Just setup my uber system - mixed feelings...

gongli

gongli

Musician + Audio Lover
I just finished setting up my ultra system that has been sitting in my relatives's house for a while - It's a $62,000 system, and I don't know if I whole heartly like it ...

It's too pleasant in presentation - like a 5 star hotel... I prefer lesser more modest feeling than the hyper pleasant feeling of the ultra rich, I found out...

Perhaps it's because of my humble upbringing and I am just used to ascetic environment or something. I prefer more modest setup of Adcom to Krell ... do you guys find this as well?

Is this something I can get over?
Will I eventually come to enjoy the upper system?

I certainly hope so ! You don't know what I had to go through to get the system into my house... My wife was angel about it.

Thanks for reading and happy listening everyone...

My system:

McIntosh TT with Mc cartiridge and needle
Audio Research TT preamp
Sony Superaudio CD
Krell pre
Krell power
Transparent cables all around
B&W Nautilus speakers
Power conditioner
 
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What do you not like about your system? Is it too sterile sounding for your taste. That is, does it lack warmth. I've heard that before when listening to Krell and B&Ws.

BTW, who's is the girl in your avatar?
 
Yes somewhat - the Sony CD's sound doesn't help in that regard either - their sound is not warm either... I am gonna try with other sources...

Her name is Jane - a model, but I don't remember the last name - I will let you know when it comes to me...
 
That's a great point - no I was in the process of making room treatments, until I learned that the fiberglass material is cancer causing, so I scrapped the project...

I know they help and would love to get in the project again - have to find safe material...
 
I've heard some megabucks systems that didn't sound good enough to me due to their poor acoustic environments.

Try at least to deal with the first reflection points and you will feel quite rewarded.
 
Thanks again for that - you may have saved my system, and again searching after that holy grail...
 
gongli said:
That's a great point - no I was in the process of making room treatments, until I learned that the fiberglass material is cancer causing, so I scrapped the project...

I know they help and would love to get in the project again - have to find safe material...
Click to expand...
Fiberglass doest not cause cancer, it appears. http://www.lung.org/healthy-air/home/resources/fiberglass.html
Also, as an alternative to fiberglass there is rockwoll.

Hope you get the proper sound treatment!
 
If it sounded good in the past then it likely will again.
I assume you were happy with it when previously set up.


Steve
 
gongli said:
I prefer lesser more modest feeling than the hyper pleasant feeling of the ultra rich, I found out...

Perhaps it's because of my humble upbringing and I am just used to ascetic environment or something. I prefer more modest setup of Adcom to Krell ... do you guys find this as well?
Click to expand...
I'm kind of the same way with watches. I like nice watches and can afford a $10k watch, but I'd never wear it because I'd feel self conscious.
 
Don't get distracted by nameplates. Embrace the challenge of releasing the potential beast that lies before you within any system. It may or may not be there, but the fulfillment realized when you let it off the chain is what makes the hobby worthwhile. And failing to put forth the effort in an attempt to achieve that because of superficial distractions is an opportunity missed. Negative thought produce negative results.
 
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I don't care what system you have or cost it's not going to just sound great dropping it into a room. You have to work with it and the room to dial it into what you like.
 
Gear may not meet your fancy, regardless of price.

If you don't like what you hear on all sources (and it's the same "symptom"), take a look at the preamp, amp and speakers (along with associated cables, but to a lesser extent).

You surely own another pair of speakers you're familiar with. Swap them in and see how the upstream gear treats them. It's tough when you change everything at once. Try to eliminate some variables.
 
I'd like to have your problem. I suspect, as mentioned, it's the room that needs tweaking. Have fun, embrace the challenge.

cubdog
 
I don't know how long you have had this system, I read in another post that you bought it fairly recently. Give it some time, and go through a lot of music before making any kind of decision. A well balanced system can often sound unassuming because it is faithful to the music. Often a system that is a wowser in terms of audiophile tricks can be a let down in the long run when you discover it takes liberties with the fundamental composition of music. The recommendation of room treatments is certainly a good one, as is measuring the room before hand to see what it really looks like and what needs to be done. Listen to a lot of music before making your decision. If you do make changes, you need to know what you like and don't like about it and make any changes armed with knowledge and experience.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
I think, besides toying with the room treatment and speaker placement it would be interesting to swap in some humble components.
Try running the speakers with a humble receiver, try other speakers, etc.
 
gongli said:
I prefer more modest setup of Adcom to Krell ... do you guys find this as well?
Click to expand...

In a word, no. I owned a run-of-the-mill Adcom tuner/pre for a while. I once had the opportunity to – very briefly – listen to a Krell pre in my system. Have to say that of the two, I would not choose the Adcom. Not even close. Champagne tastes on a cat-pee budget, I guess.

Anyway, I suspect part of your “problem” is that you got the system all in one – so it is a system that was put together for someone else’s tastes, not yours. I imagine that with a bit of research, auditioning, and judicious horse-trading, you could swap out some bits and pieces and end up with a very nice set-up that suits your ears, not a previous owner’s.

As already noted – a problem most of us would love to have. After all, what makes this a hobby is the journey, not the destination.
 
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