Hi all!
Here for the first time, from Italy.

I would like to have some opinions about little audio problem.
Maybe my expectations have became more sophisticate, maybe my ears are more
accustomed to live music, the result is that now I don't like so much the
way my stereo sounds.
First of all, this is the settlement:

cd player: TEAC CDZ5000 (aged!)
turntable: Thorens TD 316 + Audio Technica AT440ML
int amp: ROTEL 971 MkII
spkrs: CHARIO Constellation Lynx (if you don't know them, take a look:
http://www.chario.it/principale.htm --> CONSTELLATION on the left)
cables: Van Den Hul and Monster Cable (don't remember the names, but not
too expensive...)
selfmade wood stands similar to those you see in the Chario link.

What I don't like is such an *euphonic* setting up, and the speakers are the
first suspect, I suppose.
I'm mostly listening at acoustic and electric Jazz now, although classical
(mostly baroque and renaissance) music is always in my cd player.
Ancient vocal and instrumental music is a pleasure with these speakers due
to a perfect mid-high range reproduction, and bass, although not punchy, is
controlled and precise.
What is wrong than?
Maybe higer range.
I cannot find the naughtiness that some recordings need.
(see Whisper Not - Jarret-Peacock-DeJonnette, and other contemporary jazz)

I've listened to a couple of ProAC Response 1SC, and I felt in love.
Although I don't know the market so well to be shure they could be the best
for me.

So I'm asking: where is the problem in your advice?
Where is the *filter*? Speakers? CDplayer? Amp? Cables?

Thanks!

"Carburo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> Hi all!
> Here for the first time, from Italy.
>
> I would like to have some opinions about little audio problem.
> Maybe my expectations have became more sophisticate, maybe my ears are more accustomed to live music, the result is that now I
> don't like so much the way my stereo sounds.
> First of all, this is the settlement:
>
> cd player: TEAC CDZ5000 (aged!)
> turntable: Thorens TD 316 + Audio Technica AT440ML
> int amp: ROTEL 971 MkII
> spkrs: CHARIO Constellation Lynx (if you don't know them, take a look: http://www.chario.it/principale.htm --> CONSTELLATION on
> the left)
> cables: Van Den Hul and Monster Cable (don't remember the names, but not too expensive...)
> selfmade wood stands similar to those you see in the Chario link.
>
> What I don't like is such an *euphonic* setting up, and the speakers are the first suspect, I suppose.
> I'm mostly listening at acoustic and electric Jazz now, although classical (mostly baroque and renaissance) music is always in my
> cd player.
> Ancient vocal and instrumental music is a pleasure with these speakers due to a perfect mid-high range reproduction, and bass,
> although not punchy, is controlled and precise.
> What is wrong than?
> Maybe higer range.
> I cannot find the naughtiness that some recordings need.
> (see Whisper Not - Jarret-Peacock-DeJonnette, and other contemporary jazz)
>
> I've listened to a couple of ProAC Response 1SC, and I felt in love.
> Although I don't know the market so well to be shure they could be the best for me.
>
> So I'm asking: where is the problem in your advice?
> Where is the *filter*? Speakers? CDplayer? Amp? Cables?
>
> Thanks!

At a guess, all your gear is at least decent, with the speakers
followed by the cartridge giving the most variation in the system.
*BUT*, speaker response evenness (controlled by both the
speaker itself and the room and listener placement) can affect the
result. Many would prefer euphonious sound, since that is the
least offensive and the most pleasant for most material. Rough
speakers with peaked up top-ends can sound more "immediate",
but more tiring. Often small speakers, to balance a "shy" low
bass (better that than "boom"), have the top end rolled off
a bit. Also, some tweeters are better at producing "detail" of
brushed cymbals, etc, without being rough (which can increase
the noise in LPs). This also helps the sense of mid range
quickness of transient response, even with no change in the mid
range. Sometimes this loss of top end can be cured by aiming
the speakers directly at the ears, with stands used (but this may
result in a loss of spaciousness in the sound). Another thing that
will add to the feeling of "live" is a ***GOOD*** subwoofer
(most are poor, not performing anything like the ad. claims).
See: http://www.ferrario.com/ruether/Audio.html for some
large ones I have built. Also, some speaker types, like most
electrostatics, some ribbons, and a few of the best dynamics
have such excellent transient response that the sound is very
crisp and detailed without being too bright. ***MOST***
important, though (assuming good gear) is room set-up. This
is the part often ignored. With placement of speakers, good
gear can sound bad, or poor gear can sound fairly good. Set-up
is a long and frustrating process to optimize results. The
speakers MUST be equal distance from, and at the same tilt
and rotation relative to, the (single) listener (for best sound,
there is no multi-listener set-up). Ideal is equal distance from
side/back/rear wall-pairs, which should have similar characteristics,
especially in openings. Distance apart and from the listener
plus tilt/rotation and speaker type and a good sub (well
balanced with the speaker!) can make the most difference
in all this. A truly flat system (impossible...), with a slightly
rising bass as the frequency goes down, a slight roll-off
toward the top, and a slight toe-out in speaker placement
(for spaciousness) can sound wonderful on most material.
As a last note, the speaker should be chosen by how it
sounds in *your* room, not from reviews, or the sound in
showrooms...
--
--
David Ruether
(E-Mail Removed)
http://www.ferrario.com/ruether