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Help - I hate my system and need to fix something

post #1 of 7
10/28/11 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 

Alright,

 

For years I've lived with my current system and I think I'm missing out.  The story: My main system was an NAD L-40 ("Music System") with low end B&W speakers and I loved it -- it was deep, musical and fun.  But I got upgrade fever and went out and bought (after many listening sessions) a new system: Mac mini (ALAC) --> Esoteric AZ-1 --> B&W 705's.  I thought I liked it at first but now think I don't.  The main complaint: it's just not fun, not musical and too detailed.  I now prefer listening to my old system (NAD) which is in my bedroom or to my iPhone--> Grado RS1s.  I need to fix my main system but don't want to spend a ton.  What are my options?

 

Perhaps:

 

1.  Trade in the AZ-1 (used to be $5K retail -- I paid $3K) for something warmer -- any suggestions as to what?  Does my Mac Mini have a decent DAC that I could just add an amp and not a dedicated or integrated DAC?

 

2. Can I add a different amp to my AZ-1 and just use it as a DAC -- perhaps a tube amp to warm it up? (ridiculous?)

 

Thanks for any suggestions,

 

EB

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post #2 of 7
10/29/11 at 1:02am
I'd look hard at a different pair of speakers. Aside from the recording, they're probably 95% of the sound signature.
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post #3 of 7
10/29/11 at 9:30pm

Alternatively, you could invest into some acoustical treatment to dampen your room.

Room+speaker combination is always what matters most.

 

Or you could always use something like RoomEQWizard to correct adapt the speakers to your room.

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post #4 of 7
10/30/11 at 5:52pm
Try one of: Jamo C803, Monopulse C, System Audio SA2K, Xavian 270 Evoluzione (in order of price and probably sound quality too). smily_headphones1.gif
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post #5 of 7
10/30/11 at 7:05pm

I had the 705's also, they just didn't do it for me either... I say find new speakers as well.

 

@eugenius: you avitar makes me do a double take every time I see it. me like! biggrin.gif

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post #6 of 7
10/31/11 at 9:32pm
markkr, I like your rs2i, it's the only relatively cheap Grado I didn't hear so far. smily_headphones1.gif
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post #7 of 7
11/3/11 at 9:08am

Having heard an AZ-1 and 705s on more than a few occasions i'd suggest selling both. The AZ-1 is one of the most clinical and sterile sounding Class D amplifiers i've heard to date. The 705s have a rather uncouth tweeter too. It's no wonder they make an unhappy combination.

 

What is your budget and do you have any idea of which brands you'd like to try?

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