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I have NOVA V's and I am not happy

I have a Mark Levinson 585 and a pair of Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V's and although I admittedly have some room acoustic issues that I am working on I am not happy with the sound. 

I listen to music LOUD. This Pairing thru a pair of Kimber Cable 8TC's gets bright in what I think is the 2 to 4 khz range and the sonus faber nova's seem to mute the lower end of female vocals, artist like Macy Gray or Tina Turner dont seem to have the same drive in the lower octaves. At the same time the upper end of vocals like Sheryl Crow can get too bright and cause fatigue (I am assuming this is in the 2 to 4khz range) I have tried every speaker placement you can think of, toe in, toe out. distance from front wall and I am adding acoustic treatments as fast as they can be shipped. 

Here is my question, I had Mark Levinson 436 Mono Blocks in the past connected to a pair of B&W Nautilus 802's thru a pair of MIT Shotgun bi-wire speaker cables and I never noticed that system to be bright. Granted that system was in a different room in a different house. Everyone is telling me that B&W is a brighter sounding  speaker by far over Sonus Faber. If I decide after all my room treatments that I am not a fan of the Sonus Faber sound where should I turn for my replacement speaker? Or is it Mark Levinson's Fault? I want Rich Lush Loud Musical sound. I like a decent sound stage, I also really love it when when you hear decay from the instruments. I don't really care if that's what is neutral or not that's what I like :) 

Where did I go wrong and what can I do to fix it?

Thanks Lee

Ag insider logo xs@2xrlross3
grislybutter
2,317 posts
 

seems like giant speakers for a small room. But I would go easy on him, he is here for advice not ridiculing

ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 

Why would a company make a product that doesn’t sound good or match well with various electronics?

It’s the nature of the business. Many components are designed for looks / SPL and not accurate sound reproduction.

I’ve lost count of the number times I heard 15 foot wide vocals or a kick that sounds like a pillow hit with a tennis racket or strings that would cut glass. Forget about sound stage and phase coherence.

The last time I went to a high end shop, the salesman was quite incensed that I thought the [$250k?] system was awful and asked "How would you know what it’s supposed to sound like?" Because I recorded it. And yes, the room was well appointed.

NOT ALL COMPONENTS [cables included] work well together.

aniwolfe
757 posts
 

@rlross3

Lee

Seems like you are more committed to the amp, rather then the speakers. You might want to do this the other way and get the right amp and some room treatment.

If you cannot, then your best bet is to get an amp that has room correction. Lyndorf is a good choice IMO. If you are not going to remove the reflections in your room and provide good amplification, what should you expect from any speaker that is made well? Just sayin

wlutke
714 posts
 

“I have tried every speaker placement you can think of, toe in, toe out. distance from front wall and I am adding acoustic treatments as fast as they can be shipped. “  “If I decide after all my room treatments that I am not a fan of the Sonus Faber sound where should I turn for my replacement speaker? Or is it Mark Levinson's Fault?”

It doesn’t sound like he’s not got a clue to me.  His old speakers were ok, his new ones are not.  He’s asking about room, speakers and amp.  WTF else should he be asking?  Good work,I say.

 

 

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samzx12
1,218 posts
 

@ieales It’s the nature of the business. Many components are designed for looks / SPL and not accurate sound reproduction.

And this is your opinion of Sonus Faber?

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