Parasound HCA 1200ii vs NAD 7600 differences

gurot1

To be honest, I don't think I currently have the ears for that yet...need more training!

Nightfall wrote: »

Try listening for other differences such as soundstage width, heigth, depth, imaging, dynamics, etc instead of just listening for tonal differences.

txcoastal1

Sure you do, start with soundstage, speakers create it. Speakers properly positioned will create the effect of singers and instruments being in the room and the instruments playing in different dimensions like on stage.

gurot1

One thing I had noticed when I switched to the lsim705's from.the rti10s was transparency....the speakers disappeared. It was funny because that I wasn't the only one to notice that, many times people thought my centre channel was on as well because that is where it sounded like some of the sounds originated, but I was only using the front towers. I will search to see which source material really good at demonstrating soundstage differences in equipment.

tonyb

gurot1 wrote: »

One thing I had noticed when I switched to the lsim705's from.the rti10s was transparency....the speakers disappeared. It was funny because that I wasn't the only one to notice that, many times people thought my centre channel was on as well because that is where it sounded like some of the sounds originated, but I was only using the front towers. I will search to see which source material really good at demonstrating soundstage differences in equipment.

I would stand to guess that those differences are due to the speakers, the lsim's being the better speaker. Thing is, and what some don't get yet is, to bring out all those characteristics a speaker may possess, you need a good amp.....not just any amp....and one that compliments the speakers sound.

If I may ask, which speaker cables and IC's are you using ? That is just as important for the same reasons.

gurot1

tonyb wrote: »

gurot1 wrote: »

One thing I had noticed when I switched to the lsim705's from.the rti10s was transparency....the speakers disappeared. It was funny because that I wasn't the only one to notice that, many times people thought my centre channel was on as well because that is where it sounded like some of the sounds originated, but I was only using the front towers. I will search to see which source material really good at demonstrating soundstage differences in equipment.

I would stand to guess that those differences are due to the speakers, the lsim's being the better speaker. Thing is, and what some don't get yet is, to bring out all those characteristics a speaker may possess, you need a good amp.....not just any amp....and one that compliments the speakers sound.

If I may ask, which speaker cables and IC's are you using ? That is just as important for the same reasons.

Are you sitting? Make sure you aren't sipping on any beverages. I have acoustic research rca from.the pream to amp. I have monoprice 12 g speaker wire and 3 ft interconnects from cd to preamp. Sometime in the next month or two my buddy is going to bring his nice interconnects and speaker cables over to see if we notice a difference (not sure what brand they are). I missed a set of tara labs interconnects and speaker wire when I bought the parasound. He was selling the bunch of them before I contacted him about the amp. The guy was also using some kimberkable biwires for his bookshelves as well. In the future, even if I can't hear a difference between cables, I will end up getting something or another because they do look nice and clean and give that rats nest of wires behind the system a distinguished look, not to mention the improved quality of the
wires is always nice to have.
So to not turn this into cable thread (plenty of them on here). I plan to look into it in the future, but for now need to learn how to setup and listen to what I have so that way when it does come to cables I can make an educated listen.

Nightfall

I think before anymore gear changes you should experiment with your speaker positioning. Experiment with toe in and out. Less toe in typically gives you a wider soundstage with less coherent images, more toe in typically narrows the soundstage but images will start to snap into place. Use a tape measure to make sure both speakes are toed the same distance by measuring the distance from the left and right sides of the speakers to the back wall and make sure both speakers are the same. Also try moving the speakers closer together and further apart. Start with measuring the distance from the center listening position to the plane the speakers are at and move your speakers to exactly that far apart, creating an equilateral triangle. Try moving them further and closer from the back wall, make sure both speakers are the same distance with a tape.

Experiment with moving them around until you get that "aha" moment where you can close your eyes and point to the guitar player, point to the vocalist, etc.

Here's a "crash course" video from Chord that might help, there are many videos on YouTube that might be helpful to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4OlIkJA6Ow

tonyb

gurot1 wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

gurot1 wrote: »

One thing I had noticed when I switched to the lsim705's from.the rti10s was transparency....the speakers disappeared. It was funny because that I wasn't the only one to notice that, many times people thought my centre channel was on as well because that is where it sounded like some of the sounds originated, but I was only using the front towers. I will search to see which source material really good at demonstrating soundstage differences in equipment.

I would stand to guess that those differences are due to the speakers, the lsim's being the better speaker. Thing is, and what some don't get yet is, to bring out all those characteristics a speaker may possess, you need a good amp.....not just any amp....and one that compliments the speakers sound.

