Upgrading from passive to active

Tread very carefully Bub. These passive pre's are the internet's flavour of the month. Some simply don't rate them as anything special, myself included.

I'd personally try a good active pre if you want some real improvements.

 

No immediate plans on the preamp front, but I do need 5 inputs.

 

They are more system specific obviously - you need the right setup. Some have 5 or more inputs. Worth a try given the low cost.

 

The behringer deq2496 has arrived - let the fun begin!

 

I went to pick up the django from Tenson today - and had a listen to his system. It sounds great! The balance was a little laid back for me but he has obviously tailored the tonality for his own preference. With the mods to the behringer the hint of harshness has gone (which might have contributed to the observations in my room as well) and his room treatments obviously add to the entire experience. I recommend Tensons work for either of these.

All hint of harsheness seems to have gone from my system with the django in place - though I currently dont have a dac or phono stage working so I can only judge by the tv output! When the cables arrive next week I will rig up the behringer as a dac until the pt de capo is returned...

 

Room layout:

 

Sums up PMC / Bryston's for me!

 

Except that is exactly what I use and I find them perfect It's all in the implementation.

 

They dont sound harsh any more with the django in place - sorry guys!

 

James, the size it appears on your screen is not its actual size silly

I have to say I thought it was a bloody big flat, but there you go!

 

The 'my hifi is better than your hifi' debate is so passe. 'My flat is bigger that your flat' is where it's all at now.

In fact, why don't we all just post details of our bank statements and be done with it. So much less subjective than Hifi.

 

My credit card bill is much bigger than yours!

 

Robbo - the point of posting was to start a debate about room treatment and the acoustics etc, not as part of bubs ongoing nonsense. Sorry if that wasnt clear.

 

Your speakers are too big for the room IMO. Kitchette is a problem, and is there a lot of glass?

My room is a similar size (7M X 4.3M) so I do have experience of this issue.

 

Too big in what sense?

The kitchenette contains no glass and there is just a small set of windows at one end. Of more trouble is the vaneered floor. I have rugs in the front room.

I assume the hallway and the kitchen will break up the sound at the cost of some reflections from the hallway.

The speakers are nearly a metre from side walls and maybe 1.5 m from the rear wall - pointing towards about a metre from the back of the room at the centre. This is definately a sweet spot design.

 

Glad they work for you.

I have experienced them in quite a few places, including most of the rooms in Metropolis. Not to my taste!

I always pop in the room at the Heathrow show each year, but I can never stay in there longer than 5 seconds.

Cheers

Dave

 

Nick based on the 4.8m width of your listening room, try placing your speakers 1.32m from the side walls and 2.15m from the back. This puts them at a golden ratio for modal progression, so none of the modes 'work with each other' to make the situation even worse.

I expect you have got it close to this anyway but exact positioning can make a big difference.

I take it the 4.8m is between the 'main' side walls of the room? You might also like to try placing them based on the slightly larger distance between the cupboard and the terrace doors at the end of the room. If you can tell me the exact distance between this part of the room I can tell you where the placement should be based on this width.

 

Just out of interest Dave, are the speakers in your mastering studio dipoles for the upper half?

 

Its 1.35 from the side walls and 1.75 from the back wall - to the centre of the tweeter.

I suggest we measure up next time you visit more exactly?

 

Yes they are, Tenson

Dave