Weakest link -NAD,Emotiva,Monitor Audio,Debut TT

by lummock on Opinions Please

Description

Used for mostly two channel listening both, lossless through airport express and vinyl through project debut carbon.

Would like to integrate it with HT amp harmon kardon avr 3650, but without home theater bypass this becomes very complicated. -suggestions welcome.

I find the bass from the turntable lacking.

Also soundstage is not as broad as I have heard from other monitor audio RX6's, both in analogue and digital domain.

I upgraded the project debut to the 2m blue cartridge which didn't help much, as well as an acrylic platter (mostly for looks).

I'm thinking that the nad 218 is totally the wrong amp, (got it cheap). Was thinking of switching to odyssey khartago.

Also have heard that the emotiva XDA1 might be a weakness.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

PLEASE don't ask about room treatments etc as I am moving intermittently and frankly just don't have access to a dedicated listening environment.

Thanks in advance

So for better sound defined by soundstage, and bass response. What would be my first move.

1. Pre-amp - ? parasound halo -has HT bypass, ? phonostage.

2. amp -replace NAD 218 thx with odyssey khartago or other suggestions.

3. Upgrade dac - had heard a wadia that sounded amazeballs, but can't recall the name.

There is a Wadia 151 Power Dac I've seen selling for 700ish but i'm not sure of the quality relative to their old stuff.
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Components Toggle details

    • Emotiva XDA-1
    Balanced Outputs. USB optical dac
    • NAD C-162
    6 Line Level Inputs including 2 Tape In/Outputs with dubbing facility

    Switchable MM and MC Phono Input

    2 Line Level Preamp Outputs; one is variable from 0dB to -12dB

    Gold Plated RCA Connectors

    Pure
    • NAD 218 thx
    Heavy as hell. Powerful. Cheap
    • Monitor Audio RX-6
    2.5 way speakers, ported.
    • apple airport Express
    optical audio out
    • Project Audio Debut Carbon
    8,6” carbon tonearm
    upgraded to Ortofon 2M Blue Cart


    • 7 high-gloss colours

Comments 3

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Those are nice speakers that you can build around that will pass along improvements you make further up the chain.

The other 4 components are about evenly matched in sound quality IMO. They are good, but taken all together, they won't be able to provide much of a 'being at the venue' listening experience.

The Khartago is probably a worthwhile upgrade.

Also, while the XDA-1 DAC is quite decent, you may wish to try Emotiva's XDA-2 (currently on sale for $249) or DC-1 (currently on sale for $499), each with a 30 day return. I had the XDA-1 and was quite happy with it for the price, the XDA-2 is noticably better and the DC-1 is better yet and may be all you need for quite a while.

Somewhere you need better resolution in the chain prior to the speakers, the amp and DAC seem like logical areas to start with, because noticeably improving your lp playback likely will require both a turntable and preamp upgrade.

You didn't mention cabling; there are now so many good low priced interconnects and speaker cables, give some a try.

Good Luck.

Tim

tkmetz

Owner
To noromance,

I like to hear resolution and detail in my music. Occasionally I like to listen to things bloody loud, but usually only for mins at a time.

As you can see I haven't spent more than 1k on any one single component. The pre amp, and amp were bought used, as were the MA's. Value for money for me is important, not because I can't afford it, more so out of respect to the hobby, in my mind its easy to build something that sounds amazing by spending 10k per component, but frankly that's just not what this hobby is for me, I have a lot more respect for someone who can build a budget used system that punches well above its weight.

lummock

I think you summed it up in your comment about the
power amp:
"Heavy as hell. Powerful. Cheap"
I see folks like you all the time putting together
systems from catalogs and going for the biggest bang
for the buck and ending up with the same problem
you're running into. We've all done it!
You are not going to get great bass from a cheap
turntable.
What's it mounted on? It really depends on what you
want.
Where do you see yourself heading? Do you want
holographic imaging, high resolution inner detail, or
do you want to shake the house with warm bass? On a
limited budget?
You don't need all those watts so stop falling for
the numbers. Remember "heavy and cheap"?
Let's know where your head's at.

noromance

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