Office rig advice needed
DollarDave
Posts: 2,575
First, the landscape - a 13' x 13' office with a 20' ceiling and ceramic tile flooring. Long curtains on each side of the windows that cover nearly one wall, a bookcase that covers the opposite wall, and ordinary pictures on the other two walls; glass french double doors angled in one corner.
Equipment - Polk XM tuner, HK CD player in champaign (forget model right off), Technics TT, Monoprice Premier ICs, generic 14 gauge speaker cables, Polk CRS+'s (on the bookshelves). Lastly, the receiver is a champaign HK 495i (rated at 35w/ch 15 amps high instantaneous current).
The sound is actually pretty good and I will be augmenting the bass with a sub in a vintage EV cabinet that I picked up from RuSsMaN and haven't re-finished yet. My current receiver (HK 495i does not have sub-outs)
Here's the question part. I am missing one of the small knobs on the HK and it drives me nuts. So, this morning I swapped in an HK from my garage system - it is a 3250 (rated at 50w/ch 20 amps high instantaneous current). Other than not having a phono input, I expected it to sound slightly louder and a bit bettter. It does seem to have a clearer mid and high-end, but the low and mid range are not nearly as robust. It just sounds "colder" for lack of a better term. I am after a "warm" sound expecially since I usually just play this system for background music while I work from home in the evenings and mornings.
What should I do?
a) Buy a different new/used receiver? Brands and model suggestions?
b) I don't particularily like the FM stations here, so get an integrated amp?
c) Upgrade the X-overs in the CRS+'s?
d) Anyone have some knobs for the HK and how would I get low-level sub-outs?
e) Other options?
I'd like to stay under $500 for any improvements.
Equipment - Polk XM tuner, HK CD player in champaign (forget model right off), Technics TT, Monoprice Premier ICs, generic 14 gauge speaker cables, Polk CRS+'s (on the bookshelves). Lastly, the receiver is a champaign HK 495i (rated at 35w/ch 15 amps high instantaneous current).
The sound is actually pretty good and I will be augmenting the bass with a sub in a vintage EV cabinet that I picked up from RuSsMaN and haven't re-finished yet. My current receiver (HK 495i does not have sub-outs)
Here's the question part. I am missing one of the small knobs on the HK and it drives me nuts. So, this morning I swapped in an HK from my garage system - it is a 3250 (rated at 50w/ch 20 amps high instantaneous current). Other than not having a phono input, I expected it to sound slightly louder and a bit bettter. It does seem to have a clearer mid and high-end, but the low and mid range are not nearly as robust. It just sounds "colder" for lack of a better term. I am after a "warm" sound expecially since I usually just play this system for background music while I work from home in the evenings and mornings.
What should I do?
a) Buy a different new/used receiver? Brands and model suggestions?
b) I don't particularily like the FM stations here, so get an integrated amp?
c) Upgrade the X-overs in the CRS+'s?
d) Anyone have some knobs for the HK and how would I get low-level sub-outs?
e) Other options?
I'd like to stay under $500 for any improvements.
Post edited by DollarDave on
Comments
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Keep the CRS's but make sure they are set-up properly, on stands, no toe in, correct distance from the walls, etc, etc. Upgrade the X-overs and get a decent used integrated amp to replace the receiver.
If you can't make the CRS's work properly because of room limitations, perhaps finding a different speaker *might* be better. It's a shame to have an SDA speaker and not be able to set it up properly
. They shouldn't be on a book shelf.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Keep the CRS's but make sure they are set-up properly, on stands, no toe in, correct distance from the walls, etc, etc. Upgrade the X-overs and get a decent used integrated amp to replace the receiver.
If you can't make the CRS's work properly because of room limitations, perhaps finding a different speaker *might* be better. It's a shame to have an SDA speaker and not be able to set it up properly. They shouldn't be on a book shelf.
H9
I have the stands for the CRS's, but it doesn't fit the room config too well to set them up that way. I had it that way once, but the WAF wasn't there. They do not sound all that much different being on the bookshelves, to be honest.
Suggestions on the receiver? -
I have the stands for the CRS's, but it doesn't fit the room config too well to set them up that way. I had it that way once, but the WAF wasn't there. They do not sound all that much different being on the bookshelves, to be honest.
Suggestions on the receiver?
Although it blows your budget by $125.00, I believe someone has listed a used Denon 3806 in the classified section. It has one sub pre-out.
Linky
Link to Denon 3806 -
You need a tube integrated.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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You should be able to find some vintage ones from Scott or Fisher in that price range and from Jolida in something newer.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 -
Dave, PM UNC2701 (somthing close to that) He may have what you need.There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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Dave, PM UNC2701 (somthing close to that) He may have what you need.
Thanks, I just PM'd him. -
Try one of the tube integrateds from ebay with the ipod dock if you think 13wpc will drive those speakers.
If it doesn't meet your needs, you're out like $100, and you've got a cool iPod dock.Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850 -
Try one of the tube integrateds from ebay with the ipod dock if you think 13wpc will drive those speakers.
If it doesn't meet your needs, you're out like $100, and you've got a cool iPod dock.
That might work if it weren't for the turn table, I want to keep that in the mix. -
oh well. Sure you'll find something good that meets your needs.
Good hunting!Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850 -
Dave, PM UNC2701 (somthing close to that) He may have what you need.
is he still on here?Dodd - Battery Preamp
Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
Outlaw ICBM - crossover
Beringher BFD - sub eq
Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!
"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..." -
Yep, I'm still around. Had a few crazy months at work (FDA submissions suck), so I haven't been posting as much.Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
Backburner:Krell KAV-300i -
Dave, I've got a Scott integrated that I picked up recently - I was about to put it on ebay - but I'll kick it around with you later.Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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Dave, I've got a Scott integrated that I picked up recently - I was about to put it on ebay - but I'll kick it around with you later.
You ready to kick it yet? I am working all night.
