new speaker performance

[got tinnitus]

This amp will go well with the Rogers

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Amplifiers-tuners/auction-307859486.htm

[rob71]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks to everyone for the additional posts - I really appreciate all of these ideas.

 

First up, an update:

 

1) The Rogers are sounding way better now with the right amount of wall reinforcement. I now have fuller bass (but not at all boomy) and haven't had to give away any mid or high frequency clarity to get it. I have lost some of the staging depth, but still retain the width and open-ness. Getting the positioning right was a fine balancing act by the way - a few inches either way could go from swampy bass that washes out the mids, to bass that was very lean.

 

Also, they do sound way better with a bit more volume than I usually give them.

 

2) New cables ordered (thanks cloth_ears). Looking forward to hearing the difference! Will let you know the results.

 

3) Working on sourcing a pair of genuine Rogers stands (again, thanks to another forum member, you guys are great!).

 

Other than that, there are lots of possibilies to consider, and I wish i could try all of your suggestions... might take me a few months/years to get through it all. I'm not sure what my next step will be (after I see what good stands and cables will do). Perhaps pre-amp, perhaps a good integrated...

 

On the sub front, and in answer to Too_Tall's question, the sub I tried the other day was pretty cheap and nasty (a Wharfedale but I didn't catch the model). I found that it overwhelmed the music no matter what I tried. Even pulled right back in volume it stuck out like a sore thumb with a soggy wash of definitionless bass. Obviously no grounds at all for me to form an opinion about subs (I know there are very musical subs out there) but the way I see it the price of a musical sub would put me in the market for a set of full frequency speakers that may well give me the sound I'm looking for, but without the challenge of integrating a sub successfully.

 

And that brings me to Juliant's point, which is that I can't expect the Rogers to be anything they aren't. That's true, but it seems to me that my system right now isn't letting me hear the Rogers at their best, and I would dearly love to do that before I consider any alternatives. So...if anyone out there has a good pre-amp lying around (or a spare Meridian 508) be sure to let me know!

 

Cheers

Rob

[Electra]

Rob, Wharfedale dont make subs. They make marshmellowy midbass boomers. ( Sorry, but its true! ) An Acebass, REL, MJ Acoustics...... could be worth trying. I would probably look at the Acebass offerings first. There is a forum member who will be able to help you on this one should you need advice.