How to get better 2ch stereo sound?

dana b
dana b Posts: 3
edited April 2014 in 2 Channel Audio
I have a 10x12x8 room that I use for movies and music (2 ch Stereo), Components are PS3 ~ Pioneer Elite SC-07 ~ 50" LG TV ~ Rotel RMB-1075 ~ Polk TSX 550t, Polk TSX 250c, DIY Subwoofer with DSPeaker Antimode 8033s EQ ~ DIY cables, interconnects and wires. I sit 9' from the front sound stage with the mains about 16" in from the side walls and about 30" from the front wall to the baffle, and they are slightly toed in. I have three 18"x18" acoustical panels behind the listening position at ear height on the rear wall, and two 36"x18" acoustical panels at the first reflection points at ear height. the floor is laminate with no rugs and the roof is bare. what else can I do to get that extra edge on sound without replacing the speakers?
PS3, Pioneer Elite SC-07, Rotel RMB-1075, Polk Tsx-550t, Polk Tsx-250c, DIY Subwoofer, 50" LG 1080p plasma.
Post edited by dana b on
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Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2014
    Greetings dana b,
    And welcome to Club Polk

    I see you have the Rotel external amp so, my first suggestion would be to build a hybrid rig for HT and music by getting a good pre amp that has HT Bypass and connect your PS3 to that using the PS2/3 AV cable with RCA split outs for Left & Right audio inputs to a preamp.

    In my experience (limited yes but still based on experience) is that an AVR pre section will always hold back that next level of sonic quality compared to a dedicated preamp for audio (at a given price point).

    Using a preamp with HT Bypass will let you keep the Rotel amp, but allow you to connect audio sources to the preamp instead of the AVR.

    After that, I'd consider a dedicated CD/SACD player as a better source.

    It then becomes an ever evolving spiral up with all the various components of your system....and down the rabbit hole you go! :cheesygrin:

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited April 2014
    What do you not like about the sound as is?
    the floor is laminate with no rugs

    A large area rug would be a big help.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dana b
    dana b Posts: 3
    edited April 2014
    So say something like a wyred4sound DAC 2?
    PS3, Pioneer Elite SC-07, Rotel RMB-1075, Polk Tsx-550t, Polk Tsx-250c, DIY Subwoofer, 50" LG 1080p plasma.
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  • dana b
    dana b Posts: 3
    edited April 2014
    I love the way it sounds! but think it has some potential yet.
    PS3, Pioneer Elite SC-07, Rotel RMB-1075, Polk Tsx-550t, Polk Tsx-250c, DIY Subwoofer, 50" LG 1080p plasma.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited April 2014
    No hope for it. You should ship it to me :smile: welcome to Polk
    ..
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited April 2014
    dana b wrote: »
    I love the way it sounds! but think it has some potential yet.

    Since you love it you should stop now.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited April 2014
    Depends on what your willing to spend.

    The throw rug suggested , cheap way to improve the sound. You could get a separate pre amp, add an external dac, get better cables, stop using the PS3 for cd's and get a good cdp.....just for starters.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • aboroth00
    aboroth00 Posts: 1,106
    edited April 2014
    First, if you have room before any other upgrades, get some bass traps. Sure you have absorption for the first reflection points, you need bass traps to clean up the bass region which adds clarity to other frequency regions which the thinner absorptive panels do not do.
    2Ch Tube Audio Convert
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2014
    Here's one you can try for free that will help.. throw a very thick blanket over your 50" display when doing serious listening.
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  • cvc
    cvc Posts: 65
    edited April 2014
    This is going to sound strange to you and possibly others, but most people sit to far away from their speakers.. Move in closer to hear and enjoy the difference.. You'll be surprised.. I'm refering to serious 2 channel listening sessions.. Home theater surround listening doesn't matter..
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited April 2014
    I take my pants off and sit real close to the subwoofer.
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited April 2014
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    I take my pants off and sit real close to the subwoofer.

    Pfb's best ever post. Ever.

    Well done pfb.
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  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited April 2014
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    I take my pants off and sit real close to the subwoofer.

    That's sig material haha
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