If I may ask, which speaker cables and IC's are you using ? That is just as important for the same reasons.

Are you sitting? Make sure you aren't sipping on any beverages. I have acoustic research rca from.the pream to amp. I have monoprice 12 g speaker wire and 3 ft interconnects from cd to preamp. Sometime in the next month or two my buddy is going to bring his nice interconnects and speaker cables over to see if we notice a difference (not sure what brand they are). I missed a set of tara labs interconnects and speaker wire when I bought the parasound. He was selling the bunch of them before I contacted him about the amp. The guy was also using some kimberkable biwires for his bookshelves as well. In the future, even if I can't hear a difference between cables, I will end up getting something or another because they do look nice and clean and give that rats nest of wires behind the system a distinguished look, not to mention the improved quality of the
wires is always nice to have.
So to not turn this into cable thread (plenty of them on here). I plan to look into it in the future, but for now need to learn how to setup and listen to what I have so that way when it does come to cables I can make an educated listen.

I hear ya man, first things first. All I'm saying is don't discount them and treat them as a piece of gear. Your gear has moved way beyond those present cables. Baby steps is just fine, just don't kick anything to the curb yet until you can make better comparisons.

tophatjohnny

That amp may need to be recapped as well?? Just a thought??

gurot1

What are the symptoms of an amp needing recapping.

Btw thanks for all the advice everyone. I will play around again with speaker plcement. I dont have a lot of flexibility due to it being multipurpose room and needing the couch towards the back...so from the posts I gather I will get back to basics.

motorhead43026

You can look under the hood and see if there are any bulging or leaking caps. Although I would think any amp 15+ years old would benefit from a recap.

JMHO.

gurot1

I didnt notice any bulging caps. If the mods won't delete post for indecent exposure here are a bunch of pics of the amp without its cover on. The last pic is the on/off switch.












udio.vanillaforums.com/editor/cw/mazjn21t8crx.jpg

xjghost

Nice amp. I love mine. Just need a face plate to fix what the USPO messed up.....

cnh

Looks OK on cursory inspection but you can never tell till you put some of that stuff on a meter and check it. Unfortunately, I am only one of the others on this site, a somewhat technical incompetent who does not have oscilloscopes, voltage detectors and the like in his toolbox. If you're one of those guys who did not sleep through "shop" classes like me (electrical shop in particular). Then you KNOW more than I do. But then again almost "everyone" here does! lol Like Rousseau, who am I but the "least" of these others!

And there are LOTS of threads with interesting diagrams of resistors, inductors. capacitors, transistors, circuits, transformers and, and, and...which you can peruse to your heart's delight and that some here are magnanimous enough to share with Cretins like yours truly-Irrational Luddites in a century of technological WONDERS and SCIENCE! lol

Nonetheless even someone as backward as myself, can still learn a few things if they are willing! Precisely because we know so little. And we know that we do not know-well at least Socrates would be happy?

And now a word about Greek Tragedy?

Seriously, take the amp to a TECH and have him give it a once over if you have any reservations about it, I use a guy locally-see, I do respect my "superiors"!

tonyb

Only you CNH, can take an amp comparison and turn it into a "Greek tragedy". lmao

Maybe a quick trip to Asclepius's pad for a diagnosis of that brain of yours is in order. lol


Yeah, that's right.....tony knows his Greek gods too.

gurot1

Love that post cnh. I have a multimeter, but can't say I really know how to use it.

tonyb

gurot1 wrote: »

Love that post cnh. I have a multimeter, but can't say I really know how to use it.

Hmmm, then a call to the Greek goddess of electricity, Anista is in order.

gurot1

tonyb wrote: »

gurot1 wrote: »

Love that post cnh. I have a multimeter, but can't say I really know how to use it.

Hmmm, then a call to the Greek goddess of electricity, Anista is in order.

I had to look that one up!
Havent had any time to play around recently. When I was taking those photos, I did notice the rubber/foam was off one of the feet on the amp.

cnh

tonyb wrote: »

gurot1 wrote: »

Love that post cnh. I have a multimeter, but can't say I really know how to use it.

Hmmm, then a call to the Greek goddess of electricity, Anista is in order.

I believe Olympus is not accepting any pretenders! lol However, there is a group of Greeks in modern Greece who, for some unknown reason, are trying to bring back the worship of the original Olympians. Maybe they'll rain Drachmas from the sky and return the Hellenes' debt to those ungrateful Europeans and THEIR VERY German Banks. You think?