Monitor 70 & Yamaha RXV750

wazek

I've had this setup for five days. I think the 70s are awsome, particularly at high volume settings, but am a little dissapointed with their lower level performance, where they sound too soft. I know that richer sound needs cranking up the volume control, but the difference is so dramatic that it feels like listening at two different systems. I use the receiver mostly in Pure Direct mode for the purest reproduction. May be tone adjustments are needed at lower levels because the Yamaha lacks built in loudness compensation? Or is this common to all Monitor 70s? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

Willow

Welcome,

I don't have this issue and I use an rxv 540, with an RTi set up. Are you sure you are not associating fullness with loudness.

Are you using a sub?

How are speakers set up in the receiver menu?

wazek

Good question. I'm not sure, I'm unable to precisely define the difference between fullness and loudness (please forgive me, but I'm rather new to this hifi business).
It seems like bass and treble decrease too much when volume is lowered, that's why I think loudness is the issue.
I'm not currently using a sub, just the 70s for stereo music listening.
Speakers are selected as Large in the menu set up.

unc2701

This is a pretty common effect. I was listening to some B&W's on a Musical Fidelity kw 500 (I might have left some stains in the store) and under a certain volume, everything got muddy. You could barely pick out the bass line, but turn it up just a little more and POW! it sounds great and I'm leaving stains behind.

Did I mention that kw 500 is really sexy?

hmm... back on topic, there's nothing wrong with your speakers. As always, play around with placement & you might clear up some of the issues, but many speakers just need a little more wattage before they open up.

wazek

I talked about this issue with a resident audio dealer and he agrees with unc2701. He thinks there's nothing wrong and suggested the culprit is the way my ears respond to the upgrade from poor quality equipment that required a lot of equalization to sound barely good. He says that hifi components like the 70s should be heard without tone adjustments, even if they sound soft, just to take advantage of their plain response curve. I'm a bit surprised by his oppinion, even if it technically makes sense, but I'll take his advice and take some listening time to adjust my perceptions.
Anyway, thanks to both of you for your answers to my first thread as a Club Polk member.