Hey guys hope school is going well. My evolving audio habit got me through both medical school and residency! But, let me warn you, I started with Bestbuy JBL speaker as an M1 and 7 years later I have a tube based high end system. It never stops! Good luck, you've chosen a great profession and hobby!
Be sure to contact me when you get out of school and let me know where you are practicing. Chances are, if a guy is into high-end audio, he'll probably buy high-end medical electronics too. I'd like you to use the latest and best electronics on me when I come in for my tests. I'm sure you'll probably have a nice system in your wating room also.
I think you're starting to see that a good setup is cumulative. Unfortunately, stereos will NEVER be able to equal a live performance - but it can recreate A LOT of what the recording engineer originally interpreted as correctness of the performance. You should check out a book called "This Is Your Brain On Music" by Daniel J. Levitin, an engineer. Levitin goes through and explains (more or less) exactly what is going on in our head when music strikes our eardrums. Also, I want to add that there now exists an AMAZING little product by Copland that EQ's & time aligns sound as it exits your speakers (with help from a microphone sited @ your listening position) with the press of a button...could be just the thing you need to combat that tiny listening room and your next room. http://www.copland.dk/top/copland205index.html
Medical School taught me that there is no cure for the audiophile bug. Since you have a small room which is your limiting factor, I wouldn't spend an additional fortune as you already have excellent equipment. If changing the placement of your speakers doesn't solve your problems you might want to try cheap room equalization with a behringer 24/96 ultra pro as some people have written good reviews for this cheap but apparently effective product.
System edited: Today, I finally had some free time and the chance to go black friday shopping. But I didn't go to best buy or circuit city.. I went to home depot to go buy some sand! (I came home with a 50lb bag of gravel instead because I thought it would make less of a mess) Overall changed for today: - I filled my atlantis speaker stands with the gravel/sand - blu tack between the speakers and stands - moved my isonodes to my cdp and tube pre WOW ... These changes made a HUGE difference in the sound. It opened up the sound, made everything sound more lively (especially cymbals, high-pitched horns, etc.), made the bass tighter, and basically fixed most of the problems I've been seeing in my system. Lately I've been doubting my older cdp and little-known ic's.. thinking they caused the more closed-in, small room and even a little darker sound. But now I know they were not to blame, and I just needed to solidify my stands, couple my speakers to the stands, and put some vibration control under my components. I'm glad I took the time and EFFORT to finally get some $2.50/50lb gravel, instead of spend big bucks on a new cdp and cables that probably wouldn't have even fixed the flaws in my system. Ok.. now back to studying :)
Nice to see another medstudent here. I'm a 4th year and just trying to get through these last few months before residency. Anyway, nice system and I agree, we both need a relief from medical school!
My system is getting awfully close to what I consider acceptable for reproducing music. I'm getting to be a very happy camper now.
You mentioned that you are now looking to get closer to the real thing, good luck.... it will take you longer than you know and will extend way beyond med school, residency, and probably a good part of your career.
It's the journey that's particularly enjoyable, my friend.
System edited: i have now gotten to the point where i just want the music to sound live and real. i thought my old system was close, but i recently attended a bunch of live performances (small and large venues) and realized how far my system really is from the real thing. i used to look for a certain sound that sounded "pleasing", but nothing beats what the instruments and voices should really sound like. so now, with an even tighter budget and a much busier schedule, i am hoping i can make some changes to bring my system closer to real live music.
Apparently Upscale Audio (Upland, CA) is the closest dealer which is like 400 miles away...nevermind - unless you're going to LA anyway - it's probably too far. Sweet little amps though! - - very highly recommended. Ask your uncle about them.
Jeff, I contacted Manley's Sales Manager (Albert Schippitz) on your behalf about where the closest Mahi monoblocks dealer (based on the Zip code I found on your "items for sale" listing) so you can listen to a pair of these little bad boys. They are available with a switch so you can select between ultralinear (accurate and punchy) or triode (warm and sweet) and with 40/20 tubed watts x2 they should be plenty for a dorm or apartment. Do yourself a favor and check these little guys out...they'rrrr GREAT! (I'll let you know when I hear back from him - probably by tonight, so you'll know by tomorrow.) Cheers! -Bruce
trouble... i recently borrowed my uncle's tube components (conrad johnson mv-52 tube amp and canary audio ca-801 tube preamp), and i love the tube sound.
i had been looking to make my solid state system sound more musical, natural, and less-fatiguing.. and all i kept doing was upgrade to more expensive equipment (which got me more analytical sound, the reverse of what i was looking for). but when i switched over to the tube amp, everything sounded thin at first. however, as i listened more, i began to enjoy the sound more and more.. and now i have decided to go tube with at least the amp.
the mv-52 actually has suprisingly good bass (almost comparable to the nu-vista m3, probably because of my room setup too). i actually like the "warm, lush" sound of older cj equipment.
can anyone suggest me some tube amps and preamps that keep that liquid, warm, lush midrange of the mv-52, but add a little more power and dynamics? thanks a lot
Thanks a lot for the comments. I'm actually suprised that my system doesn't experience much bass problems and that it sounds pretty solid and not bloated from my listening position. The panels on the front, side, and back walls helped a little with the megaphone effect, butＩcan't make the room seem "not small", so Bman your help and comments are greatly appreciated. I'm going to try them as soon as I get home from vacation. And Garry, the broken speaker driver on top of my cd player was actually FROM a party a year ago on my old energy veritas bookshelfs :)
Oy mate, You have a great system and should sound pretty damn good already - which makes me think your speaker placement is the culprit of your dissatisfaction. I could advise you about better placement, but you most likely couldn't spare the proper amount space in that small (and extremely multifunctional) room anyway. One thing I will suggest however is that you put your fibreglass panels so that they "cap off" the tricorners (where front and sidewalls meet the ceiling...to provide better low-midbass absorption and squash that "megaphone effect" you get from small rooms with close walls. While still being equalateral (in shape) make your "listening triangle" smaller so that the amount of reflection (or echoing) from the room's boundaries are lessened. Also, save an absorption panel (or 2) for those early ceiling reflections that are mainly responsible for the "giving away" the small size of the room. Do all of this correctly and the room will sound MUCH more diffuse and twice as large. Keep up the good work, studying, and "extra-curricular" activities. ;^) -Bman
Wow, nice system! I guess higher education really does pay off :) !!
From the pictures, it's a bit hard for me to tell how close are your speakers to the back wall - do you experience any bass with your floor standers in a relatively tight space? If so, how much do the panels help compensate for this?
Is that an extra speaker driver (on top of the CD player)? A precaution for some over the top post exam partying??? If so, I like a guy that thinks ahead :P
Merry Christmas - now go back and hit the books !!!!!
jefftan on Opinions Please