tlt Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 Hi all! I've got a modest system at home and want to get better sound for music and movies. When it comes to music I listen to Jazz, Rock, and Prog. Will try to add a picture, I've got: 1. Set of Monitor Audio Silver 5i floorstanding speakers - nice second hand speakers. 2. Nice Samsung Q7 QLED TV (second hand of course :) ) 3. BluDento BLT-HD bluetooth reciever. use this to connect PC/phone/tablet/TV to the stereo 4. Valve amp created by a local guy who converted an old big integrate valve stereo/tuner/speakers unit from the 70's etc into a small stereo - approx 8W/channel? I brought the small valve amp because of the fact the guy made it himself (Great guy!) , it was my first entry into valve stereos and it was super cheap. What I want is more power and especially more bass! The amp just has a variable low-pass filter to roll off the highs to emphasise the bass more but it just doesn't have the balls. As you increase the volume you get the warm valve distortion but it comes in too much and too early, not enough headroom or punch. I also have a nice TL passive sub sitting from 20 years ago in my office un-used I could put behind the couch but don't have an amp to drive it.
agentorange2 Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 Hi Tim , 1st cab off the rank is to move the bluetooth receiver off the tranny cover of the amp before you achieve some form of pop-art. Next - can you move things around in the room , those speakers will appreciate more room to breath ( especially the one stuck in the corner ?
wen Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 welcome Tim, you need to give us an idea of your budget? Keep your valve amp, period. A good amp driving your Monitor Audio's should give you plenty of bass, you could sell the sub to put towards the amp, the MA's are not amp fussy, good luck
Gryffles Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 @tlt I'm not surprised you are after a bit more grunt. 8w single ended just won't do with your speakers. Do you use the amp for volume control or have other means?
Sansui77 Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 Welcome Tim. I agree with the above statement. Upgrade your amplifier. Let us know your budget? 1
hopefullguy Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 remove the white cabinet, open up the area.
tlt Posted January 19, 2020 Author Posted January 19, 2020 5 hours ago, agentorange2 said: Hi Tim , 1st cab off the rank is to move the bluetooth receiver off the tranny cover of the amp before you achieve some form of pop-art. Next - can you move things around in the room , those speakers will appreciate more room to breath ( especially the one stuck in the corner ? Hahaha yes pop art - when worlds collide. The transformer cover looks like an inverted cake tin! Moving things around the room is not really on the cards, I'm gonna have to work with the space I've got.
tlt Posted January 19, 2020 Author Posted January 19, 2020 5 hours ago, wen said: welcome Tim, you need to give us an idea of your budget? Keep your valve amp, period. A good amp driving your Monitor Audio's should give you plenty of bass, you could sell the sub to put towards the amp, the MA's are not amp fussy, good luck Would like to buy second hand, up to $300 for an amp I reckon. Would like to try the sub with a decent amp before selling it. Misc info: The sub has a crossover in it, and the speakers can be bi-wired. 1
tlt Posted January 19, 2020 Author Posted January 19, 2020 5 hours ago, Gryffles said: @tlt I'm not surprised you are after a bit more grunt. 8w single ended just won't do with your speakers. Do you use the amp for volume control or have other means? We control the volume with whatever device is sending the music - phone, laptop, tv etc
tlt Posted January 19, 2020 Author Posted January 19, 2020 4 hours ago, Sansui77 said: Welcome Tim. I agree with the above statement. Upgrade your amplifier. Let us know your budget? I reckon $300
tlt Posted January 19, 2020 Author Posted January 19, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, hopefullguy said: remove the white cabinet, open up the area. White cabinet holds all sorts of stuff we need to store and don't have anywhere else to put it, raspberry pie for console emulation and controllers, drones and helicopters, throw rugs, camera, tv remotes etc Edited January 19, 2020 by tlt typo
wen Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 @tlt i am using an Elekit valve amp 8wpc with my Monitor Audio RS6 speakers, similar specs to your silver 5i, very happy with sound and output levels, have had 50,80,105 wpc amps in past, happy with 8wpc
Gryffles Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 19 minutes ago, tlt said: We control the volume with whatever device is sending the music - phone, laptop, tv etc PM if you want to borrow a 60w amp 2
audiofeline Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 12 hours ago, tlt said: ...Moving things around the room is not really on the cards, I'm gonna have to work with the space I've got. It's frustrating when your room doesn't provide flexibility. When I moved from rentals to buy my own home one of the criteria was to have a room where the stereo could be set up correctly for a change! Even with your limited space, you could try to move your speakers out a few more inches into the room to give more breathing space at the back. I'm not familiar with your speakers, but looking at the one facing your couch I'm wondering if they would be better on small stands to raise them about 30cm. Good luck with your upgrades, and keep an eye on the classifieds here.
lemarquis Posted January 20, 2020 Posted January 20, 2020 300 might be cutting it fine if you want an amp with some grunt (especially if you want to run that passive sub). Seem to be a few 100w integrateds close to your budget in the Classifieds lately. Worth a look.
rantan Posted January 20, 2020 Posted January 20, 2020 Hi Tim and welcome to SNA. That amp just won't do the MA speakers justice. Although they are reasonably sensitive, they do like decent power and current to really shine ( like almost all premium speakers ). I know that your budget is $300 and people will always say "just spend a little bit more " but there are very few, if any, amplifiers at that price that will give you the performance of which these speakers are capable. You could try this if you can stretch just a little and its tonal balance will suit the MA Silvers very well. 4
RCAJack Posted January 28, 2020 Posted January 28, 2020 A single ended 6GW8 is likely giving you 3 watts or so, and those watts probably aren’t all there at low frequencies. I love valves too but I’d demo a solid state amp with your speakers. A used integrated amp or receiver is easily on budget.
RCAJack Posted January 28, 2020 Posted January 28, 2020 Should have mentioned the ECL86 is the same as the 6GW8 your amp uses!
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