Synergy
Bass_Pedal
Posts: 196
Id like to start by saying, I didnt want to name this thread Lsi9s Replaced or something similar because, even though for the moment my Lis9s have been moved out of my 2 channel rig, it is important to know why. The answer to that question is, in a word: synergy!
Recently I have been making several changes, as many of us do on a regular basis. Specifically, Ive replaced a Cambridge 640C CDP with a Raysonic CD128 tube player and an Adcom GFP 750 preamp with a Musical Fidelity A3cr. These changes were significant and overall added additional warmth on the top end and sweetness to the midrange. I was very pleased but I was interested in exploring different speaker options. Though I was looking to break the bank. I came across a pair of 15 year old B&W CDM1 for a very reasonable price, locally. I had not had any experience with B&W before but had heard positive and negative views. I auditioned them in the sellers system and found them very forward, but with a really wide sound stage and lots of detail. I was a little leery of the brightness but picked them up anyway, as I was sure I could just sell them if they werent what I was looking for. After I placed them in my system and did some critical listening for a while, they were not as forward as I had heard them before but they were still a little crispy on the top end, vocals did not come through as silky as I was used to from the 9s. I wasnt particularly happy with the midrange either, as it seemed to lack the presence of the 9s. Bass was not really an issue as I am using a sub in my set-up. What I did like was the width of the soundstage, it went way past the outsides of the speakers and was very vivid, which leads to the increased detail that I heard. I suppose this would make sense since I was sacrificing detail for a more laid back presentation with the 9s but I was defiantly hearing things in the music that I had not heard before. However, after about a week I switched them out and went back to the Lsi9s as I could not get passed the somewhat fatiguing highs.
Fast forward a month later, I got an opportunity to purchase a pair of AES Sixpacs mono block tube amps. I had read and heard a lot of good things about them and for the price I could not resist. I replaced my Musical Fidelity A3cr power amp with the Sixpacs and started listening with the Lsi9s in place. My impressions were all positive; everything that I had enjoyed about the Lsi9 was there, super sweet highs with a solid, warm midrange. At 50 watts a channel in my modest sized listening room I was not worried about powering the 9s with these amps, but I was interested in what the B&Ws might sound like. I installed them and began testing. I was quite surprised at what I found. I basically got the best of both worlds, the once fatiguing and bright high frequencies had been tamed considerably, to the point were they sounded very natural to my ears. Midrange attained a warmth that was not heard when using the previous amp. On top of this, I was also rewarded with the increased detail and wider soundstage that are inherent in these speakers. As a result of this revelation, I am now using the B&Ws fulltime in my 2 channel system. I am assuming now, with my current gear, I will have more flexibility in choosing speakers in the future, though I have to say that I am quite pleased with what I ahve now.
Conclusion
I would not for one minute start telling people that B&W CMD1s are better than Lsi9s, I personally found them less than enjoyable in my previous set-up. This whole experience has really taught me the importance of synergy. I am glad I did not sell the B&Ws right away as I had planned. In the right system, with the proper combination of electronics, the CMD1s can sound great. By the same token I have no intention of getting rid of the 9s either as I just like them too much.
Recently I have been making several changes, as many of us do on a regular basis. Specifically, Ive replaced a Cambridge 640C CDP with a Raysonic CD128 tube player and an Adcom GFP 750 preamp with a Musical Fidelity A3cr. These changes were significant and overall added additional warmth on the top end and sweetness to the midrange. I was very pleased but I was interested in exploring different speaker options. Though I was looking to break the bank. I came across a pair of 15 year old B&W CDM1 for a very reasonable price, locally. I had not had any experience with B&W before but had heard positive and negative views. I auditioned them in the sellers system and found them very forward, but with a really wide sound stage and lots of detail. I was a little leery of the brightness but picked them up anyway, as I was sure I could just sell them if they werent what I was looking for. After I placed them in my system and did some critical listening for a while, they were not as forward as I had heard them before but they were still a little crispy on the top end, vocals did not come through as silky as I was used to from the 9s. I wasnt particularly happy with the midrange either, as it seemed to lack the presence of the 9s. Bass was not really an issue as I am using a sub in my set-up. What I did like was the width of the soundstage, it went way past the outsides of the speakers and was very vivid, which leads to the increased detail that I heard. I suppose this would make sense since I was sacrificing detail for a more laid back presentation with the 9s but I was defiantly hearing things in the music that I had not heard before. However, after about a week I switched them out and went back to the Lsi9s as I could not get passed the somewhat fatiguing highs.
Fast forward a month later, I got an opportunity to purchase a pair of AES Sixpacs mono block tube amps. I had read and heard a lot of good things about them and for the price I could not resist. I replaced my Musical Fidelity A3cr power amp with the Sixpacs and started listening with the Lsi9s in place. My impressions were all positive; everything that I had enjoyed about the Lsi9 was there, super sweet highs with a solid, warm midrange. At 50 watts a channel in my modest sized listening room I was not worried about powering the 9s with these amps, but I was interested in what the B&Ws might sound like. I installed them and began testing. I was quite surprised at what I found. I basically got the best of both worlds, the once fatiguing and bright high frequencies had been tamed considerably, to the point were they sounded very natural to my ears. Midrange attained a warmth that was not heard when using the previous amp. On top of this, I was also rewarded with the increased detail and wider soundstage that are inherent in these speakers. As a result of this revelation, I am now using the B&Ws fulltime in my 2 channel system. I am assuming now, with my current gear, I will have more flexibility in choosing speakers in the future, though I have to say that I am quite pleased with what I ahve now.
Conclusion
I would not for one minute start telling people that B&W CMD1s are better than Lsi9s, I personally found them less than enjoyable in my previous set-up. This whole experience has really taught me the importance of synergy. I am glad I did not sell the B&Ws right away as I had planned. In the right system, with the proper combination of electronics, the CMD1s can sound great. By the same token I have no intention of getting rid of the 9s either as I just like them too much.
Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
Subs - Rel T5 x 2
Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
Dac - Marantz Dac-1
TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
Subs - Rel T5 x 2
Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
Dac - Marantz Dac-1
TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
Post edited by Bass_Pedal on
Comments
-
HeHeHe synergy is a ****!!!Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
Thanks
Ben -
Nice post BP.~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
-
Plus 1 to what Ben said... I am just learning about synergy now, and it can be a real pain in the AS$. This whole audiofile thing is expensive, time consuming and so much damn fun when you hit the right notes. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the music!:)HeHeHe synergy is a ****!!!The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Congrats, you've discovered the main key to this hobby. Enjoy!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 -
does that mean there is hope for me yet...Congrats, you've discovered the main key to this hobby. Enjoy!
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
Thanks
Ben -
It's an awesome journey trying to find it, although a little costly :eek:.
Once you've found it though synergy is a wonderful thing.... Nothing beats that tingly feeling you get when a song hits that passage you love so much. The point where you wonder to yourself how'd i get to this, and what've i done in my life to deserve this.
In terms of audio, i truly feel sorry for the visually impaired. How can they know what they like if they cant read google?
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=86838
