Next step?

concealer404

Upgrade bug has hit again... starting to become less happy with my setup, sounds too high heavy to me.

I'm thinking that the time maybe has come to do a speaker upgrade.

Does anyone else have any suggestions as to what i would see the biggest improvement in? Speakers? DAC?

Don't want to break the bank just yet, but throw some suggestions out there for me.

concealer404

Bueller?

lakesailor

What are you looking to improve on? Your HT setup or 2 channel listening? The 11T is one of Polk’s all time better speakers and I can think of some other things I would try first; depending on what you are looking for.

concealer404

2 channel. My bad. (Bedroom setup)

The 11Ts are way too big for the space i'm working with in this case.

I'm thinking about replacing the tweets on the VS-25s, and attempting a cap mod, but i'm not sure it's worth spending that money on these speakers.

I'm almost inclined to think that the DAC would make a large difference, because when i was running the other half of the Pioneer DVD/Reciever setup, i didn't have this high-frequency wierdness going on. I was running SPDIF Optical from the DVD player to the reciever at that point. Biggest change was going to the Adcom stuff, and running interconnects, which apparently on this player, don't sound as good from some reviews that i'm seeing.

I may try to swap in the Paradigms this weekend and see if that's an improvement or not.

SolidSqual

Speaker changes will always result in the greatest change.

concealer404

Any suggestions as to what speakers i should look for at this point? I don't want to spend a buttload of money, as i have a car project that i'm sinking a bunch of my money into at this point, but i am open to trying this route.

Has to be bookshelf-ish size. The VS-25s are kindof tall for me to consider them a true bookshelf, and i can live with that size.

New, used, doesn't matter. Let's say.... Around $250?

SolidSqual

Save your money and wait until you can achieve a real upgrade.

concealer404

Sounds reasonable....

Do you think it'd be worth swapping tweeters in these speakers? Cosmetically they aren't amazing, but they're very solid with no functional flaws. Tweets and caps? Or just continue saving for something at least a few steps up from the get go. (And then probably have to upgrade the amp again.... i love vicious cycles.)

candyliquor35m

a tube pre will knock your socks off but you'll need about $500 to get a nice sounding one and then $100 to put some vintage tubes in it. I only buy tube pres that use the most common readily available vintage tubes (6922/7308/e88cc, 12ax7, 12at7, 12au7).

treitz3

Speakers.

george daniel

speakers

concealer404

Speakers it is!

But the general consensus is to allow more budget than $250 i guess....

Think these are worth picking up?

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/826129228.html

Face

Do some quick research on them before picking them up so you can properly inspect them. Older Maggies sometimes need maintenance(peeling ribbons, etc...).

concealer404

Provided they're in good shape, this a good price, and do you think it'd be a rather significant upgrade from my VS-25s?

I'm pretty sure i know the answer to the second, i just want reassurance.

organ

Are you sure your problem is the speakers? Try them on different amps. Try disconnecting the Onkyo and plug in the Adcoms.

concealer404

organ wrote: »

Are you sure your problem is the speakers? Try them on different amps. Try disconnecting the Onkyo and plug in the Adcoms.

This is the 2-channel setup. The onkyo is in the HT setup, the Adcoms in the 2-channel.

I'm not sure the problem is the speakers. Everyone else seems to think so, and i'll go with that, as even on paper, they're the weak point.

I could try the Onkyo in the same config, though, i would imagine it's got enough power to drive a little pair of VS-25s without much issue.

The Adcom amp could probably use some reconditioning, it's got a little buzz with the volume turned all the way down, but nothing major.

george daniel

buzz or hum?,, might be ground loop,, have you tried disconnecting your cable to see if it disappears.

concealer404

george daniel wrote: »

buzz or hum?,, might be ground loop,, have you tried disconnecting your cable to see if it disappears.

Ah hah!

See, i don't have the manuals to either of the Adcoms. I don't have any cables on the pre-amp other than my interconnects, and nothing on the amp other than interconnects and speaker wire.

