Midrange on A7 vs. A9

Mark_1042

I recently purchased a pair of RTi A7's, and I've found these speakers to be fairly lacking in the midrange. I was considering exchanging them for a pair of A9's, but I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if the A9 will offer a significant improvement in midrange.

The problem I'm experiencing is mainly with television and HT. Voices in the middle range seem distant and the midrange seems a bit muddy. On movies I need to turn the speakers up to high levels just to hear the dialogue, since at low listening levels the highs and lows tend to drown out the vocals.

So I what I'm wondering is:

1. Is the midrange on the A9 more forward than it is on the A7? (I'm looking for a significant improvement here)
2. Are the A9's more balanced, so I can play movies at lower volume levels and still hear the dialogue?

If anyone is wondering I have a Yamaha RX-A810 receiver and an Adcom GFA-555 2x200W amp currently powering the A7's. I don't have a center or a sub yet but both are set to off on the receiver so this should make no diffference where dialogue is concerned.

Thanks for any replies.

B Run

Yes the A9's will have a better midrange, it would be a nice upgrade. They sound very clear even at lower volume, and use better caps in the crossover than the lower models. Since you have plenty of power to drive them i'd say go for it.

62caddy

I'll second that the A7 are a bit lacking in the midrange as well. Mind you it's not horrible by any means and likely to go unnoticed in lots of types of music. More noticeable for classical and jazz. Excels in deep bass capabilities for its size and cost. A9 is a better speaker but it's also more expensive- an excellent value nonetheless IMHO.

tonyb

I would check your connections first and make sure nothing is wired out of phase, or none of the plastic coating is caught inside the speaker or amps binding posts. Then go over your settings in the receiver. Something doesn't sound right from what you describe.

Mark_1042

DSkip wrote: »

Are you sure you don't have some EQ preset turned on accidentally? You might run/re-run the auto calibration to see if it gets any better. The A9 does have better midrange, but you shouldn't be having that much issue with the A7.

Tried repositioning speakers and ran the calibration 3 times. Will probably be running it again just to make sure. I don't know this receiver that well yet but as far as I can tell there are only 3 EQ settings: through, flat, and front. TBH I'm not sure what front means, through I believe it is no EQ, and flat adjusts for a flat response. I've had it on all 3 with no results. I should probably update the firmware on the receiver also, as that is something I have not done yet.

With HT the problem is so bad, dialogue can barely be heard at low volume levels. Watching "Inception" last night I had to turn it up, and eventually ended up turning on the sound and synching the sound on the TV so I could use it as sort of a center channel. Dialogue when watching TV is similar - low voices come through crystal clear and highs are also distinct but the midrange is really lacking. Probably not noticeable right off the bat but I can notice it by just comparing it with the TV speakers.

I will mess around with the receiver a little bit more, but I don't know. The problem is not as evident with music but is still there.

tonyb

You say you ran the calibration, but did you go back and check the settings ? You have to do this....calibration doesn't always get it right. First thing I would check are speaker levels, return the fronts to 0 and adjust up or down to your liking. Also make sure there's not another setting for the center or sub instead of just "no". Some might have a phantom setting that redirects the center channel info to the front left and right. Setting a "no", may just result in loss of info for that channel. Depends on how the receiver redirects missing speakers so double check that manual.

gce

I have the RX-A810 with the RTiA7's as my fronts. I also have a CSiA6 as my center. I went into my speaker setup and turned off my center and the dialogue, although coming from the sides now sounded good and clear but I do have to admit it sounds better coming coming from the CSiA6 center.

My EQ is set to Flat.

BTW how do you like your Adcom GFA-555 paired with your A810? What kind of sound difference if any?

Mark_1042

Per the user manual setting the center to "none" redirects the center channel signal to the fronts. I'll double check the manual but I'm pretty sure that's the way it works.

On a good note, I finally accessed the manual EQ adjustments. The fronts were set to perfectly flat while the rears were boosted/attenuated in a couple areas - probably a compensation due to the fact that the rears (especially one of the them) is partially blocked by the backrest of the couch when in my usual listening position.

I used the graphic EQ to cut some frequency bands in the lows and highs, and it brought the mids out nicely. One thing I will say is the mids still sound a little strained and muddy - more forward but not very clear.

Gotta say I'm stil considering the upgrade, especially now that the A9's are on sale at NewEgg again. At least I've solved the leveling problem though, thanks guys. I had just about given up on the EQ, the auto calibration doesn't seem to do anything for it.

Mark_1042

tonyb wrote: »

You say you ran the calibration, but did you go back and check the settings ? You have to do this....calibration doesn't always get it right. First thing I would check are speaker levels, return the fronts to 0 and adjust up or down to your liking. Also make sure there's not another setting for the center or sub instead of just "no". Some might have a phantom setting that redirects the center channel info to the front left and right. Setting a "no", may just result in loss of info for that channel. Depends on how the receiver redirects missing speakers so double check that manual.

Just to note, I also checked the speaker levels - I had tried adjusting them manually but the calibration did a better job then I could, so I just went with the ones it set up. The levels look accurate given the speaker distances, and sound good in that regard.

Mark_1042

gce wrote: »

I have the RX-A810 with the RTiA7's as my fronts. I also have a CSiA6 as my center. I went into my speaker setup and turned off my center and the dialogue, although coming from the sides now sounded good and clear but I do have to admit it sounds better coming coming from the CSiA6 center.

My EQ is set to Flat.

BTW how do you like your Adcom GFA-555 paired with your A810? What kind of sound difference if any?

The Adcom is great, doesn't even break a sweat when driving the A7's. I can't really compare it to the sound of the receiver as I've never ran them off of the receiver. This is all a new set up, purchased within the last month or so. The speakers I just recieved last week - A7 fronts, A4 surrounds and I have the same center channel as you, the A6, but its on order and I'm still waiting for it.

You said that the vocals sounded better coming out of the center - this is what I had expected given the different crossover frequency on the center. I was hoping that adding the center would offer me an improvement in the midrange.

Geoff4rfc

Mark_1042 wrote: »

I have the same center channel as you, the A6, but its on order and I'm still waiting for it.

Hi Mark,

I think once you have your center speaker up and running, you'll end up liking your A7's a lot.

gce

I'd wait and see what you think with the center...the center is key.

bansheesho

Next time newegg puts those a9s on sale in cherry I am pulling the trigger.... The finger is super itchy and the $500ea deal with the black ones almost got me.

ravaneli

I just got a pair of Klipsch Icon WF35 and I immediately realized that that my A7s lack in midrange compared to them. A LOT. Not sure whether the Klipsch is not too heavy in midrange, or A7 is too thin.

But MUDDY? The A7s? Nooo, something is wrong somewhere.. everything is crystal clear. As a matter of fact they make my Icon WF35s sound muddy. Dialogue in low levels is just a pleasure, i had friends the other day and we watched Gangs of New York, which is not particularly effect heavy movie, but they all got surprised how clean everything sounds.. Mine are straight off a Pio 1021 with no EQ..

F1nut

The speakers I just recieved last week - A7 fronts,

Give them a chance to break in.

I've got the RTi A7's in my HT rig and have none of the issues you describe.