System warm-up
 

"James Harris" no.email.please wrote in message
.. .
"S888Wheel" wrote in message
...
snip
My hi-fi sounds great sometimes and not others.
snip
Maybe you could give us the specifics on your system.

Nad C541i as transport,
Meridian 203 DAC,
Rotel RA-02 amp,
Dynaudio Audience 62 floorstand speakers

Chord Optichord digital link,
Audioquest Python interconnects,
Atlas 2.0 speaker cable,
Atacama Equinox rack

The dealer advised a 30 to 60 minute warmup before each listening session - which is a
pain and I'm not convinced that the improved sound quality follows such a warmup. The
improvement seems random - and unexpected. Maybe mains problems? The sonic difference to
the bass is quite clear. Forgive the adjectives but when it's not working well the sound
is OK but 'thin' and lacks energy. When it works well the bass is rich and the sound
fuller and more musical at the same volume. It even sounds good with the volume lower.

The Audioquest Pythons were the last addition. I wasn't happy with the system - it
didn't
have the clarity - until they were added to replace Atlas Voyagers. Does the kit list
above give any clues as to why the sound would change? (BTW, thanks too for your
suggestions on test CDs.)

A followup on this. I have since been kindly lent a Quad 405 power amp. With this the
system does NOT need a warm up. As before the kit is left on all the time.

--
James

System warm-up
 

"James Harris" no.email.please wrote in message
.. .

"Tat Chan" wrote in message
...
snip

Nad C541i as transport,
Meridian 203 DAC,
Rotel RA-02 amp,
Dynaudio Audience 62 floorstand speakers



James, I am curious. The Meridian DAC is at least 12 years old. I would
have thought that the newer Burr Brown DACs in the NAD would measure
better and produce "better" sound than the older Philips DAC in the
Meridian (is it multibit or bitstream?)

Well, since you asked I tried going back to the direct link from the CD player to the
amp.
I soon went back to the DAC. The reason? I wouldn't like to say the DAC is "better" but
is
a sound I prefer.

The DAC gives greater bass weight and authority and also opens out the voices. They
sound
more clear and distinct with the DAC than with the Nad CD player alone.

I would still like more reach in the bass, though. That may be to do with my speakers
more
than the electronics.

Have since added a borrowed Quad 405 power amp. While this has removed the warm-up time
needed before I still would like greater reach in the bass - and probably a little less of
it! I think then that this must be to do with my Dynaudio speakers. The cones in them are
probably too small to reach as far down as I would like. Oh well. The neighbours can
breathe a sigh of relief....

--
James

System warm-up
 

"James Harris" no.email.please wrote
Have since added a borrowed Quad 405 power amp. While this has removed the warm-up time
needed before I still would like greater reach in the bass - and probably a little less of
it! I think then that this must be to do with my Dynaudio speakers. The cones in them are
probably too small to reach as far down as I would like. Oh well. The neighbours can
breathe a sigh of relief....

If you have Dynaudios, stop damn complaining! :-) Which ones?

*Envy*


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

System warm-up
 

"Fleetie" wrote in message
news:_DLpc.359$nB5.344@newsfe1-win...
"James Harris" no.email.please wrote
Have since added a borrowed Quad 405 power amp. While this has removed the warm-up
time
needed before I still would like greater reach in the bass - and probably a little
less of
it! I think then that this must be to do with my Dynaudio speakers. The cones in them
are
probably too small to reach as far down as I would like. Oh well. The neighbours can
breathe a sigh of relief....

If you have Dynaudios, stop damn complaining! :-) Which ones?

*Envy*

Hi Martin. Good to hear a strong positive about the Dynaudios. Since you asked, Audience
62s. Floorstanders. I went for these after also hearing the standmounted 42s (IIRC).
Amazingly for such a small box the 42s' bass was 'big' enough. There was just a different
quality of the bass from the floorstanders - as if the cones were moving in a more open
space which, in fact, they we-) There was a more graceful quality - a more effortless
sound in the bass from the larger enclosure. I didn't plan to spend so much on speakers
but it wasn't too much more than Audience 42s plus good quality stands.

I did audition the comparable Mission floorstanders at the same time but - to my
surprise - didn't like the sound. The Missions were not cheaper versions. In fact they
were a bit more expensive - and, IIRC, were SE variants. Sorry I can't be sure about the
model number.

--
James

System warm-up
 

"Frédéric Mathieu" wrote in message
...
James, any comment about the Atacama Equinox rack? Is it the Av, HiFi, or XL
Pro? I am about to buy one of these, are you happy with it?

I bought the Equinox audio rack. I guess it would be the HiFi one you mention. I can't
really comment on this compared with other racks as I didn't try any others. I do find the
rack to be solid with my base unit plus two extra shelves - four in total. The triangular
design (of the pillars and feet) is convenient. Watch out, though, for its depth. It
sticks out further in to my room than I would like. There is certainly plenty of room for
deep units!

Compared with the old wooden rack and stacked components I had before placing the amp in
space on its own shelf even improved the sound from the tuner. No, really! The sound just
seemed to open out and breathe more freely. I still find this hard to believe. One day
I'll go back to stacked units just to convince myself.......

--
HTH,
James

System warm-up
 

"James Harris" no.email.please wrote in message
...

Have since added a borrowed Quad 405 power amp. While this has removed the
warm-up time
needed before I still would like greater reach in the bass - and probably
a little less of
it! I think then that this must be to do with my Dynaudio speakers. The
cones in them are
probably too small to reach as far down as I would like. Oh well. The
neighbours can
breathe a sigh of relief....


If you want decent bass a 405 will not give it to you.

This ancient amplifier is both bandwidth and current limited and has a
rather nasty protection circuit in it.

The 405-2 was a bit better and the various modified 405's a lot better.

In standard form it is probably unable to drive your Dynaudios properly.


cheers,