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

bruce30 December 12, 2007 06:04

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.

bruce30 January 24, 2007 03:58

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

bruce30 January 23, 2007 18:19

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

bruce30 December 18, 2006 23:26