amping or bi-wiring (I've done both with both pairs). But one day an audiobuddy stopped by with a handbuilt tube line stage and it simply kicked the system into a whole other dimension of palpability, imaging, clarity, and truth of timbre.

I bought the line stage on the spot and I consider it the source of my audio happiness. Also, I like the Mirage OMD series because their radiating pattern is so similar to that of voices and instruments. When the speakers energize a room the same way performers would, you get an improvement in the reality of timbre. Part of what gives an instrument its distinct sound is how it interacts with the room and omni speakers give you that.
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