palace
Rank: Trio
Posts: 209
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Post by palace on Dec 7, 2022 13:57:27 GMT
It's much more about careful selection and how to build the system with attention to detail rather than spending loads on overpriced bling brands and paying no attention to setup. I'll bet I could coax more out of some of those monstrously priced systems I've heard, judging by the way they're thrown together for shows - not to mention the generally dreadful sounding hotel rooms, not their fault of course. Mind you, some sound treatment would go a long way. I was asked recently whether I would upgrade everything if I won the lottery. Probably not, I would take my existing system and put it in a better room before even thinking about giving any of it up. On the subject of second order harmonic distortion or achieving a "vinyl-like" sound, no thanks to either. I want to hear it as recorded to the best of my system's ability. You once said of me "Well, you've certainly paid attention to a lot of minutiae in your system" I suggest the same of you, I quote "It's much more about careful selection and how to build the system with attention to detail rather than spending loads on overpriced bling brands and paying no attention to setup" "I would take my existing system and put it in a better room before even thinking about giving any of it up" Would it still sound the same in a "better room", would it be better or worse, like me after all the effort of matching components ie "careful selection" with "attention to detail" your system has been tailored to a particular room as has mine which is seemingly near perfect for my OTA Quads & Batpure Supertweeters, I suspect that after 44 years if I was forced to move my equipment to another place I would be back at square one, even a room with the same dimensions but different construction could create a difference. We seem to differ only in my love for vinyl, though I use a very musical though accurate Len Gregory Musicmaster Moving Iron cartridge that lacks the overly euphonic sound of a Moving Coil, Len used to send me & others things to test as he considered my system to be of sufficient resolution & he knew I would give an honest assessment including warts & all indeed all warts if that was the case.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 7, 2022 14:11:00 GMT
I agree, I was surprised in my previous house move by how much better my system sounded (as it was then) in the current room. It had a bit of flutter echo when empty but not the fundamental issues with size and bass overloading that the previous room had.
Sadly, we must downsize when we retire in two years' time. I stand the chance of having at least as good a room and possibly better the next time round, I don't really know yet. I will definitely target either a good ready-made room or another double garage conversion. But, of course, the system may not respond to it well. I feel I've learned a lot more about system and room tuning and it'll be a challenge to get working on it. I shall take lots of photos of my current setup, and speaker position measurements, so that I stand a chance of replicating the current sound. I also have TubeTraps, a SubTrap and four PicturePanels that I can experiment with the positioning of. I am nervous that I will ever achieve what I have now, but I will give it every chance to flourish.
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Post by karatestu on Dec 7, 2022 14:42:57 GMT
I have wasted thousands over the years. I have so much stuff in cupboards that I could have sold. But I modified most things to the point they are worthless to anybody but me. Very sad. I learned a few things along the way but quite frankly it wasn't worth it.
The system I now listen to cost me £150 new and is about the same size as a flask. I could have saved myself a lot of time and expense.
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Post by orange55 on Dec 7, 2022 16:36:52 GMT
What is great is sites like this, where we can all share and learn from other experiences to be more informed when making changes. :-)
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 7, 2022 21:26:17 GMT
We had the garage extended to become 1 bed, living room, shower and loo
The system always sounded great in the living room A drop down in quality when we got the house back. Could be room shape, size or different materials
If it were an easy job I'd love to try it back there
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Post by brettj on Dec 8, 2022 8:34:13 GMT
The speakers I heard were Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo. Beasts at 265kg each. Certainly took up a room.
I had a few hours to play with my music, but couldn't open them up. The system was dead quiet. And awesome instrument separation. Still, didn't have my envy particularly high. Liked the house though.
Not sure about the Devialet 220 amps. He had four of them in the system. Most probably better than my amp. But I wouldn't swap.
Although he did have a fifth. If it landed on my front doorstep, would do well in my work system...
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Post by MartinT on Dec 8, 2022 9:47:38 GMT
I used to have JM Lab (Focal) Mezzo Utopias and I know they can be very musical, but the Grandes just didn't do it for me, completely hampered by unmusical Naim amplifiers.
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Post by HD Music & Test on Dec 8, 2022 11:28:33 GMT
The speakers I heard were Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo. Beasts at 265kg each. Certainly took up a room. I Not sure about the Devialet 220 amps. He had four of them in the system. That there is the BIG problem with the system you listened to, having owned GU MK III & MK II for many years I can attest to their ability BUT they need a big room and proper amplification no pissy wannabe amaplifier now matter how many KW they feel DV's deliver. Only a couple of amps worse than the DV one being Naims tractor engine!
Also Focal's are hyper crictal on speaker placement due to the Be Tweeter beeming they have a sweet spot they need to be right in and then they really sing.
Get it right and they pay dividends but then you listen to a Tad and its all over.
However I still have a soft spot for Focal's. Our old house a few years ago.
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Post by brettj on Dec 11, 2022 22:39:59 GMT
The speakers I heard were Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo. Beasts at 265kg each. Certainly took up a room. Not sure about the Devialet 220 amps. He had four of them in the system. That there is the BIG problem with the system you listened to, having owned GU MK III & MK II for many years I can attest to their ability BUT they need a big room and proper amplification no pissy wannabe amplifier now matter how many KW they feel DV's deliver. Only a couple of amps worse than the DV one being Naims tractor engine!
Also Focal's are hyper critical on speaker placement due to the Be Tweeter beeming they have a sweet spot they need to be right in and then they really sing. Get it right and they pay dividends but then you listen to a Tad and its all over.
I find it funny when I walk into Devialet dealers. I get looked down upon, as they think I couldn't possibly afford their gear. Little do they know, I wouldn't buy it at full price or discount. The guy did have a large lounge/kitchen. That one room was 2/3 the size of my house. Not sure he had the speakers set up right. The end of a couch in the way as well. But he wasn't inviting comment, and was really happy with what he had. I had some suggestions, but it wasn't my place to do so. He was incredibly happy. Isn't that the pinnacle of what we strive for? Satisfaction, joy in our music, and to be at peace with our system.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 12, 2022 10:54:14 GMT
Dealers can be so stupid, all sorts of shop keepers and retailers as well.
I wear as casual and comfortable as I can and must mislead many as to what my budget could be
Many years back I visited an estate agent. Never sent me any details. Realised weeks later I had been gardening and was even scruffier than usual I had the budget they were too thick to realise it
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