Speaker upgrade?
borat58 -- Sat, 11/08/2008 - 15:23
My system consists of an Arcam CD92 CD player, a Musical Fidelity A1008 amp, ProAc Tablette Reference 8's with a REL Strata 2 sub. Cabling is Nordost Blue Heaven interconnects with Straightwire Encore 2 speaker cable. ProAc Tablettes have been the constant part of this system for 10 years, initially with Super Tablettes and 3 years ago updating to the Ref 8’s. The question is where to from here? Have I reached the end potential of the Tablettes? This is a system that majors on wonderful midrange sweetness and resolution and this is something I would want to retain with any changes made. However on the negative side the speaker/sub combo does not always integrate perfectly. I do find myself changing the sub settings as the bass level may be fine for one cd, change to another and the bass becomes either too overpowering or lacking in impact. I’m sure the sub is correctly sited and set-up for the 3m x 4m listening room. Maybe some floorstanding speakers are the next step although having heard the entry level ProAcs they did not have the mid range magic I’m used to from the Tablettes. Any advice would be appreciated.
I tested the Pro Acs with a REL sub. Getting integration was hard, though I had the sense that all the speakers were very high quality.
I don't know how much money you want to spend, but if you can try a controller or receiver (yes I said receiver) with digital room correction, it is worth the time it takes. The point of this exercise is to see if digital room correction addresses your integration problem (it can adjust phase and eq in ways the sub won't let you). If it doesn't or you give up too much of the other qualities you like, you can:
1. try a stand-mount speaker that goes lower that the Tablettes (this should make integration easier)
2. try a sub with more eq tailoring (some come with measurement systems)
3. get your room/system measured to see if there is some obvious flaw in the crossover and phase settings you've used (perhaps you've done this)
4. look beyond the ProAc line for full range floorstanders (nothing sounds like a ProAc, and others can offer more suggestions, but Sonus Faber and Usher come to mind as brands that have something of the ProAc flair)
Tom offers several fine suggestions. I lived with ProAc Tablettes for a few years and they are quite special. It's tough to give up that imaging and midrange clarity. Here are a few other suggestions:
1.) Try some room treatment. You'd be surprised how something like Echo Busters or Tube Traps can help with coherency between a mini-monitor and a sub or subs. You have a relatively small room and you'd be surprised how a pair of bass traps can help.
2.) Upgrade your mini-monitor. As good a mini-monitor as the Tablettes are, there are some better. The next rung up the ladder (to me) are the Sonus Faber minis. Of course, you might try their floorstanders instead, as Tom suggests. Our colleague, Jon Valin, loves the Magico Mini mated with the Wilson-Benesch Torus but that's in another price category entirely.
3.) Try another REL. While you might try another model, you might just add another Strata 2. I believe in having a pair of subs, rather than a single one.
4.) Turn off your sub for some listening. Okay, that's somewhat of a cop-out, but for some music, subs are not really needed and can impact midrange clarity. For power music, turn them back on (This may be more inconvenient with some (all?) subs in the REL family since there isn't a handy-dandy on/off switch?).
Good luck!
hello,
my guess is if you change the arcam with a musical fidelity cd player, your problem might be fixed. iv used both, and iv felt the musical fidelity brings more warmth and evenness across the table. give it a try.
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