So.... i should have a ground?

I believe i have a ground terminal on my APC, should i go to that?

george daniel

george daniel wrote: »

buzz or hum?,, might be ground loop,, have you tried disconnecting your cable to see if it disappears.

did you disconnect the cable ? if so did the buzz/hum go away?

concealer404

george daniel wrote: »

did you disconnect the cable ? if so did the buzz/hum go away?

Never had a ground on it from the get go.

fbm211

If you run a wire from the adcom chassis to the APC that might kill the BUZZ/HUM.

concealer404

fbm211 wrote: »

If you run a wire from the adcom chassis to the APC that might kill the BUZZ/HUM.

I'll try that when i get home in an hour.

Thanks guys!

And to mull over if a pair of RTi100s is big enough of an improvement for me to bother....

So many local deals.

lakesailor

concealer404 wrote: »

2 channel. My bad. (Bedroom setup)

The 11Ts are way too big for the space i'm working with in this case.

I'm thinking about replacing the tweets on the VS-25s, and attempting a cap mod, but i'm not sure it's worth spending that money on these speakers.

I'm almost inclined to think that the DAC would make a large difference, because when i was running the other half of the Pioneer DVD/Reciever setup, i didn't have this high-frequency wierdness going on. I was running SPDIF Optical from the DVD player to the reciever at that point. Biggest change was going to the Adcom stuff, and running interconnects, which apparently on this player, don't sound as good from some reviews that i'm seeing.

I may try to swap in the Paradigms this weekend and see if that's an improvement or not.

If it is your bedroom than start with speakers; both the 11t's and VS-25s are too big. You need something smaller and are on the right track looking for some bookshelf size setup. A DAC will also make a big improvement however start with the speakers.

concealer404

lakesailor wrote: »

If it is your bedroom than start with speakers; both the 11t's and VS-25s are too big. You need something smaller and are on the right track looking for some bookshelf size setup. A DAC will also make a big improvement however start with the speakers.

haha, yeah the 11Ts are WAY too big.

But the VS-25s? I'll believe you, but do you have any reasonings why?

They're just a 6.5" driver, with a 6.5" passive, and an SL2500 tweeter in each.

They're nowhere near as powerful/room-filling as my Paradigm Titans, and i would definitely call the Titans a bookshelf speaker.

steveinaz

You might, as a relatively inexpensive alternative, try replacing the AQ Sidewinders with a more mellow interconnect...PBJ's? The Sidewinder/Copperhead have some pretty intense treble articulation.

Just a thought...

concealer404

steveinaz wrote: »

You might, as a relatively inexpensive alternative, try replacing the AQ Sidewinders with a more mellow interconnect...PBJ's? The Sidewinder/Copperhead have some pretty intense treble articulation.

Just a thought...

Duly noted.

I'll look into that.

I'm sure Ben's would be a rather large upgrade as well?

steveinaz

Nothing against Bens stuff, but if you want to tone down treble a little---silver isn't the direction you want to go...IMO. I'd stay with a copper IC.

If you have some cheaper IC's laying around, experiment with them and see if they tame the treble a bit. If you like the results, then buy something of similar topolgy--but better quality. I have found that mutlistrand conductors tend to have a fuller mid/mid bass, and a little less sparkle up top; where solid core copper (sidewinder/copperhead) tend to have very nice, but slightly exaggerated high-end, with less mid bass bloom. YMMV. Cables can work sometimes as a fine-tuning tone control.

Face

Goertz MI and Flatwire speaker cables are on the warm side. Check out their Home Theater(aka: Flatwire) line, it's a real bargain.

reeltrouble1

you should get some Polk CRS+ speakers.

RT1

concealer404

^ Elaborate?

Does anyone else agree that the VS-25s are too big for my room? It's a square room probably 11x10. Fairly small. I know there's no great way to make this room sound that good, being that my bed, dresser, blah blah blah are all in it....