7 minutes ago, Pieface said:

 

Sorry mate. With the elektra driv8ng the speakers. The gain staging might be different between the 651r power section and the preouts to the elektra.
You would need to level match seperately for each power section...

 

Is level matching something that could be done in AVR or not?

10 minutes ago, powerav said:

Is level matching something that could be done in AVR or not?

 

usually they have a test tone you run to level up the speakers. also need to set delays and if running a sub set xovers. a spl meter is required to do this if doing manually. most avrs have mic that can also be used for setup and calibration and procedure then becomes quite critical as with mic position.

 

refer manual page below...

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/747246/Cambridge-Audio-Azur-651r.html?page=18

Yeah sorry i do know all this. Yes I have done all that set up part. I dunno maybe just have to get used to but I can't stop thinking that I have done the wrong thing.

Tried adjusting levels and going back between Elektra and 651 and sorry to say the 651 on it's own is just better.

@Pieface thanks for getting me thinking. I turned the level of front L/R down by 4 db each but didn't improve than had a light bulb moment of turning the level of front L/R UP by 4 db and yes this did make improvement, I know can listen to 2 channel music at -40 on AVR instead of -30. Makes sense I suppose as I am not putting as much load onto speakers.

Just listened to Chill Peppers Behind the Sun and Jewel Foolish Games and WOW! I could really feel the power but finesse as well. The bass is incredible, no need for sub.

 

Hopefully others can learn by this that are jumping into the deep end with more powerful and serious gear.

Oh @:) alyour a legend as well.

Edited September 15, 20169 yr by powerav

 

Are you engaging direct mode on the 651R for 2 channel? Anytime I've used a processor or AVR I have preferred direct mode vs having any of the features on. Movies and TV are different again. Some of the AVRs have a Direct + sub mode. It's at least a starting point to see what everything sounds like before you start messing with Audyssey etc.

 

 

Yeah I'll a bit more of a play tonight. 

The fact that the Cambridge still sounds fantastic on it's own is testimony on how good it is.

1 hour ago, powerav said:

@Pieface thanks for getting me thinking. I turned the level of front L/R down by 4 db each but didn't improve than had a light bulb moment of turning the level of front L/R UP by 4 db and yes this did make improvement, I know can listen to 2 channel music at -40 on AVR instead of -30. Makes sense I suppose as I am not putting as much load onto speakers.

Just listened to Chill Peppers Behind the Sun and Jewel Foolish Games and WOW! I could really feel the power but finesse as well. The bass is incredible, no need for sub.

 

Hopefully others can learn by this that are jumping into the deep end with more powerful and serious gear.

Oh @:) alyour a legend as well.

This makes no sense. At a given SPL the "load" on the speakers will be the same regardless of trim levels. 

27 minutes ago, Satanica said:

This makes no sense. At a given SPL the "load" on the speakers will be the same regardless of trim levels. 

Yes you may be right as I am really just not listening as "Loud".

I normally listen via HDMI from PC (no one will probably talk to me now) I just tried my little USB Dragonfly black that I use with phone from PC USB to Cambridge CD input with Audio Direct as advised by @SteveC and while I can't crank it up as kids are in bed I now feel the need to where as before I wanted to turn it down as it was "Loud" so this looks like the answer, need to get me a decent DAC.

Theres no doubt that with 6ohm speakers with low sensitivity you are throwing a lot of power at them with the Elektra, whether this equates to poor sound I wouldn't have thought so but probably does have the potential to damage your speakers at high levels. My limited experience with high quality external amps is that they just give you more of what you already have but for some reason this isn't your experience.

 

The fact that a small dac sounds better than the internal DACs of the CA sounds very surprising too, that may have something to do with the digital signal being jittery HDMI and maybe not in pure audio/direct mode, something just doesn't sound right (pardon the pun!)

 

That all said, run with what sounds good to you and if thats the CA running your speakers great! The saving you'll make on the elektra will buy you a great DAC and high quality music streaming solution which would take it all to another level!

@powerav I promise to still talk to you,  HDMI from PC and all

I thought I'm the only one running "laptop - hdmi - avr - speakers" around here...

All is good in the Universe again as the evil empire also known as Dynamic Eq has been destroyed.

You mean Dynamic Eq is the culprit?

Hey I noticed you got HTPC Openelec, are you running Kodi or Plex or both with Kodiplexconnect?

How's sound quality for music?

6 minutes ago, liman said:

You mean Dynamic Eq is the culprit?

Hey I noticed you got HTPC Openelec, are you running Kodi or Plex or both with Kodiplexconnect?

How's sound quality for music?

Yes i always turn it off but missed it here in my haste to set it up. It makes everything louder. Very happy with Kodi for music, looks great, great remote apps and really it's only passing the digital audio thru.

Edited September 16, 20169 yr by powerav

Great, will try to install when I got the time

Thanks.

1 hour ago, powerav said:

All is good in the Universe again as the evil empire also known as Dynamic Eq has been destroyed.

good to se you found the issue, so is the Elektra staying or going?

1 hour ago, powerav said:

All is good in the Universe again as the evil empire also known as Dynamic Eq has been destroyed.

 

What's wrong with Audyssey Dynamic EQ? It's basically a digital Loudness equalisation control which should be very effective at low level listening and subtle to non-existent at high levels. 

1 hour ago, powerav said:

All is good in the Universe again as the evil empire also known as Dynamic Eq has been destroyed.

 

dynamic eq can work well for movies. however careful calibration is essential and keeping in mind the level of boost it can have. 

 

not sure the sophistication of it but at lower levels it can provide quite a boost and the boost typically tapers off as get closer to reference.

 

I would never utilise with music though its really not designed to be used with it. more sophisticated eq schemes with latest audyssey suite also let you set the eq offset…i.e. just how severe its application is….

 

will find most if not all will not utilise with music and only utilise for movies where reference actually means something ! 

20 hours ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

54 minutes ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

good to se you found the issue, so is the Elektra staying or going?

Staying! As soon as I turned that Audessy stuff off I was sweet. 

 

Great to hear, good times ahead!

 

It was definatley Audessy that was causing the harshness, everything is just sooo much better with out it.

It may be worth re-running your Audessy setup, there is nothing to lose you can still choose to turn it off. Try late at night when the noise floor is lower if possible, then adjust speaker distances to what they actually are.

Dynamic EQ and the host of other features are just plain rubbish in my opinion. As for audio correction, it's hard to beat Anthem's ARC. I think a pre/pro from them or Emotiva will do wonders with the Elecktra.

2 hours ago, digitalhome said:

Dynamic EQ and the host of other features are just plain rubbish in my opinion. As for audio correction, it's hard to beat Anthem's ARC. I think a pre/pro from them or Emotiva will do wonders with the Elecktra.

Yeah i should've got a Anthem I think, the Cambridge is audio bliss but do have zero, nada, nil, squat bells and whistles is hard to get used to.